Chapter 7

Example 7.2-36----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Refrigerant 134a is the working fluid in an ideal vapor-compression refrigeration cycle that
communicates thermally with a cold region at 0°C and a warm region at 26°C. Saturated
vapor enters the compressor at 0°C and saturated liquid leaves the condenser at 26°C. The
mass flow rate of the refrigerant is 0.08 kg/s. Determine (a) the compressor power, in kW,
(b) the refrigeration capacity, in tons, (c) the coefficient of performance, and (d) the
coefficient of performance of a Carnot refrigeration cycle operating between warm and cold
regions at 26 and 0°C, respectively.
Solution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
T

PH
QH
2
3 2
Condenser
Liquid PL
Expansion 3 26oC
valve Compressor
Evaporator Isenthalp
4 1 0oC Vapor
W 1
QL 4
a b c s

Specific Internal Specific Specific

Type Temp Pressure Volume Energy Enthalpy Entropy Quality Phase
C MPa m3/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg/K
1 R-134a 0 0.2928 0.06931 378.3 398.6 1.727 1 Saturated Vapor
3 R-134a 26 0.6854 0.000831 235.4 236 1.125 0 Saturated Liquid
2 R-134a 29.25 0.6854 0.0306 395.2 416.2 1.727 Superheated Vapor

(a) The compressor work is give by

Wc = m (h2 − h1) = (0.08 kg/s)(416.2 − 398.6) kJ/kg = 1.408 kW

(b) The refrigeration capacity, in tons, is

QL = m (h1 − h4) = (0.08 kg/s)( 398.6 − 236) kJ/kg = 13.0 kW

1 ton
QL = (13.0 kJ/s)(60 s/min) = 3.7 ton
211 kJ/min

6
Moran, M. J. and Shapiro H. N., Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics, Wiley, 2008, pg. 539
7-11
(c) Tthe coefficient of performance is
Q 13.0
β= L = = 9.23
Wc 1.408

(d) The coefficient of performance of a Carnot refrigeration cycle operating between warm
and cold regions at 26 and 0°C, respectively

QL QL TL 273
β= = = = = 10.5
Wc QH − QL TH − TL 299 − 273

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2s 2

PH
QH
Liquid
3 2
Condenser
TH PL
Expansion 3
valve Compressor
Isenthalp
Evaporator TL
4 1 Vapor
W 1
QL 4
s
Figure 7.2-2 A vapor-compression refrigeration with irreversibilities.

Figure 7.2-2 shows several features existed in actual vapor compression systems. The heat
transfers between the refrigerant and the warm and cold regions are not accomplished
reversibly: the refrigerant temperature in the evaporator is less than the low reservoir
temperature, TL, and the refrigerant temperature in the condenser is greater than the high
reservoir temperature, TH. The compressor will not have 100% efficiency so that the fluid
leaving the compressor will be at state (2), which is at higher entropy than the isentropic
compression state (2s). The coefficient of performance decreases as the average temperature
of the refrigerant in the evaporator decreases and as the average temperature of the
refrigerant in the condenser increases. If the thermal efficiency of the compressor is known,
the enthapy h2 at state (2) can be determined from the following expression:

ηc =
(W / m )
c s
=
h2 s − h1
(W / m )
c
h2 − h1

Due to frictions, there will be pressure drops as the refrigerant flows through the evaporator,
condenser, and piping connecting the various components. The pressure drops are ignored in
subsequent calcualtions for simplicity.

7-12
 Example 7.2-47----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Refrigerant 134a is the working fluid in an ideal vapor-compression refrigeration cycle that
communicates thermally with a cold region at − 10°C. Saturated vapor enters the compressor
at − 10°C and saturated liquid leaves the condenser at 9 bar. The mass flow rate of the
refrigerant is 0.08 kg/s. Determine (a) the compressor power, in kW, (b) the refrigeration
capacity, in tons, (c) the coefficient of performance.
Solution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
T

PH
QH
2
3 2
Condenser

Liquid PL
Expansion 3 9 bar
valve Compressor
Evaporator Isenthalp
4 1 o
-10 C Vapor
W 1
QL 4
a b c s

Specific Internal Specific Specific

Type Temp Pressure Volume Energy Enthalpy Entropy Quality Phase
C MPa m3/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg/K
1 R-134a -10 0.2006 0.09959 372.7 392.7 1.733 1 Saturated Vapor
2 R-134a 41.47 0.9 0.02359 402.7 423.9 1.733 Superheated Vapor
3 R-134a 35.53 0.9 0.000858 249 249.8 1.169 0 Saturated Liquid

(a) The compressor work is give by

Wc = m (h2 − h1) = (0.08 kg/s)(423 − 392.7) kJ/kg = 2.424 kW

(b) The refrigeration capacity, in tons, is

QL = m (h1 − h4) = (0.08 kg/s)( 392.7 − 249.8) kJ/kg = 11.432 kW

1 ton
QL = (11.432 kJ/s)(60 s/min) = 3.25 ton
211 kJ/min

(c) The coefficient of performance is

Q 11.432
β= L = = 4.72
Wc 2.424

7
Moran, M. J. and Shapiro H. N., Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics, Wiley, 2008, pg. 541
7-13
Example 7.2-58----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Refrigerant 134a is the working fluid in an ideal vapor-compression refrigeration cycle that
communicates thermally with a cold region at − 10°C. Saturated vapor enters the compressor
at − 10°C and liquid leaves the condenser at 9 bar and 30oC. The compressor has an
efficiency of 80%. The mass flow rate of the refrigerant is 0.08 kg/s. Determine (a) the
compressor power, in kW, (b) the refrigeration capacity, in tons, (c) the coefficient of
performance.
Solution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
T

2s 2
PH = 9 bar
QH
Liquid
3 2
Condenser o
30 C PL
Expansion 3
valve Compressor
Isenthalp
Evaporator o
4 1 -10 C Vapor
W 1
QL 4
s

Specific Specific Specific

Type Temp Pressure Volume Enthalpy Entropy Quality Phase
C MPa m3/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg/K
1 R-134a -10 0.2006 0.09959 392.7 1.733 1 Saturated Vapor
2s R-134a 41.47 0.9 0.02359 423.9 1.733 Superheated Vapor
3 R-134a 30 0.9 0.000842 241.7 1.143 Compressed Liquid
4 R-134a -10 0.2006 0.02716 241.7 1.16 0.2671 Liquid Vapor Mixture

(a) The compressor work is give by

h2 s − h1 423.9 − 392.7
Wc = m (h2 − h1) = m = (0.08 kg/s) kJ/kg = 3.12 kW
η .8

(b) The refrigeration capacity, in tons, is

QL = m (h1 − h4) = (0.08 kg/s)( 392.7 − 241.7) kJ/kg = 12.08 kW

1 ton
QL = (12.08 kJ/s)(60 s/min) = 3.44 ton
211 kJ/min

(c) Tthe coefficient of performance is

Q 12.08
β= L = = 3.87
Wc 3.12

8
Moran, M. J. and Shapiro H. N., Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics, Wiley, 2008, pg. 543
7-14
Example 7.2-6 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Design a refrigeration system, which supplies two levels of ammonia refrigerant at 10oC and
at − 10oC to two exchangers requiring duties of 850 and 2,500 kW, respectively. Draw a
process flow diagram (PFD) showing major equipment, flow rates in kg/s of refrigerant,
duty of each heat exchanger, duty, and horsepower of each compressor. Also, show
temperatures and pressures of all streams. There are no inter-coolers between compressors.
The compressed gas from the last stage compressor can be cooled to saturated liquid at 30oC.
Use 75% adiabatic efficiency for all compressors.

Solution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

T3, P1 T4, P1
C2 C1

T5, P3

E3
T2 T1
P2 P1

Ti, P3

V2 V1
F2 F1
T2 T1
P2 P1

T2 T1
P2 P1

E2 E1

Figure 7.2-3 A two level refrigeration system.

A design of a two level refrigeration system is shown in Figure 7.2-3. Saturated liquid
ammonia at Ti is partially vaporized through a let-down valve V1 to T1 and P1. Part of the
liquid separated by the flash drum F1 is used to provide the first level refrigeration through
the heat exchanger E1. The remaining liquid passes through a second valve where its
temperature and pressure is reduced to T2 and P2. The liquid stream from the second flash
drum F2 is used for the second level refrigeration through the heat exchanger E2 where it
becomes saturated vapor. This stream is combined with the saturated vapor from the second
flash drum and compressed back to pressure P1. The problem can be solved either with a
Pressure-Enthalpy diagram of ammonia as shown in Figure 7.2-4 or with a program solving
an equation of state to obtain thermodynamic properties of a pure substance given any two
other properties (for example, temperature and pressure or saturation temperature).

7-15
 Isotherm at Ti

Critical point

Ti, P3
Saturated vapor
Saturated liquid Isentropic line
T3,ideal, P1
T1, P1 T3, P1

T2, P2

Enthalpy
Figure 7.2-4 Pressure-Enthalpy diagram.

We will use the thermodynamic values from a computer program as shown in Table 7.2-1.
For this example the pressure drop across the heat exchangers and across the flash drums will
be neglected. Saturated liquid ammonia at Ti = 30oC is a defined state at P3 = 1.167 MPa with
enthalpy equal to 322.4 kJ/kg as shown in the first line of the property table in Figure 4.7-10.
Similarly, the saturated properties of ammonia at 10oC and −10oC can be obtained. The mass
flow rated of saturated liquid ammonia, m L, 2 , required to remove 2,500 kW in heat
exchanger E2 is given by

2500kW 2500
m L, 2 = = = 1.9281 kg/s
hV ,2 − hL , 2 1431 − 134.4

In this equation, hV,2 and hL,2 are the enthalpy of saturated vapor and liquid ammonia at
−10oC, respectively. m L, 2 is also the liquid flow rate leaving flash drum F2. The vapor flow
rate, mV , 2 , leaving the second flash drum F2 can be determined from the mass and energy
balance around valve V2 and flash drum F2.

m2 = m L, 2 + mV , 2

In this equation m2 is the saturated liquid ammonia flow rate at T1 and P1 entering valve V2.
The energy balance is given by

( m L, 2 + mV , 2 )hL,1 = m L, 2 hL,2 + mV , 2 hV,2

Solving for mV , 2 we have

7-16
 hL ,1 − hL , 2 227 − 134.4
mV , 2 = m L, 2 = 1.9281 = 0.1483 kg/s
hV , 2 − hL ,1 1431 − 227

Table 7.2-1 Thermodynamic properties of ammonia.

Specific Specific Specific
Type Temp Pressure Volume Enthalpy Entropy Quality Phase
C MPa m3/kg kJ/kg kJ/kg/K
1 Ammonia 30 1.167 0.00168 322.4 1.2 0 Saturated Liquid
2 Ammonia 30 1.167 0.1105 1466 4.974 1 Saturated Vapor
3 Ammonia 10 0.6152 0.0016 227 0.8779 0 Saturated Liquid
4 Ammonia 10 0.6152 0.2054 1452 5.204 1 Saturated Vapor
5 Ammonia -10 0.2909 0.001534 134.4 0.5408 0 Saturated Liquid
6 Ammonia -10 0.2909 0.4181 1431 5.467 1 Saturated Vapor
7 Ammonia 39.43 0.6152 0.2343 1530 5.467 Superheated Vapor
8 Ammonia 52.64 0.6152 0.2465 1563 5.57 Superheated Vapor
9 Ammonia 38.85 0.6152 0.2338 1529 5.463 Superheated Vapor
10 Ammonia 87.57 1.167 0.1417 1628 5.463 Superheated Vapor
11 Ammonia 100.8 1.167 0.1482 1661 5.554 Superheated Vapor

The liquid flow rate through valve V2 is then

m2 = 1.9281 + 0.1483 = 2.0764 kg/s

The mass flow rated of saturated liquid ammonia, m E ,1 , required to remove 850 kW in heat
exchanger E1 is given by

850kW 850
m E ,1 = = = 0.6939 kg/s
hV ,1 − hL ,1 1452 − 227

In this equation, hV,1 and hL,1 are the enthalpy of saturated vapor and liquid ammonia at 10oC,
respectively. The liquid flow rate, m L ,1 , leaving flash drum F1 is the sum of the liquid flow
rate through the heat exchanger E1 and the liquid flow rate through the valve V2

m L ,1 = m E ,1 + m2 = 0.6939 + 2.0764 = 2.7703 kg/s

Similarly, the vapor flow rate, mV ,1 , leaving the first flash drum F1 can be determined from
the mass and energy balance around valve V1 and flash drum F1.

hi − hL ,1 322.4 − 227
mV ,1 = m L ,1 = 2.7703 = 0.2340 kg/s
hV ,1 − hi1 1466 − 322.4

The total mass flow rate mi of ammonia required for the system is then

mi = m L ,1 + mV ,1 = 2.7703 + 0.2340 = 3.0043 kg/s

7-17
The vapor flow rate m1,vap from both the exchanger E1 and the flash drum F1 is given by

m1,vap = m E ,1 + mV ,1 = 0.6939 + 0.2340 = 0.9279 kg/s

We now determine the horsepower of the second compressor. The saturated vapor leaving
the second exchanger E2 and the flash drum F2 must be compressed from 0.2909 MPa to
0.6152 MPa. For isentropic work, the gas entering and exiting the compressor will have the
same entropy at 5.467 kJ/kg⋅oK. The enthalpy of the gas leaving the second compressor C2
due to isentropic compression is 1530 kJ/kg. For 75% adiabatic efficiency, the actual
enthalpy of the exiting gas is given by

h3,actual = 1431 + (1530 − 1431)/0.75 = 1563 kJ/kg

The horsepower required of the second compressor C2 is

HP2 = 2.0764×(1530 − 1431)/0.75 = 274.1 kW = 368 hp

The actual temperature T3 of the exiting gas is obtained from P1 = 0.6152 MPa and h3,actual =
1563 kJ/kg. We have the gas leaving the second compressor at T3 = 52.64oC that must be
mixed with the saturated gas leaving the first heat exchanger E1 and the first flash drum F1 at
10oC. The enthalpy of the gas entering the first compressor C1 is then

2.0764 × 1563 + 0.9279 × 1452

h4 = = 1528.7 kJ/kg
2.0764 + 0.9279

At these conditions (P1 = 0.6152 MPa, h4 = 1528.7 kJ/kg) T4 = 38.85oC and entropy s4 =
5.463 kJ/kg⋅oK, the gas will be compressed to 1.167 MPa. The enthalpy of the gas leaving the
first compressor C1 due to isentropic compression is 1628 kJ/kg. For 75% adiabatic
efficiency, the actual enthalpy of the exiting gas is given by

h5,actual = 1528.7 + (1628 − 1528.7)/0.75 = 1661.1 kJ/kg

The horsepower required of the first compressor C1 is

HP1 = 3.0043×(1628 − 1528.7)/0.75 = 398 kW = 534 hp

The gas leaving the first compressor C1 at P3 = 1.167 MPa, h5,actual = 1661.1 kJ/kg, its
temperature T5 is 100.8oC. The gas will be condensed to saturated liquid at 30oC (1.167
MPa). The duty of the heat exchanger E3 is given by

Q3 = 3.0043×(1661.1 − 322.4) = 4022 kW

7-18