THE VAPOR-COMPRESION CYCLE

A Refrigerated space is maintained at 10°F and cooling water is available at 70°F. Refrigeration capacity
is 120000 BTU/Hr. The evaporator and condenser are of sufficient size that a 10°F minimum temperature
difference for heat transfer can be realized in each. The refrigerant is tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a), for
which data are given Table 9.1 and fig. G.2 (App. G).

(a) What is the value of ѡ for a Carnot Refrigerator?

(b) Calculate ѡ and m for the vapor-compresion cycle of fig. 9.1 if the compressor efficiency is 0,8

Solution

a) By Eq. 9.3 for a Carnot Refrigerator,

�=𝑇_𝐶/(𝑇_𝐻−𝑇_𝐶 )

w = 0 + 460.67
( 80 + 460.67 ) - ( 0+ 460.67 )

w = 5.76

b) Because HFC-134a is the refrigerant, the enthalpies for states 2 and 4 of Figs 9.1 and 9.2 are read
directly from table 9.1. The entry at 10 - 10 = 0°F indicates that HFC-134a vaporizes in the
evaporator at a pressure of 21.162 psia. Its properties as a saturated vapor at these conditions are :

H2 = 103.015 BTU/LBM S2 = 0.22525 BTU/LBM.R

The entry at 70 + 10 = 80° F in Table 9.1 shows that HFC-134a condenses at 101.37 psia ; its enthalpy as
a saturated liquid at these conditions is :

H4 = 37.978 BTU/Lbm

If the compression step is reversible and adiabatic (isentropic) from saturated vapor at state 2 to
superheated vapor at state 3',

S'3 = S2 = 0.22525

The enthalpy from fig. G.2 at this entropy and at a pressure of 101.37 psia is about :
 H'3 = 117 BTU/Lbm

and the enthalpy change is :

( 〖∆𝐻 ) 〗 _𝑠 =𝐻^′ 3 −𝐻2

= 117 - 103.015

= 13.985 BTU/Lbm

By Eq. 7.17 for a compressor efficiency of 0,8 , the actual enthalpy change for step 2 → step 3 is :

𝐻_3−𝐻_2=((∆𝐻)_𝑠)/ℵ = 13.985 = 17.48125 BTU/Lbm

0.8

Because the throttling process of step 1 → 4 is isenthalpic, H1 = H4. The coefficient of performance as
given by eq. 9.4 therefore becomes :

�=(𝐻_2−𝐻_4)/(𝐻_3−𝐻_2 )

103.015 - 37.978
17.48125

= 3.7203861

and the HFC-134a circulation rate as given by Eq 9.5 is

120000
m =𝑄𝑐/
103.015 - 37.978
(𝐻_2−𝐻_4 )=

= 1845 Lbm/Hr
The Heat Pump
A house has a winter heating requirement of 30 Kj/s and a summer cooling requirement of 60 Kj/s. Consider a heat
pump installation to maintain the house temperature at 20°C in winter and 25°C in summer. This requires circulation
of the refrigerant through interior exchanger coils at 30°C in winter and 5°C in summer. Underground coils provide
the heat source in winter and the heat sink in summer. For a year-round ground temperature of 15°C, the heat
transfer characteristics of the coils necessitate refrigerant temperatures of 10°C in winter and 25°C in summer.
What are the minimum power requirements for winter heating and summer cooling?

The minimum power requirements are provided by a carnot heat pump. For winter heating, the house coils are the
higher-temperature level Th, and the heat requirement is Qh = 30 Kj/s. Application of Eq 5.7 gives :

𝑄_𝑐=𝑄ℎ
𝑇𝑐/𝑇ℎ

Qc = 30 x 10 + 273.15
30 + 273.15

Qc = 28.021 Kj/s

This is the heat absorbed in the ground coils. By Eq (9.1),

�= 𝑄_𝐻−𝑄_𝐶

W= 1.98 Kj/s

Thus the power requirement is 1.98 kW

For summer cooling, Qc = 60 kJ/s, and the house coils are at the lower temperature level Tc. Combine Eq 9.2 and 9.3
and solve for W :

�=𝑄𝑐 (𝑇_𝐻−𝑇_𝐶)/𝑇_𝐶

W= 60 x ( 25 - 5 )
5 + 273.15
 W= 4.31 kJ/s

Thus the power requirement is 4.31 kW

Liquefaction Process

Natural gas, assumed here to be pure methane, is liquefied in a claude process. Compression is to 60 bar and
precooling is to 300 K. The expander and throttle exhaust to a pressure of 1 bar. Recycle methane at this pressure
leaves the exchanger system (point 15, Fig. 9.7) at 295 K. Assume no heat leaks into the system from the
surrounding, an expander efficiency of 75%, and an expander exhaust of saturated vapor. For a draw-off to the
expander of 25% of the methane entering the exchanger system (x = 0.25), what fraction z of the methane is
liquefied, and what is the temperature of the high-pressure stream entering the throttle valve?

Data for methane are given by perry and green. By linear interpolation in the table of properties for superheated
methane:

H4= 1140 Kj/Kg

H 15 = 1188.9 Kj/Kg

By interpolation based on ln P in the table properties for saturated liquid and vapor, we find for a pressure of 1
bar that :

T sat = 111.5 K

H9= 285.4 Kj/Kg (Saturated liquid)

H 12 = 796.9 Kj/Kg (Saturated Vapor)

S 12 = 9.521 Kj/Kg.K (Saturated Vapor)

The enthaply at the draw-off point between exchangers I and II, H 5, is required for solution of Eq. 9.7. The Expander
efficiency ɲ is known, as is H 12, the enthalpy of the expander exhaust. The calculation of H 5 (=H 11), the expander
inlet enthalpy, is less straightforward than the usual calculation of the exhaust enthalpy from the entrance enthalpy.
The equation defining expander efficiency can be writtten :

∆ 𝐻= 𝐻_12 − 𝐻_5=ℵ (∆𝐻)_𝑆=ℵ ( 〖𝐻 ^′ 〗 _12− 𝐻_5)

Solution for H 12 yields :

𝐻_12=𝐻_5+ ℵ ( 〖𝐻 ^
′ 〗 _12−𝐻_5)
 𝐻_12=𝐻_5+ ℵ ( 〖𝐻 ^
′ 〗 _12−𝐻_5)

Where H' 12 is the enthalpy at 1 bar as the result of isentropic expansion from point 5. This enthalpy is readily found
once the conditions at point 5 are known. Thus a trial calculation is indicated, wherein the first step is to assume
temperature T5. This leads to values for H 5 and S 5, from which H'12 can be found. All quantities in Eq. (A) are then
known, and their substitution into this equation shows whether or not it is satisfied. If not, a new value is chosen
for T 5, and the process continues until Eq. (A) is satisfied. This procedure leads to the values :

T5= 253.6 K H5= 1009.8 Kj/Kg (at 60 bar)

Substitution of values into Eq. 9.7 now yields :

�=(𝑥 (𝐻_12−𝐻_5 )+𝐻_4−𝐻_15)/

(𝐻_9−𝐻_15 )

Z= 0.25 ( 796.9 - 1009.8 )+ 1140 - 1188.9

285.4 - 1188.9

Z = 0.1130327

Thus 11.3 % of the methane entering the exchanger system is liquefied.

The temperature at point 7 depends on its enthalpy, which is found from energy balance on the exchanger system.
Thus, for exchanger I,

�_4 (𝐻_5−𝐻_4 )+�_15 (𝐻_15−𝐻_14 )=0

With m15 = m4 - m9 and m9/m4 = z, this equation may be rearranged to give :

𝐻_14=(𝐻_5−𝐻_4)/(1−�)
+𝐻_15

H 14 = 1009.8 - 1140 + 1188.9

1 - 0.1130327

H 14 = 1042.1077 kJ/kg T 14 = 227.2 K