Lecture 3

Refrigeration, Heat
pumps and Air
Conditioning
Efficiency of a cooling system
 Coefficient of Performance
(COP)

COP is dimensionless.

The higher the COP, the more efficient

the heat pump.
COMPRESSION COOLING

Compression
Vapor Vapor

Evaporator Condenser

Expansion
Liquid +
Liquid
Vapor
• Required cooling temperature largely determines the choice of
refrigerant.

• The choice of refrigerant and the required cooling temperature

and load determine the choice of compressor, as well as the
design of the condenser, evaporator, and other auxiliaries.

• Additional factors such as ease of maintenance, physical space

requirements and availability of utilities for auxiliaries (water,
power, etc.) also influence component selection.
 ABSORPTION COOLING
 A heat source is used to provide energy for the cooling
process.
 Evaporating liquid used is typically water .
 To increase the rate of evaporation, a hygroscopic (water
absorbing) solution is introduced in the absorbing chamber.
Usually in commercial applications it is lithium bromide (LiBr)
salt solution.
 As the heat source steam or any waste heat stream can be
used.
Evaporator

Absorber
High pressure generator
Condenser
 Comparison
Compression Cooling Absorption Cooling
• Uses electricity or • Uses steam or waste heat
mechanical energy stream.
• Relatively high COP • Relatively low COP
• Generate a high level of • Relatively less noisy.
noise • Environment friendly
• Risk of environmental • Direct fired units can reach
pollution for higher efficiencies.
• Can be coupled with CHP
systems to make use of the
waste heat streams.
Evaporative Cooling
• Air in contact with water to cool it close to ‘wet
bulb temperature’
• Advantage: efficient cooling at low cost
• Disadvantage: air is rich in moisture

Sprinkling
Water

Hot Air Cold

Air
•Maximum or Carnot Efficiency

COP = T Min / ( T Max – T Min )

T Min = Minimum Temperature

T Max = Maximum Temperature