EXPERIMENT No.

1
Aim: Study of Simple Vapour Compression Refrigeration System and its components

Theory:
A vapour compression refrigeration system is an improved type of air refrigeration system in which a
suitable working substance. termed as refrigerant is used, It condenses and evaporates at temperatures and

pressures close to the atmospheric conditions. The refrigerant used does not leave the system but is
circulated throughout the system alternately condensing and evaporating. The vapour compression
is now
refrigeration system used for
days refrigeration. It is used for all industrial purpose from a
allpurpose
small domestic refrigerator to a big air conditioning plant.
The vapour compression refrigeration cycle is based on the following factor:
a) Refrigerant flow rate.
b) Type of refrigerant used.
refrigeration, dehumidification etc.
c) Kind of application as air-conditioning,
d) The operation design parameters.
e) The system equipment/ components proposed to be used in the system.
The vapour compression refrigeration cycle is based on a circulating fluid media. viz, a refrigerant having
ambient and condensing back to the liquid
special properties of vaporizing at temperatures lower than the
saturation temperature and pressure.
form, at slightly higher than ambient conditions by controlling the
lower than ambient, it extracts or removes
Thus, when the refrigerant evaporates or boils at temperatures
heat from the load and lower the temperature consequently providing cooling. The super-heated vapour
to reach a saturation pressure so that heat added
to vapour
pressure is increased to a level by the compressor
ambient conditions, with cooling media the
is dissipated/ rejected into the atmosphere, using operational
liquid from and recycled again to form the refrigeration cycle.
The components used are:
I. Evaporator
2. Compressor
3. Condenser and receiver
4. Throttling device
The working of vapour compression refrigeration cycle and function of each above component is given

below.

(a) Evaporator:
The liquid refrigerant from the condenser at high pressure is fed through a throttling device to an evaporator
at a low pressure. On absorbing the heat to be extracted from Media to be cooled, the liquid refrigerant
latent heat to vaporize at saturation
actively in the evaporator and changes state. The refrigerant gains
boils
from media to be cooled and gets fully vaporized
temperature/ pressure and further absorbs sensible heat
relation chart" table can determine the pressure and
and super-heated. The "temperature-pressure
temperature in the evaporator.

(b) Compressor: suction line

The low temperature, pressure, 'superheated vapour from the evaporator is conveyed through
and the same is
and compressed by the compressor to a high pressure, without any change of gaseous
state
and known as heat of
discharge into condenser. During this process heat is added to the refrigerant
that the saturation temperature of the
compression ratio to raise the pressure of refrigerant to such a level
discharge refrigerant is higher than the tempefature of the available cooling medium, to enable the super-
heated refrigerant to condense at normal ambient condition.
and used for different
Different types of compressors are reciprocating. rotary and centrifugal are

applications.
 (c) Condenser:
and compressor to the refrigerant is rejected
in condenser at high
The heat added in the evaporator enters the condenser to dissipate its heat
This super-heated refrigerant vapour
temperature/ high pressure. it then loses its latent heat at which the
the refrigerant loses its super heat,
in three stages. First on entry further and
saturation temperature pressure. This liquid loses its sensible heat,
refrigerant is liquefied at transfer from refrigerant to cooling
condenser as a sub cooled liquid. The heat
the refrigerant leaves the condenser is collected in a
medium (air or water) takes place
in the condenser. The sub-cooled liquid from
line to the evaporator.
then fed through the throttling device by liquid
receiver (wherever provided) and is
the rejected heat into the atmosphere by condenser. These
are
There are several methods Of dissipating condenser there are several
cooled condensers. In the water-cooled
water-cooled, air cooled or evaporative both air and
and coil, tube in tube etc. In Evaporative cooled condenser,
types' viz. Shell and tube, shell or plate type. The selecting of
are prime surface type, finned type
water are used. Air-cooled condensers
the type depends upon the application and availability of soft water.

(d) Throttling device:

which should be
fed through device,
high-pressure liquid from the condenser is
to evaporator
The effect. The liquid line
to obtain a good refrigeration
designed to pass maximum possible liquid refrigerant device is a pressure-reducing
should be properly sized to have minimum pressure drop. The throttling
from the discharge
flow. It also reduces the pressure
device and a regulator for controlling the refrigerant
without any change of state of the pressure refrigerant.
pressure to the evaporator pressure
The types of throttling devices are:

Capillary tubes
Thermostatic expansion valves

Hand expansion valves

Hand valves. tube for application up to apPprox.

10
The most commonly throttling device is the capillary
used based on the
tube having a small din-orifice and is selected,
refrigeration tons. The capillary is a copper suction and discharge
flow rate, the operating parameters (such
as
system design, the refrigerant fluctuations in load by allowing
of compensating any variations/
pressures), type of refrigerant, capable
flow to the evaporator.
only liquid refrigerant to

Coefficient of Performance (C.0.P):

is
The coefficient of performance of refrigeration plant given
by the ratio of heat absorbed, by the fefrigerant
the
to the working input to the compressor to compress
when passing through the evaporator or the system,
refrigeration.
Co-efficient of Performance = Heat removed by refrigerant / Power input Cop plant
= m Cp/KWh Where m = mass of water kept in cooling
4.18 Kj {Kg K
specific heat water of
=

chamber Cp
AT = temperature of cooling water (K)
KWh 1000 x V.I x 60 x 60 KJ
= V.I x KJ = V.I x 3600 KJ KWH = reading of energy meter.

Co-eflicient of refrigeration cycle is given by the ratio of net refrigeration effect to the power required to
run the compressor.
COP Net refrigerant effect in unit time/ Power input in unit time
m cpsr/ Kwh
Where
(O). = mass flow rate of the refrigerant /sec Cp = Specific heat of refrigerant

AT=Temperature difference (TI -T3)

KWH Kilowatt hours energy meter reading.
 the ratio of heat absorb, to the work
The co-emcient ofperformance of a refrigeration system is given by

input. Power input

COP= Heat removed by refrigerant/
in
mass of water kept
x cpAT / KWh Where
=
m
m
heat of water 4.18 fj /Kg
cooling chamber Cp specific
=

K
water
AT =
temperature of cooling
in unit time.
KWh =
power consumed by the compressor
Tonnage capacity: time from a body. This capacity
machine is the refrigeration cffect in a given
The capacity of a refrigeration This is called as refrigerating effect i.e.
commercial ton Of refrigeration.
of machine is given by standard 3.88 Kj / sec.
TR =336 x 1000 124 x 60x 60 =
meltingOf I ton of ice at O'C in 24 hours.
machine
Tonnage capacity of the
Net refrigerating effect of machine /3.88
m x cpAT /3.88