DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING REFRIGERATION & AIR CONDITIONING LAB VAPOUR COMPRESSION UNIT Aim: To experiment on Vapor Compression

Refrigeration Tutor and Plot the graphs for the following 1. 2. 3. 4. COP v/s evaporator temperature Refrigerant flow rate v/s COP Superheat v/s evaporator temperature Refrigeration load and Power input v/s evaporator temperature To verify heat balance. Theory: Refrigeration is playing an important role in all sectors of industry, commerce and household usage. A domestic refrigerator or any refrigeration plants work on the vapour compression cycle. It has four basic thermodynamic processes namely: A) Evaporation; B) Compression; C) Condensation and D) Expansion. Specifications of the Unit: Refrigerant Refrigeration rate Condensing Temperature Evaporating Temperature Compressor Type Bore Stroke Swept Volume Rotational speed Condenser Evaporator Cooling medium Expansion valve : R-134a Tetrafluoroethane CF3CH2F : 1400W (max). : 50oC (max). : -40 to +10oC. : Twin cylinder, reciprocating type : 38mm : 19mm : 43.0cm3/rev. : 740 rev/minute. : Shell and Coil type: Heat transfer area 0.075m2 : Compact one through concentric tube with refrigeration load supplied by two separate electrical heating elements. : Water : Thermostatically controlled internally equalized valve, controlled by superheat at evaporator outlet.

Instrumentation: Water Flowmeter Refrigerant Flowmeter : One variable area water flow meter with needle control valve. : One variable area R134a flow meter.

Pressure Gauges Compressor Speed Motor Speed Torque Temperature

: 2 Bourdon tube gauges to indicate pressure in condenser and evaporator. : A digital electronic tachometer with inductive sensor to measure rotational speed of compressor pulley wheel. : Motor speed from pulley belt diameter ratio = 1.98. : Dynamometer fitted to motor to indicate 0-20N at 165mm radius. : A digital multi channel thermometer indicating temperatures from K type thermocouples at important points.

Test Observations
Test No. Pc Pe t1 t2 t3 t4 t5 t6 mw mr Qeel kN/m2 kN/m2
o

SERIES Condenser Pressure(abs.) Evaporator Pressure(abs.) Compressor Suction Compressor Delivery Liquid leaving Condenser Evaporator inlet Water inlet Water outlet Water flow rate R134a flow rate Evaporator Volts Motor Volts Spring Balance Compressor speed

C C C C C C

g/s g/s W

Qmel W F nc N rpm rpm

Motor speed(nm=nc X Pulley ratio) nm ( Pulley ratio =1.98)

Graphs to be plotted:
Refrigeration load v/s evaporator temperature

Refrigeration Load = mr ( h1 h4 ) Evaporator Heat input = Q

el

COP v/s evaporator temperature Shaft Power: Ps = T

Ps = 0.165.F . Friction Power: Pf = T F f = 5 N (for no load condition) Pf = 0.165.F f .
Indicated Power: Pi = Ps Pf COP based on electrical power Q COPep = e Qel COP based on Shaft power Q COPsp = e Ps COP based on Indicated Power Q COPip = e Pi 2 N m 60

2 N m 60

COP v/s refrigerant flow rate Superheat v/s evaporator temperature Degree of superheat T1 Tsat

Heat Balance:
Volumetric efficiency:
Swept volume of compressor is always greater than volume of refrigerant delivered due to manufacturing reasons. So volumetric efficiency should be considered.
.

volumetric efficiency =

V1
.

Vswept
.

mr v1
.

Vswept

m r 103 v1 Compressor swept volume is n 43 10 6 c 60

Heat Balance:
Indicated power volumetric efficiency + evaporator load should be nearly ( 10% ) equal to heat loss to cooling water.