126 • A Textbook of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

throughout the system alternately

condensing and evaporating. In
evaporating, the refrigerant
absorbs its latent heat from the
Heat in
brine (salt water) which is used
for circulating it around the cold
chamber. While condensing, it
gives out its latent heat to the
circulating water of the cooler.
The vapour compression
refrigeration system is, therefore
r 2 Compression"

a latent heat pump, as it pumps its 1 Evaporation 3 Condensation

latent heat from the brine and
delivers it to the cooler.
The vapour compression
\.__ 4 Expansion ...I
refrigeration system is now-a-
days used for all purpose Expansion valve
refrigeration. It is generally used Evaporator Condenser
for all industrial purposes from a Engine~driven vapour compression heat pump.
small domestic refrigerator to a
big air conditioning plant.
Note: The first vapour compression system was developed in 1834 by Jacob Perkins using hand operation.

4.2 Advantages and Disadvantages of Vapour Compression

Refrigeration System over Air Refrigeration System
Following are the advantages and disadvantages of the vapour compression refrigeration
system over air refrigeration system :
AdVGifiQges
1. It has smaller size for the given capacity of refrigeration.
2. It has less running cost.
3. It can be employed over a large range of temperatures.
4. The coefficient of perfonnance is quite high.
Diso.dvllllttJges
1. The initial cost is high.
2. The prevention of leakage of the refrigerant is the major problem in vapour compression
system.
4.3 Mechanism of a Simple Vapour Compression
Refrigeration System
Fig. 4.1 shows the schematic diagram of a simple vapour compression refrigeration system.
It consists of the following five essential parts :
1. •· t's~or. The low pressure and temperature vapour refrigerant from evaporator is
drawn into the compressor through the inlet or suction valve A, where it is compressed to a high
pressure and temperature. This high pressure and temperature vapour refrigerant is discharged into
the condenser through the delivery or discharge valve B.
denser. The condenser or cooler consists of coils of pipe in which the high pressure
and temperature vapour refrigerant is cooled and condensed. The refrigerant, while passing
through the condenser, gives up its latent heat to the surrounding condensing medium which is
normally air or water.

* Brine is used as ithas a very low freezing temperature.