JIMMA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

FACULTY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

REFRIGERATION AND AC SEMINAR

NAME ID. NO
1 .ABDI DEJENE …………………………………....RU3686/11
2. ABDINAF BEKELE …………………………….…RU3359/11
3. ABDULJEBAR SEMU …………………………….RU4359/11
4. ASHEBER DEJENE…………………………………RU3319/11
5. GEMECHU DEREJE………………………………..RU3527/11
6. GUDINA ASEFA……………………………………RU3472/11
7. KENA GETACHEWW …………………………….RU4302/11
8. SINTAYEHU BIRHANU……………………………RU3885/11
9 DARARA TERESA………………………………….RU3397/11

Submission date, 12/24/2022

Submitted to, MR. Ali Seid

 Faculty of mechanical engineering Refrigeration and Ac seminar
Contents
List of figure and table .................................................................................................................... ii
CHAPTER ONE ............................................................................................................................. 1
REFRIGERATION SYSTEM ........................................................................................................ 1
1.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 BASIC COMPONENTS OF REFRIGERATION SYSTEM ............................................................................ 2
CHAPTER TWO .......................................................................................................................... 12
WORKING PRINCIPLE OF REFRIGERATION SYSTEM ...................................................... 12
2.1 Working principle of an Evaporator .................................................................................................. 12
2.2 Working principle of compressor...................................................................................................... 13
2.3 Working principle of an condenser ................................................................................................... 14
2.4. Working principle of an expansion valve ......................................................................................... 15
2.5 working principle of refrigerants ...................................................................................................... 16
CHAPTER THREE ...................................................................................................................... 17
Factor affecting the performance of the refrigeration system ....................................................... 17
3.1 Factors Affecting the Heat Transfer Capacity of an Evaporator ....................................................... 17
3.2 Factors Affecting the Condenser Capacity. ....................................................................................... 18
3.3 Factors affecting the performance of the compressor ..................................................................... 19
3.4 factors affecting the expansion valve ............................................................................................... 19

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List of figure and table
List of figure
Figure 1.1 refrigeration system diagrams ....................................................................................... 1
Figure 1.2 Bare tube coil evaporator............................................................................................... 2
Figure1.3 Finned tube evaporator ................................................................................................... 3
Figure1.4 Plate evaporator, ............................................................................................................. 3
Figure 1.5 Shell and tube evaporator .............................................................................................. 4
Figure 1.6 Air-cooled condensers ................................................................................................... 7
Figure 1.7 Water-cooled condensers............................................................................................... 7
Figure 1.8 Evaporative condensers ................................................................................................. 7
Figure 1.9 Capillary tube ................................................................................................................ 8
Figure 1.10 Low-side float valves .................................................................................................. 9
Figure 1.11 High-side float valves .................................................................................................. 9
Figure 2.1 Working principle of an Evaporator ............................................................................ 12
Figure 2.2 Working principle of compressor ................................................................................ 13
Figure 2.3 Working principle of a condenser ............................................................................... 14
Figure 2.4 Working principle of an expansion valve .................................................................... 15

List of table
Table 1.1 Halo-carbon or organic refrigerants .............................................................................. 10
Table 1.2 Azeotrope refrigerants .................................................................................................. 10
Table 1.3 Inorganic refrigerants .................................................................................................... 11
Table 1.4 Hydro-carbon refrigerants............................................................................................. 11
Table 3.1 Suggested temperature difference for some of the products ......................................... 18

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CHAPTER ONE

REFRIGERATION SYSTEM
1.1 INTRODUCTION
Refrigeration: it is the process of continuous cooling or extraction of heat to below that of the
atmosphere from a substance with a help of the external work.
If you were to place a hot cup of coffee on a table and leave it for a while, the heat in the coffee
would be transferred to the materials in contact with the coffee, i.e. the cup, the table and the
surrounding air. As the heat is transferred, the coffee in time cools.
Using the same principle, refrigeration works by removing heat from a product and transferring
that heat to the outside air. And components of refrigeration is a way that process can transfer
through them and

Figure 1.1 refrigeration system diagrams

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1.2 BASIC COMPONENTS OF REFRIGERATION SYSTEM

There are five basic components of a refrigeration system, these are: -
A. Evaporator
B. Compressor
C. Condenser
D. Expansion Valve
E. Refrigerant;
1.2.1 Type of each component of Refrigeration system.
In order for the refrigeration cycle to operate successfully each component must be present
within the refrigeration system.
A. EVAPORATOR
The evaporator is an important device used in the low pressure side of a refrigeration system.
The liquid refrigerant from the expansion valve enters into the evaporator where it boils and
changes into vapour. The function of an evaporator is to absorb heat from the surrounding
location or medium which is to be cooled, by means of a refrigerant.
Types of Evaporators
Though there are many types of evaporators, yet the following are important from the subject
point of view:
1. According to the type of construction
(a) Bare tube coil evaporator
The simplest type of evaporator is the bare tube coil evaporator. The bare tube coil evaporators
are also known as prime-surface evaporators. Because of its simple construction, the bare tube
coil is easy to clean and defrost.

Figure 1.2 Bare tube coil evaporator

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(b) Finned tube evaporator

The finned evaporator consists of bare tubes or coils over metal plates or fins are fastened. The
metal fins are constructed of thin sheets of metal having good thermal conductivity. T-shape, size
or spacing of the fins can be adapted to provide best rate of heat transfer for given application.
Since the fins greatly increase the contact surfaces for heat transfer, therefore the finned
evaporators are also called extended surface evaporators.

Figure1.3 Finned tube evaporator

(c) Plate evaporator,
In this type of evaporator, the coils are either welded on one side of a plate or between the two
plates which are welded together at the edges. The plate evaporators are generally used in
household refrigerators, home freezers, beverage coolers, ice cream cabinets, locker plants etc.

Figure1.4 Plate evaporator,

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(d) Shell and tube evaporator

It consists of a number of horizontal tubes enclosed in a cylindrical shell. The inlet and outlet
headers with perforated metal tube sheets are connected at each end of the tubes. These
evaporators are generally used to chill water or brine solutions.

Figure 1.5 Shell and tube evaporator

(e) Shell and coil evaporator, and

(f) Tube-in-tube evaporator,
2. According to the mode of heat transfer:
(a) Natural convection evaporator,
The natural convection evaporators are used where low air velocity and minimum hydration of
the product is desired. The domestic refrigerators, water coolers and small freezers have natural
convection evaporators.
(b) Forced convection evaporator
In forced convection evaporators, the air is forced over the refrigerant cooled coils and fins. The
forced convection evaporators are more efficient than natural convection evaporators because
they require less cooling surface and high evaporator pressures can be used which save
considerable power input to the compressor.
3. According to the manner in which liquid refrigerate is fed:
(a) Flooded evaporator, and
(b) Dry expansion evaporator
4. According to operating conditions:
(a) Frosting evaporator,
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(b) Non-frosting evaporator, and
(c) Defrosting evaporator
B. COMPRESSOR
A refrigerant compressor, as the name indicates, is a machine used to compress the vapor
refrigerant from the evaporator and to raise its pressure so that the corresponding saturation
temperature is higher than that of the cooling medium. It also continually circulates the
refrigerant through the refrigerating system. Since the compression of refrigerant requires some
work to be done on it, therefore, compressor must be driven by some prime mover.
Classification of Compressors
The compressors may be classified in many ways, but the following are important from the
subject point of view:
1. According to the method of compression
(a) Reciprocating compressors,
The compressors in which the vapour refrigerant is compressed by the reciprocating (i.e. back
and forth) motion of the piston are called reciprocating compressors. These compressors are used
for refrigerants which have comparatively low volume per kg and a large differential pressure,
such as ammonia (R-717), R-12, R-22, and methyl chloride (R-40).
(b) Rotary compressors,
In rotary compressors, the vapour refrigerant from the evaporator is compressed due to the
movement of blades. The rotary compressors are positive displacement type compressors. Since
the clearance in rotary compressors is negligible. Therefore they have high volumetric efficiency.
- These compressors may be used with refrigerants R-12, R-22, R-114 and ammonia. Following
are the two basic types of rotary compressors:
(c) Centrifugal compressors.
The centrifugal compressor for refrigeration systems was designed and developed by Dr. Willis
H. Carrier in 1922. This compressor increases the pressure of low pressure vapour refrigerant to
a high pressure by centrifugal force. The centrifugal compressor is generally used forrefrigerants
that require large displacement and low condensing pressure, such as R-11 and R-113 However,
the refrigerant R-12 is also employed for large capacity applications and lowtemperature
applications
2. According to the number of working strokes
(a) Single acting compressors, and
(b) Double acting compressors.
3. According to the number of stages

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(a) Single-stage (or single-cylinder) compressors, and
(b) Multi-stage (or multi-cylinder) compressors.
4. According to the method of drive employed
(a) Direct drive compressors, and
(b) Belt drives compressors.
5. According to the location of the prime mover
(a) Semi-hermetic compressors (direct drive, motor and compressor in separate housings), and
(b) Hermetic compressors (direct drive, motor and compressor in same housings).

C. CONDENSER
The condenser is an important device used in the high pressure side of a refrigeration system. Its
function is to remove heat of the hot vapour refrigerant discharged from the compressor. The hot
vapour refrigerant consists of the heat absorbed by the evaporator and the heat of compression
added by the mechanical energy of the compressor motor. The heat from the hot vapour
refrigerant in a condenser is removed first by transferring it to the walls of the condenser tubes
and then from the tubes to the condensing or cooling medium.
Classification of Condensers
According to the condensing medium used, the condensers are classified into the following three
groups:
1. Air-cooled condensers
An air-cooled condenser is one in which the removal of heat is done by air. It consists steel or
copper tubing through which the refrigerant flows. The condensers with single row of tubing
provide the most efficient heat transfer. This is because the air temperature rises as it passes
through each row of tubing.

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Figure 1.6 Air-cooled condensers

2. Water-cooled condensers
A water-cooled condenser is one in which water is used as the condensing medium. They always
preferred where an adequate supply of clear inexpensive water and means of water disposal
available. These condensers are commonly used in commercial and industrial refrigerating units.

Figure 1.7 Water-cooled condensers

3. Evaporative condensers
The evaporative condensers use both air and water as condensing mediums to condense the hot
vapour refrigerant to liquid refrigerant. These condensers perform the combined functions of a
water-cooled condenser and a cooling tower.

Figure 1.8 Evaporative condensers

D. EXPANSION VALVE
The expansion device (also known as metering device or throttling device) is an important device
that divides the high pressure side and the low pressure side of a refrigerating system. It is
connected between the receiver (containing liquid refrigerant at high pressure) and the
evaporator (containing liquid refrigerant at low pressure). The expansion device performs the
following functions:

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1. It reduces the high pressure liquid refrigerant to low pressure liquid refrigerant before being
fed to the evaporator.
2. It maintains the desired pressure difference between the high and low pressure sides the
system, so that the liquid refrigerant vaporizes at the designed pressure m evaporator.
3. It controls the flow of refrigerant according to the load on the evaporator.
Note: The expansion devices used with dry expansion evaporators are usually called expansion
whereas the expansion devices used with flooded evaporators are known as float valves.
Types of Expansion Devices
Following are the main types of expansion devices used in industrial and commercial
refrigeration and air conditioning system.
1. Capillary tube
It is used as an expansion device in small capacity hermetic sealed refrigeration units such as in
domestic refrigerators, water coolers, room airconditioners and freezers. It is a copper tube of
small internal diameter and of varying length depending upon the application.

Figure 1.9 Capillary tube

2. Hand-operated expansion valve
It is the simplest type of expansion valve but it requires an operator to regulate the flow of
refrigerant to the evaporator manually.
3. Automatic or constant pressure expansion valve,
The automatic expansion valve is also known as constant pressure expansion it maintains
constant evaporator pressure regardless of the load on the evaporator. Its main force is the
evaporator pressure. It is used with dry expansion evaporators where the relatively constant.
4. Thermostatic expansion valve,

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The thermostatic expansion valve is the most commonly used expansion device commercial and
industrial refrigeration systems. This is also called a constant superheat valve because it
maintains a constant superheat of the vapour refrigerant at the end of the evaporator coil by
controlling the flow of liquid refrigerant through the evaporator.
5. Low-side float valve
As the name indicates, the low-side float valve (i.e. between the evaporator and compressor
suction line) of the refrigeration system. It maintains a constant level of liquid refrigerant in the
evaporator and float chamber by opening and closing a needle valve.

Figure 1.10 Low-side float valves

6. High-side floats valves
As the name indicates, the high-side float valve is located on the high pressure side (i.e. between
the condenser and evaporator) of the refrigeration system. It controls the flow of liquid
refrigerant to the evaporator according to the load and maintains a constant liquid level in the
evaporator and float chamber by opening or closing of a needle valve.

Figure 1.11 High-side float valves

E. REFRIGERANT;
The refrigerant is a heat carrying medium which during their cycle (i.e. compression,
condensation, expansion and evaporation) in the refrigeration system absorbs heat from a low
temperature system and discards the heat so absorbed to a higher temperature system.
Classification of Refrigerants
The refrigerants may, broadly, be classified into the following two groups:
1. Primary refrigerants,
2. Secondary refrigerants.

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The refrigerants which directly take part in the refrigeration system are called primary
refrigeration whereas the refrigerants which are first cooled by primary refrigerants and then
used for cooling purposes are known secondary refrigeration.
The primary refrigerants are further classified into the following four groups:
1. Halo-carbon or organic refrigerants
The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
identifies 42 halo-carbon compounds as refrigerants, but only a few of them are commonly used
the following table gives some of the commonly used halo-carbon refrigerants :
Table 1.1 Halo-carbon or organic refrigerants
Refrigerant number Chemical name Chemical formula
R-11 Trichloro-monofluoro-methane CCl3F
R-12 Dichloro-difluoro-methane CCl2F2
R-13 Monochloro-trifluoro-methane CClF3
R-14 Carbontetrafluoride CF4
R-21 Dichloro-monofluoro-methane CCHClF2
R-22 Methylene chloride CH2Cl2
R-30 Methyl chloride CH3Cl
R-40 Ethyl chloride C2H5Cl
R-113 Trochloro-tetrafluoro-ethane CCl2FCClF2 or C2Cl3F3
R-114 Dichloro-tetrafluoro-ethane CCLF2CCl or C2Cl2F4
R-115 Monochloro-pentafluoro-ethane CCLF2CF3 or C2CLF5
R-123 Dichloro-trifluoro-ethane CF3CHCl2
R-124 Monochloro-tetra-ethane CF3CHClF
R-134a Tetrafluoro-ethane CF3CH2F
R-152a Difluoro-ethane CH3CHF

The halo-carbon compounds are all synthetically produced and were developed as Freon family
of refrigerants.
2. Azeotrope refrigerants
The term azeotrope' refers to a stable mixture of refrigerants whose vapour and 1iquid phases
retain identical compositions over a wide range of temperatures. However, these mixtures,
usually, have properties that differ from either of their components. Some of the azeotropes are
given in the following table
Table 1.2 Azeotrope refrigerants
Refrigerant number Azeotropic mixing refrigerants Chemical formula
R-500 73.8% R-12 and 26.2% R-152 CCl2F2/CH3CHF2
R-502 48.8% R-22and 51.22% R-115 CHClF2/CClF2CF3

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R-503 40.1% R-23 and 59.9% R-13 CHF3/CClF3
R-50 48.2% R-32 and 51.8 R-115 CH2F2/CClF2CF3

3. Inorganic refrigerants
The inorganic refrigerants were exclusively used before the introduction of helo-carbon
refrigerants. These refrigerants are still in use due to their inherent thermodynamic and physical:
properties. The various inorganic refrigerants are given in the following table:
Table 1.3 Inorganic refrigerants
Refrigerant number Chemical name Chemical formula
R-717 Ammonia NH3
R-729 Air -
R-744 Carbon dioxide CO2
R-764 Sulphur dioxide SO2
R-118 Water H2O

4. Hydro-carbon refrigerants.
Most of the hydro-carbon refrigerants are successfully used in industrial and commercial
installations. They possess satisfactory thermodynamic properties but are highly flammable and
explosive. The various hydro-carbon refrigerants are given in the following table:
Table 1.4 Hydro-carbon refrigerants
Refrigerant number Chemical name Chemical formula
R-170 ethane C2H6
R-290 Propane C3H3
R-600 Butane C4H10
R-600a Isobutene C4H10
R-1120 Trichloroethylene C2H4Cl3
R-1130 Dichloroethylene C2H4Cl2
R-1150 Ethylene C2H4
R-1270 propylene C3H6

Since the hydro-carbon refrigerants are not commonly used now-a-days.

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CHAPTER TWO

WORKING PRINCIPLE OF REFRIGERATION SYSTEM

2.1 Working principle of an Evaporator

The working of an evaporator may be best understood by considering the simple refrigerating
system, as shown in Fig. 2.l (a). The corresponding p-h diagram is shown in Fig. 2.1 (b). The
point 5 in the figure represents the entry of liquid refrigerant into the expansion valve. Under
proper operating conditions, the liquid refrigerant is sub-cooled (i.e. cooled below its saturation
temperature).

a b
Figure 2.1 Working principle of an Evaporator
The sub-cooling ensures that the expansion valve receives pure liquid refrigerant with no vapour
present to restrict the flow of refrigerant through the expansion valve. The liquid refrigerant at
low pressure enters the evaporator at point 6, as shown in Fig. 2.1As the liquid refrigerant passes
through the evaporator coil; it continually absorbs heat through the coil walls, from the medium
being cooled. During this, the refrigerant continues to boil and evaporate. Finally at point 1', the
all liquid refrigerant has evaporated and only vapour refrigerant remains in the evaporator coil.
The liquid refrigerant's ability to convert absorbed heat to latent heat is now used up.

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2.2 Working principle of compressor

a b

Figure 2.2 Working principle of compressor

Based on the working principle we have two types of compressors

i. Positive displacement type

In positive displacement type compressors, compression is achieved by trapping a refrigerant

vapour into an enclosed space and then reducing its volume. Since a fixed amount of refrigerant
is trapped each time, its pressure rises as its volume is reduced. When the pressure rises to a level
that is slightly higher than the condensing pressure, then it is expelled from the enclosed space
and a fresh charge of low-pressure refrigerant is drawn in and the cycle continues. Since the flow
of refrigerant to the compressor is not steady, the positive displacement type compressor is a
pulsating flow device. However, since the operating speeds are normally very high the flow
appears to be almost steady on macroscopic time scale.

ii. Roto-dynamic type

In roto-dynamic compressors, the pressure rise of refrigerant is achieved by imparting kinetic

energy to a steadily flowing stream of refrigerant by a rotating mechanical element and then
converting into pressure as the refrigerant flows through a diverging passage. Unlike positive
displacement type, the roto-dynamic type compressors are steady flow devices.

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2.3 Working principle of an condenser

The working of a condenser may be best understood by considering a simple refrigerating system
as shown in Fig. 2.3 (a). The corresponding p-h diagram showing three stages of a refrigerant
cooling is shown in Fig. 3.3 (b). The compressor draws in the superheated vapour refrigerant that
contains the heat it absorbed in the evaporator. The compressor adds more heat (i.e. the heat of
compression) to the superheated vapour.

a b

Figure 2.3 Working principle of a condenser

This highly superheated vapour from the compressor is pumped to the condenser through the
discharge line. The condenser cools the refrigerant in the following three stages:

1. First of all, the superheated vapour is cooled to saturation temperature (called desuperheating)
corresponding to the pressure of the refrigerant. This is shown by the line 2-3 in Fig. 2.3 (b). The
desuperheating occurs in the discharge line and in the first few coils of the condenser.

2. Now the saturated vapour refrigerant gives up its latent heat and is condensed to a saturated
liquid refrigerant. This process, called condensation, is shown by the line 3-4.

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3. The temperature of the liquid refrigerant is reduced below its saturation temperature (i.e. sub-
cooled) in order to increase the refrigeration effect. This process is shown by the line 4-5.

2.4. Working principle of an expansion valve

It is the valve decreases the pressure to allow the refrigerant to boil at lower temperatures. For
example, we’re used to water boiling at around 100°c (212°F) that’s because most of us live near
sea level so the air around us is compressed by all the weight of the atmosphere above us.
However, if we went higher up into the atmosphere, say to the top of mount Everest, then we
would find that water boils at only 70°c (158°F) and that’s because we’re higher up so there is
less atmosphere above us to push down on the water, making it easier to boil.

Figure 2.4 Working principle of an expansion valve

The boiling is essential as the refrigerant will absorb the heat from the ambient air and carry this
away to the compressor. Just remember that refrigerants have a much lower boiling point than
water. The high pressure liquid refrigerant is forced through a small orifice which causes a
pressure reduction as it passes through. During this pressure reduction, some of the refrigerant
will vaporize and the rest will remain as liquid.

It’s similar to a water bottle spray nozzle, as you pull the trigger the high pressure water is
forced through the small orifice into a much lower pressure environment. This causes the water
to become part liquid, part vapour. This mixture of liquid/vapour refrigerant is sprayed into the
evaporator where it will absorb heat from the air, or water, which surrounds the pipe. In this
example a fan is blowing air across the evaporator.

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2.5 working principle of refrigerants
The evaporator is located inside a refrigerator and is the part that makes the items in the
refrigerator cold. As the refrigerant turns from a liquid into a gas through evaporation, it cools
the area around it, producing the proper environment for storing food.

Refrigerant is the liquid that's used to cool our home's air. We can think of our air conditioner's
refrigerant as the errand runner of the unit. It moves back and forth between the indoor and
outdoor units of our air conditioner with the goal of cooling off the air in our home.

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CHAPTER THREE

Factor affecting the performance of the refrigeration system

3.1 Factors Affecting the Heat Transfer Capacity of an Evaporator

Though there are many factors upon which the heat transfer capacity of an evaporator
depends, yet the following are important from the subject point of view:
1. Velocity of refrigerant. The velocity of refrigerant is affects the heat transfer capacity of
an evaporator. If the velocity of refrigerant flowing through the evaporator increases, the
overall heat transfer coefficient also increases. But this increased velocity will cause greater
pressure loss in the evaporator. Thus the only recommended velocities for different
refrigerants which give high heat transfer rates and allowable pressure loss should be used.
2. Thickness of the evaporator coil wall. The thickness of the evaporator coil wall also
affects the heat transfer capacity of the evaporator. In general, the thicker the wall, the slower
is the rate of heat transfer. Since the refrigerant in the evaporator coils is under pressure,
therefore the evaporator walls must be thick enough to withstand the effects of that pressure.
It may be noted that the thickness has only a slight effect on total heat transfer capacity
because the evaporators are usually made from highly conductive materials.
3. Contact surface area. An important factor affecting the evaporator capacity is the contact
surface available between the walls of evaporator coil and the medium being cooled. The
amount of contact surface, in turn, depends basically on the physical size and shape of the
evaporator coil.
4. Material. In order to have rapid heat transfer in an evaporator, the material used for the
construction of an evaporator coil should be a good conductor of heat. The material which is
not affected by the refrigerant must also be selected. Since metals are best conductors of beat,
therefore they are always used for evaporators. Iron and steel can be used with all common
refrigerants. Brass and copper are used with all refrigerants except ammonia. Aluminum
should not be used with Freon.
5. Temperature difference. The temperature difference between the refrigerant within the
evaporator and the product to be cooled plays an important role in the heat transfer capacity
of an evaporator. The following table shows the suggested temperature difference for some
of the products to be cooled.

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Table 3.1 Suggested temperature difference for some of the products

product Cooling Refrigerant Temperature
temperature temperature difference
cheese, eggs and 0 to- 2 - 10 8
butter
Poultry and meats - 20 to- 15 - 30 10
(frozen)
Vegetables and fruits +7 -5 12
Cream and milk +3 -8 11
Beer +4.5 -7 11.5

It may be noted that a too low temperature difference (below 8°C) may cause slime on certain
products such as meat or poultry. On the other hand, too high a temperature difference causes
excessive dehydration.

3.2 Factors Affecting the Condenser Capacity.

The condenser capacity is the ability of the condenser to transfer heat from the hot vapour
refrigerant to the condensing medium. The heat transfer capacity of a condenser depends upon
following factors:
1. Material. Since the different materials have different abilities of heat transfer, therefore,
the size of a condenser of a given capacity can be varied by selecting the right material. It
may note that higher the ability of a material to transfer heat, the smaller will be the size
of condenser.
2. Amount of contact. The condenser capacity may be varied by controlling the amount
contact between the condenser surface and the condensing medium. This can be done by
varying the surface area of the condenser and the rate of flow of the condensing medium
over condenser surface. The amount of liquid refrigerant level in the condenser also
affects the amount of contact between the vapour refrigerant and the condensing medium.
The portion of condenser used for liquid sub-cooling cannot condense any vapour
refrigerant.
3. Temperature difference. The heat transfer capacity of a condenser greatly depends u~
the temperature difference between the condensing medium and the vapour refrigerant.
As temperature difference increases, the heat transfers rate increases and therefore the
condenser capacity increases. Generally, this temperature difference cannot be controlled.
But when temperature difference becomes so great that it becomes a problem, devices are
available that will change the amount of condensing surface and the air flow rate to
control condenser capacity.

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Note: Most air-cooled condensers are designed to operate with a temperature difference of
14° C.

3.3 Factors affecting the performance of the compressor

Such factors include

✓ Type of compressor
✓ Model of the compressor
✓ Size of compressor
✓ motor power rating
✓ system design
✓ control mechanisms

3.4 factors affecting the expansion valve

Now that we know the factors that affect expansion valve, it is important to know what brings
about these problems. The following is some of the reason why an expansion valve becomes
faulty;
Compressor failure in most cases, the compressor failure leads to an expansion valve
malfunction. Whenever it fails, it cannot transmit the required refrigerant to the expansion valve.
In turn, this leads to a valve leak. The best thing to do is consult a technician who will replace it
or purchase a new one.
Excess refrigerant flow Excessive refrigerant flow in your AC is another cause of a faulty
expansion valve. The expansion valve’s limited capacity is because it does not manage excessive
coolant. If your valve leaks, it is due to under filling or overfilling it with the incorrect amount of
refrigerant.
To avoid this, you should consult a technician to change out your expansion valve and replace
the required amount of refrigerant.
Also, ensure that you never open or close the expansion valve outside of when it’s necessary. It
can cause severe damage and affect the performance of the expansion valve.
They can fail internally but most often they fail because of a blocked inlet screen (if they have
one), contaminants entering the valve, loss of charge from the power head, bulb location, and
positioning issues and overheating of the valve.
Inconsistent airflow is also one of the expansion valve failure symptoms. Whenever there is a
faulty expansion valve, there will be fluctuations in its ability to control refrigerant flow in the
unit. If this happens, the air from the vents will be too cold or warm.

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 Faculty of mechanical engineering Refrigeration and Ac seminar

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