3. The vapour compression cycle.

Example No. 1
A standard vapor-compression cycle developing 50 kW of refrigeration using refrigerant 22 operates
with a condensing temperature of 35 C and an evaporating temperature of -10 C. Calculate (a) the
refrigerating effect in kilojoules per kilogram, (b) the circulation rate of refrigerant in kilograms per
second, (c) the power required by the compressor in kilowatts, (d) the coefficient of performance,
(e) the volume flow rate measured at the compressor suction, (f) the power per kilowatt of
refrigeration, and (g) the compressor discharge temperature.

Given:
50 kW of refrigeration, refrigerant 22
35 C condensing temperature
-10 C evaporating temperature
Required:
(a) the refrigerating effect in kilojoules per kilogram,
(b) the circulation rate of refrigerant in kilograms per second,
(c) the power required by the compressor in kilowatts,
(d) the coefficient of performance,
(e) the volume flow rate measured at the compressor suction,
(f) the power per kilowatt of refrigeration, and
(g) the compressor discharge temperature.
Solution:
As the first step in the solution, sketch the pressure-enthalpy diagram (Figure 11) and determine
from Tables and Figures of properties the enthalpies at key points. The value of h1 is the enthalpy of
saturated vapor at -10 C, which is 401.6 kJ/kg.

To find h2 move at a constant entropy from point 1 until reaching the saturation pressure
corresponding to 35 C. This condensing pressure is 1354 kPa, and the value of h2 is 435.2 kJ/kg.

1
 The values of h3 and h4 are identical and are equal to the enthalpy of saturated liquid at 35 C,
which is 243.1 kJ/kg. Therefore
h1  401.6 kJ kg
h2  435.2 kJ kg
h3  h4  243.1 kJ kg
(a) The refrigerating effect is
h1  h4  401.6  243.1  158.5 kJ kg

(b) The circulating rate of refrigerant can be calculated by dividing the refrigerating capacity by
the refrigerating effect
50 kW
Flow rate   0.315 kg s
158.5 kJ kg
(c) The power required by the compressor is the work of compression per kilogram multiplied
by the refrigerant flow rate
Compressor power  0.315 kg s435.2  401.6 kJ kg   10.6 kW
(d) The coefficient of performance is the refrigerating rate divided by the compressor power
50 kW
Coefficien t of performanc e   4.72
10.6 kW

(e) The volume rate of flow at the compressor inlet requires knowledge of the specific volume
of the refrigerant at point 1. From tables or figures of properties this value is 0.0654 m3/kg,
and so

Volume flow rate  0.315 kg s  0.0654 m3 kg 
Volume flow rate  0.0206 m s  20.6 L s
3

(f) The compressor power per kilowatt of refrigeration (which is the reciprocal of the
coefficient of performance) is
10.6 kW
Power of refrigerat ion   0.212 kW kW
50 kW
(g) The compressor discharge temperature is the temperature of superheated vapor at point 2
which form Figure of Properties is found to be 57 C.

- End -

EXAMPLES
1. A vapor-compression refrigerant system uses R12 as the refrigerant. The gaseous refrigerant leaves
the compressor at 1200 kPa and 80 C. The heat loss during compression is 14 kJ/kg. The refrigerant
enters the expansion valve at 32 C. The liquid leaves the evaporator and enters the compressor as a
saturated vapor at -15 C. The unit must produce 50 tons of refrigeration. Determine (a) the R12 flow
rate; (b) the compressor power; (c) the COP.
Solution:

2
At state 2, -15 C, sat.
h2 = 180.85 kJ/kg
s2 = 0.7046 kJ/kg-K
At state 3, 1200 kPa, 80 C
h3 = 230.4 kJ/kg
At state 4, 32 C
h4 = hf = 66.52 kJ/kg
At state 1, h1 = h4 = 66.52 kJ/kg
(a) R12 flow rate
QA 503.516 
m   1.5377 kg s
h2  h1 180.85  66.52
(b) Compressor power
mh2  W  mh3  mqloss
W  mh3  h2   mqloss
W  1.5377 230.4 180.85  1.5377 14
W  97.72 kW
(c) COP
Q 503.516 
COP  A   1.8
W 97.72