Refrigeration Comp. Linked
Refrigeration Comp. Linked
Refrigeration Comp. Linked
01-2009
1. INTRODUCTION
Refrigeration is used widely in various applications from industrial to domestic situations, mainly for
the storage and transport of perishable foodstuffs and chemical substances. It has the prime
function to remove heat from a low temperature region, and it can also be applied as a heat pump
for supplying heat to a region of high temperature.
2. OBJECTIVE
3. THEORY
A refrigeration cycle works to lower and maintain the temperature of a controlled space by heat
transfer from a low to a high temperature region.
QH
E
.
Wnet
QL
Refrigeration duty is another term for the cooling effect of the refrigeration system, which is the rate
of heat being removed from the low temperature region with specified evaporation and
condensation temperatures. The unit for “duty” measurements is in Watts (for 1 ton of
refrigeration = 3517W).
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Thermodynamics-MEC 554/ LS 3/SHAH Rev. 01-2009
Ideal refrigeration systems follows the theoretical Reversed Carnot Cycle process. In
practical refrigerators, compression and expansion of a gas and vapor mixture presents
practical problems in the compressor and expander. Therefore, in practical refrigeration,
compression usually takes place in the superheated condition and a throttling process is
substituted for the isentropic expansion.
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Thermodynamics-MEC 554/ LS 3/SHAH Rev. 01-2009
The cycle :
1–2 Isentropic compression of the vapour, from the evaporating to the condensing
pressures.
2–3 Condensation of the high pressure vapour during which heat is transferred to the
high temperature region.
3–4 Adiabatic throttling of the condensed vapour from the condensing to the
evaporating pressure.
4–1 Evaporation of the low pressure liquid during which heat is absorbed from the low
temperature source.
Compressor
q 1-2 = h2 – h1 + w 1- 2
Power requirement, P = ṁ ( h1 – h2 ), where ṁ is the flow rate of working fluid per unit
time.
Condenser
q 2 - 3 = h3 – h2 + w
Expansion Valve
q 3 - 4 = h4 – h3 + w
therefore h4 = h3
Evaporator
q 4 – 1 = h1 – h4 + w
q 4-1 h h
COPref = = 1 - 4
w h2 h1
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Thermodynamics-MEC 554/ LS 3/SHAH Rev. 01-2009
5. EQUIPMENT
6. PROCEDURES
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7.1 By using data obtained from the experiments, for one set of data, plot the data on the
Pressure enthalpy ( P – h ) diagram and show the calculations of the parameters below
using the energy equations based on entalphy :
Load Evaporator Condenser Refrigerant Cooling Q 4–1 W 1–2 Q 2–3 COP ref
temp ( °C ) exit temp flow rate water
( °C ) ( kg / s ) flow rate
( kg / s )
0
15
30
45
60
75
8. DISCUSSIONS
a. Fill in the parameters from one set of experimental data in to the refrigeration system
diagram ( Figure 5 ).
b. What do you understand by the term load ? Give examples of actual loads in refrigeration
practice in a domestic fridge, in a room, and in a factory.
c. What is the effect on the COP ref as the load is increased ? Why ?.
d. What is the effect on the condenser temperature as the load is increased ? Why ?.
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Thermodynamics-MEC 554/ LS 3/SHAH Rev. 01-2009