University of Basra

College of Engineering
Chemical Engineering Department

Thermodynamics
The third stage
Dr. Mohammad N. Fares

Refrigeration
 Refrigeration
The purpose of this chapter is to present a thermodynamic analysis of
refrigeration processes.

The word refrigeration implies the maintenance of a temperature below that of

the surroundings. This requires continuous absorption of heat at a low
temperature level, usually accomplished by evaporation of a liquid in a steady-
state flow process.
The vapor formed may be returned to its original liquid state for reevaporation
in either of two ways. Most commonly, it is simply compressed and then
condensed.
Alternatively, it may be absorbed by a liquid of low volatility, from which it is
subsequently evaporated at higher pressure.
 REFRIGERATION AND HEAT PUMP
CYCLES
The transfer of heat from a low-temperature
region to a high-temperature one requires
special devices called refrigerators.

Refrigerators and heat pumps are

essentially the same devices; they differ in
their objectives only.

The objective of a refrigerator is to remove

heat (QL) from the cold medium; the
objective of a heat pump is to supply heat
(QH) to a warm medium.
 The cycle traversed by an ideal gas serving as the working fluid in a Carnot is
shown by a PV diagram in Fig.(2). It consists of four reversible steps:

1- a →b Adiabatic compression until the temperature rises from TC to TH.

2- b →c Isothermal expansion to arbitrary point c with absorption of heat ǀQHǀ
3- c →d Adiabatic expansion until the temperature decreases to TC .
4- d →a Isothermal compression to the initial state with rejection of heat ǀQCǀ
First Law of Thermodynamics ΔU = ± Q ± W Eq.(1).

For the isothermal ΔU of the working fluid is zero for the cycle steps b →c and d →a
, Eq. (1) yields:

For an adiabatic process Eq. (1) is written,

Since the left sides of these two equations are the same,

Equation above now becomes:

W to the system. Since ΔU of the working fluid is zero for the cycle, the first law is written:

Eq.(2).

The measure of the effectiveness of a refrigerator is its coefficient of performance COP,

defined as:

Eq.(3).

Equation eq.(2) may be divided by ǀ Qc ǀ:

Combination with Eq. (3) gives:

And

Eq. (3) becomes:

 Refrigerator used for Cooling

TH

Observation:
 E may be >1  E  100% 
The concept of an efficiency being greater than
100% makes people uneasy. Therefore, the
conversion efficiency for a refrigerator is called
the Cooling Coefficient of Performance
TL
(COPC). A refrigeration system that is used for
cooling is called a refrigerator.
 Heat pump used for Heating

TH
Observation:
 E may be >1  E  100% 
The concept of an efficiency being greater
than 100% makes people uneasy.
Therefore, the conversion efficiency for a
refrigerator is called the Heating Coefficient
TL of Performance (COPH). A refrigeration
system that is used for heating is called a
Heat pump.
 Analysis of the Carnot Refrigerator
For the Refrigeration cycle …
Qin Qin 1
th  COPR   
Wcycle Qout  Qin Qout / Qin  1
TH
1 1 TL
COPR,Carnot   COPR,Carnot 
 Qout / Qin rev  1 TH / TL  1 TH  TL

For the Heat Pump cycle …

Qout Qout 1
th  COPH   
Wcycle Qout  Qin 1  Qin / Qout
1 1 TH
TL COPH,Carnot   COPH,Carnot 
1   Qin / Qout rev 1  TL / TH TH  TL
The Vapor Compression Refrigeration Cycle

TH

TL Two-phase
liquid-vapor mixture
Working fluid = Refrigerant
 Two phase changes
 Boiling (evaporator)
 Condensing (condenser)
 Low temperature boiling fluids

The International Association for the Properties of Water and Steam

 Refrigerants
Most refrigerants are halogenated hydrocarbons. The naming convention
adopted by ASHRAE is,
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers

R(a-1)(b+1)d = CaHbClcFd c = 2(a + 1) – b – d

Example: R22 (R022)

a 1  0  a  1 H
b 1  2  b  1
d 2 F C F Chlorodifluoromethane
c  2  a  1  b  d
c  2 1  1  1  2  1 Cl
Example: R134a

R(a-1)(b+1)d = CaHbClcFd c = 2(a + 1) – b – d

a-1=1→a = 2
b+1=3→b = 2
d=4
c=2(a+1)-b-d
C₂H₂F₄ Tetrafluoroethane
c=2(2+1)-2-4=0

F F

F C C H

F H
Example: R227ea

R(a-1)(b+1)d = CaHbClcFd c = 2(a + 1) – b – d

a-1=2→a = 3
b+1=2→b = 1
d=7
c=2(a+1)-b-d
C3H1F7 Heptafluoropropane
c=2(3+1)-1-7=0
The Pressure-Enthalpy Diagram
 y 2  y1
y  y1  x  x1 
x2  x1
 y 2  y1
y  y1  x  x1 
x2  x1
 y 2  y1
y  y1  x  x1 
x2  x1
 y 2  y1
y  y1  x  x1 
x2  x1
 The Ideal VCR Cycle on the P-h Diagram

1-2: Isentropic compression

P 2-3: Isobaric heat rejection
3-4: Isenthalpic expansion
4-1: Isobaric heat addition
 m  h 2  h3 
qout  Q out / m
3 2

 m  h 2  h1 
h3  h 4
4 1
qin  Q in / m wc  Wc / m

 m  h1  h 4 
h
 Vapor Compression Refrigeration Analysis

 m  h 2  h3  Performance

 m  h 2  h1 
h3  h 4

 m  h1  h 4 
 Refrigeration Effect and Capacity

Refrigeration Effect: qin  h1  h 4 kJ/kg

Refrigeration Capacity Q in  m  h1  h 4  kJ/s or KW

Refrigeration capacity is often expressed in tons of

refrigeration. Definition …

1 ton of refrigeration is the steady state heat transfer rate

required to melt 1 ton (1000kg) of ice at 0 °C (32°F) in 24
hours.

1 ton = 3.516 kW = 12,000 Btu/hr

P-H Diagram for Superheated
 Pressure-Enthalpy Diagram

H1 H2 H3
 Processes undergone by Refrigerant
1-Evaporation
– Constant pressure process
• Liquid + Vapor => Vapor

2- Compression
– Constant entropy process
• Vapor => Vapor

3- Condensation
– Constant pressure process
• Vapor => Liquid

4- Expansion
– Constant enthalpy process (adiabatic process; Q transfer = 0)
• Liquid => Liquid + Vapor
 In a compression process, the isentropic work, as
given by Eq.

is the minimum shaft work required for compression of

a gas from a given initial state to a given discharge
pressure. Thus we define a compressor efficiency as:

In view of Eqs. (A) and (B), this is also given by:

Compressor efficiencies η are usually in the range of 0.7 to 0.8.

Can you cool the kitchen by keeping
Extracted HEAT the refrigerator door open?
Example 1
Refrigerant-134a is the working fluid in an ideal compression refrigeration cycle.
The refrigerant leaves the evaporator at -20oC and has a condenser pressure of 0.9
MPa. The mass flow rate is 3 kg/min. Find COPR and COPR,Carnot for the same Tmax
and Tmin , and the tons
y 2 ofy1refrigeration.
 y1 
Using theyRefrigerant-134a Tables,
x  x1  we have
x2  x1
The tons of refrigeration, often called the cooling load or refrigeration effect, are
Another measure of the effectiveness of the refrigeration cycle is how much input power to
the compressor, in horsepower, is required for each ton of cooling.

The unit conversion is 4.715 hp per ton of cooling.

An ideal vapor-compression refrigerant cycle operates at steady state with Refrigerant
134a as the working fluid. Saturated vapor enters the compressor at -10oC , and
saturated liquid leaves the condenser at 28oC. The mass flow rate of refrigerant is
5kg/min. Determine

(a) The compressor power, in kW

(b) The refrigerating capacity, in tons.
(c) The coefficient of performance.
State 1: T1 = -10oC, saturated vapor → h1 = 392.9 kJ/kg, s1 = 1.7341 kJ/kg.K

State 2: P2 = 0.725 bar and s1 = s2 = 1.7341kJ/kg.K, superheated vapor → h2 = 419.5 kJ/kg,

State 3: T2 = 28oC, saturated vapor → h3 = 238.9 kJ/kg

A vapor-compression refrigeration system circulates Refrigerant 134a at rate of 6 kg/min. The
refrigerant enters the compressor at -15oC and exits at 6.45 bar. The isentropic compressor
efficiency is 67%. There are no appreciable pressure drops as the refrigerant flows through the
condenser and evaporator . The refrigerant leaves the condenser at 6.45 barand 24oC.
determine

(a) The compressor power, in kW

(b) The refrigerating capacity, in tons.
(c) The coefficient of performance.
State 1: T1 = -14oC, saturated vapor → h1 = 390.4 kJ/kg, s1 = 1.7371 kJ/kg.K

State 2: P2 = 7.5 bar and s1 = s2 = 1.7371 kJ/kg.K, superheated vapor → h2 = 421.1 kJ/kg,

State 3: T2 = 24oC, saturated vapor → h3 = 233.2 kJ/kg

Example refrigerator/Heat Pump

• An refrigerator has an cooling capacity of 500 W. Evaporator

pressure 2bar(a), Condenser pressure 10 bar(a). An ideal cycle is
assumed ,Determine
• Power input to compressor
• Heat transfer rate from Condenser
 Solution
Reading from R134a-diagram gives:
h3  h4  255 kJ / kg
h1  392 kJ / kg
h2  428 kJ / kg

Q L  500 W

   QL 0.500
Q L  m R134 a (h1  h4 )  m R134 a    0.00365 kg / s
(h1  h4 ) (392  255)
 
W c  m R134 a (h2  h1 )  0.00365(428  392)  0.1314 kW  131 W
 
Q H  m R134 a (h2  h3 )  0.00365(428  255)  0.6314 kW  631 W
  
Q H  Q L  W c  500  131.4  631.4  631 W
Q2/ A heat pump is used to heat a house in the winter and to cool it in the summer. During
the winter, the outside air serves as a low-temperature heat source; during the summer, it
acts as a high-temperature heat sink. The heat-transfer rate through the walls and roof of the
house is 0.75 kW for each kelvin of temperature difference between the inside and outside
of the house, summer and winter. The heat-pump motor is rated , at 1.5 kW. Determine the
minimum outside temperature for which the house can be maintained at 20°C during the
winter and the maximum outside temperature for which the house can be maintained at
25°C during the summer.
 Q1/An ideal vapor-compression heat pump cycle with Refrigerant 134a as the
working fluid provides 20 kW to maintain a building at 21°C when the outside
temperature is 5°C. Saturated vapor at 2.4 bar leaves the evaporator, and saturated
liquid at 8 bar leaves the condenser. Calculate
(a) The power input to the compressor, in kW
(b) The coefficient of performance.
(c) The coefficient of performance of a reversible heat pump cycle
operating between thermal reservoirs at 20 °C and 5°C
Q1/ A vapor-compression refrigeration system. The refrigerant is R134a for operating
conditions, Evaporation ,TE= -12°C condensation, TC = 27°C ,η(compressor) = 0.77 and
refrigeration rate = 422 kW. Determine the circulation rate of the refrigerant, the heat
transfer rate in the condenser, the power requirement, the coefficient of performance of the
cycle, and the coefficient of performance of a Carnot refrigeration cycle operating between
the same temperature levels.

Q2/ A refrigeration system requires 1.5 kW of power for a refrigeration rate of 4 kW.
(a) What is the coefficient of performance?
(b) How much heat is rejected in the condenser?
(c) If heat rejection is at 313.15 K (40oC), what is the lowest temperature the system
can possibly maintain?

Q3/ A vapor-compression refrigeration system. The refrigerant is water. Given that the
evaporation PE= 0.338Mpa, the condensation PC= 0.865Mpa, η(compressor) = 0.76, and
the refrigeration rate =1200kW, determine the circulation rate of the refrigerant, the heat-
transfer rate in the condenser, the power requirement, the coefficient of performance of the
cycle, and the coefficient of performance of a Carnot refrigeration cycle operating between
the same temperature levels.
Q4/ An ideal vapor-compression heat pump cycle with Refrigerant 134a as the working
fluid provides 15 kW to maintain a building at 20oC when the outside temperature is 5 oC.
Saturated vapor at 2.4 bar leaves the evaporator, and saturated liquid at 8 bar leaves the
condenser. Calculate
(a) The power input to the compressor, in kW
(b) The coefficient of performance.
(c) The coefficient of performance of a reversible heat pump cycle operating between
thermal reservoirs at 20 and 5C