Unit 1 Gas Cycle Refrigeration

and Refrigerants
Part-1
Gas Cycle Refrigeration: Application to air-craft refrigeration, Simple system,
Bootstrap, Regenerative, reduced ambient system, Concept of Dry Air Rated
Temperature (DART)
Part-2
Refrigerants: Introduction, Definition and requirement, Classification of
refrigerants, Designation of refrigerants, Desirable properties of
Refrigerants-Thermodynamic, Chemical and Physical. Properties of ideal
refrigerant. Environmental issues like ODP, GWP & LCCP. Selection of
environment friendly refrigerants, Alternative refrigerants, Secondary
refrigerants, Anti-freeze solutions, Zeotropes and Azeotropes, Refrigerant
recovery, reclaims, recycle and recharge.
 Aircraft Cooling Systems

• In an aircraft, cooling systems are required to keep the cabin

temperatures at a comfortable level. Even though the outside
temperatures are very low at high altitudes, still cooling of cabin
is required due to:
• Large internal heat generation due to occupants, equipment etc.
• Heat generation due to skin friction caused by the fast moving
aircraft
 Aircraft Cooling Systems
• At high altitudes, the outside pressure will be sub-atmospheric.
When air at this low pressure is compressed and supplied to the
cabin at pressures close to atmospheric, the temperature
increases significantly. For example, when outside air at a
pressure of 0.2 bar and temperature of 223 K (at 10000 m
altitude) is compressed to 1 bar, its temperature increases to
about 353 K. If the cabin is maintained at 0.8 bar, the
temperature will be about 332 K. This effect is called as ram
effect. This effect adds heat to the cabin, which needs to be
taken out by the cooling system.
• Solar radiation
• For low speed aircraft flying at low altitudes, cooling system may
not be required, however, for high speed aircraft flying at high
altitudes, a cooling system is a must
 Aircraft Cooling Systems

• Even though the COP of air cycle refrigeration is very low

compared to vapour compression refrigeration systems, it
is still found to be most suitable for aircraft refrigeration
systems as:
• i. Air is cheap, safe, non-toxic and non-flammable. Leakage
of air is not a problem
• ii. Cold air can directly be used for cooling thus eliminating
the low temperature heat exchanger (open systems)
leading to lower weight
• iii. The aircraft engine already consists of a high speed
turbo-compressor, hence separate compressor for cooling
system is not required. This reduces the weight per kW
cooling considerably.
 A simple air cooling system for
Simple air cooling system aircrafts is shown in the figure.
The main components of this
system are the main
compressor driven by a gas
turbine, a heat exchanger, a
cooling turbine and a cooling
air fan. The air required for
refrigeration system is bled off
from the main compressor.
This high pressure and high
temperature air is cooled
initially in the heat exchanger
where ram air is used for
cooling. It is further cooled in
the cooling turbine by the
process of expansion. The
work of this turbine is used to
drive the cooling fan which
draws cooling air through the
heat exchanger. This system is
good for ground surface
cooling and for low flight
speeds.
Simple air cooling system • 1. Ramming process: Let
the pressure and
temperature of ambient air
be P1 and T1 respectively.
The ambient air is rammed
isentropically from
pressure P1 and T1 temper
ature to the pressure P2
and temperature T2. This
ideal ramming action is
shown by the vertical line
1-2. In actual practice,
because of internal friction
due to irreversibilities, the
temperature of the
rammed air is more than
T2. Thus the actual
ramming process is shown
by the curve 1-2' which is
adiabatic but not
isentropic due to friction.
Simple air cooling system • 2. Compression
process: The isentropic
compression of air in the
main compressor is
represented by the line
2'−3 . In actual practice,
because of internal
friction, due to
irreversiblities, the actual
compression is
represented by the curve
2'−3' . The work done
during this compression
process is given by:
• Wc = Ma.Cp (T3'−T2')
• where Ma = Mass of air
bled from the main
compressor for
refrigeration purposes
Simple air cooling system • 3. Cooling process: The
compressed air is cooled
by the ram air in the
heat exchanger. This
process is shown by the
curve 3'−4. In actual
practice, there is a
pressure drop in the
heat exchanger which is
not shown in the figure.
The temperature of air
decreases from T3' to T4
. The heat rejected in
the heat exchanger
during the cooling
process is given by:
• QR = Ma. Cp (T3'−T4)
Simple air cooling system • 4. Expansion process: The
cooled air is now expanded
isentropically in the cooling
turbine as shown by the
curve 4-5. In actual
practice, because of
internal friction due to
irreversibilities, the actual
expansion in the cooling
turbine is shown by the
curve 4-5'. The work done
by the cooling turbine
during this expansion
process is given by:
• WR = Ma .Cp (T4 − T5')
• The work of this turbine is
used to drive the cooling
air fan which draws cooling
air from the heat
exchanger.
Simple air cooling system • 5. Refrigeration
process: The air from
the cooling turbine ( i.e.
after expansion) is sent
to the cabin and cock pit
where it gets heated by
the heat of equipment
and occupancy. This
process is shown by the
curve 5'-6. The
refrigerating effect
produced or heat
absorbed is given by:
• RE = Ma .Cp (T6 − T5' )
• where T6 = Inside
temperature of cabin
Simple air cooling system

COP of the air cycle

= refrigerating effect
produced / work done
Bootstrap Air Cooling system
Bootstrap Air Cooling system
Refrigerants
 History Of Refrigeration
• Most evidence indicate that the Chinese were the first to store natural ice and
snow to cool wine and other delicacies.
• Ancient people of India and Egypt cooled liquids in porous earthen jars.
• In 1834, Jacob Perkins, an American, developed a closed refrigeration system
using liquid expansion and then compression to produce cooling.
He used Ether as refrigerant, in a hand- operated compressor, a water-cooled
condenser and an evaporator in liquid cooler.

1850’s – 1870’s: ammonia, ammonia/water, CO2

Early 1900’s: SO2, methyl chloride used for domestic refrigerators

1930’s: halocarbon refrigerants (R-12, R-22, R-114, R-22)

Halocarbon advantages – stable compounds, favorable thermodynamic
properties, safer than existing refrigerants.
 Refrigeration Principle

• Modern refrigeration and air-conditioning

equipment is dominated by vapour compression
refrigeration technology built upon the
thermodynamic principles of the reverse Carnot
cycle.

• Refrigerant Changes phase during cooling and used

again and again.
 Importance of Refrigerant
• The thermodynamic efficiency of a refrigeration system
depends mainly on its operating temperatures.
• However, important practical issues such as the system
design, size, initial and operating costs, safety, reliability, and
serviceability etc. depend very much on the type of
refrigerant selected for a given application.
• Due to several environmental issues such as ozone layer
depletion and global warming and their relation to the various
refrigerants used, the selection of suitable refrigerant has
become one of the most important issues in recent times.
 What is a Refrigerant
• Working substances
• Primary and Secondary refrigerants.

• Primary refrigerants are those fluids, which are used directly as working
fluids.

Ex.-refrigerant used in VCC and VAR systems.

These fluids provide refrigeration by undergoing a phase change process
in the evaporator.

• Secondary refrigerants are those liquids, which are used for

transporting thermal energy from one location to other.
•
Secondary refrigerants are also known under the name brines or
antifreezes.
 Primary Refrigerant

• The refrigerants which are directly used to obtain the cooling

effect in evaporator by undergoing a phase change process
are referred as Primary refrigerants.

• Halocarbon Refrigerants
• Azeotropes Refrigerants
• Inorganic Refrigerants
• Hydro-carbon Refrigerants
Secondary Refrigerant
• Used for transporting thermal energy from one location
to other.
• Does not undergo phase change process.
• Used when refrigeration is required at sub-zero
temperatures.
• Known as Brines or Antifreezes.
• Used in large refrigeration units.
• Commonly used secondary refrigerants are:-
Solution of water & ethylene glycol, propylene glycol etc.
 Secondary Refrigerant
• If working temperature is above 30C, Water is used as Secondary Refrigerant.
• Brine is aqueous solution of NaCl and CaCl2 in water and used at temperature
below freezing point of water 00C.
Used in cooling of fish, meat & ice plant.
• Ethylene glycol & Propylene glycol mixes with water and gives colorless &
odourless solutions.
These have capacity to lower freezing temperatures and hence
used as antifreeze mixtures for I.C. engine cooling systems.
These solutions become corrosive after some use, hence corrosive
treatment is necessary.
 Advantages of Secondary
Refrigerant
• Different rooms of building can be cooled up to different temperatures by
adjusting the flow rates of secondary refrigerants.

• secondary refrigerants can be easily handled.

• secondary refrigerants can be easily controlled.

• Eliminates long refrigeration lines and thus reduces pressure drops.

Desirable Properties of Secondary
Refrigerant
• Low freezing point.
• High heat transfer coefficients.
• High specific heat.
• Low vapour pressure.
• Good stability.
• Non-flammable and non-toxic.
 Primary Refrigerant

• CFC – Chlorofluorocarbons (Freon‘s)

• HCFC - Hydrochlorofluorocarbon

• HFC - Hydrofluorocarbon
 Primary Refrigerant
• CFC’s
 First developed by General Motor’s researchers in the 1920’s and
commercialized as Freon‘s.
 Most stable – remain in atmosphere for many years, allowing them to
diffuse to high altitudes
 Contains Chlorine, Fluorine, Carbon.
 CFC’s break down, and Cl combines with and consumes some ozone

• HCFC’s
 Hydrogenated
 Not as stable – most of it breaks down before reaching high altitudes
 Contains Hydrogen, Chlorine, Fluorine, Carbon.
 Less damaging to ozone

• HFC’s
 Contains Hydrogen, Fluorine, Carbon.
 Contains no Cl (Chlorine)
 Causes no depletion of ozone
 Halocarbon Refrigerants
• Synthetically produced (Derived from Methane , Ethane) and were developed as
the Freon family of refrigerants.

• Commonly used in Domestic, Commercial and Industrial Purposes due to their

wide range of boiling points at atmospheric pressure.

• Presence of fluorine makes it Non-toxic.

• Ozone unfriendly refrigerants.

 Halocarbon Refrigerants
Examples :
– CFC’s (CHLOROFLUROCARBONS):
R11 (CCl3F) Trichloromonofluromethane
R12 (CCl2F2) Dichlorodifluoromethane
R40 (CH3Cl) Methyl Chloride
R13, R21, R22,R113, R114, R115

- HCFC’s(HYDROCHLOROFLUROCARBONS):
R22 (CHClF)2 Monochlorodifluromethane
R123 (C2HCl2F3) Dichlorotrifluoroethane

- HFC’s (HYDROFLUROCARBONS):
- R134a (CH2FCF3)Tetrafluoroethane
- R404a, R407C,
- R410a mixture of Difluromethane (CH2F2, called R-32) and Pentafluroethane (CHF2CF3,
called R-125)
 Azeotrope (Mixed) Refrigerants
• A stable mixture of two or several refrigerants whose vapour and
liquid phases retain identical compositions over a wide range of
temperatures.

• Thermodynamic properties remains fixed.

• Code starts with digit 5.

Examples
R500 – mixture of 73.8% of R12 and 26.2% of R152
R502 – Mixture of 49% of R22 and 51% of R115
 Zeotropic Refrigerants
• A zeotropic mixture is one whose composition in liquid phase differs to that in
vapour phase.

• Zeotropic refrigerants therefore do not boil at constant temperatures unlike

azeotropic refrigerants.

Examples :
R404a : R125/143a/134a (44%,52%,4%)
R407c : R32/125/134a (23%, 25%, 52%)
R410a : R32/125 (50%, 50%)
R413a : R600a/218/134a (3%, 9%, 88%)
 Inorganic (Natural) Refrigerants
• Before Halocarbons, Natural refrigerants are extensively used.

• Designated by R followed by Number.

Number = 700 + M

Example
Carbon Dioxide , Water , Ammonia , Air , Sulphur dioxide

R717 - (NH3)Ammonia
717 = 700 + 17
 Hydro-carbon Refrigerants
• Satisfactory Thermodynamic properties.
• Extraordinary reliability- The most convincing argument is the reliability
of the hydrocarbon system because of fewer compressor failures.
• Virtually no refrigerant losses.
• Hydrocarbons have been used since the beginning of the century and
now being considered as long term solutions to environmental problems.
• But most of the hydrocarbons are highly flammable and require
additional safety precaution during its use as refrigerants
• Not used in Industry and commercial installations.
• Dominant in domestic market like household refrigerators and freezers
• Growing use in very small commercial systems like car air-conditioning
system.
Examples: R170 – Ethane (C2H6)
R600 – Butane (C4H10)
R600a – Isobutane (C4H10)
 Current/Future Refrigerants
• R-134a has emerged as the primary substitution for many
CFC’s.
• HCFC-22 and HCFC–123 are viable alternatives for now but
will eventually be phased out.
• In Europe, natural refrigerants such as ammonia, CO2,
propane, and water are being used more.
• Our legal system makes flammable refrigerants questionable
in the US.
Environmental Effects of Refrigerants
Global warming :
Refrigerants directly contributing to global warming when released to
the atmosphere.

Indirect contribution based on the energy consumption of among

others the compressors ( CO2 produced by power stations ).
 What is Ozone Layer
• Ozone (O3) is an isotope of oxygen with three atoms instead of normal two.

• It is naturally occurring gas which is created by high energy radiation from

the Sun.

• The greatest concentration of ozone are found from 12 km to 50 km above

the earth forming a layer in the stratosphere which is called the ozone layer.

• This layer, which forms a semi-permeable blanket, protects the earth by

reducing the intensity of harmful ultra-violet (UV) radiation from the sun.
 Ozone Layer Depletion
• In the early70’s, scientists Sherwood Roland and Mario
Molina at the University of California at Irvine were the first
to discover the loss of ozone in stratosphere while
investigating the ozone layer from highflying aircraft and
spacecraft.

• They postulated the theory that exceptionally stable

chlorine containing fluorocarbons could, overtime, migrate
to the upper reaches of the atmosphere and be broken by
the intense radiation and release chlorine atoms
responsible for catalytic ozone depletion.
 OZONE LAYER DEPLETION
N0RMAL REACTION
O2 = O + O
O2 + O = O3

• But CFC refrigerants leaked during the manufacturing and normal operation
or at the time of servicing or repair, mix with surrounding air and rise to
troposphere and then into stratosphere due to normal wind or storm.

• The Ultraviolet rays act on CFC releasing Cl atom, which retards the normal
reaction:

RETARDED REACTION
O3 = O2 + O
CCL2F2 = CCLF2 + CL
O3 + CL = CLO + O2
Harmful consequences of ozone
depletion
• For Humans
– Increase in skin cancer
– slow blindness
– Cataracts

• Less immunity to
– infectious diseases - malaria -herpes

• For plants
– smaller size -lower yield -increased toxicity
– altered form

• For marine life

– Reduced plankton -juvenile fish
– larval crabs and shrimps
 Refrigerant selection criteria
• Selection of refrigerant for a particular application is based
on the following requirements:

– Thermodynamic and thermo-physical properties

– Environmental and safety properties

– Economics
 Thermodynamic and thermo-
physical properties
The requirements are:
a) Suction pressure:
At a given evaporator temperature, the saturation pressure should be above
atmospheric for prevention of air or moisture ingress into the system and ease of leak
detection.
Higher suction pressure is better as it leads to smaller compressor displacement.
b) Discharge pressure:
At a given condenser temperature, the discharge pressure should be as small as
possible to allow light-weight construction of compressor, condenser etc.
c) Pressure ratio:
Should be as small as possible for high volumetric efficiency and low power
consumption.
 Thermodynamic and thermo-
physical properties
d) Latent heat of vaporization:
Should be as large as possible so that the required mass flow rate per unit cooling
capacity will be small.
In addition to the above properties; the following properties are also
important:
e) Isentropic index of compression:
Should be as small as possible so that the temperature rise during compression will
be small.
f) Liquid specific heat:
Should be small so that degree of sub cooling will be large leading to smaller
amount of flash gas at evaporator inlet.

g) Vapour specific heat:

Should be large so that the degree of superheating will be small.
 Thermodynamic and thermo-
physical properties
h) Thermal conductivity:
Thermal conductivity in both liquid as well as vapour phase should be high for
higher heat transfer coefficients .

i) Viscosity:
Viscosity should be small in both liquid and vapour phases for smaller frictional
pressure drops.

• The thermodynamic properties are interrelated and mainly

depend on normal boiling point, critical temperature,
molecular weight and structure.
 Environmental and safety
properties
• At present the environment friendliness of the refrigerant is a major
factor in deciding the usefulness of a particular refrigerant.
• The important environmental and safety properties are:
• a) Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP):
According to the Montreal protocol, the ODP of refrigerants should be zero, i.e.,
they should be non-ozone depleting substances.
Refrigerants having non-zero ODP have either already been phased-out (e.g. R 11,
R 12) or will be phased-out in near-future(e.g. R22).

Since ODP depends mainly on the presence of chlorine or bromine in the

molecules, refrigerants having either chlorine (i.e., CFCs and HCFCs) or bromine
cannot be used under the new regulations.
 Environmental and safety
properties
b) Global Warming Potential (GWP):
Refrigerants should have as low a GWP value as possible to minimize the problem of
global warming.

Refrigerants with zero ODP but a high value of GWP (e.g. R134a) are likely to be
regulated in future.

c) Total Equivalent Warming Index (TEWI):

The factor TEWI considers both direct (due to release into atmosphere) and indirect
(through energy consumption) contributions of refrigerants to global warming.
Naturally, refrigerants with as a low a value of TEWI are preferable from global
warming point of view.
 Environmental and safety
properties
d) Toxicity:
Ideally, refrigerants should be non-toxic.

Toxicity is a relative term, which becomes meaningful only when the

degree of concentration and time of exposure required to produce
harmful effects are specified.

In general the degree of hazard depends on:

- Amount of refrigerant used vs total space .
- Type of occupancy .
- Presence of open flames .
- Odor of refrigerant, and
– - Maintenance condition
 Environmental and safety
properties
e) Flammability:
The refrigerants should preferably be non-flammable and non-explosive.
For flammable refrigerants special precautions should be taken to avoid
accidents.
f) Chemical stability:
The refrigerants should be chemically stable as long as they are inside the
refrigeration system.
g) Compatibility with common materials of construction (both metals
and non-metals)
 Environmental and safety
properties
h) Miscibility with lubricating oils:
Oil separators have to be used if the refrigerant is not miscible with lubricating oil
(e.g. ammonia).

Refrigerants that are completely miscible with oils are easier to handle(R12).

i) Ease of leak detection:

In the event of leakage of refrigerant from the system, it should be easy
to detect the leaks.
 Economic Properties
• The refrigerant used should preferably be inexpensive and
easily available.
 ECO-FRIENDLY REFRIGERANTS

CFC
ALTERNATIVES.

HCFC HFC NATURAL REFRIGERANT

R22,R124 R134a,R152a NH3, HC'S
 Application of New Eco-friendly Refrigerants

• Application HFCs used Possible Eco-friendly refrigerant

•
• Domestic refrigeration R134a,R152a HC600a and blends
• Commercial refrigeration R134a,R404A,R407C HC blends,NH3 ,CO2 **
• Cold storage ,food processing
• And industrial refrigeration R134a,R404A,R507A NH3 ,HCs,CO2 **
• Unitary air conditioners R410A,R407C CO2 , HC s
• Centralized AC (chillers) R134a,R410A,R407C NH3 ,HCs,CO2, water **
• Transport refrigeration R134a,R404A CO 2,
• Mobile air conditioner R134a CO2 ,HCs
• Heat pumps R134a,R152a,R404A NH3 ,HCs,CO2, water **
• R407C,R410A
 R22

• ODP-0.05, GWP-1700

• R22 has 40% more refrigerating capacity

• Higher pressure and discharge temp and not suitable for

low temp application

• Extensively used in commercial air-conditioning and

frozen food storage and display cases
 R123

• ODP-0.02,GWP-90

• As a replacement for R11 as similar thermodynamic

properties.

• Very short atmospheric life

• Retrofit alternative to R11

 R134a
• ODP-0, GWP-1300

• Used as a substitute for R12 and to a limited range for

R22

• Good performance in medium and high temp application

• Toxicity is very low

• Not miscible with mineral oil

 R152a
• ODP-0,GWP-140

• R152a is another attractive HFC with similar properties to R12.

• GWP is one order less than HFC134a but it is slightly

flammable.

• Also it has lower energy consumption. Hence the

Environmental Protection Agency of Europe prefers HFC152a
to HFC134a
 R290
• ODP-0,GWP-3
• Compatible with copper.
• Miscible with mineral oil
• Highest latent heat and largest vapour density
• A third of original charge only is required when replacing
halocarbons refrigerant in existing equipment
• Energy saving : up to 20% due to lower molecular mass and
vapour pressure
 R 600a

• ODP-0,GWP-3

• Higher boiling point hence lower evaporator pressure

• Discharge temp is lowest

• Very good compatibility with mineral oil

 Carbon Dioxide
• Zero ODP & GWP
• Non Flammable, Non toxic
• Inexpensive and widely available
• Its high operating pressure provides potential for system size and
weight reducing potential.

Drawbacks:
• Operating pressure (high side) : 80 bars
• Low efficiency
 Ammonia as Refrigerant
Ammonia – A Natural Refrigerant
Ammonia is produced in a natural way by human beings and
animals; 17 grams/day for humans.

Natural production 3000 million tons/year

Production in factories 120 million tons/year

Used in refrigeration 6 million tons/year

 Ammonia as Refrigerant
• ODP = 0 and GWP = 0

• Excellent thermodynamic characteristics: small molecular mass, large

latent heat, large vapour density and excellent heat transfer
characteristics

• High critical temperature (132C) : highly efficient cycles at high

condensing temperatures

• Its smell causes leaks to be detected and fixed before reaching

dangerous concentration

• Relatively Low price

 Some Drawbacks of Ammonia as
Refrigerant

• Toxic

• Flammable ( 16 – 28% concentration )

• Not compatible with copper

• Temperature on discharge side of compressor is higher compared to

other refrigerants
 Water
• Zero ODP & GWP
• Water as refrigerant is used in absorption
system .New developing technology has
created space for it for use in compression
cycles also.
• But higher than normal working pressure in
the system can be a factor in restricted use of
water as refrigerant
 Freon Group Refrigerants Application and ODP
Values
Refrigerant Areas of Application ODP
CFC 11(R11) Air-conditioning Systems ranging from 200 to 1.0
2000 tons in capacity. It is used where low
freezing point and non-corrosive properties are
CFC 12 ( R 12 ) important.
It is used for most of the applications. Air- 1.0
conditioning plants, refrigerators, freezers, ice-
cream cabinets, water coolers, window air-
CFC 13 (R 13) conditioners, automobile air conditioners.
For low temp refrigeration up to – 90 C in 1.0
cascade system
CFC113 (R113 )
Small to medium air-conditioning system and 1.07
CFC114 (R114 ) industrial cooling
Blend of R22 0.8
and R115 In household refrigerators and in large industrial 0.34
(R502) cooling
Frozen food ice-cream display cases and
warehouses and food freezing plants. An
excellent general low temp refrigerant
 General Safety measures for refrigerating
plants

• Reduction of refrigerant contents:

– Components with reduced contents
– Indirect systems with secondary refrigerant: distinction between
generation and transport of cold

• Scheduled maintenance and leak testing

• Governmental surveillance – Refrigerant Audits for

systems operating with HFC’s. Recovery, Stock of used refrigerants,
Recycling of refrigerants.

• For the Netherlands, the combined measures resulted in a leak rate

reduction of 35% (1995) to 8% (2001) for R22-systems
 MONTREAL PROTOCOL

• SIGNED IN 1987 UNDER THE ‘UNEP’(United nations environment

programme ), AFTER MUCH DISCUSSIONS

• MORE THAN 170 COUNTRIES HAVE RATIFIED

• INDIA RATIFIED ON SEPT 17,1992

• ONE OF MOST SUCCESSFUL EXAMPLE OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

IN UN HISTORY
 Montreal protocol- Control Schedule

Ozone depleting Developed countries Developing countries

substance

CFCs phased out end of total phase out by

1995 2010

halons phased out end of total phase out by

1993 2010

HCFCs total phase out by total phase out by

2020 2040