Unit-3

Refrigerator components and Refrigerant

 Compressor
It is heart of vapour compression refrigeration system.

It compresses the vapour refrigerant by increasing pressure and temperature

resulting in an increase of boiling point of refrigerant.

It discharge the vapour refrigerant in high pressure and temperature to

condenser.

It is different from those used in other applications, such as air and gas
compressor.

Its performance, life and breakdown are very much influenced by performance of
other components like condenser, throttling device and evaporator .
 Types of compressor

Broad classification of refrigeration compressor are:

1. Reciprocating compressor

2. Centrifugal compressor

3. Rotary compressor

4. Screw compressor
 Reciprocating compressor
This compressor is based on piston-crank mechanism in which piston
connected to crank with connecting rod and reciprocates inside the cylinder.

Reciprocating compressor classified into three types.

A. Open type
B. Semi-sealed
C. Hermitically sealed
 Open type compressor

The main disadvantage of this compressor is the shaft seal which is most
vulnerable point for the leakage of refrigerant. So this major problem in this
kind of compressor.
 Semi-sealed compressor

In this types of compressor, the compressor and motor are enclosed in a

common housing.

Normally the cylinder head, end plate and base plate can be removed for
servicing the internal mechanism.

The compressor and motor are coupled together by a common shaft inside
the housing.
 Hermitically sealed compressor

In a hermetically sealed compressor the motor and compressor are a inside

welded steel dome which can not be removed easily for internal servicing.
 Hermitically sealed compressor

Advantages:
Complete prevention of leakage
of refrigerant.
More compact.
Less noisy.

Disadvantages:
The wiring of motor may get
damaged in the presence of
moisture.
Not serviceable.
 Centrifugal compressor
These compressors are generally used for
refrigerant that requires large displacement and
low condensing pressure such as R-11 and R-113.

Advantages:
Due to absence of unbalanced masses, these
compressor operate with little or no vibration.

This can handle large mass flow rate of

refrigerant.

Disadvantage:
Surging problem.

Requires refrigerant which should have high

specific volume.

 Rotary compressor

Broadly classified into two types:

1. Roller type rotary compressor.
2. Vane type rotary compressor.
Roller type rotary compressor
Vane type rotary compressor
Screw compressor
 Condensers

A condenser is a heat exchanger in which high temperature of vapour

changes own phase from vapour to liquid.

Condensers are of three types.

1. Air-cooled condenser. (air)
2. Water-cooled condenser. (water)
3. Evaporative condenser. (air+water)
 Air-cooled condenser
A. Air condenser with fins.
B. Plate and tube condenser.
C. Forced circulation air cooled condenser.
 Water cooled condenser
a) Shell and tube condenser
b) Shell and coil condenser
c) Double tube condenser
Evaporative condenser
 Evaporator
Evaporator is any heat exchanger in which volatile liquid is vaporized for the
purpose of removing heat from a refrigerated space.

Evaporator is also called chiller, freezer or cooling coil depending upon its
application.
 Evaporator

On the basis of operating condition.

1. Flooded type evaporator
2. Dry or direct expansion type evaporator

On the basis of construction of the surface.

1. Plate-surface evaporator
2. Finned- tube evaporator
Flooded type evaporator
Dry or direct expansion type evaporator
Plate surface evaporator
 Expansion devices
It reduce the pressure and temperature of refrigerant resulting decrease the
boiling temperature of refrigerant.

There are many types of expansion devices but following three are important
from application point of view.
1. Automatic expansion valve.
2. Thermostatic expansion valve.
3. Capillary tube.
Automatic expansion valve.
Thermostatic expansion valve
Capillary tube

Advantages:
Simple in design.
Low cost.
Suitable for Domestic
refrigerator and air condition.
According to Darcy equation
pressure drop happens inside
the capillary tube,
 Refrigerants
It is defined as any substance that absorbs heat from evaporator and loses it
through condenser.

Refrigerants are classified into two types.

Primary refrigerants: are those refrigerants which directly take part in the
refrigeration system. Like ammonia, sulphur dioxide etc.

Secondary refrigerant: are those refrigerants which first cooled with the help
of primary refrigerant and then used for cooling purpose. Like ice, carbon-
dioxide.

Azeotropes: It is kind of primary refrigerants in which two different primary

refrigerant mixed with different concentration.
 Designation of refrigerant
A refrigerant followed by a two digits number: derived from methane.
A refrigerant followed by a three digits number: derived from ethane.
Mono: 1
Di: 2
Tri: 3
Tetra: 4
Designation: R-(m-1)(n+1)(q)
Where,
m= Number of carbon atoms.
n= Number of hydrogen atoms.
q= Number of fluorine atoms.
p= Number of chlorine atoms.
But for balancing this should be satisfied.
n+p+q=2(m+1)
 Designation

Ex-1: Dicloro-tetrafluroethane

Ex-2: Tricloro-monofluoromethane

Ex-3: Tricloro-tryfluoroethane

Ex-4: Methane

Ex-5: Ethane
Designation of inorganic compound refrigerant

Always start from numeric value 7.

Designation = 700+ molecular weight.
Ex.
1. Ammonia(3 ) = 700+(14+3) = R-717
2. Water (2 O) = 700+(2+16) = R-718
3. Carbon dioxide (C2 ) = 700+(12+32) = R-744
4. Air = 700+29 = R-729
 Desirable properties of good refrigerant
Thermodynamic properties:
I. Low boiling point.
II. Low freezing point.
III. Positive pressure on both side (evaporator and condenser side).
IV. High saturation temperature.
V. High latent heat of vaporization.

Chemical properties :
I. Non-toxic.
II. Non-flammable.
III. Non- corrosive.
IV. No effect on the quality of stored food.
V. Non irritating.
 Cont
Physical properties:
I. Low specific volume.
II. Low specific heat.
III. High thermal conductivity.
IV. Low viscosity
V. High electrical insulation

Other properties:
I. Easy of leakage deduction.
II. Good availability and low cost.
III. High COP
IV. Low power consumption per tonne of refrigeration.
 Remaining part of unit no 2
What is multi staging or compounding of compressor?
In simple VCRS there are only one compressor is used for compression but
where more than one compressor are used to achieve desired pressure,
system is known as multi staging system.
Advantages of multi staging systems:
Actual VCRS
Cont