MEc3011B – Refrigeration and

Air conditioning

Reversed Carnot Cycle and

its deviation to
Vapour Compression
Refrigeration System
1
 Carnot Cycle
 Model of perfection for refrigeration cycle
 Most efficient cycle between temperature levels
 Consist of two isothermal processes and two isentropic
processes
 Efficiency is independent of fluid properties
 All real cycles are compared with the Carnot cycle

2
 Reversed Carnot Refrigeration Cycle
a-b: Absorption of heat by the working fluid from refrigerator at
constant low temp T2 during isothermal expansion.
b-c: Isentropic compression of the working fluid with the aid of
external work. The temperature of the fluid rises from T2 to T1.
c-d: Isothermal compression of the working fluid during which heat
is rejected at constant high temperature T1.
d-a: Isentropic expansion of the working fluid. The temperature of
the working fluid falls from T1 to T2.

T2
COPCarnot =
T1 – T2

3
 Reversed Carnot Refrigeration Cycle
QH
3
Condenser 2

3
TH 2
Turbine Comp. Wnet
TL
4 1
Evaporator QL
4 1
QL s

TL
COPCarnot =
TH - TL
4
 Reversed Carnot Refrigeration Cycle

4
35
3

COP
2 40

1 TC 450

-1

The COP of a Carnot refrigeration system increases as the

evaporator temperature increases and condenser temperature
decreases.
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 Reversed Carnot Refrigeration Cycle

Condition for high COP of the Carnot Cycle

• Maintain TE as high as possible.
• Maintain TC as low as possible.

TE and TC are constrained by application temperature

(source) and temperature of coolant (sink).
TC = +400C
Atmosphere, +350C

T
Cold room, -50C
TE = -100C
s
7
 Reversed Carnot Refrigeration Cycle
Practical difficulties with Carnot Refrigeration Cycle
• Process 1-2 is wet compression
• Extraction of work during isentropic
expansion is not economically feasible.

3
TH 2
Wnet
TL
4 1
QL

8
s
 Reversed Carnot Refrigeration Cycle

Carnot Refrigeration Cycle with dry compression

QH
3 Not Feasible solution
Condenser 2

Not possible C2T

3 2
2’ TH 2’
Turbine C1s TL
4 1

4 Evaporator
1
QL s
8
 Vapour Compression Cycle

Evans-Perkins Cycle (Modified Reversed Carnot Cycle)

3 Condenser 2 2
3
TC

C TE
4 1

4 Evaporator 1 s
TC
TE 4 3
P P
1 2

h v
9
 Vapour Compression Cycle(1-2-3-4)

Comparison with Reversed Carnot Cycle (1-2’’-3-4’)

A) Heat Extraction Rate (Cooling Effect)

3 2’
TC
2’’

TE
4’ 4 1

Throttling loss, Area A2

a b c s
Throttling loss = area b-4-4’-a-b = area A2
10
 Vapour Compression Cycle
Comparison with Carnot Cycle
B) Heat Rejection Rate

2 Superheat horn, area A1

3 2’
TC 2’’

TE
4’ 4 1

a b s c

Increased heat rejection rate = superheat horn = area 2’-2’’-2

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 Vapour Compression Cycle

Comparison with Carnot Cycle

C) Work Input

2 Area A1

3 2’
TC 2’’

TE
4’ 4 1

Area A2
a b s c

Increased in Net Work Input = area A1 + area A2

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 Standard Vapour Compression Cycle
Assumptions:
TC
1. Steady flow
TE
3
2. Sat vapour at suction and sat vap
P 2
at condenser outlet
4 1 3. No heat transfer in connecting
lines
h
4. Compression is Isentropic
5. Expansion is Isenthalpic
6. No frictional pressure drops in
TC connecting lines.
TE 7. Irreversibilities within the
evaporator, condenser and
compressor are ignored
s 14
Vapour Compression Cycle

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Questions ? ?

Thank You.!!
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