EXPERIMENT NO. 1 BASIC REFRIGERATION UNIT.

1.1 Objective 1.2 Apparatus Required 1.3 Theory 1.4 Comments

1.1 Objective:
Demonstration and working of basic refrigeration unit.

1.2Apparatus Required:

Basic Refrigeration Unit.

1.3 Theory:

1.3.1 Labelled Diagram:

Figure 1: Basic Refrigeration Unit

 International Islamic University Refrigeration and
Islamabad Air Conditioning
Department of Mechanical Lab Manual
Engineering

1. Frame
2. Manometer for high-pressure side (HP)
3. Expansion valve with
4. Temperature sensor
5. Manometer for low-pressure side (LP)
6. Sight glass (refrigerant)
7. Evaporator
8. Water tank
9. Condenser
10. Compressor
11. Filler valve
12. Pressostat
13. Main switch
1.3.2 Working of function unit:
The basis for the functioning of a basic refrigeration unit is a thermodynamic cyclic
process. In a thermodynamic cyclic process a service medium (e.g. R134a) passes through
various change of state in a pre-set sequence. The changes of state are repeated cyclically, so
the service medium repeatedly returns to its initial state. That is why the process is termed a
cyclic process.
1.3.3 Components:
- A compressor compresses the vaporous service product, whereby mechanical energy
Win is absorbed.
- In the condenser the heat Qout is drawn off of the service product (at the same
temperature) and the medium is liquefied.
- In an expansion valve pressure is relieved from the liquid service product, thereby
cooling it down.
- An evaporator evaporates the service product, with heat absorption Q in.

Figure 2: Components of Vapour Compression Cycle

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Department of Mechanical Lab Manual
Engineering

Figure 3: Phase cycle of refrigerant

1.3.4 Cyclic Process:
The basis for the functioning of a heat pump is a thermodynamic cyclic process.
In a thermodynamic cyclic process a service medium (e.g. R134a) passes through various
changes of state in a pre-set sequence. The changes of state are repeated cyclically, so the
service medium repeatedly returns to its initial state. That is why the process is termed a
cyclic process. Change of state refers to compression, expansion, heating or cooling:
1. Compression means absorption of mechanical energy
2. Expansion means discharge of mechanical energy
3. Heating means absorption of thermal energy (heat)
4. Cooling means discharge of thermal energy

Figure 4: Thermodynamic Processes in Vapour Compression Cycle

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Department of Mechanical Lab Manual
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In a change of state the state variables such as pressure, specific volume or temperature of the
service product, change. Gas or easily evaporated liquids may be used as the service product.
Pure liquids are unsuitable, because they are incompressible.
Skillful sequencing of various changes of state can cause thermal and mechanical energies to
be exchanged by way of the service product; that is, the service product acts as an energy
transfer medium.
The changes of state do not need to occur at clearly separated intervals. Often heat is
discharged during compression, for example. The variations involved in changes of state are
interlinked. Compression, for example, generally leads to:
1. an increase in temperature T
2. an increase in pressure p
3. a reduction in volume V
For gases, this interlinking of state variables can be described with the so-called thermal state
equation for ideal gases:
pv  RT ( 3.1)

In this, p is the absolute pressure, v the specific volume (volume referred to mass), R the
specific gas constant and T the absolute temperature (in Kelvins).
In observing the change of state of a gas, a distinction must be made between two states:
1. State of the gas before the change of state
2. State of the gas after the change of state
The cases in which one of the state variables remains unchanged (=constant) during the
change of state are of special significance and so have their own designations:
Table 1: Special Cases of state equation

Special cases of the state equation

Designation:
Change of state Isobaric
Change of state Isochoric
Change of state Isothermic
Condition: P constant V constant T constant
State equation V1/V2=T1/T2 P1/P2=T1/T2 P1/P2=V2/V1
Gay-Lussac’s law Boyle-Mariotte’s law

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Department of Mechanical Lab Manual
Engineering

A change of state without heat discharge is termed an isentropic change of state (the specific
entropy remains constant), a change of state without exchange of heat is termed an adiabatic
change of state.
In pure compression or expansion without heat discharge or absorption (isentropic or
adiabatic respectively), the necessary mechanical energy W1,2 for the change of state from
state 1 to state 2 is calculated as
R
W1,2  m (T  T ) (3.2)
 1 1 2
Or
R
W1,2  m (pV  p V ) (3.3)
 1 1 1 2 2
 is the isentropic exponent
m is the mass of the gas
For isochoric heating or cooling (i.e. same volume, but increasing or decreasing temperature)
the following applies for input or output heat quantity Q1,2
Q1,2  mCV (T2  T1 ) (3.4)

Cv is the specific heat capacity of the gas under observation at constant volume. A distinction
must be made between two kinds of specific heat capacity:
1.Heating from T1 to T2 causes a pressure increase, the
volume remains constant: Cv
2.The heating brings about an increase in volume, the
pressure remains constant: Cp
From the specific heat capacity the isentropic exponent is produced as:
Cp
 (3.5)
CV
In reality, ideal gases are practically never encountered. The observation of changes of state
with liquids or vapors as with common service products for heat pumps is much more
complicated, and uses other state variables such as entropy or enthalpy, with the aid of caloric
state equations.

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Department of Mechanical Lab Manual
Engineering

1.3.6 Example, Heat Pump:

Whereas the steam plant process concentrates on the conversion of thermal energy into
mechanical energy, the heat pump utilizes the effect of heat transport. The term "heat pump"
can be explained by the following illustration: heat is pumped from a low temperature level
to a high temperature level, using up mechanical energy. The mechanical energy is not lost,
but is also discharged at the higher temperature level, in the form of thermal energy.

Figure 7: Heat Pump circulation process

In a heat pump the cyclic process of the steam plant is run through in reverse order.
Consequently, the direction of the heat flow is also reversed:

1. A compressor compresses the vaporous service product, whereby mechanical energy Win
is absorbed.
2. In the condenser the heat Qout is drawn off of the service product (at the same
temperature) and the medium is liquefied.
3. In an expansion valve pressure is relieved from the liquid service product, thereby cooling
it down.

4. An evaporator evaporates the service product, with heat absorption Qin .

The service product is now fed back to the compressor and the cyclic process begins again.
1.3.7 Heat Pump/Refrigerator:
In terms of function, the heat pump is identical to the refrigerator. There, too, heat is pumped
from a low energy level 1 (from the refrigerator) to a higher energy level 2 (in the
environment). Whereas in the case of the heat pump the output heat is used, the benefit for
the refrigerator comes from the input heat.

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Department of Mechanical Lab Manual
Engineering

The consumption should be equivalent to the required mechanical energy Win.

Figure 8: Difference between Heat pump and Refrigerator

The advantage of processes with vaporous/ liquid service product lies in the high energy
transfer density. During evaporation the service medium absorbs the evaporation heat with
low temperature differences. In condensation it discharges it again. The evaporation heat in
the service products used is very much greater than the quantity of heat to be transferred via
the specific heat capacity of the steam.
Example: Water
The quantity of heat required to evaporate 1 kg of water is 2256 kJ, whereas a temperature
increase of that steam from 100°C to 200°C only requires 199 kJ of heat (at 1 bar in each
case).
A high energy density saves a lot of money: compact high-performance systems can be
constructed.
The heat pump process can also be easily carried out with a purely gaseous service product.
Systems based on the Sterling principle are constructed, but are highly complex and
expensive.
1.3.9 Construction of a p-h Diagram:
Each of the various service products has its own p-h diagram, in which the liquid-phase, wet-
steam and hot-steam zones are plotted. Wet steam means that the service product is a mixture
of liquid and steam. The temperature in the wet steam zone precisely corresponds to the
boiling point. In the hot steam zone the service product is pure steam (superheated steam); the
temperature is always above boiling point.
Curves for constant temperatures T (isotherms), constant steam content x and constant
entropy s (isentropes) can also be plotted.

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Department of Mechanical Lab Manual
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The curve x=1 (steam content 100%) always delimits the wet steam zone from the hot steam
zone; the curve x=0 (liquid content 100%, steam content 0%) is the borderline between the
liquid phase and the wet steam zone.
In the wet steam zone the isotherms always run horizontally!

Figure 9: P-h Diagram

1.3.10 Ideal Cyclic Process:

The changes of state resulting in the heat pump cyclic process are now transferred into the p-
h diagram:

Figure 10: P-h Diagram of heat pump

1-2: Isentropic compression until final compression temperature with superheating of the
service medium, no heat discharge

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Department of Mechanical Lab Manual
Engineering

2-2’: Isobaric cooling until condensation temperature, discharge of the superheating enthalpy
h2,2’

2’-3: Isobaric condensation, discharge of the condensation enthalpy h2’,3

3-4: Relaxation in the wet steam zone, no enthalpy discharge, cooling and partial evaporation

4-1 : Isobaric evaporation, absorption of the evaporation enthalpy h4,1

1.3.10 Actual Cyclic Process:

The main difference between the actual and the ideal cyclic process is that the compression is
not isentropic (i.e without discharge of heat), but runs along the line 1*-2* due to internal
friction in the service product steam and heat losses in the compressor. Thus, more work must
be expended on the compressor to achieve the same final pressure.
Moreover, superheating 1-1* of the service product steam prior to compression is necessary,
to reliably exclude the possibility of drops of liquid entering the compressor. The compressor
would otherwise be damaged by liquid impacts. Liquid subcooling 3-3* is used to reduce the
portion of steam at the inlet into the evaporator. As a result, more evaporation heat 4*-1 can
be absorbed.

Figure 11: Actual P-h Diagram of heat pump

1.3.11 Output Efficiency:
To be able to assess the efficiency of a heat pump, an output coefficient is introduced. It
corresponds to the efficiency of thermal engines, and is determined from the ratio between
work and benefit. The benefit is the output heat flow Qout , the work is the input power Pin or
the input mechanical energy Win .

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Department of Mechanical Lab Manual
Engineering

Qout Qusef
  (3.8)
Win Pin

In contrast to the efficiency, which is always less than 1, the output coefficient is generally
greater than 1. The output coefficient must therefore not be designated as the efficiency.

The output coefficient becomes greater than 1, due to the fact that the input heat Qin is
delivered "free" from the environment, and so is ignored as work.
1.3.12 Determining the Output Coefficient from p-h Diagram:
The amounts of energy converted in the cyclic process can be taken directly as enthalpy
differences from the p-h diagram. Thus, the output coefficient can be determined for the ideal
process in a simple manner:

Qout h2  h3
  (3.9)
Win h2  h1

For the real process with induction gas, superheating and liquid sub cooling:

h2*  h3*
 * * (3.10)
h2  h1
In general, the output coefficient increases as the temperature difference between the
absorption and discharge sides decreases. Also, a higher temperature level resulting from the
service product used brings about a higher output coefficient.

Figure 12: Output co-efficient from P-h Diagram of heat pump

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 International Islamic University Refrigeration and
Islamabad Air Conditioning
Department of Mechanical Lab Manual
Engineering

EXPERIMENT NO. 2 BASIC REFRIGERATION UNIT.

2.1 Objective 2.2 Apparatus Required 2.3 Theory 2.4 Procedure 2.5 Observations

2.6 Comments

2.1 Objective:
To carry out the thermodynamic analysis of the Simple Vapour
Compression Refrigeration Cycle.

2.2 Apparatus Required:

Basic Refrigeration Unit.

2.3 Theory:
- A compressor compresses the vaporous service product, whereby mechanical energy
Win is absorbed.
- In the condenser the heat Qout. is drawn off of the service product (at the same
temperature) and the medium is liquefied.
- In an expansion valve pressure is relieved from the liquid service product, thereby
cooling it down.
- An evaporator evaporates the service product, with heat absorption Qin.
2.4 Procedure:
- Fill two vessels with cold water of approximately 25°C
- Position the vessels (8) as shown underneath the condenser and the evaporator.
- Measure the water temperatures in the two vessels with two laboratory thermometers
- Switch on the compressor by throwing the main switch
- Record and plot the measured values on the table.

Figure 1: Position of vessels in unit

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The resulting heat delivered to the water being heated between states 1 (at the beginning)
and 2 at the point of measurement) is
Qout =m × Cp× (THP2-THP1) (4.1)
With Cp = 4.19kJ/kg.K i.e specific heat capacity of water. The output heat power (useful heat
flow) is thus
Q out =Qout/t (4.2)
The input power is composed of the input mechanical power Pin (compressor) and the heat
power drawn from the second water vessel

Qin =m × Cp× (TLP1-TLP2)/t (4.3)

Defined and measured variables:
t- Time in sec.
m - Water quantity per water vessel
PHP - Pressure upstream of the condenser
PLP - Pressure at the inlet into the compressor
THP - Temperature of water being heated
TLP - Temperature of water delivering heat
In determine the output coefficient this drawn of heat flow is not taken into account:

Ԑ=Q'in/pin (4.4.)
2.5 Observations:
Water vessel content: ml
Time t PHP PLP
[sec] [bar] [bar] THP [°C] TLP [°C] Q out Q in Ԑ

2.5.1 Graph:

Q out vs t
Plot the graph between t along y-axis and Qout along X-axis

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Department of Mechanical Lab Manual
Engineering

EXPERIMENT NO. 3 AUTOMOBILE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT.

3.1 Objective 3.2 Apparatus Required 3.3 Theory 3.4 Procedure 3.5 Observations

3.6 Comments

3.1 Objective:
Study of characteristics of automotive refrigeration cycle and to find
coefficient of performance.
3.2 Apparatus Required:
Automobile Air Conditioning System unit

3.3 Theory:
When a liquid turns to a vapor it absorbs heat. In this case it is sucking the heat out of
environment. The opposite is also true. If that vapor then loses that heat, it will turn back into
a liquid.

In a refrigeration system, a liquid is forced to become a vapor in the evaporator, thus

absorbing heat from the refrigerated space. A compressor is then used to move that vapor to
the condenser. In the condenser vapor is forced to reject the heat and thus turn back into a
liquid so that it can be re-used. At the end, liquid is metered back into the evaporator to
complete the loop and do it time and again. The boiling point is the temperature at which the
liquid turns to vapor when heat is added. It is also the temperature at which a vapor turns to
liquid when heat is removed. Boiling point increases or decreases with pressure respectively.

In the evaporator we force liquid to become a vapor by lowering its pressure until its boiling
point/evaporating temperature is lower than the air it is trying to cool.

In the condenser we force the vapor to become a liquid by raising its pressure until its boiling
point/condensing temperature is higher than the air it is trying to heat.
Different substances have different boiling points at different pressures.

We can tell what the boiling point/saturation temp/evaporating temp/condensing temp is at

various pressures for common refrigerants by checking a pressure/temperature chart.

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General Description:

1. Condenser fan 2. Condenser

3. Receiver Drier 4. Compressor
5. Expansion valve 6. Evaporator
7. Evaporator Fan (Blower)
Figure 1: Automobile air conditioning system

Main Parts of Apparatus:

1. Control Box 2. Gauges

3. Fan 4. Flow meter
5. Compressor 6. Condenser
7. Expansion Valve 8. Receiver

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3.1 Refrigeration System component:

Basic Components of refrigeration system are:

 Compressor
 Condenser
 Expansion Valve
 Evaporator

Figure 2: Flow of refrigerant

Compressor:

The compressor transports the refrigerant at the required pressure through the air conditioning
system. The refrigerant is a low pressure gas as it enters the compressor from the evaporator.
The compressor increases the refrigerant pressure and also its temperature so it becomes a
high pressure gas which, in turn, helps the refrigerant condense more rapidly in the next
component, which is the condenser. The compressor is mounted on the engine and is driven
by a belt from the engine's crankshaft pulley. The most common reasons for failure are lack
of oil, pulley bearing wear, electromagnetic coil burn-out and lack of regular servicing.

Condenser:

The condenser works in the opposite way to the evaporator. The refrigerant gives up its heat
generated by the compressor by passing cold air across its fins and tubes by ram air or by an
extra fan. The end result of this change is that the refrigerant is now a high pressure liquid
and is forced out to the receiver drier through the liquid line. Because the condenser
is usually located at the front of the vehicle it can become damaged by debris or corroded by

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materials from the road. It can also fail because of weak spots in its construction and also
lack of regular servicing.

Expansion Valve:

The Expansion Device comes in many forms. It can be a brass internally or

externally equalized valve, a block type valve or an orifice tube (the latter being part of an
Accumulator type air conditioning system). Expansion Devices have an inlet and an outlet
which separates the high side of the system from the low side. A small restriction in the
valve allows only a small amount of refrigerant to pass through it into the Evaporator, the
amount of refrigerant passing through the valve depends on the Evaporator temperature. The
most common reasons for failure are contamination, moisture and lack of regular servicing.

Evaporator:

As soon as the liquid pressure drops, the refrigerant begins to boil (R134a refrigerant boils at
approximately -26 degrees centigrade). As it continues to boil the evaporator absorbs
the heat passing over its tubes and fins and as a result the air is cooled. Remember that heat is
being removed from the warm air and cold air is not being created. The compressor, on its
suction side, removes the low pressure vapor from the evaporator and the cycle starts all
over again. The most common reasons for failure are corrosion, weak spots in construction
and lack of regular servicing. Other component of system includes

Filter Drier:

Depending on the type of air conditioning system fitted, this item can be called a receiver
drier or an accumulator.

Accumulator

This is fitted on the low pressure gas line of an air conditioning system between the
compressor and the evaporator and is used in conjunction with an orifice tube.

Receiver drier

This is fitted on the high pressure liquid line of an air conditioning system between the
condenser and expansion device. The receiver drier has two parts to it, the receiver and, of
course, the drier. The receiver section holds the right amount of refrigerant required by the
system to ensure correct operation and to supply a steady flow of liquid refrigerant to the
expansion device. The drier section is responsible for removing moisture from the air
conditioning system by means of a bag of desiccant which absorbs small quantities of
moisture. The most common reasons for failure is corrosion and desiccant deterioration
which leads to severe system failure.

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3.4 Procedure:
 Plug in the main Power supply and turn the breaker on.
 After Power on the motor switch, turn on remaining power switches on.
 Now, Push the AC button and let the system stable for a short time.
3.5 Observations:
T=Dry bulb temperature

Test Ref.
Condenser Inlet T1 °C
Condenser Outlet T2 °C
Evaporator Inlet T3 °C
Evaporator Outlet T4 °C
Evaporator Outlet Pressure P1 bar
Condenser Outlet Pressure P2 bar

Derived results:

Test Ref.
Evaporator Outlet Pressure P1 bar
Condenser Outlet Pressure P2 bar

Draw Refrigeration cycle on P-h Diagram and calculate COP.

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