An experimental study was conducted on vapor compression refrigerators using R134a refrigerant for the purpose of achieving energy recovery and decreasing the effects of irreversibility. An ejector was used as an expander instead of an expansion valve. The coefficient of performance of the ejector refrigeration system and the amount of irreversibility and efficiency of each of its components were determined and compared with those of a basic vapor compression refrigeration system of the same cooling capacity under the same external conditions. It was found that the ejector expander system exhibited a lower total irreversibility in comparison with the basic system. When the ejector was used as the expander in the refrigeration system, the coefficient of performance was higher than in the basic system by 7.34-12.87%, while the exergy efficiency values were 6.6-11.24% higher than in the basic system. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.