Vapour Compression Refrigeration Cycle.

Summary:

During the lab, the relevant readings were recorded in order to determine the COP of the
Refrigeration cycle. The COP was found, and the main components of the lab equipment was
used to compare it to theoretical values given in the lab and how it varied and why it varied.
Ways to improve the lab were suggested and to ensure accurate values could be found when
conducting the lab again.
Contents
Apparatus:..................................................................................................................................4
Diagram 1: Showing the main components of a Vapour Compression Refrigeration
Cycle..................................................................................................................................4
Theory:.......................................................................................................................................5
Diagram 2: Showing the Vapour Compression Refrigeration Cycle.................................5
Results:.......................................................................................................................................6
Observations:..........................................................................................................................6
Table 1: Showing readings taken during the experiment...................................................6
Specimen Calculations:..........................................................................................................6
Coefficient of Performance based on electrical power input to the compressor motor,
COPelectrical power:....................................................................................................................6
Coefficient of Performance based on electrical motor shaft power input to the
compressor motor, COPshaft power:.........................................................................................6
Coefficient of Performance based on indicated power, COPindicated power:............................7
Calculated Results:.................................................................................................................8
Table 2: Showing Coefficient of Performance:.................................................................8
Discussion:.................................................................................................................................9
Conclusion:..............................................................................................................................10
Appendix:.................................................................................................................................12
Apparatus:

Diagram 1: Showing the main components of a Vapour Compression Refrigeration Cycle.

There are four main components of the vapour compression refrigeration cycle and they are:
the compressor, condenser, the expansion device and the evaporator
The compressor is known as the heart of the refrigeration system. It sucks the refrigerant gas
through the piping and compresses it to a high-pressure high temperature refrigerant.
The condenser is essentially a heat exchanger device. The heat taken in from the evaporator
is transferred from the refrigerant to air and it allows the refrigerant to cool and condense
inside the condenser at constant pressure. The refrigerant then leaves the condenser as a
liquid.
The expansion device releases the liquid from the condenser in a controlled manner and
reduces the pressure to the same level as the evaporating pressure. This lower the
refrigerant’s boiling point.
The evaporator is also a heat exchanger. The liquid is evaporated due to heat supplied from a
cooled medium and this produces a low temperature and low-pressure vapour.
Theory:

A vapour compression refrigeration cycle basically takes heat energy from a cold reservoir
and drops it into a hot reservoir, it achieves this by using a heat engine run backwards. This
cycle is a Rankine cycle which is ran in reverse. A refrigerant is pushed through the system
and undergoes state changes. Pressure is changed in a specific manner to control when the
refrigerant loses or gains heat energy and the latent heat of vaporization of the refrigerant is
used to shift large amounts of the heat energy. However, the refrigerant for a refrigeration
cycle needs to be low as the hot reservoir is around room temperature and the cold reservoir
is around 1.1˚C.
There are four major components to the refrigeration cycle, and they are: Compression,
Condensation, Throttling and Evaporation.

Diagram 2: Showing the Vapour Compression Refrigeration Cycle.

In the compression stage, the refrigerant in a gaseous state, enter the compressor at low
pressure and temperature. Compression then takes place and the temperature and pressure is
risen when leaving the compressor.
The gas enters the condensation stage with a high temperature and pressure and the gas
release heat energy and condenses. External work is added to the gas so the gas releases heat
into the hot reservoir as the condenser is in contact with the hot reservoir.
The refrigerant leaves the condenser as a high-pressure liquid and is pushed through a
throttling valve which causes the liquid refrigerant to expand, because of that the liquid now
has a low pressure and temperature. The throttling valve can be a thin slit or a plug with holes
in it and since the liquid refrigerant is forced through it the pressure is reduced causing an
expansion.
At the evaporation stage, the refrigerant’s temperature is lower than the surroundings. This
causes it to evaporate and absorb the latent heat of vaporization. Heat extraction form the
refrigerant happens at a low temperature and pressure.

Results:
Observations:
Table 1: Showing readings taken during the experiment.
Variables Readings
Evaporator pressure, Pe (kNm-2) 75
Condenser pressure, Pc (kNm-2) 875
Refrigerant temperature at compressor suction, t1 (˚C) -3.4
Refrigerant temperature at compressor delivery, t2 (˚C) 45.8
Refrigerant temperature at condenser outlet, t3 (˚C) 32.8
Refrigerant temperature at evaporator inlet, t4 (˚C) -13.8
Condenser cooling water at inlet temperature, t5 (˚C) 27.3
Condenser cooling water at outlet temperature, t6 (˚C) 32.1
Evaporator Heat Load, Q̇e (W)  407
Compressor Motor electrical input, Q̇m,el (W) 422
Dynamometer force, F (N), 8.5
Friction force, Ff (N) 5
Compressor speed, nc (rpm) 930
Condenser rate flow control, (g/s) 33
Refrigerant flow rate, (g/s) 3.5

Specimen Calculations:

Coefficient of Performance based on electrical power input to the compressor motor,

COPelectrical power:

Q̇ e
COPelectrical power =
Q̇ m ,el

407
COPelectrical power =
422
COPelectrical power =0.9645

Coefficient of Performance based on electrical motor shaft power input to the compressor
motor, COPshaft power:

Q̇ e
COP shaft power =
Ps
 Q̇ e
COP shaft power =
Ps

Where, Ps=Tωm
But, T= 0.165 x F and ωm = (2πnm/60)
nm= Pulley ratio x nc, where the Pulley ratio is 1.98
So, nm= 1.98 x 930 = 1841.1 rpm
T= 0.165 x 8.5 = 1.4025 Nm
ωm = (2π1841.1/60) = 192.80 rad/sec
Ps=1.4025 x 192.80 = 270.402
Therefore,
407
COP shaft power =
270.402
COP shaft power =1.5052

Coefficient of Performance based on indicated power, COPindicated power:

Q̇e
COPindicated power =
Pi

Where, Compressor indicated power, Pi= Ps – Pf.

Pf=Tfωm
Where, ωm= 192.80 rad/sec and Tf= 0.165 x 5 = 0.825Nm
Pf= 0.825 x 192.80= 159.06 W
So,
Pi= Ps – Pf
Pi= 111.342
Therefore,
407
COPindicated power =
111.342
COPindicated power =3.6554
Calculated Results:
Table 2: Showing Coefficient of Performance:
Coefficient of Performance Value
COPelectrical power 0.9645
COPshaft power 1.5052
COPindicated power 3.6554
Discussion:
Pabs=Pgauge+Patm
Patm= 75 + 101.325=176.325 kN/m2
So, the evaporator saturation temperature is -13.6 ˚C.
For the condenser saturation temperature at the compressor deliver is 34.2 ˚C.
The COP is determined by the ratio between energy and work using the laws of
thermodynamics to help calculate work. The differences occurred because through out the lab
the heat supplied changes as heat was lost to the environment and at different stages of the
cycle work was being done on the system or the system was doing the work which would
change the value of W causing differences in values.
To improve COP for the refrigeration cycle the compressor work should decrease and the
refrigeration effect should increase. This means that the condenser pressure and temperature
should decrease to allow the refrigeration effect to increase.
t1 is greater than the evaporator saturation temperature because heat is being given off to the
environment which would make pressure greater while conducting the experiment as if
temperature decreases, pressure increases.
An assumption made during the experiment was that the cycle was at steady state when
conducting the lab. Some recommendations that can be used to improve the lab process and
the results obtained are: To install a better pump to reduce fluctuation, to also have new
gauges installed with more divisions to enhance accuracy of results and to have better
insulation and to smoothen the pipes to reduce friction.
Conclusion:

To conclude, the COPelectrical power was found to be 0.9645, the COPshaft power was found to be
1.5052 and the COPindicated power was found to be 3.6554. The lab can be further improved by
improving insulation and smoothen pipes to reduce friction. A source of error in the lab was
that the condenser flow rate wasn’t consistent and couldn’t be adjusted for a correct
temperature.
References:

Price, S. "Vapor-Compression Refrigeration." David Newman's Page. Accessed

February 26, 2020.
https://ffden-2.phys.uaf.edu/212_spring2007.web.dir/sedona_price/phys_212_webpr
oj_refrigerators.html.

"The Vapor Compression Refrigeration Cycle, Step By Step." Araner. Last modified March
8, 2019. https://www.araner.com/blog/vapor-compression-refrigeration-cycle/
#comments.

"Coefficient of Performance." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Last modified March 21,
2004. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coefficient_of_performance.

Online International Journal, Peer Reviewed Scholarly Journals. Accessed

February 26, 2020. https://www.ijser.org/researchpaper/Improve-the-cop-of-Vapor-
compression-cycle-with-change-in-Evaporator-and-Condenser-pressure.pdf.