TUTORIAL ON REFRIGERATION
1. A refrigerator 134a as the working fluid operates on ideal vapour compression 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 refrigerated space and the power input to the compressor, (b) the rate of heat rejection to the
environment, and (c) the COP.
[ANS: 7.18 kW, Win = 1.81 kW; QH = 9.0 kW; COPR = 3.97]
2. Refrigerant-134a is the working fluid in an ideal compression refrigeration cycle. The
refrigerant leaves the evaporator at -20 oC and has a condenser pressure of 0.9 MPa. The mass flow
rate is 3 kg/min. Find COPR and COPR,Carnot for the same Tmax and Tmin , and the tons of refrigeration.
[COPR = 3.44; QL = 1.94 tons; COPR,carnot = 3.97]
3. Refrigerant R-134a is the working fluid in an ideal vapour-compression refrigeration cycle that
communicates thermally with a cold region at 0 oC and a warm region at 26 oC. saturated vapour
enters the compressor at 0 oC and saturated liquid leaves the condenser at 26 oC. The mass flow rate
of the refrigerator is 0.08 kg/s. Determine (a) the compressor power, in kW, (b) the
refrigeration capacity, in tons, (c) the coefficient of performance, and (d) the
coefficient of performance of a Carnot refrigeration cycle operating between warm and cold regions at
26 oC and 0 oC, respectively.
[1.4 kW; 3.67 ton; 9.24; 10.5]
4. Refrigerant -134a enters the compressor of a refrigerator as superheated vapour at 0.20MPa
and -5oC at a rate of 0.07 kg/s, and it leaves at 1.2 MPa and 70oC. The refrigerant is cooled in the
condenser to 44oC and 1.15 MPa, and it is throttled to 0.21 MPa. Disregarding any heat transfer and
pressure drops in the connecting lines between the components, show the cycle on a T-s diagram
with respect to saturation lines, and determine (a) the rate of heat removal from the refrigerated space
and the power input to the compressor, (b) the isentropic efficiency of the compressor and (c) the COP
of the refrigerator.
[(a) 9.42 kW, 3.63 kW, (b) 74.1%, (c) 2.6]
5. Refrigerant 134a enters the compressor of a refrigerator as superheated vapour at 0.14 MPa
and -10 C at rate of 0.05 kg/s and leaves at 0.8 MPa and 50 C. The refrigerant is cooled in the
condenser to 26 C and 0.72 MPa and is throttled to 0.15 MPa. Disregarding any heat transfer and
pressure drops in the connecting lines between the components; determine (a) the rate of heat
removal from the refrigerated space and the power input to the compressor, and (b) the COP [ANS:
7.93 kW; 2.02 kW; 3.93]
6. R134a is used in an ideal vapour refrigeration cycle operating between saturation temperatures of
-20 C in the evaporator and 39.39 C in the condenser. Calculate the rate of refrigeration, the COP if
the refrigerant flows at 0.6 kg/s. Also determine the COP if the cycle is operated as heat pump.
[ANS: 25.1 kW; COP = 3.1; COPHP = 4.10]
7. A vapor-compression refrigeration system circulates Refrigerant 134a at a rate of 6 kg/min.
The refrigerant enters the compressor at -10 C, 1.4 bar, and exits at 7 bar. The isentropic compressor
efficiency is 67%. There no appreciable pressure drops as the refrigerant flows through the condenser
and evaporator. The refrigerant leaves the condenser at 7 bar and 24 C. Ignoring heat transfer
between the compressor and its surroundings, determine, (a) the coefficient of performance, (b)
the refrigerating capacity, in tons.
8. Consider a 500 kJ/min refrigeration system that operates on an ideal vapor-compression
refrigeration cycle with refrigerant-134a as the working fluid. The refrigerant enters the compressor as
saturated vapor at 150 kPa and is compressed to 800 kPa. (a) Show the cycle on a T-s diagram with
respect to saturation lines, and determine (b) the quality of the refrigerant at the end of the throttling
process, (c) the coefficient of performance (COPR) and (d) the work input per unit mass of flow (wnet)
to the compressor. (e) What would the answers be if R-12 were the working fluid?
9. Consider a two-stage cascade refrigeration system operating between pressure limits of 0.8
and 0.14 MPa. Each stage operates on an ideal vapour-compression refrigeration cycle with
refrigerant R-134a as working fluid. Heat rejection from the lower cycle to the upper cycle takes place
in an adiabatic counter flow heat exchanger where both streams enter at about 0.32 MPa. If the mass
flow rate of the refrigerant through the upper cycle is 0.05 kg/s, determine: (a) the mass flow rate of
the refrigerant through the lower cycle (b) the rate of heat removal from the refrigerated space and the
power input to the compressor (c) COP.
[mB = 0.039 kg/s; QL = 7.18 kW; WIN = 1.61 kW; COPR = 4.46]
10. Consider a two stage cascade refrigeration system operating between the pressure limits of
1.2 MPa and 200 kPa with refrigerant -134a as the working fluid. Heat rejection from the lower cycle
to the upper cycle takes place in an adiabatic counterflow heat exchanger where the pressure in the
upper and lower cycles are 0.4 and 0.5 MPa, respectively. In both cycles, the refrigerant is a saturated
liquid at the condenser exit and a saturated vapour at the compressor inlet, and the isentropic
efficiency of the compressor in 80%. If the mass flow rate of the refrigerant through the lower cycle is
0.15 kg/s, determine (a) the mass flow rate of the refrigerant through the upper cycle, (b) the rate of
heat removal from the refrigerated space, and (c) the COP of this refrigerator.
[(a) 0.212 kg/s, (b) 25.7 kW, (c) 2.68]
11. A vapour-compression plant using R134a operates with an evaporator pressure of 2 bar and
a condenser saturation pressure of 8 bar. The vapour 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 of performance of refrigerator. Use the p – h chart for R134a.
[5.36]
12. For the refrigeration plant of question 11 above, the compressor is a double-acting
reciprocating compressor with a bore of 250 mm, stroke of 300 mm, running at a speed of 200 rpm,
with a volumetric efficiency of 85%. Calculate;
(a) The mass flow rate of refrigerant
(b) The refrigeration capacity
(c) The required power input to the electric motor when the mechanical efficiency is 90%
[0.7873 kg/s; 122.4 kW; 25.3 kW]