Refrigeration Lab Report

Ali Rida Bachir

SID 8104461

Abstract:
In this experiment, a refrigeration unit (R634) was studied. The unit was allowed to operate
normally while different parameters were measured such as temperatures, pressures and flow
rates. The results were tabulated and used to construct the thermodynamic cycle on the P-h
chart. As well as asses its performance by measuring the isentropic efficiency which was 59.9%
and the COPR (coefficient of performance) = 1.949 .
Introduction:
Refrigeration is the process of transferring energy from a low energy domain to a high energy
domain. According to the second law of thermodynamics, heat cannot be transferred from a cold
location to a hotter one unless work is introduced to the process. The devices that apply this
process are called refrigerators. Refrigerators are cyclic devices that operate on the vapour –
compression cycle (reverse cycle of heat engines) involving four processes; Evaporation,
Compression, Condensation and Expansion. For that it requires four components; Compressor
(to raise temperature and pressure), Condenser (exchange heat with surrounding), Expansion
valve/Throttle (to lower pressure and temperature), Evaporator (absorbs heat from
refrigerated area) shown in Figure 1. The purpose of a refrigerator is to maintain the
refrigerated space at low temperature by removing heat from it. The working fluid in
refrigerators is called the refrigerant it absorbs heat isothermally from a low temperature
source in the amount of ‘QL’ (from refrigerated area at evaporator) then rejects heat
isothermally to a high temperature sink in the amount of ‘QH’ (to the surrounding at condenser).
The objective of this report is to identify and analyse the processes in each component, record
data such as pressure and temperature at different locations as well as studying the
refrigerant’s phases (thermodynamic states) (Figure 2) to construct the refrigeration cycle on a
real pressure enthalpy chart provided by SOLVAY. The chart is for refrigerant Solkane® SES36.
Solkane® refrigerants are superior as they are nontoxic, ozone friendly, completely recyclable
and easy to handle.

Apparatus used:
The apparatus used for this experiment was a refrigeration
cycle demonstration unit R634. It consists of a bench
mounted vapour compression refrigeration cycle
demonstration unit using a hermetic compressor and water
cooled flooded glass condenser and evaporator. A float-
controlled expansion device controls the flow of refrigerant
(Solkane SES36). Internal electrical and mechanical safety
devices allow for unsupervised operation by students.
Instruments that allow the measure of pressures
temperature as well as flow rates are fitted in the machine.
(© 2011, P.A. Hilton Ltd).

F IGURE 1 DEMONSTRATION UNIT R634

(2011, P.A. H ILTON L TD ).
Experimental procedure:
1. Firstly, the cooling water and mains supply to the unit are
turned on.
2. Make sure the valves are in normal operation. This
ensures that the vapour is drawn by the compressor and
the condensed liquid goes to the evaporator.
3. Set the condenser cooling water flow rate to 6 g/s.
4. Set the evaporator water flow rate to 10 g/s.
5. Turn on the main switch. The compressor will start
working. If the unit is working normally, we should see
two internal lamps light up.
6. Set the refrigerant flow rate to 1 g/s. F IGURE 2 VALVES POSITIONS FOR NORMAL OPERATION.

7. Let the unit to run for 15 to 20 minutes to allow

everything to stabilize. (time taken to stabilize may depend on surrounding conditions)
8. Record all parameters in data sheet.

Results:
The results obtained from recordings and calculations are tabulated below respectively:
T ABLE 1 THESE VALUES ARE VALID AT ROOM TEMPERATURE OF 21O C WHILE P ATM WAS TAKEN AS 100 K N/M 2
QUANTITY MEASURED RECORDED VALUE UNIT
Evaporator gauge/absolute pressure Pe -68/32 kN/m2
Evaporator inlet/outlet water temp. 15.6/13.2 oC

Evaporator refrigerant temp. 3.5 oC

Evaporator water flow rate 10 g/s

Condenser gauge/absolute pressure Pc 53/153 kN/m2
Condenser inlet/outlet water temp. 16/21.9 oC

Condenser refrigerant temp. 33.5 oC

Condenser water flow rate 6 g/s

Compressor discharge temp. 69.6 oC

Compressor power input 170 Watts

Refrigerant mass flow rate 1 g/s
Expansion valve inlet temp. 26.1 oC

T ABLE 2 TEMPERATURES WERE CONVERTED TO SI UNIT KELVIN - (C P = 4.18 K J/KG.K )

FORMULAE/QUANTITY VALUE UNIT
Q’c (Qh) = m’c . CP . (t1-t2) 0.148 KJ/s
Q’e (QL)= m’e . CP . (t3-t4) 0.1 KJ/s
𝜻 (pressure ratio abs.) = PC/Pe 0.0478 -
COPR = (h1-h4)/(h2-h1) 1.949 -
Isentropic efficiency 0.559(55.9%) -
Power output =m’ref . (h2-h1) 59 J/s
Pmech (Given) 170 J/s
Discussion:
Points 1 ⟶2, the compression process takes place.
The refrigerant enters the compressor as a low
temperature and pressure vapour saturated SATURATED

(ideally) or super-heated and is discharged as a

high temperature and pressure super-heated
vapour. The change in internal energy is 𝛥h1,2=Win,
compression process is assumed to be adiabatic.
Win
Points 2⟶3, condensation process takes place. The
high temperature and pressure vapour passes
through the condenser where it rejects heat to the
surrounding environment and condenses into a
saturated liquid (ideally) at constant pressure and
temperature. In reality, the refrigerant is allowed
to condense beyond the saturated liquid state into
F IGURE 3 MAIN COMPONENTS SHOWN WITH FLOW AND STATE
the sub-cooled liquid state. That is to ensure
OF REFRIGERANT ( IDEALLY )
complete phase transformation. The change in
internal energy 𝛥h2,3 is equal to the heat rejected Qc . Critical point

Points 3⟶4, the expansion process takes place. The

high-pressure liquid goes through the expansion
valve that causes a significant drop in the T1

temperature and pressure of the refrigerant. The 3 2

process is assumed to be adiabatic since its rapid and T2
no work is done. Change in internal energy 𝛥h=0 .
Points 4⟶1, when the pressure of the liquid is
lowered it starts evaporating. The energy that 4 1
evaporates the refrigerant comes from cooling
everything down (e.g. pipes). As it passes through
the evaporator (refrigerated area/region), the
refrigerant is a mix of liquid and vapour, the energy
it absorbs is in the amount of Qe continues to evaporate F IGURE 4 IDEAL PRESSURE VS . ENTHALPY EXAMPLE CHART
the refrigerant until it is in the saturated vapour state SHOWING PHASES OF THE FLUID

(ideally), in reality, it is allowed to evaporate until a super-heated vapour is obtained. That is to

ensure 100% conversion to vapour before it enters the compressor since liquids are
incompressible (assumed to be as they require a lot of pressure to accomplish a little
compression).
Pmech (given) was measured using the electrical supply to the compressor.
Pmech > Poutput is an expected inaccuracy as the energy provided to the compressor is not fully
used into compressing the refrigerant vapour. Most of the energy is lost due to a lot of factors
mainly:
- The quality of the refrigerant vapour.
- Thermal losses through conduction and convection.
- Vibrations (sound).
- Some of the Kinetic energy of the compressor is transformed into heat.
- Hysteresis loses due to heat exchange between cylinder and refrigerant vapour.
On the other hand, other major errors affected the results of the experimental data including:
- Readings of the P-h chart were inaccurate as the copy provided was a photograph.
- External influences such as vibrations and room temperature which was assumed.
- Inaccurate reading of values by the machine
- Pressure losses due to imperfect seals.
- Thermal losses throughout the system.
 h1 h2’
h3,4 h3’4’ h2
F IGURE 4 SHOWING THE PLOTTED CYCLE ON THE REAL P- H CHART

Conclusion:
In conclusion, as for the efficiency of the compressor, 44.1% of the power input is lost due to
natural occurrences and poor insulation. Moreover, refrigerant Solkane SES36 is not suitable for
an ideal cycle.

References:

 Gkanas, E. 2018, thermodynamics [online lecture] module 207MAE. Coventry University

available from <https://cumoodle.coventry.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=53600>
[september23 June 2018].

 Cengel & Boles, Y. M. 1989, thermodynamics: an engineering approach, 5th edition,

McGraw-Hill, London.

 James M. Watterson. 2018, a simple guide to understanding compressors, 222 East 46th
Street, New York, NY 10017.