In order to calculate isentropic work for the first stage, it is Hence, the compression required for the two-stage

two-stage propane
necessary to determine the isentropic enthalpy at 412 kPa (abs). refrigeration system becomes:
Fig.24-20, the first stage inlet entropy equals 3.85 kJ/kg K,
and the corresponding isentropic enthalpy at 412 kPa (abs) is BPT = 2013 + 4732 = 6745 kW
890 kJ/kg. Using Eq14-7a, the second stage discharge enthalpy is:
The ideal change in enthalpy = 890 820= 70 kJ/kg 75
V2d =
H + 890 = 990 kJ/kg
For propane refrigerant k = 1.13, compression ratio, r, of 0.75
4.21 and the isentropic efficiency, i of 0.75, the required com- Substituting into Eq14-8 yields the condenser duty for the
pression power for the first stage is obtained from Eq14-7b: two-stage propane refrigeration system:
(70) (77 650) Qcd = (990 630) (170 350)
BP1 = = 2013 kW
(0.75) (3 600) = (6.133) (107) kJ/h = 17 036 kW
Using Eq14-7a we determine the first stage discharge en- From Section 24 the second stage discharge temperature at
thalpy is: 1740 kPa and enthalpy of 990 kJ/kg is 80C.
70 Condensing Temperature
hvld = + 820 = 913 kJ/kg
0.75
Condensing temperature has a significant effect on the com-
A material balance around the second compression stage pression power and condensing duty requirements. Mehra3 il-
yields the total refrigerant flow: lustrated the effect of the condensing temperature on refrigera-
mT = m1 + (mb 33 480) = 77 650 + (126 180 33 480) tion requirements for one, two, and three stage systems. Results
for a one-stage propylene refrigeration system are summarized
= 170 350 kg/h in Fig.14-10.
A heat balance at the second compression stage entrance Fig.14-10 illustrates that the colder the condensing tem-
yields the second stage inlet enthalpy: perature, the lower the power requirements for a given refrig-
eration duty. Traditionally, the heat sinks for most refrig- era-
(913) (77 650) + (870) (126 180 33 480) tion systems have been either cooling water or ambient air. If
hv2s =
(170 350) cooling water or evaporative condensing is utilized, a 27 to 38C
= 890 kJ/kg temperature can be achieved. Section11 provides wet and dry
bulb temperature data. Fig.14-10 also indicates, to a certain
From Section24, the inlet entropy at 412 kPa (abs) and 890 extent, the effect on operations between summer and winter
kJ/kg is 3.85 kJ/(kg K), and the isentropic enthalpy at 1740 conditions as well as between day and night operations.
kPa (abs) is 965 kJ/kg.
Refrigerant Subcooling
Substituting into Eq14-6, the ideal enthalpy change across
the second stage as: Subcooling liquid refrigerants is common in refrigeration
systems. Subcooling the refrigerant reduces the energy require-
h = 965 890 = 75 kJ/kg ments. It is carried out when an auxiliary source of cooling is
The required compression power for the second stage is de- readily available, and the source stream needs to be heated.
termined from Eq14-7b: Subcooling can be accomplished by simply installing a heat ex-
changer on the appropriate refrigerant and process streams.
(75) (170 350)
2=
BP = 4732 kW
(0.75) (3600)

FIG. 14-9
Data for Heat and Material Balances FIG. 14-10
Effect of condensing Temperature

Condensing
Temperature, C 16 27 38 49 60
Refrigeration Duty,
kW 293 293 293 293 293
Refrigeration
Temperature, C 46 46 46 46 46
Compression
Requirement, kW 157 199 248 320 413
Change in BP, % 36.6 19.8 Base 28.8 66.4
Condenser Duty,
kW 451 492 539 613 709
Change in Condenser
Duty, % 16.3 8.7 Base 13.6 31.5

14-6