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Air Conditioning Lab Report 1920

Thermodynamics & Fluid Mechanics 1 (University of Nottingham)

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2019/2020 Air Conditioning

Name : Suren Huan Feng A/L Anpalagam
Student ID : 20095489
Module : MMME2007 Thermodynamics & Fluid Mechanics II
Module
: Prof. Yousif Abdalla Abakr
Convenor
Date : 11th December 2019
The University of Nottingham Malaysia,
Department of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering

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Contents
Summary......................................................................................................................3
Background Theory.........................................................................................................4
Recorded Data............................................................................................................6
Derived & Calculated Results..........................................................................................9
Discussion...................................................................................................................11
Conclusion..................................................................................................................12
Appendix....................................................................................................................13
Calculations..............................................................................................................13
Psychometric Chart.....................................................................................................14
R134a P-h Diagram.....................................................................................................16
Reference................................................................................................................17

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Summary
The experiment aims to create an understanding of air conditioning processes and the indicators of
moisture and heat content of the environmental air. Besides, the experiment allows students to learn and
calculate the required heat exchanges that will achieve the required air condition.

Surrounding air will be channelled through the air conditioner and the temperature of four stations
labelled A, B, C and D are measured and tabulated. Each station has two thermometers, a wet bulb
thermometer and a dry bulb thermometer. Temperature at station A is the temperature of the inlet air
(TwA=23.5°C,TdA=27.0°C), temperature at station B is the temperature of air passing through the steam
injector and pre heater (TwB=27.5°C,TdB=35.5°C), temperature at station C is the temperature of air after
passing through the evaporation process of the air conditioner (TwC=23.5°C,TdC=24.0°C), and temperature
at station D is the temperature of the treated air (TwD=24°C,TdD=35.5°C). These values of wet and dry bulb
temperature of the air enables the students to determine the relative and specific humidity, specific enthalpy,
specific volume of the air via referencing the Psychometric chart.

Mass flow rates of air can be calculated using the derived values (0.1192 kgs-1). These mass flow
rate values will be then used to calculate the heat exchanges occurring in each station. A p-h diagram of the
refrigerant (R134A) is used alongside the obtained values in order to plot the refrigerant cycle. Assumptions
include a steady flow rate where differences in kinetic energy and potential energy are neglected.

Possible improvements to experimental procedure:

1) Digital thermometers should replace the analogue thermometers that were used as temperature
readings can be taken within a shorter time span with a higher accuracy and parallax error can be
avoided altogether.

2) Pressure gauge with a smaller range should be used as it will be more sensitive to pressure change.
Usage of digital pressure gauge can further improve the sensitivity and accuracy of the pressure
measurements obtained.

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Background Theory
Air conditioning is a mechanism where the temperature and humidity of a controlled space is altered
to satisfy the comfort of humans by removing heat. In a commercial air conditioner, initially there is work
input from fan to increase the speed of air flow followed by cooling of air to dew point for condensation to
occur in order to reduce air humidity. The overly-cooled air is then heated to the required temperature.

In the air conditioning lab experiment, work is done to the air via fan work (station A), moisture and
is added to the air (station B), air is heated (station C) and air is cooled (station D).

Figure 1: Schematic Diagram for Air Conditioning Unit

During the cooling, the R134a refrigerant goes through a cyclic process where it absorbs heat from
the air in the evaporator and rejects heat back to the environment in the condenser.

The refrigerant is expanded (liquid to vapour) when entering the evaporator via the expansion valve
which has a very small tiny hole as outlet. This expansion reduces both the pressure and temperature of the
refrigerant and thus is ideal to absorb heat from the air. The refrigerant leaves the evaporator with a raised
temperature and low pressure. The cold air is blown into the room and the temperature of the room is
regulated.

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The refrigerant will then enter the compressor which will increase the pressure as well as the
temperature of the refrigerant (vapour to liquid). The refrigerant will enter the condenser where the heat will
be rejected to the surrounding aided by a fan before returning back to the expansion valve.

Mass Flow Rate Balance & Energy Balance:

Law of Conservation of Mass and Law of Conservation of Energy is used to analyse the air
conditioning experiment. The power input to the air conditioner should be equivalent to the power output
from the air conditioner. The sum of the energy of the condensed water and the energy of the air cooling the
room must balance out the sum of the energy of air sucked in, energy absorbed and energy released by the
R134a refrigerant during refrigerant cycle. As the flow is assumed to be in steady state, the rate of mass flow
of dry air must be equal at both the inlet and outlet. The rate of vapour mass flow at the inlet must be equal
to the sum of the rate of vapour mass flow at the outlet and the rate of flow of condensed water.

Dry air: m a at B=¿˙ m a˙at C ¿

Water and vapour: ṁa ω B=ṁa ωC + ṁw

Energy balance: ṁ a hB =ṁ a hC + ṁ w h w + H B−C

Possible factors leading to inaccurate energy and mass balance:

 Heat losses of refrigerant in pipes are not accounted for

 Taking temperature and pressure values and mass of condensed water over a span of time
 Rate of mass flow at inlet and outlet not necessarily constant which defies the assumption of steady
flow rate

Experimental Results

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Recorded Data
Table 1. Wet and Dry bulb temperatures at station D to visualize system stability

Expected time Actual time T dD T wD

0min 15:28 23.0 18.0

5 min 15:33 29.5 18.5

10 min 15:38 31.0 19.0

15 min 15:43 32.5 21.0

20 min 15:48 33.0 22.5

25 min 15:53 35.5 24.0

30 min 15:58 35.5 24.0

Figure Graph of Temperature of Dry Bulb and Wet Bulb against

2: Time
Graph
40
of Dry
Bulb 35
and 30
Temperature / ℃

Wet
25
Bulb
20

15

10

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000

Time / s

Temperature against Time

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Table 2. Parameters and physical quantities associated with experiment

Atmospheric pressure Patm [bar] 1.0

Pre-heater heat input Q̇ p [KW] 1.0

Water boiler heat input Q̇ b [KW] 2.0

Table 3. Differential pressure & temperature data for the calculation of mass flow of air in system

Orifice Differential Uncertainty in

Δ z [mm] 5.00 0.05
pressure Δ z [mm]
Wet bulb Temperature Uncertainty in
T wD [˚ C ] 24.50 0.25
of the air at D T wD [˚ C ]

Dry bulb Temperature Uncertainty in

T dD [˚ C ] 35.50 0.25
of the air at D T dD [˚ C ]

Table 4. Temperature readings for the calculation of water loss and enthalpy decrease through air
conditioner

Wet bulb Temperature of Uncertainty in

T wA [˚ C ] 23.50 0.25
the air at A T wA [˚ C ]
A
Dry bulb Temperature of Uncertainty in
T dA [˚ C ] 27.00 0.25
the air at A T dA [˚ C ]
Wet bulb Temperature of Uncertainty in
T wB [˚ C] 27.50 0.25
the air at B T wB [˚ C]
B
Dry bulb Temperature of Uncertainty in
T dB [˚ C ] 35.50 0.25
the air at B T dB [˚ C ]
Wet bulb Temperature of Uncertainty in
T wC [˚ C] 23.50 0.25
the air at C T wC [˚ C]
C
Dry bulb Temperature of Uncertainty in
T dC [˚ C ] 24.00 0.25
the air at C T dC [˚ C ]

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Table 5. Temperature, pressure, mass flow rate, time and collected mass readings for the calculation of
quantities linked with the refrigerant cycle.

superheated Temperature T 1 [˚ C ] Uncertainty in

15.00 T 1 [˚C] 0.25
refrigerant R134a
vapour leaving Uncertainty in
evaporator Pressure P1[kN/m2] 300.0 P1[kN/m2] 12.5

Temperature T 2 [˚ C ] Uncertainty in
76.00 T 2 [˚C] 0.25
R134a after
compressor Uncertainty in
Pressure P2[kN/m2] 1200 P2[kN/m2] 25

R134a before Uncertainty in

Temperature T 3 [˚ C ] 46.00 T 3 [˚C] 0.25
expansion valve,
at the high Uncertainty in
pressure Pressure P3[kN/m2] 1200 P3[kN/m2] 25

R134a mass flow Uncertainty in

ṁ r [g/s] 16.00 0.05
rate ṁ r [g/s]
Mass of Uncertainty in
condensate m c [g] 135.0 2.5
m c [g]
collected
Condensate Uncertainty in
t [s] 600.000 0.005
collection time t [s]

Table 6. Water extracted from air vs. condensate collected

Mass of condensate collected after system stability m (g) 115

Condensate collection time t (s) 1800

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Derived & Calculated Results

Table 3.1 Mass flow of air in system

Specific volume of the Uncertainty in

ν D [ m3 /kg ] 0.8943 0.0005
air at station D. ν D [kg /m 3]
Air mass flow rate Uncertainty in
(note: orifice pressure
is in m)
ṁa=1.594
√ Δz
νD
[kg /s] 0.1192 ṁa [kg /s ] (see
equation (3))
0.0185

Table 4.1 Calculation of water loss and enthalpy decrease through air conditioner

A Specific humidity at A Uncertainty in ω A

ω A[kg/kg] 0.0168 0.0001
from chart [kg/kg]
B Specific humidity at B Uncertainty in ω B
from chart
ω B[kg/kg] 0.0200 0.0001
[kg/kg]
C Specific humidity at C Uncertainty in ω B
ω C [kg/kg] 0.0181 0.0001
from chart [kg/kg]
ṁw =¿
Uncertainty in ṁ w 5.8175
Mass of water lost ṁ a ( ω B−ωC ) [kg/ 1.0728 x 10-4
[kg/s] x 10-5
s]
Enthalpy of air at A from Uncertainty in h A [J/
chart
h A [kJ/kg] 70.0373 250
kg]
Enthalpy of air at B from Uncertainty in h B[J/
chart
h B [kJ/kg] 86.9312 250
kg]
Enthalpy of air at C from Uncertainty in hC [J/
chart
hC [kJ/kg] 70.16 250
kg]
Total Cooling of air Q B −C =¿ Uncertainty in Q B −C
across air-conditioner ṁa hB −¿] 1733.4362 [W] (see equation 427.63
[W] (6))
Latent Cooling of air Q latent =¿
across air-conditioner Uncertainty in Q Latent
ṁ w hfg 264.4988 143.09
[W]
[W]

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Table 5.1 Calculation of quantities linked with the refrigerant cycle.

superheated
refrigerant R134a Specific Enthalpy from
312.5 Uncertainty in h1 [kJ/kg] 2.5
vapour leaving chart h1 [kJ/kg]
evaporator
R134a after Specific Enthalpy from
355 Uncertainty inh2 [J/kg] 2.5
compressor chart h2 [kJ/kg]
R134a before
expansion valve, Specific Enthalpy from
165 Uncertainty inh3 [J/kg] 2.5
at the high chart h3 [kJ/kg]
pressure
Refrigerant
Specific volume
leaving
evaporator
ν1 [ ]
m3
kg
0.075 Uncertainty in ν1
[ ]
m3
kg
0.005

Volumetric ν1 Compressor swept volume

η vol=ṁr X 100 %
efficiency of V swept 95.7% V swept =1.254 x 10−3 m3 / s 1.254x10-3
compressor

Table 6.1 Water extracted from air vs. condensate collected

Rate of water extracted from air during collection time

0.0639
ṁ w = m/ t (g/s)

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Discussion
In the first part of the experiment, the system was going through stabilization. The readings of
temperature of both the dry bulb and wet bulb at station D were measured and recorded as in Table 1. The
readings were taken for every 5 minutes till the temperature of both type of thermometers were about
constant without much fluctuation. This is to ensure the condition inside the air conditioning unit is stable
and is suitable to be used. The air conditioning unit became stable after 20 minutes (5 readings) as shown in
Figure 1.

Heat is removed from the air via the evaporator section of the refrigeration cycle. The
refrigerant is at low pressure and low temperature in gaseous form at the evaporator and the temperature
difference between the air and the refrigerant allows the heat transfer from air to the refrigerant. Higher
surface area of refrigerant when in gaseous form accelerates the heat transfer even further. The temperature
of air reaches the dew point and thus condensation of vapour occurs which reduces the humidity of the air.
The heat gained by the refrigerant is later rejected to the environment in the condenser section.

The energy gained by

the refrigeration cycle can be obtained from the Pressure – Enthalpy chart of the refrigerant R134a. The
power gained in the evaporator by the refrigerant is equal to the product of the rate of refrigerant mass flow,
ṁ r (11 g/s) and the difference in enthalpy between position 1 (315 kJ/kg) and 4 (160 kJ/kg). Thus, the
energy gained by the refrigeration cycle in the evaporator is 1705 W. The energy lost by the air is obtained
by calculating the enthalpy difference of air between station B and C where cooling occurs and multiplying
it by the rate of air mass flow. The energy lost via collected condensate was also added. The energy lost is
2817.86 W as shown in Table 4. The rate of water extracted from air is 0.0167 g/s as shown in Table 6. Via
calculation, the rate of water mass lost was found to be 0.3711 g/s as shown in Table 4. For both
comparisons, the calculated values and the measured values have very large differences which would have
been caused by multiple errors during conducting the experiment.
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Human error includes parallax error while taking temperature readings from the thermometer and
pressure readings from manometer. The time gap between reading and recording different data values adds
up to the error. The range of measuring instruments are quite big and thus less sensitive to changes besides
having lesser accuracy of measurement. When measuring the temperature of the refrigerant, the
thermometer is placed on the copper tube which encloses the refrigerant and thus, the exact temperature of
the refrigerant cannot be measured.

The values obtained from the charts; Psychrometric Chart and Pressure-Enthalpy Chart includes the
biggest uncertainties to the calculations. If the measurements were biased, the results obtained would be
deviated even further from the actual results but will be only deviated in one direction.

Conclusion
The results obtained were not reliable due to large number of errors and uncertainties. However, it
can be concluded that the main objective of the experiment was achieved and a good understanding of the
air conditioning system, refrigeration cycle as well as heat transfer was obtained. The refrigeration cycle
plotted in the Pressure-Enthalpy Chart from experimental data in Table 5 corresponds to that of an actual
cycle.

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Appendix
Calculations
The uncertainty of an analogue device is obtained by halving the smallest division in the scale.

 To calculate air mass flow rate, ṁ a:

ṁ a=1.594
√ Δz
ʋD

ṁa=1.594
5 ×10−3
0.8 943
ṁa=0.1192 kg s−1
√
 To calculate the uncertainty in the air mass flow rate, ϵ ṁa:

√( ( √ )
2

ϵ ṁ a=
1.594 2
2 √ Δz ʋD ) 2
( ϵΔz ) +
1.594 Δz
2 ʋD 3 (
ϵ ʋD)
2

√ ) (
√ )
2

( √( )( 1.594 5 ×10−3
2
1.594 −3 2
ϵ ṁ a= 0.05 ×10 + 3
( 0.0005 )2
2 5× 10−3 ) ( 0. 8943 ) 2 (0. 8943)

ϵ ṁ a=0.0185 kg s−1

 To calculate the mass lost:

ṁ w =ṁa (ωB −ω C )
ṁw =(0.1 192)(0.0138−0.0108)
ṁ w =3.711 × 10−4 kg s−1

 To calculate the uncertainty in the mass loss,ϵ ṁw :

√ 2 2
ϵ ṁ w = ( ω C −ω B ) ( ϵ ṁ a )2+ ( ṁ a) (ϵ ωC )2+ (−ṁ a ) (ϵ ωB )2
2

ϵ ṁw =√ ( 0.0138−0.0108 ) (0.000585)2 + ( 0.1237 ) ( 0.0001)2 + (−0.1237 ) (0.0001)2

2 2 2

ϵ ṁ w =1.758 x 10−5 kg s−1

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Psychometric Chart
Calculation of Specific Humidity and Enthalpy of Air at Station A

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Calculation of Specific Humidity and Enthalpy of Air at Station B

Calculation of Specific Humidity and Enthalpy of Air at Station C

Calculation of Specific Humidity and Enthalpy of Air at Station D

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R134a P-h Diagram

Specific Enthalpy of Refrigerant at Different Positions in the Refrigeration

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Reference
 https://www.servicechampions.net/blog/air-conditioner-works-refrigeration-cycle/
 https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1228&context=icec
 Thermodynamics-an engineering approach by Cengal and Boles (McGraw & Hill) (ISBN
0071152474)
 https://www.google.com/search?

q=air+conditioner+cycle&rlz=1C1AZAA_enMY823MY823&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUK

Ewi7vK7qwNDeAhUXeysKHfdhCqIQ_AUIDigB&biw=1600&bih=789#imgrc=mSEMnWFaLuTbAM:

 https://www.mobileair.com/tools/refrigeration-cycle-how-air-conditioner-works

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