UNIT V: Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning

 Vapor Compression Cycle

 Effect of Sub-cooling and Superheating
 Components of a Typical Refrigerator and Air-conditioner
- Compressor, Evaporator, Condenser and Expansion Valve
 Vapor Absorption System
 Domestic Refrigerator
 Window and Split Air-conditioners
 Heat Load Calculation
 INTRODUCTION
Refrigeration
It is defined as the process of providing and maintaining a temperature well below that of surrounding atmosphere. In other words,
refrigeration is the process of cooling substance.

Refrigerating Capacity
o Capacity of a refrigerating machines are expressed by their cooling capacity.
o The standard unit used for expressing the capacity of refrigerating machine is ton of refrigeration.

Ton of Refrigeration (TR)

It is defined as, “the quantity of heat abstracted (refrigerating effect) to freeze one ton of water into one ton of ice in a duration of
24 hours at 0oC”.
Heat extracted from water at oC = latent heat of ice
Latent heat of ice = 336 kJ/kg
i.e., 336 kJ of heat should be extracted from one kg of water at 0oC to convert it into ice.

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 INTRODUCTION
Units of Enthalpy

Units of Entropy

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 Refrigerators and Heat Pumps

Warm Space

QR
o If the main purpose of machine is to heat a medium warmer
Heat than the surroundings, the machine is termed as heat pump.
Work Input
Pump

QR

Refrig
Work Input erator

o If the main purpose of the machine is to cool some object,

the machine is named as refrigerator. Cold Space

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Vapor Compression Cycle

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 REFRIGERANT
Inorganic Refrigerant Organic Refrigerant

Designation of Refrigerant

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 REFRIGERANT
Methane Based Refrigerant

Ethane Based Refrigerant

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Vapor Compression Cycle

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 Mechanism of a Simple Vapour Compression Refrigeration System
Compressor: The low pressure and temperature vapour
refrigerant from evaporator is drawn into the compressor
through the inlet or suction valve A, where it is compressed
to a high pressure and temperature. This high pressure and
temperature vapour refrigerant is discharged into the
condenser through the delivery valve B.
Condenser: The condenser or cooler consists of coils of pipe
in which the high pressure and temperature vapour refrigerant
is cooled and condensed. the refrigerant, while, passing
through the condenser, gives up its latent heat to the
surrounding condensing medium which is normally air or
water.
Receiver: The condensed liquid refrigerant from the
condenser is stored in a vessel known as receiver from where
it is supplied to the evaporator through the expansion valve or
refrigerant control valve.
 Mechanism of a Simple Vapour Compression Refrigeration System
Expansion valve: It is also called throttle valve or refrigerant
control valve. The function of the expansion valve is to allow
the liquid refrigerant under high pressure and temperature to
pass at a controlled rate after reducing its pressure and
temperature. Some of the liquid refrigerant evaporates as it
passes through the expansion valve, but the greater portion is
vaporized in the evaporator at the low pressure and
temperature.
Evaporator: An evaporator consists of coils of pipe in which
the liquid-vapour refrigerant at low pressure and temperature
is evaporated and changed into vapour refrigerant at low
pressure and temperature. In evaporating, the liquid vapour
refrigerant absorbs its latent heat of vaporization from the
medium (air, water or brine) which is to be cooled.
 Exchange of Energy in Vapour Compression System
Compressor
(a) Compressor requires work W. The work
energy is supplied by the system from the
surroundings.
(b) During condensation heat equivalent of
Q1
latent heat of condensation (Qv) etc. is lost.
This heat energy flows out from the system W
Q2
to the surroundings.
(c) During evaporation heat equivalent of
latent heat of vaporization is absorbed by
the refrigerant. This heat is again an inflow
of energy into the system.
Expansion Air Cooler
(d) There is no exchange of energy during the Valve
throttling process through the expansion
valve, as this process occurs at constant
enthalpy.
Hence, by making an energy balance we get,
Q1 = Q2 + W
T-S diagram for Vapour Compression System
Compressor

Q1
W
Q2

Expansion Air Cooler

Valve

Hence, by making an energy balance we get,

Q1 = Q2 + W
 T-S diagram for Vapour Compression System
The various processes of the cycle A-B-C-D (i) Process B-C:
are as given below: Isentropic compression of the vapour from state is B to C. If the vapour state, B
or superheated, (B”), the compression is called Dry Compression. If initial state is
wet, (B’), the compression is called wet compression as represented by B’-C’.
(ii) Process C-D:
Heat is rejected by the refrigerant, in condenser, to the cooling medium (water
and air), at constant pressure. It is carried out in two stages. The first is through
C-C’ or C’-C” where the heat is rejected by de-superheating of the vapour and the
second is through C’-D where latent heat is rejected at constant temperature (and
constant pressure).
(iii) Process D-A:
An irreversible adiabatic expansion of liquid takes place through expansion valve.
The pressure and temperature of the liquid are reduced. The process is
accompanied by partial evaporation of some liquid. Due to its irreversible nature,
the process is shown by a dotted line.

(iv) Process A-B:

Heat absorption by the refrigerant takes place in evaporator at constant pressure. The final state depends on the quantity of heat
absorbed and the same may be wet (B’), dry and saturated (B), or superheated (B”).
 p-h chart for Vapour Compression System
Horizontal lines represent constant pressure lines, vertical lines are constant enthalpy lines, while lines of constant temperature
and of constant entropy are also plotted below.

For different refrigerants, different P-h

charts are available:
(a) Constant pressure process is shown
by the horizontal line.
(b) Constant enthalpy lines represent
throttling or isenthalpic process.
(c) Constant entropy line represents
isentropic or adiabatic (reversible)
process.
(d) Constant temperature lines
represent isothermal processes.
 Analysis of Vapour Compression Cycle
The purpose of a mechanical compression refrigeration machine is to produce the maximum amount of refrigerat­ing effect for a
given amount of work consumed. Its performance may, therefore, be estimated by calculating the efficiency of the machine which
will be equal to the ratio of these two energy quantities. This efficiency in refrig­eration is called a Coefficient of Performance
(C.O.P.) to distinguish from the power generator efficiency.

COP is defined as the ratio of the desired effect (in refrigerating machine refrigerating effect is the desired effect) to the
energy supplied to produce that desired effect.

Work of compression/kg is given by W = h2 – h1, and is supplied.

Refrigerating effect is the heat absorbed by refrigerant in evaporator at
constant temperature and pressure and is equal to the change in enthalpy
during the process.
 Analysis of Vapour Compression Cycle
Instead of throttle valve or expansion valve, if an expander (piston-cylinder arrangement) is used, the expansion is taken as
isentropic as compression.
 Effect of Under Cooling or Sub-Cooling on Vapour Compression System
Undercooling or sub-cooling of the liquid takes place when the liquid is
cooled below the saturation temperature corresponding to condenser pressure,
before admitted to the throttle valve or expansion valve. Undercooling of the
liquid is generally along the constant pressure line. This is represented by line
3-3′ both on T-S and P-h diagrams.
Many times this undercooling is shown wrongly along the liquid line of T-S
diagram (3-3″). Undercooling is brought about by circulating greater quantity
of cooling water through the condenser. Many times undercooling of liquid
refrigerant coming out of the condenser is brought about by the vapours
coming from the evaporator thus vapours are superheated to some extent.

The coefficient of performance COP may be

increased by what is known as precooling or
undercooling. It will be noticed from the
diagrams that the net refrigerating effect has
been increased by the area 4’—4—6—5’— 4′.
The work done in compressed is not increased in
that proportion and hence the coefficient of
performance is increased by undercooling the
liquid.
Dr Vivek Kumar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, NSUT New Delhi
 Effect of Superheating on Vapour Compression System
If the vapour is compressed after it has become dry and saturated then
the vapour becomes superheated. This is shown on T-S diagram. The
effect of this superheating of vapour on the performance of the cycle
COP can be studied from this diagram.
The vapour is drawn in the compressor cylinder at the condition of 1′ and
is compressed to 2′, the temperature being Tsup. Remaining cycle
processes remain unchanged as shown.
Additional work done due to superheating is say W1 and given by-
 Effect of Superheating on Vapour Compression System

Problems in the Vapor Compression Cycle

Some of the Vapor Compression Refrigeration Cycle Problems that may affect this value are:
o Compressor Leakage/Failure
o Fouling – Evaporator and Condenser
o Motor Cooling
o Liquid Line Restriction
 o In the vapour absorption system, the compressor is replaced by an absorber, a pump,
a generator and a pressure reducing valve. These components in vapour absorption
Vapour Absorption system perform the same function as that of a compressor in vapour compression
system.
Refrigeration System o The refrigerant condenses in the condenser & evaporates in evaporation. The
refrigerants produce a cooling effect in the evaporator & release heat to the
atmosphere through the condenser.

o In this system, the vapour refrigerant from the

evaporator is drawn into an absorber where it is
absorbed by the weak solution of the refrigerant
forming a strong solution.
o This strong solution is pumped to the generator
where it is heated by some external source.
o During the heating process, the vapour refrigerant is
driven off by the solution and enters into the
condenser where it is liquefied.
o The liquid refrigerant then flows into the evaporator
and thus the cycle is completed.
 o The most commonly used fluids in the absorption system are water as absorbent and
Working of Vapour ammonia as refrigerant. The vapour from the evaporator is allowed to be mixed and
absorbed in the absorber.
Absorption System
o Heat of absorption generated in the process
is rejected from absorber to circulating cold
water in a heat exchanger dipped in the
solution contained in the absorber.
o The strong aqua-ammonia solution from
the absorber is pumped upto the condenser
pressure and fed to the generator which is
the main energy consuming element of the
system. Heat is supplied to the generator.
o The boiling point of refrigerant NH3, is
lower than that of the absorbing liquid
H2O, hence the vapours leaving the
generator are predominantly those of
refrigerant.
 o These vapours then pass on to the condenser. The liquid refrigerant from the
Working of Vapour condenser, then, passes through an expansion valve or throttle valve to the
evaporator where it absorbs heat from the substances or bodies to be refrigerated.
Absorption System Liquid refrigerant is then evaporated and the vapours enter the absorber completing
the cycle.

o The weak aqua-ammonia solution in the generator left due to separation of refrigerant vapour is drained back to the absorber for
repeating the cycle.
o The weak aqua-ammonia solution leaving the generator is at high pressure and the pressure in the absorber is the evaporator
pressure which is less than the generator or condenser pressure, and hence a pressure reducing valve is provided in the weak
solution line to the absorber.
o The energy requirements of the system are at the generator and at the pump as compared to those at compressor in the vapour
compression system. Since the volume of liquid handled by the pump is too small, the power required here is almost negligible as
compared to that by the generator.
 Practical Vapour
Absorption System
o In order to make improvements certain
additional auxiliary items are provided in the
simple vapour absorption system. They include
analyzer, a rectifier, and two heat exchangers.
The practical absorption cycles as developed
after incorporating these auxil­iaries is shown
here.
(a) Analyzer:
The ammonia vapours leaving the generator may contain certain
moisture, and therefore it should be freed from any trace of water vapour
before passing on to the condenser and then to expansion
valve, otherwise the water vapour is likely to freeze in the small valve passage and choke the flow.
The function of the analyzer is to remove the moisture as far as possible. It is an open types of cooler and forms an integral part of the
generator, mounted on its top. Both the strong aqua-ammonia solution from the absorber and the condensate removed in rectifier are
introduced from the top and flow downwards.
 Practical Absorption System
(b) Rectifier:
It is a closed type of cooler and is actually a miniature condenser where any traces of water vapour left in the ammonia
vapour, are removed by condensation .The cooling is achieved by circulating water as is done in an ordinary condenser. The
condensed aqua is drained back to the generator through the analyzer.

(c) Heat Exchangers:

• Two heat exchangers are provided to internally exchange heat from the higher tempera­ture fluid to the lower temperature
fluid so that one is cooled and the other is heated.
• One heat exchanger is provided between liquid receiver and evaporator so that the liquid is sub-cooled and vapour is
heated up. Another heat exchanger is located between generator and absorber so that the strong aqua is heated up before
going on to the analyzer and weak aqua is cooled before entering the absorber.

In this system, the net refrigerating effect is the heat absorbed by the refrigerant in the evaporator. The total energy supplied
to the system is the sum of work done by the pump and the heat supplied in the generator. Therefore, the coefficient of
performance of the system is given by
Domestic Refrigerator

Four basic components:

(i) Evaporator, (ii) Compressor,
(iii) Condenser, (iv) Expansion device

Evaporator: the evaporator is located in the freezer

compartment of the refrigerator. The freezer forms the
coldest part of cabinet with a temperature of about -15°C,
while the refrigerant evaporates inside the tubes at -25°C.
Just below the freezer, there is a chiller tray. Further below
are compartments with progressively higher temperature.

The bottom-most compartment which is meant for vegetables is the least one. The
cold air being heavier flows down from the freezer to the bottom of the refrigerator.
The warm air being lighter rises from the vegetables com-

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Room Air Conditioner
Consider that a room is maintained at constant
temperature of 25°C. In the air conditioner, the air
from the room is drawn by a fan and is made to pass
over cooling coil, the surface of which is
maintained, say, at a temperature of 10°C. After
passing over the coil, the air is cooled (for example,
to 15°C) before being supplied to the room. After
picking up the room heat, the air is again returned to
the cooling coil at 25°C.
Now, in the cooling coil, a liquid working substance
called a refrigerant, such as CHClF2

(monochloro - difluoro methane), also called Freon 22 or R22, enters at a

temperature, say, 5°C and evaporates, thus absorbing its latent heat of vaporization
from the room air. This equipment in which refrigerant evaporates is called an
evaporator.
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