MEBS7012 Air Conditioning and Refrigeration

Basic Refrigeration Cycles

Dr. Benjamin P.L. Ho
E-mail: benjamin.ho@hku.hk
2021 - 2022
 Content
➢ Vapor Compression Refrigeration Cycles
➢ Heat Pump
➢ Absorption Refrigeration Cycle
➢ Supplementary Calculations on Vapour Compression Cycles

Reference:
Refrigeration Systems and Applications, 3rd Ed., Dincer, 2017 (e-book in HKU Library)

2
Vapour compression
Refrigeration Cycles

3
Basic Vapour Compression Refrigeration Cycle
Refrigeration Cycle: P-h diagram
Evaporator
➢ A diagram of a typical vapor-compression refrigeration cycle is
superimposed on a pressure-enthalpy (P-h) chart to demonstrate
the function of each component in the system.

➢ The pressure-enthalpy chart plots the properties of a refrigerant—

refrigerant pressure (vertical axis) versus enthalpy (horizontal axis).

➢ The cycle starts with a cool, low-pressure mixture of liquid and

vapor refrigerant entering the evaporator where it absorbs heat
from the relatively warm air/water or other fluid that is being
cooled.

➢ This transfer of heat boils the liquid refrigerant in the evaporator,

and this superheated refrigerant vapor is drawn to the compressor.

4
Basic Vapour Compression Refrigeration Cycle

Refrigeration Cycle: P-h diagram

Compressor

➢ The compressor draws in the superheated

refrigerant vapor and compresses it to a
pressure and temperature high enough that
it can reject heat to another fluid.
➢ This hot, high-pressure refrigerant vapor then
travels to the condenser.

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Basic Vapour Compression Refrigeration Cycle

Refrigeration Cycle: P-h diagram

Condenser

➢ Within the condenser, heat is

transferred from the hot refrigerant
vapor to relatively cool ambient air or
cooling water.
➢ This reduction in the heat content of
the refrigerant vapor causes it to
desuperheat, condense into liquid,
and further subcool before leaving
the condenser for the expansion
device.

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Basic Vapour Compression Refrigeration Cycle

Refrigeration Cycle: P-h diagram

Expansion Device

➢ The high-pressure liquid refrigerant flows through

the expansion device, causing a large pressure drop
that reduces the pressure of the refrigerant to that
of the evaporator.
➢ This pressure reduction causes a small portion of
the liquid to boil off, or flash, cooling the remaining
refrigerant to the desired evaporator temperature.
➢ The cooled mixture of liquid and vapor refrigerant
then enters the evaporator to repeat the cycle.

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Basic Vapour Compression Refrigeration Cycle

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Basic Vapour Compression Refrigeration Cycle

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Basic Vapour Compression Refrigeration Cycle

Refrigeration effect
➢ The change in enthalpy that occurs in the
evaporator is called the refrigeration effect.
➢ This is the amount of heat that each kg of
liquid refrigerant will absorb when it
evaporates.
➢ In comparison, the same system without
subcooling produces less refrigeration effect.

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Basic Vapour Compression Refrigeration Cycle
Superheating

➢ Superheating occurs inside the final length of tubes

at which temperature difference between
refrigerant and air is highest

➢ Such large temperature difference increases the

rate of heat transfer and the refrigerant vapor
absorbs much heat.

➢ Liquid refrigerant completely evaporated

➢ Superheating shifts from the liquid/vapor region to

vapor

➢ It ensures the refrigerant vapor is completely free

liquid before entering the compressor.

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Two-stage vapour compression system

Two-stage vapor compression system

Consists of two stage of compression

system

Comprise with a high stage compressor

and a low stage compressor or several
single stage compressors in series.

The pressure between the discharge

pressure of the high stage and suction
pressure of the low stage is called inter-
stage pressure.

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Two-stage vapour compression system

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Two-stage vapour compression system

Advantage of using two-stage vapour compression system compared with a single

stage system:

1) The compression ratio of each stage in a two-stage system can be reduced so

that the volumetric efficiency can be increased.

2) In two-stage system, the liquid refrigerant can be sub-cooled to the saturation

temperature at the inter-stage pressure which in turn increases the refrigeration
effect.

3) In two-stage system, the discharge gas from the low stage compressor can be de-
superheated that results in reduction of discharge temperature after the high stage
compression process.

Disadvantage of multi-stages systems include:

1) The complicated equipment results in high equipment cost comparing with single
stage system.

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Two-stage vapour compression system

Compound System – one type of 2-stage compression system

Vapor refrigerant at state point (1) enters the first stage of the
compressor in dry saturated state.

This vapor is compressed to the inter-stage pressure Pi at stage

point (2)

The mixture enters the second stage of compressor at state

point(3)

Hot gas compressed to condensing pressure Pc leaves

compressor at state point (4)

The hot gas is then discharged to the condenser and

condenses into liquid state at state point (5).

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Two-stage vapour compression system

Compound System (cont’d)

Upon passing the condenser, the sub-cooled liquid refrigerant at

state point (5’) flows through the high pressure side flow control
device. A portion of liquid refrigerant evaporates into the vapor
form in the flash cooler at state point (7)
The flashed refrigerant cools the remaining portion of liquid
refrigerant to the saturated temperature at state point (8) at the
inter-stage pressure.
The mixture of liquid and vapor refrigerant in flash cooler is at state
point (6).
Liquid refrigerant flows through low pressure expansion valve, a
small amount of which is pre-flashed and the liquid vapor mixture
enters the evaporator at state point (9).
In the evaporator, all liquid refrigerant is evaporated into vapor form
and flows to the first stage inlet.

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Two-stage vapour compression system

The inter-stage pressure of 2-stage compound system

1) The inter-stage pressure is selected such that the compression ratios at

various stages are approximately equal, and resulting in near equal volumetric
efficiencies for the two compressors.
2) The inter-stage pressure could be approximated by the following equation
(the geometric mean of evaporating and condensing pressures).

where p i = PcondPevap

Pcond = Pressure of condenser and

Pevap = Pressure of evaporator

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Two-stage vapour compression system
Defining the enthalpy of various state points in the PH diagram:
h1 = Enthalpy of saturated vapor leaving the evaporator
h2 = Enthalpy of superheated gas at the exit from the first
stage compression
h3 = Enthalpy of mixture of the super-heated gas from the
first-stage compressor and vapor refrigerant from the
flash cooler
h4 = Enthalpy of the hot gas discharged from the second
stage compression
h5’ = Enthalpy of sub-cooled liquid refrigerant leaving the
condenser
h6 = Enthalpy of refrigerant after the throttling device
h7 = Enthalpy of saturated liquid refrigerant at the
inter-stage pressure pi
h8 = Enthalpy of saturated vapor refrigerant at the
inter-stage pressure pi
h9 = Enthalpy of refrigerant entering the evaporator

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The portion of flashed vapour refrigerant in the flash cooler

In the flash cooler, there is x kg of vaporized refrigerant cools down the

remaining liquid refrigerant (1-x) kg to the saturation temperature at the
inter-stage pressure.
From the heat balance point of view, we have

h 5' = xh 7 + (1 − x)h 8
Note that x is also the dryness fraction of the liquid-vapor mixture in the flash
cooler at the inter-stage pressure. This equation could be expressed as
h 5' − h 8
x=
h 7 − h8
Enthalpy of vapor mixture entering the second-stage compressor

Heat balance at the mixing point before entering the second stage
compressor could be show as follows:-
Two-stage vapour compression system

Coefficient of Performance of the 2-stage compound system with a flash

cooler

The refrigeration effect in evaporator Qre (per kg of refrigerant through

condenser) could be expressed as:-

Qre = (1-x)(h1-h9)

Work input Win to the compressor (first and second stages)

It could be expressed as

Win = (1-x)(h2-h1) + (h4-h3)

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Multistage Refrigeration Cycles
Another approach:
◦ Cascade – two or more refrigeration cycles connected in series. The
condenser of the first cycle transfers heat to the evaporator of the
second cycle.

(Source: Refrigeration Systems and Applications, Dincer, 2010, Wiley) 21

Advantages
◦ Different refrigerants, equipment and oils can be used for the higher and lower systems
◦ Computes as two different systems except that the heat exchange between the lower cycle
condenser should match the higher cycle evaporator

Disadvantages
◦ Overlapping of condensing temperature of lower system and evaporating temperature of higher
system
(evaporator temp of higher system < condenser temp of lower system) – results in higher energy
consumption
◦ More complicated as there are two separate systems with different control and refrigerant types

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Heat pumps

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Heat Pumps
A heat pump extracts heat from a heat source and rejects heat to air or water at a higher
temperature.

During summer, the heat extraction, or refrigeration effect, is the useful effect for cooling.

In winter the rejected heat alone, or rejected heat plus supplementary heating from a
heater form the useful effect for heating.

A heat pump is a packaged air conditioner or a packaged unit with a reversing valve or
other changeover setup.

A heat pump has all the main components of an air conditioner or package unit: fan,
filters, compressor, evaporator, condenser, and a throttling device.

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Heat Pumps

The apparatus for changing from cooling to heating or vice versa is often a reversing valve, in
which the refrigerant flow to the condenser is changed to the evaporator.

Alternatively, air passage through the evaporator may be changed over to passage through the
condenser.

A supplementary heater is often provided when the heat pump capacity does not meet the
required output during low outdoor temperatures.

R-22 and R-134a are the most widely used halocarbon refrigerants in new heat pumps.

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Heat Pumps

Outdoor Unit

What if this valve

rotates by 90
degrees ?

Indoor Unit

Heat Pump Cycle

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Heat Pumps
Heat Pump Cycle
A heat pump cycle comprises the same processes and sequencing order as
a refrigeration cycle except that both the refrigeration effect qref, and the
heat pump effect qhp in are the useful effects,

The coefficient of performance of a refrigeration system: -

h1 − h 4 q1,4
COPref = =
w in w in

where h 4 , h1 = Enthalpy of refrigerant entering & leaving the

evaporator
w in = work input
The coefficient of performance of the heat effect :-
q 2,3
COPhp =
w in
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 Heat Pumps
Useful heating effect could be found by the following equation :

q 2,3 = (h 2 − h 3 )
where h 2 = enthalpy of hot gas discharged from compressor
where h 3 = enthalpy of the sub - cooled liquid leaving the condenser

PH diagram

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Vapour absorption
refrigeration cycle

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Vapor Absorption Cycle

The following illustrates the refrigeration cycle using vapour absorption by LiBr solution.

In this cycle, water is the refrigerant in the cycle (not the LiBr)

Distilled water is stable, nontoxic, low in cost, readily available, environmentally friendly,
and has a relatively high heat of vaporization

The cycle shall be operated in near vacuum, that is, at a pressure below atmospheric
pressure.

Large quantities of water are absorbed by the absorbent (LiBr) and separated within the
absorption cycle.

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 Heat
extraction
Vapor Absorption Cycle from
condenser

In the evaporator the refrigerant extracts

heat by evaporation Heat input
from boiler
Refrigerant vapour is absorbed and
condensed into solution in the absorber,
thereby making the solution weaker.

The weak strong solution is pumped to high

pressure and transferred to the generator

The addition of heat in the generator raises

the temperature of the solution, separating Heat
Heat input from extraction
and evaporating the refrigerant, thus making evaporator from
the solution stronger weaker. (refrigeration absorber
effect)

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 Heat
extraction
Vapor Absorption Cycle from
condenser
The strong solution is returned to the absorber
through the pressure reducing device so
maintaining the pressure difference between Heat input
from boiler
the high and low sides of the system
The refrigerant vapour driven out of solution at
high pressure in the generator flows to the
condenser where it is liquefied by removal of
heat at constant pressure
The condensed liquid is fed through a pressure
reducing device into the evaporator where the
cycle re-commences. Heat
Heat input from extraction
evaporator from
(refrigeration absorber
effect)

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 Vapor Absorption Cycle

Solution Generator
concentration lines

Solution Cooling
Pump

Absorber

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Absorption Refrigerating Cycle

A process by which refrigeration effect is produced through the

use of two fluids and heat input
A secondary fluid (absorbent) is used to circulate and absorb the
primary fluid (refrigerant) which is vaporized in the evaporator
Common refrigerant absorbent combinations
◦ Ammonia (refrigerant) – water (absorbent)
◦ Lithium bromide (absorbent) – water (refrigerant)
Take note that some systems (e.g LiBr – H2O ARS) operate at high
vacuum at an evaporator pressure of about 1kPa (abs) and the
generator and condenser operate at about 10kPa (abs)

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The Basic Absorption Cycle
Heat to cooling medium Heat Input

Saturated Vapour
Refrigerant
Saturated Liquid Weak Strong
Refrigerant Solution Solution

Vapour/Liquid
Refrigerant
Saturated Vapour
Refrigerant

Heat Source from space Heat to cooling medium

or chilled water

(Source: Refrigeration Systems and Applications, Dincer, 2010, Wiley) 35

Basic Absorption Refrigeration Cycle
Heat to cooling medium Heat Input

Saturated Vapour
Refrigerant
Saturated Liquid Weak Strong
Refrigerant Solution Solution

Generator
A strong solution (mixture strong in refrigerant) is heated in the generator
(high pressure) – refrigerant is vaporized into the Condenser
The remaining weak solution flow through the throttling valve into the
Absorber
Condenser
Vapour refrigerant is cooled in the condenser until condensation occurs
Liquid refrigerant flashes through the throttle valve into the Evaporator

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 Vapour/Liquid
Refrigerant
Saturated Vapour
Refrigerant

Heat Source from space Heat to cooling medium

Evaporator or chilled water

Due to drop of pressure from the condenser to the evaporator, the refrigerant
flashes with low temperature and thus refrigeration effect can be achieved
The flashed refrigerant absorbs the heat and enters the Absorber
Absorber
The refrigerant and the weak solution mix again to form a strong solution
The strong solution is then pumped into the Generator

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Ammonia – Water ARS
Differences from the Basic Cycle
Heat Exchanger
-To improve the heat change
-Increase COP
Analyzer and Rectifier
-To remove water vapour that may have
formed in the generator
-Only ammonia goes to the condenser

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Water – Lithium Bromide ARS
Common in HVAC applications as absorption chillers
Lowest evaporation temperature ~ 4oC (0.8kPa)
May use low pressure steam as the heat source
COP < 1 but cheap energy (in some countries having excessive steam
production) makes this system competitive compared with vapour
compression chillers with COP ~ 3 to 4
Crystallization is a significant problem causing blockage of pipes
◦ Condensation pressure set to higher level to prevent this from happening

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 Enthalpy Concentration Diagram
For LiBr – Water ARS

Typical LiBr ARS

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Further calculations in vapour
compression refrigeration
cycles

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Supplementary Calculation on
Vapour Compression Refrigeration Cycles
Consider a refrigeration cycle using R-134a is plotted based on the
following information:
◦ Condenser temperature = 45oC
◦ Evaporator temperature = 10oC
◦ Sub-cooling at condenser = 3oC
◦ Superheating at evaporator = 3oC
◦ Compressor efficiency = 90%

The refrigeration cycle for single stage compression is plotted

The refrigeration effect and the COP are to be found.

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R134a PH diagram

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Step 1: Plot the condenser and evaporator pressure line
(based on temperature)

45oC

10oC

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Step 2: Locate the sub-cooling and superheating points
Subcooling = 3oC

Superheating = 3oC

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Step 3: Plot the isentropic line & determine the enthalpy of
the refrigerant

410kJ/kg 428kJ/kg

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Step 4: Determine the actual work based on compressor
efficiency

Eff. = isentropic work / actual work

0.9 = (428-410)/(x-410)
x=430kJ/kg

430kJ/kg

410kJ/kg 428kJ/kg

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Step 5: Complete the refrigeration cycle and identify the
enthalpy of all the points

258kJ/kg 410kJ/kg 430kJ/kg

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Step 6: Calculate the refrigeration effect and COP

Refrigeration Effect
= 410-258
= 152kJ/kg

COP
= refrigeration effect / work done
= (410-258)/(430-410)
= 7.6

258kJ/kg 410kJ/kg 430kJ/kg

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Supplementary Calculation on
Vapour Compression Refrigeration Cycles
With the same set of design data but using two stage compression
What will be the refrigeration effect and COP?

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Step 1: plot the condenser and evaporator pressure line
(based on temperature) and determine the pressure

1.3MPa
45oC

10oC
0.42MPa

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Determine the inter-stage pressure

Pi = Pcond  Pevap
Pi = 1300000  420000
Pi  740000

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Step 2: plot the inter-stage pressure line

1.3MPa
40oC
0.74MPa
10oC
0.42MPa

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Step 3: Locate the subcooling and superheating
Subcooling = 3oC

Superheating = 3oC

54
Step 4: Plot the isentropic line & determine the enthalpy of
the refrigerant (1st stage)

410kJ/kg 420kJ/kg

55
Step 5: Determine the actual work based on compressor
efficiency

Eff. = isentropic work / actual work

0.9 = (420-410)/(x-410)
x=421kJ/kg

56
Step 6: Calculate the portion of flashed vapour in the flash cooler

h5' = xh7 + (1 − x)h8

258 = x(414) + (1 − x)239
x = 0.109

h8=239kJ/kg h5=258kJ/kg h7=414kJ/kg

57
Step 7: Determine the enthalpy before entering the 2nd stage
compressor

h3 = xh7 + (1 − x)h2
h3 = 0.109(414) + (1 − 0.109)421
h3 = 420

h7=414kJ/kg h2=421kJ/kg

58
Step 8: Repeat for 2nd stage compressor

Eff. = isentropic work / actual work

0.9 = (429-420)/(x-420)
x=430kJ/kg

420kJ/kg 429kJ/kg

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Step 9: The refrigeration cycle drawn
258kJ/kg
430kJ/kg

420kJ/kg 421kJ/kg

239kJ/kg 410kJ/kg

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The refrigeration effect is determined
= (1-0.109)(410-239) = 152.4kJ/kg
The work done by the compressor
= (1-0.109)(421-410)+(430-420)
= 19.8kJ/kg
The COP
= 152.4 / 19.8 = 7.7

61