CYCLE

3.6 ACTUAL VAPOUR COMPRESSION

the flow of the refrigerant through the condenser, evaporator and pipino
Due to heat losses or gains depend
drops in pressure. In addition, there willbe
there willbe
refrigerant and the surroundings. Fur.
ing on the temperaturedifference between the friction and heat transfer instead ot
ther, compression will be polytropic with some or all of the iteme
isentropic. The actual vapour compression cycle may have
of departure from the simple saturation cycle as enumerated
below and shown on the
p-h and T-s diagrams in Figs. 3.19 and 3.20.

2
3a 3b -P2
2c 2a
3 |2b
p

Po1
Po2
1d/1c
1a 16
1
P1

Fig. 3.19 Actual vapour

compression cycle on p-h diagram
P2
2a
26

2c

3
3b

3a

to1
to2
1d
1b1a/

Fig. 3.20 Actual

vapourcompression cycle on T-s diagram
(i)Superheating of the vapour in the evaporator, ld-lc.
(ü) Heat gain and
superheating of the vapour in the suction line,
 Vapour Compression System 115
(iii) Pressure drop in the suction line, lb-la.
(iv) Pressure drop due to wire drawing at the compressor-suction valve, la-1.
(v) Polytropic compression 1-2 with friction and heaf fransfer to the sürround
ings instead of isentropic compression.
(vi) Pressuredrop atthecompressor-discharge valve, 2-2a.
(vii) Pressuredrop in the delivery line, 2a-2b.
(vii) Heat loss and desuperheating of the vapour in the delivery line, 2b-2c.
(ix) Pressure drop in the condenser, 2b-3.
(x) Subcooling of the liquid in the condenser or subcooler, 3-3a.
(xi) Heat gain in the liquid line, 3a-3b. The lines 3-3a and 3a-3b are along the
saturated liquid line on the T-s diagram as the constant pressure lines in liquid
region run close to it.
(xii) Pressure drop in the evaporator, 4-1d. to the
Itmay be noted that the pressure drop in the evaporator is large. This is duedue to
cumulative effectof two factors. Firstly, the pressure drops in the evaporator
as evaporation pro
friction. This is called the frictional pressure drop. Secondly,increase. The increase
ceeds, the volume increases, and hence the velocity must also
and, therefore, from a further
in kinetic energy comes from adecrease in enthalpy pressuredrop.
pressure drop, This pressure drop is called the momentum pressure
since the frictional
Anthe condenser, the pressure drop is not significant,
drop is positive and the momentum pressure drop is negative.
in the condenser is not very critical.
Itis, therefore, to be noted that pressure drop
evaporators as it would increase power
But, it is very much so in the design of
refrigerating capacity (see Sec. 9.5).
consumption greatly or alternatively reduce oversized to keep the condenser pressure
The condensers, in any case, are usually
receivers. However, in the case of evap0
low and also to let condensers function as harmful.
are
rators, both undersizing and oversizing pressure drop in the evaporator from pPo to
It may also be noted that due to the corespondingly
temperature in the evaporator does not remain constant. It
Po2: the
changes from loj to lo2 capacity of the plant is decreased and
various pressure drops, the
Further, due to refrigeration) is increased. Correspond
consumption (per unit of
the unit power cycle is reduced.
ingly, the COP of the actual than the surroundings. Thus it loses heat to the
cylinder is hotter Freon
The compressor compressor reduces the work of compression. of the
refrigerant. The cooling of the the body
are, therefore, provided with parabolic fins built into are thus cooled
compressor during casting. The compressors
compressor cylinders on the outsideAmmonia and even Freon 22 compressors are water
by air by natural convection. Friction, however, increases the work of compres
jacketed for the same purpose. can be determined by knowing the initial Theand
of compression curve.
Sion. The actualwork n, the polytropic index of the compression
out
can be obtained by applying the
the final states and finding
compression process
heat rejected in the polytropic
SSSF energy equation
q= (h, - h,)+ w (3.35)
- W=(h, - h) -4 means:
represents the energy balance of the compressor. Itcooling
Equation (3.35) Heat lost in
compression = Increase in enthalpy of gas +
Work of
3.7.1 Pull-Down Characteristic and lce-Making Time of Refrigerators
According to the Indian Standards Institution (ISI) specification, for the testing of
refrigerators, the environment temperature is maintained at 43°C. The no-load test
isperformed by adjusting the thermostat position corresponding to an average cabi
net temperature of 7°C. The purpose of this test is to find the pull-down period, the
no-load power consumption, and the percentage running time as per ISI code.
AThe pull-down period is the time required to reach the specified temperatures
inside the cabinent after switching on the unit., The temperature at the geometric
çentre of the evaporator shall not exceed-5°C at pull-down.
Another test performed on the refrigerators is the ice-making time test. For this test.
after stable operating conditions are obtained following pull-down period, a quantity
of 0.5 kg of water at 30 ± 1°C in two standard ice trays is kept in the freezer, and the
time for each ON'and 'OFF' isnoted. After specified time of 3 hours, the ice trays are
examined for the formation of ice, and the running time of the unit during the 3hours
of operation is obtained, say, from the data acquisition system monitoring 'ON-OFF
cycle. This running time of the unit is the ice-making time. If ice is not formed during
3 hours of operation, thesysten operation is to be continued.
For the case of Freon 12 refrigerator of Example 3.8, the pulldown period is 90
minutes, and the ice making time is 125 minutes.