Actual Vapor-Compression Systems

The actual refrigeration cycle deviates from the ideal cycle primarily because of
pressure drops associated with fluid flow and heat transfer to or from the
surroundings. The actual cycle might approach the one shown in above
Figs.(neglecting pressure drop in tubes).
•The vapor entering the compressor will probably be superheated. During the
compression process, there are irreversibilities and heat transfer either to or
from the surroundings, depending on the temperature of the refrigerant and the
surroundings. Therefore, the entropy might increase during this process, for the
irreversibility and the heat transferred to the refrigerant cause an increase in
entropy.
•Usually, the temperature of the liquid leaving the condenser is lower than the
saturation temperature (subcooling). It might drop somewhat more in the piping
between the condenser and expansion valve. This represents a gain, however,
because as a result of this heat transfer the refrigerant enters the evaporator
with a lower enthalpy, which permits more heat to be transferred to the
refrigerant in the evaporator.
•It may be slightly superheated as it leaves the evaporator, and through heat
transferred from the surroundings, its temperature will increase in the piping
between the evaporator and the compressor.
Performance Calculation: for non-isentropic compression
Components
Compressors

Evaporator

Condenser

Expansion device
(Valve or capillary tube)
Vapor absorption refrigeration cycle
Ideal COP
 Air refrigeration cycle

1-2: Isentropic compression

2-3: Constant-pressure heat rejection
3-4: Isentropic expansion in turbine
4-1 Constant-pressure heat absorption
Analysis