OPERATION MANUAL

VAPOR JET REFRIGERATOR

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 Note
This document has been made accurate to the best of our knowledge, however there is no liability
for errors. If there is an error discovered, please notify the company with complete details.
Experimental results provided (if any) are for the sole purpose of guidance and influence of
different variables on accuracy and precision of experimental results must be considered.
Table of Contents
1. Product Introduction:........................................................................................................................ 1
2. Specifications: ................................................................................................................................... 1
3. Principle of Operation ....................................................................................................................... 2
4. Experiment ........................................................................................................................................ 6
4.1 Objective: ............................................................................................................................................ 6
4.2 Observations: ...................................................................................................................................... 7
5. Nomenclature: .................................................................................................................................. 8
1. Product Introduction:
Unlike standard compression refrigeration systems, vapour jet refrigeration machines do not have
a mechanical but a vapour jet compressor. This makes it possible to use different heat sources for
cold production. Such sources could e.g. be solar energy or process waste heat.

The system includes two refrigerant circuits: one circuit is used for cold production (refrigeration
cycle), the other circuit is used for the generation of motive vapour (vapour cycle). The vapour jet
compressor compresses the refrigerant vapour and transports it to the condenser. A transparent
tank with a water-cooled pipe coil serves as condenser. In the refrigeration cycle some of the
condensed refrigerant flows into the transparent evaporator connected to the intake side of the
vapour jet compressor.

The evaporator is a so-called flooded evaporator where a float valve keeps the filling level
constant. The refrigerant absorbs the ambient heat or the heat from the heater and evaporates. The
refrigerant vapour is aspirated by the vapour jet compressor and compressed again. In the vapour
cycle a pump transports the other part of the condensate into a vapour generator. An electrically
heated tank with water jacket evaporates the refrigerant. The generated refrigerant vapour drives
the vapour jet compressor.

2. Specifications:
• Investigation of a vapour jet compressor.
• Refrigeration circuit with condenser, evaporator and vapour jet compressor for refrigerant.
• Vapour circuit with pump and vapour generator for operating the vapour jet compressor.
Transparent tank with water-cooled pipe coil as condenser.
• Transparent tank with adjustable heater as evaporator.
• Flooded evaporator with float valve as expansion element.
• Vapour generator with heated water jacket (electrically or solar thermally).
• Refrigerant Solkatherm R1233zd or R141b.

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3. Principle of Operation
Jet refrigeration system, which is one of the heat-powered refrigeration cycles, is of current
interest. The distinctive point of such cycle is that it is relatively simple to design, construct and
operate compared to the other types of heat-powered refrigeration systems.

In this cycle, the important equipment known as an ejector is used as a main driving part for the
system. This is because an ejector is used to elevate refrigerant pressure similar to the use of a
mechanical compressor. As high-pressure steam from the boiler, known as a primary fluid, is
accelerated passing through the primary nozzle.

Figure: Jet Ejector parts

A supersonic jet stream of the primary fluid is produced within the mixing chamber. Very low-
pressure region at the mixing chamber is obtained as a consequence. This low-pressure region can
draw secondary fluid from the evaporator (where the refrigeration effect is produced) into the
mixing chamber. The primary fluid and the secondary fluid then mix together within the mixing
chamber.

Due to high momentum of the primary fluid, the mixed stream is still in form of the supersonic
flow. At the end of the throat section, due to the large difference in pressure between mixed stream
and back pressure (condenser pressure), the series of oblique shocks are thought to be induced.
The shock causes a major compression effect to occur and flow form is suddenly changed from
supersonic to subsonic.

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A further compression of the flow is achieved as it is brought to stagnation through a subsonic
diffuser. The ejector is discharged at a pressure (back pressure) equal to the saturation pressure in
the condenser. A significant parameter used to indicate the performance of an ejector is the
entrainment ratio:

Rm = mass flow rate of primary fluid/ mass flow rate of secondary fluid

For jet refrigeration system referring to an ejector entrains a low-pressure saturated vapour from
the evaporator, where the refrigeration effect is produced, as the secondary fluid. It uses a hot and

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high pressure vapour from the boiler as the primary fluid. The ejector discharges its exhaust to the
condenser where the fluid is condensed to liquid by rejecting heat out to the surroundings.

Performance of a steam jet refrigeration system is defined in terms of the Coefficient of

COP=hfcond - hgevap /hgboiler -hfcond

Where,

Hg-evap is the enthalpy of the saturated vapour at the evaporator (kJ/kg)

Hg-boiler is the enthalpy of the saturated vapour at the boiler (kJ/kg)

Hf-cond is the enthalpy of the saturated liquid at the condenser (kJ/kg)

Fixed boiler temperature the COP of the jet refrigerator is increased linearly with an increase in
the cooling capacity. The lowest COP for the test is of 0.03 for the cooling capacity of 500 W.
Meanwhile, the highest COP of 0.45 is obtained at the cooling capacity of 3000W. An increase of
COP with cooling capacity is the result of an increase in cooling capacity while the heat supplied
to the boiler is kept constant due to a fixed boiler temperature.

Therefore, COP of the jet refrigerator is increased with cooling capacity. However, it comes
together with an undesired cooling temperature, due to an increase in the evaporator temperature.
When the boiler temperature is increased from 110°C to 120°C with a fixed cooling capacity, a
decrease in the COP is found.

This is due to the fact that at the higher boiler temperature, the higher heat load supplied to the
boiler is required while the cooling capacity is constant. This causes the COP of the refrigerator to
drop when the boiler temperature is increased. This implies that for one particular cooling capacity,
the jet refrigerator should be operated at relatively low boiler temperature.

The thermodynamic design of the ejector heat pump system by the first law only is usually based
on given or assumed steady-state operating conditions. The condenser and evaporator temperatures
are fixed. The system boiler heat transfer rates are also known.

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The fundamental simplifications assumed for the model are as follows:

• Steady state
• No radiation heat transfer ‚
• The primary and secondary fluids are saturated and have the same molecular weight and
ratio of specific heats
• Water at the condenser outlet is saturated liquid ‚
• Water at the evaporator outlet is saturated vapour‚
• Pressure losses in the pipes and all heat exchangers are negligible ‚
• The primary fluid expands through the nozzle from the boiler pressure to the evaporator
pressure. The pressure drop and momentum of the secondary flow are negligible. ‚
• There is no wall friction. ‚
• All fluid properties are uniform over the cross section after complete mixing at Section
• Potential energy is negligibly small in the energy equations. ‚
• The exit velocity at the ejector outlet is ignored.

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4. Experiment

4.1 Objective:
To determine the coefficient of performance (COP) for vapor jet refrigeration system.

Procedure:

• Turn on the vapor jet refrigeration apparatus.

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 4.2 Observations:
Coefficient of performance (COP) can be determined by,

COP=hfcond - hgevap /hgboiler -hfcond

All of the enthalpy values can be determined at their respective temperatures from property
tables.

Sr. Time T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 T9 T10 P1 P2 P3 P4 F1 F2 COP

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5. Nomenclature:

T1: Boiler Liquid Temp F1: Boiler Inlet Flow

T2: Condenser Outlet Temp F2: Condensate Flow

T3: Boiler Vapor Temp P1: Boiler Pressure

T4: Jet Ejector Inlet Temp P2: Evaporator Pressure

T5: Condenser Inlet Temp P3: Jet Ejector Inlet Pressure

T6: Condensate Temp P4: Condenser Pressure

T7: Evaporator Temp

T8: Boiler Inlet Temp

T9: Cooling Water Inlet Temp

T10: Cooling Water Outlet Temp

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Vapor Jet Refrigerator
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