Dr.

Tipu Sultan
Assistant Professor
School of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of Management & Technology (UMT)
Lahore 54770, Pakistan
[Link]@[Link]
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333: Refrigeration & Air Conditioning (RAC)
Dr Tipu Sultan

Department of Mechanical Engineering UMT Lahore

Lecture Strategy

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2
Types of Refrigeration
Refrigeration systems

 Vapour Compression Refrigeration (VCR): uses mechanical

energy
 Vapour Absorption Refrigeration (VAR): uses thermal
energy

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The Ideal Vapor-Compression Refrigeration Cycle

 The vapor-compression refrigeration cycle is the ideal

model for refrigeration systems.
 Unlike the reversed Carnot cycle, the refrigerant is
vaporized completely before it is compressed and the
turbine is replaced with a throttling device.

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The Ideal Vapor-Compression Refrigeration Cycle

2 Basic Components:
Condenser
High 1. Gas Compressor
3 Pressure 2. Condenser
Side 3. Expansion Valve
Expansion 4. Evaporator
Device Compressor

4 1 Low
Pressure
Evaporator Side
Processes:
1 to 2 - Compression (S = C)
2 to 3 - Heat Rejection (P = C)
3 to 4 - Expansion (h = C)
4 to 1 - Heat Addition (P = C)

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 The high pressure superheated
gas is cooled in several stages
in the condenser
Schematic Diagram

Liquid passes The superheated vapor

through enters the compressor
expansion where its pressure is
device, which raised
reduces its
pressure and
controls the flow
into the
evaporator

Low pressure liquid

refrigerant in evaporator
absorbs heat and changes
to a gas

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The Ideal Vapor-Compression Refrigeration Cycle

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The Ideal Vapor-Compression Refrigeration Cycle

This is the
most widely
used cycle for
refrigerators,
A-C systems,
and heat
pumps.

Schematic and T-s diagram for the ideal

vapor-compression refrigeration cycle.
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The Ideal Vapor-Compression Refrigeration Cycle

 The ideal vapor-compression refrigeration cycle

involves an irreversible (throttling) process to make it
a more realistic model for the actual systems.
 Replacing the expansion valve by a turbine is not
practical since the added benefits cannot justify the
added cost and complexity.

The P-h diagram of an ideal vapor-

compression refrigeration cycle.
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Throttling process

Characteristics of throttling process:

1) No Work Transfer
2) No Heat Transfer
3) Irreversible Process
4) Isenthalpic Process

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Ph and TS Diagram

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 Two different pressures exist in the refrigeration cycle.
The evaporator or low pressure, in the "low side" and
the condenser, or high pressure, in the "high side".
 These pressure areas are divided by the other two
components. On one end, is the metering device
which controls the refrigerant flow (throttling valve),
and on the other end, is the compressor.

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Department of Mechanical Engineering UMT Lahore
Vapour Compression Refrigeration

Two advantages
 Lot of heat can be removed (lot of thermal energy to
change liquid to vapor).
 Heat transfer rate remains high (temperature of
working fluid much lower than what is being cooled).

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Selecting the Right Refrigerant
 Several refrigerants may be used in refrigeration systems such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs),
ammonia, hydrocarbons (propane, ethane, ethylene, etc.), carbon dioxide, air (in the air-
conditioning of aircraft), and even water (in applications above the freezing point).
 R-11, R-12, R-22, R-134a, and R-502 account for over 90 percent of the market.
 The industrial and heavy-commercial sectors use ammonia (it is toxic).
 R-11 is used in large-capacity water chillers serving A-C systems in buildings.
 R-134a (replaced R-12, which damages ozone layer) is used in domestic refrigerators and
freezers, as well as automotive air conditioners.
 R-22 is used in window air conditioners, heat pumps, air conditioners of commercial buildings,
and large industrial refrigeration systems, and offers strong competition to ammonia.
 R-502 (a blend of R-115 and R-22) is the dominant refrigerant used in commercial refrigeration
systems such as those in supermarkets.
 CFCs allow more ultraviolet radiation into the earth’s atmosphere by destroying the protective
ozone layer and thus contributing to the greenhouse effect that causes global warming. Fully
halogenated CFCs (such as R-11, R-12, and R-115) do the most damage to the ozone layer.
Refrigerants that are friendly to the ozone layer have been developed.
 Two important parameters that need to be considered in the selection of a refrigerant are the
temperatures of the two media (the refrigerated space and the environment) with which the
refrigerant exchanges heat.

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What is a p-h diagram
 A p-h diagram is a figure with a vertical axis of absolute
pressure and a horizontal axis of specific enthalpy. It is
an important diagram used frequently for a performance
calculation of a refrigerating machine.
 A p-h diagram is made respectively for a specified
refrigerant. It can, of course, not be used for another
refrigerant.
 Diagrams are made respectively for conventional unit
and SI unit.
 A p-h diagram has a lot of thin lines, whose names and
natures are important.
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Pressure enthalpy Chart
Critical Point

Vapor Dome

Transition Phase

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Pressure enthalpy Chart

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Pressure enthalpy Chart

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Pressure enthalpy Chart

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Pressure enthalpy Chart

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Pressure enthalpy Chart

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Pressure enthalpy Chart

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Pressure enthalpy Chart

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Ph Chart for Freon-12 Refrigerant

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Calculations for the Vapor Compression Refrigerator

 The cycle illustrated in Figure is representative of a

typical vapor compression cycle. Tables of properties
are available for refrigerants, so the properties of state
points 7, 8, 4 and 3 may be looked up in the relevant
tables.

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 Calculations for the Vapor Compression Refrigerator

𝒉𝟐 = 𝒉𝒈𝟑 + 𝑪𝒑𝒗 (𝑻𝟐 − 𝑻𝟑)

h5 = hf4 + cpL(T4-T5) 𝑻𝟐
𝒔𝟐 = 𝒔𝒈𝟑 + 𝒄𝒑𝒗 𝒍𝒏
𝑻𝟑
(h5 = h6)

h6 = hf7 + x6(hg8-hf7)
h1 = hf7 + x1(hg8-hf7)
h6 =h1-(h1-h6) S1 = sf7 + x1(sg8-sf7)
= (h1-refrigerating effect) v1 = x1vg8

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Calculations for the Vapor Compression Refrigerator

 At point 1: Exit from the evaporator and entry to the

compressor.
 h1 = hf7 + x1(hg8-hf7)
 S1 = sf7 + x1(sg8-sf7)
 Compression 1-2 is considered isentropic, so (s1=s2)
 Specific volume entry to compressor will control mass
flow of the refrigerant through the refrigerator
 v1 = x1vg8

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Calculations for the Vapor Compression Refrigerator

 At point 2: This is delivery from the compressor and

entry to the condenser, h2 may be determined from
superheat tables. Alternatively,
 If Cpv = specific heat capacity of the superheated vapor
 𝒉𝟐 = 𝒉𝒈𝟑 + 𝑪𝒑𝒗 (𝑻𝟐 − 𝑻𝟑)
 Since the compression is isentropic (𝑠2 = 𝑠1 ) and S2
may be determined from superheat table
𝑻𝟐
 𝒔𝟐 = 𝒔𝒈𝟑 + 𝒄𝒑𝒗 𝒍𝒏
𝑻𝟑

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Calculations for the Vapor Compression Refrigerator

 At point 5: This is exit from the condenser and entry

to throttle valve. It Cpv is the specific hear of the liquid.

 h5 = hf4 + cpL(T4-T5)

 Alternatively, h5 may be looked up in the table as the

specific enthalpy of the liquid refrigerant at the
saturation temperature T5.
 Now 5-6 is throttling process. So, (h5 = h6)

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Calculations for the Vapor Compression Refrigerator

 At point 6: This is at exit from the throttle valve and

entry to the evaporator. Because of the throttling
process
 h6 = h5

 Alternatively, h6 = hf7 + x6(hg8-hf7)

 Alternatively,h6 =h1-(h1-h6) = (h1-refrigerating effect)

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Calculations for the Vapor Compression Refrigerator

 From the information obtained

 Theoretical COP=( 𝒉𝟏−𝒉𝟔
𝒉𝟐−𝒉𝟏)
 Actual COP = (Actual refrigerating effect/Actual
energy input)

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Compressor Formulae
W = m(h2 – h1) KW
For Isentropic Compression (PVk = C)
k 1
T2  P2  k
   Where:
T1  P1  m – mass flow rate in kg/sec
V1’ – volume flow rate in m3/sec

kmRT1  P2  k 
 k 1 P1 – suction pressure in KPa
P2 – discharge pressure in KPa
W   1 T1 – suction temp. in K
k  1  P1   T2 – discharge temp. in K
 
P1V1’ = mRT1
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 Compressor Efficiencies
a. Compression Efficiency
Ideal Work
cn  x 100%
Indicated Work
b. Mechanical Efficiency
Indicated Work
m  x 100%
Brake or Shaft Work
c. Compressor Efficiency
c  cnm
Ideal Work
c  x 100%
Brake or Shaft Work
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Condenser
QR = m(h2 – h3) KJ/sec
For an air cooled condenser
QR = m(h2 – h3) = mCPa(ta2 – ta1) KJ/sec
For water cooled condenser
QR = m(h2 – h3) = mwCPw(tw2 – tw1) KJ/sec
Where:
a – refers to air
w – refers to water
1 – inlet condition
2 – exit condition
Cpa = 1.0045 KJ/kg-°C
CPw = 4.187 KJ/kg-°C

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 Expansion Valve
h3 = h4

h4  hf4
x4  x 100 %
hfg4
Where
x = quality of vapors or percentage of vapor in the mixture.

If the water content in the steam is 5% by mass, then

the steam is said to be 95% dry with a dryness fraction
0.95.

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Evaporator
QA = m(h1 – h4) KJ/sec or KW
QA = 60 m(h1 – h4) KJ/min

1 TR = 211 KJ/min
TR – tons of refrigeration
 A ton of refrigeration: (TR), also called a refrigeration
ton (RT), is a unit of power used in some countries to
describe the heat-extraction capacity of
refrigeration and air conditioning equipment.
 It is defined as the rate of heat transfer that results in the
melting of 1 short ton (2,000 lb; 907 kg) of pure ice at 0
°C (32 °F) in 24 hours.
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Coefficient of Performance

QL
COP 
W

where
QL – refrigerating effect or Refrigerating capacity, KW
W – compressor work, KW

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Wet compression
P T
2

3 2
3

4 1
4 1

h S

 Liquid droplet will wash away the lubricating oil.

 Liquid droplet will damage the valves and other moving parts.

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Sub-cooling the refrigerant
P T 2

3 2
3

4 1
4 1

h S
 Increases the refrigerant effect.
 Reducing the flashing of liquid during expansion process.
 Performance of the cycle improves (compressor work will reduce).

Flash evaporation is the partial or total vaporization that occurs when a saturated liquid refrigerant
undergoes a reduction in pressure by passing through a throttling valve or other throttling device.
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Superheating the suction vapour
2
P T

3 2 3

1
4 1
4

h S

 Catches heat after from the atmosphere leaving the evaporator.

 Compressor has to handle greater volume. Compressor work increases.
 Performance of the cycle reduces (compressor work will increase).

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Class Problem # 1

 A vapor—compression plant using R134a operates with

an evaporator pressure of 2 bar and a condenser
saturation pressure of 8 bar. The vapor entering the
compressor is saturated at 2 bar and the liquid leaving
the condenser is saturated at 8 bar. Assuming the
compression process is isentropic, calculate the
coefficient or performance. Use the p—h chart for
R134a.

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Solution

Pressure enthalpy chart

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Solution

 A reduced size pressure—enthalpy chart for R134a is

given & A sketch of the processes on a p—h chart is
given as Fig.
 From the chart: at — 2 bar and T1 — 273.1 K the vapor
is superheated and h1= 301 kJ/kg:
 at pressure (p3) 8 bar, h3=hf3= 145.5 kJ/kg = h4;
 at p2 = 8 bar, s1=s2= 1,759kJ/kg K, h2 = 330 kJ/kg. Then

h1  h 4 301  145.5
COPRef    5.36
h 2  h1 330  301
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Class Problem # 2
A vapor compression refrigerator uses the refrigerant ISCEON 69-S
(Rhine-Poulenc) and operates between the pressure limits 462.47
kN/m2 and 1785.90 kN/m2. At entry to the compressor the
refrigerant is dry saturated and after compression it has a
temperature of 59 °C. The compressor has a bore and stroke 75 mm
and runs al 8 rev/s with a volumetric efficiency of 80%. The
temperature of the liquid refrigerant as it leaves the condenser is
32°C and it’s specific heat capacity is 1.32 kJ/kg K. The specific heat
capacity of the superheated vapor may be assumed constant.
Determine
a) The coefficient of performance of the refrigerator
b) The mass of the refrigerant in kg/h
c) The cooling water required by the condenser in kg/h if the
cooling water temperature rise is limited to 12°C
Take the specific heat capacity of water as 4.187 kJ/kg K. The
relevant properties of the refrigerant 69-S are given in the table.

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Solution

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Solution

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Solution

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Solution

Department of Mechanical Engineering UMT Lahore

Solution

Department of Mechanical Engineering UMT Lahore

Solution

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Class Problem # 3

 A refrigerator uses refrigerant-134a as the working

fluid and operates on an ideal vapor-compression
refrigeration cycle between 0.14 and 0.8 MPa. If the
mass flow rate of the refrigerant is 0.05 kg/s,
determine
a) The rate of heat removal from the refrigerated space
and the power input to the compressor,
b) The rate of heat rejection to the environment, and
c) The COP of the refrigerator.

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Solution
 A refrigerator operates on an ideal vapor-compression
refrigeration cycle between two specified pressure limits.
The rate of refrigeration, the power input, the rate of heat
rejection, and the COP are to be determined.
 The T-s diagram of the refrigeration cycle is shown in Fig.
 We note that this is an ideal vapor-compression
refrigeration cycle, and thus the compressor is isentropic
and the refrigerant leaves the condenser as a saturated
liquid and enters the compressor as saturated vapor. From
the refrigerant-134a tables, the enthalpies of the refrigerant
at all four states are determined as follows:

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Solution

T-s diagram of the ideal vapor-compression refrigeration cycle

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Solution

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Solution

 (a) The rate of heat removal from the refrigerated

space and the power input to the compressor are
determined from their definitions:

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Solution

 (b) The rate of heat rejection from the refrigerant to

the environment is

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Solution

 (c) The coefficient of performance of the refrigerator is

 That is, this refrigerator removes about 4 units of

thermal energy from the refrigerated space for each
unit of electric energy it consumes.

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Solution
 Discussion: It would be interesting to see what happens if
the throttling valve were replaced by an isentropic turbine.
 The enthalpy at state 4s (the turbine exit with P4s = 0.14
MPa, and s4s = s3 = 0.35404 kJ/kg · K) is 88.94 kJ/kg, and
the turbine would produce 0.33 kW of power.
 This would decrease the power input to the refrigerator
from 1.81 to 1.48 kW and increase the rate of heat removal
from the refrigerated space from 7.18 to 7.51 kW.
 As a result, the COP of the refrigerator would increase from
3.97 to 5.07, an increase of 28 percent.

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Why don't we use turbines as expansion device in
refrigerator?
 In throttle valves, isenthalpic process happens which
causes sudden expansion of the saturated refrigerant
and its temperature drops drastically at the expense of
pressure. So, here if we employ a turbine, these are
the drawbacks –
 The refrigerant is at normal pressure, as compared
required high pressure in turbines to extract shaft
power, further a turbine requires gas as a media, if we
keep aside the hydraulic turbines. Similarly a large
amount of flow is required, which is not the case in
refrigeration.

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Why don't we use turbines as expansion device in
refrigerator?
 Design and maintenance constraints also play a major part,
The equipment has to be compact, expansion valve is very
small compared to a turbine, turbine having moving parts
will be prone to wear and tear, maintenance and also some
unforeseen leakages of refrigerants which is not desired,
cost rise will also be a matter of concern in the present
technologically advancing and competitive market.
 Turbine wouldn't result into flash evaporation of the
refrigerant, thus there will not be much drop in
temperature, and as we know temperature and enthalpy are
properties which we look for getting the maximum amount
of refrigeration effect.

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Why don't we use turbines as expansion device in
refrigerator?
 Expansion valve has diaphragm and sensing element
or power element where it sensed load and according
to that diaphragm functions and controlled flow of
liquid refrigerant to freezer. Turbines can not handle
variable load conditions. If load reduces then sensor
gives signal to diaphragm to reduce flow and allows to
open more if load increases.

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