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RAC notes

Refrigeration is the process of removing heat to maintain lower temperatures, based on principles like the Second Law of Thermodynamics and latent heat transfer. Various methods include natural methods like ice refrigeration and artificial methods such as vapor compression and absorption systems. Applications range from domestic refrigerators to industrial cooling and medical storage.

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15 views4 pages

RAC notes

Refrigeration is the process of removing heat to maintain lower temperatures, based on principles like the Second Law of Thermodynamics and latent heat transfer. Various methods include natural methods like ice refrigeration and artificial methods such as vapor compression and absorption systems. Applications range from domestic refrigerators to industrial cooling and medical storage.

Uploaded by

Prof Vivek Sahu, Engineering Drawing Solutions
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Principles and Methods of Refrigeration

1. Principles of Refrigeration

Refrigeration is the process of removing heat from a space or substance to lower its temperature
and maintain it below the surrounding temperature. It is based on the following principles:

✅ Second Law of Thermodynamics: Heat flows naturally from a higher temperature region to a
lower temperature region. Refrigeration works by reversing this natural flow using external
work.

✅ Latent Heat Absorption & Release: A refrigerant absorbs heat during evaporation (cooling
effect) and releases heat during condensation (heat rejection).

✅ Thermodynamic Cycles: The refrigeration cycle is based on processes such as compression,


condensation, expansion, and evaporation to maintain cooling.

✅ Coefficient of Performance (COP): It defines the efficiency of a refrigeration system and is


given by:

2. Methods of Refrigeration

Different methods are used based on the application and working principle:

(A) Natural Refrigeration Methods

1. Ice Refrigeration: Using natural or artificial ice to cool products.


2. Evaporative Cooling: Cooling through water evaporation (e.g., desert coolers).
3. Air Expansion Refrigeration: Used in aircraft, where compressed air expands to absorb
heat.

(B) Artificial Refrigeration Methods

1. Vapor Compression Refrigeration System (VCRS):


o Most widely used in refrigerators, ACs, and heat pumps.
o Uses a refrigerant (like R-134a, R-22) that undergoes compression, condensation,
expansion, and evaporation.
2. Vapor Absorption Refrigeration System (VARS):
o Uses ammonia-water or Li-Br solution instead of a compressor.
o Requires a heat source (gas burner, steam) instead of mechanical work.
o Used in industrial applications and hotels.
3. Gas Refrigeration System:
Uses air as the working substance.
o
Common in aircraft cooling systems.
o
4. Thermoelectric Refrigeration:
o Uses the Peltier effect where electricity creates a temperature difference.
o Used in portable coolers and electronic cooling.
5. Magnetic Refrigeration:
o Uses magnetocaloric effect (temperature change in a material when exposed to a
magnetic field).
o A future technology with high efficiency and eco-friendliness.

Applications of Refrigeration

🔹 Domestic refrigerators, air conditioners


🔹 Industrial food preservation & cold storage
🔹 Medical refrigeration (vaccine storage)
🔹 Cryogenics (liquefied gases like liquid nitrogen)
🔹 Space cooling in buildings and vehicles

Introduction to Refrigeration: Principles and Methods

Refrigeration is the process of removing heat from a space or substance to maintain it at a


temperature lower than its surroundings. It is widely used in food preservation, air conditioning,
industrial cooling, and cryogenics.

1. Principles and Methods of Refrigeration

A. Principles of Refrigeration

 Second Law of Thermodynamics: Heat naturally flows from a high-temperature region to a low-
temperature region; refrigeration systems reverse this flow using external work.
 Latent Heat Transfer: Refrigerants absorb heat during evaporation (cooling) and release it
during condensation (heat rejection).
 Thermodynamic Cycles: Refrigeration works on thermodynamic cycles such as the Reverse
Carnot Cycle, Vapor Compression Cycle, and Absorption Cycle.
 Coefficient of Performance (COP): Efficiency of a refrigeration system:
COP=Cooling EffectWork InputCOP = \frac{\text{Cooling Effect}}{\text{Work
Input}}COP=Work InputCooling Effect

B. Methods of Refrigeration

1. Vapor Compression Refrigeration System (VCRS): Most common system used in domestic and
industrial applications.
2. Vapor Absorption Refrigeration System (VARS): Uses ammonia-water or LiBr-water solutions
instead of a compressor.
3. Gas Refrigeration System: Expanding gases cool the system, used in aircraft cooling.
4. Thermoelectric Refrigeration: Uses the Peltier Effect to transfer heat with electricity.
5. Magnetic Refrigeration: Uses adiabatic demagnetization for ultra-low temperatures.

2. Freezing and Mixture Cooling by Gas

 Freezing: Removing heat to lower a substance’s temperature below its freezing point.
 Mixture Cooling by Gas: Using gas mixtures (e.g., ammonia-water) to absorb heat and lower
temperature, used in cryogenics and air conditioning.

3. Thermodynamic Processes in Refrigeration

A. Reversible Expansion

 Expansion of gas without heat loss to surroundings.


 Used in gas refrigeration and cryogenics for temperature reduction.

B. Throttling Process

 Expansion of fluid through a valve or porous plug without work or heat transfer.
 Used in Joule-Thomson Effect for gas liquefaction.

C. Evaporation

 Liquid refrigerant absorbs heat and evaporates, creating a cooling effect.

D. Joule-Thomson Effect

 Expansion of a real gas through a valve leads to a temperature drop.


 Used in liquefaction of gases like nitrogen, oxygen, and helium.

E. Reverse Carnot Cycle


 Theoretical refrigeration cycle with maximum efficiency.
 Consists of two isothermal and two adiabatic processes.

4. Key Refrigeration Concepts

 Unit of Refrigeration:
o 1 Ton of Refrigeration (TR) = 3.517 kW = Heat required to freeze 1 ton (907 kg) of water
at 0°C in 24 hours.
 Coefficient of Performance (COP): Efficiency of a refrigeration system.
 Vortex Tube Refrigeration: Uses compressed air to separate hot and cold air streams.
 Thermoelectric Refrigeration: Uses electricity to create a temperature difference via the Peltier
effect.
 Adiabatic Demagnetization: Magnetic cooling technique for cryogenics.

5. Air Refrigeration Cycles

Used in aircraft cooling and cryogenic applications.

1. Joule’s Cycle: Expansion cooling cycle using air as a working fluid.


2. Boot-Strap Cycle: Additional heat exchangers improve cooling efficiency.
3. Reduced Ambient Cycle: Used in high-altitude aircraft to handle low ambient pressure.
4. Regenerative Cooling Cycle: Uses heat recovery to enhance efficiency.

Conclusion

Refrigeration technology is essential in modern industries, from household cooling to cryogenic


gas liquefaction. Understanding thermodynamic principles and cycles helps improve efficiency
and innovation in refrigeration systems.

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