Refrigeration

Refrigeration is the process of removing heat from an enclosed space, or from a substance, and moving it to a place where it is unobjectionable. The primary purpose of refrigeration is lowering the temperature of the enclosed space or substance and then maintaining that lower temperature.

Applications of Refrigeration
1. In chemical industries for separating and liquefying gases and vapours, 2. in manufacturing and storing ice, 3. for the preservation of perishable food items in cold storage for cooling water, 4. for cooling water, 5. for controlling humidity of air in the manufacture and heat treatment of steels, 6. for chilling the oil to remove wax in oil refineries. 7. for the preservation of tablets and medicines in pharmaceutical industries. 8. for the preservation of blood, tissues, etc., in medical fields, 9. for comfort air-conditioning in hospitals, theaters, etc.

Performance of a Refrigerator
Coefficient of Performance: The coefficient of performance (briefly written as C.O.P) is the ratio of heat extracted in the refrigerator to the work done on the refrigerant. It is also known as theoretical coefficient of performance. Mathematically, Theoretical C.O.P =Q/W Where Q= Amount of heat extracted in the refrigerator (or the amount of refrigeration effect produced, or the capacity of a refrigerator), and W= Amount of work done.

Types of Refrigerators
Refrigerators are of the following types.

1. Ice refrigerators: Ice is kept in the cabinet of refrigerators and this acts as the refrigerating means 2. Air refrigerators: Air is used as working agent in these types of refrigerators. Air refrigerators are of two types. Cold air refrigerator working on reversed Carnot cycle or the ideal refrigerator. Cold air refrigerator working on Bell-Coleman cycle.

3. Vapour refrigerators: The working agents employed in this type are vapors like ammonia, carbon-dioxide, sulfur di-oxide Freons etc. The vapour refrigerators can be further classified as Vapour compression refrigerators. Vapour absorption refrigerators.

Vapour refrigerators are widely used in various fields. Vapour refrigerators are widely used in various fields. Vapour compression system is used usually for all purposes of refrigeration.