Refrigeration

Contact:

1. introduction.
2. History of Refrigeration.
3. Working Principle of Refrigerator.
4. The Components of Refrigerator.
5. Applications.
6. common problems with refrigerators and solutions.
7. Refrigerator - Merits, Demerits, Care.
8. Exercise.
 1. Introduction:
Heat and cold are two different entities associated with
temperature. Body temperature is measured by a thermometer.
We prefer to wear light colored cotton clothes when it is hot. We
prefer to wear light colored cotton clothes when it is hot. We
prefer to wear dark-colored polyester clothes when it is cold as
per the weather. Heating is the process of upkeeping the heat in
the body. Refrigeration is the process of cooling space.

2. History of Refrigeration:
This process was witnessed, in the Greeks and
Romans period to cool their food with ice
transported from the mountains. Preservation of the
food is the main idea which leads to the
development of the refrigeration process.
Refrigeration inhibits the growth of microorganisms
like bacteria, yeast and mold thus helping in the
destroying of food items. It is mainly used to store
foodstuff at low temperatures for a longer period of
time. Some products can be stored for months and
even for many years. Water when frozen becomes
ice which is the key ingredient of many processes.
 3. Working Principle of Refrigerator:
Refrigerators work on the second law of thermodynamics. In the
process of refrigeration, unwanted heat is taken from one place
and discharged into another. The common refrigerator which we
have in our homes works on the principle of evaporation. A
refrigerant is a substance used in a heat cycle to transfer heat
from one area and remove it to another.
 4. The Components of Refrigerator:
There are four components in the refrigerator system.

• Evaporator
• Compressor
• Condenser
• Expansion valve
5. Applications:
• Separation of gases: Separation of air into its
constituents by fractional distillation as
different components of air liquefies at
different temperatures.
• Condensation of gases: In industries, gases such
as ammonia are condensed before storage and
shipment.
• Dehumidification of air: Air is dehumidified by
liquefying and separating the moisture present
in it.
• Cooling for preservation: Vegetables, organic-
chemical, and explosives are kept in cold
storage for preservation.
 6. common problems with refrigerators and
solutions:
Problem 1: Refrigerator is not Cooling Properly
It is one of the most common refrigerator problems you ever
heard of. It happens due to the dirt accumulating on the coils at
the back or on-air vents, But, in some cases, the shortage of
refrigerant or coolant can also be a reason behind this problem.

Solution:
To fix the problem you need to clean your refrigerator condenser
coil, which is located on the backside. But, before doing just
unplug the refrigerator first. And, you can clean your refrigerator
air vents with the help of a little wet brush or vacuum cleaner. It
helps in making the refrigerator efficient & effective cooling
inside the fridge.
If your refrigerator has a shortage of coolant issues, then refill it
by contacting a technical professional for this.

Problem 2: Water Leaking from Refrigerator

Relatively, water leaking from the refrigerator is also one of the
most common refrigerator problems but can be serious
sometimes. There is a separate water line connected to the
freezer, which transfers the water from the freezer after
defrosting the ice. The leakage problem is often caused by the
blocked, clogged, frozen, tearing, or breaking of defrost water
drainage line, The defrost water drainage line can be blocked for
many reasons such as accumulation of dirt or leafy food waste.
Solution:
If you detect that the drainage line is frozen or blocked, then you
can apply some hot water to it. You can also leave your
refrigerator unplugged for some hours. can also check while the
refrigerator is unplugged if the defrost drainage line is torn or
broken. If you found it, then you have to replace it, If your
refrigerator problem doesn’t solve yet, then quickly consult a
technician. Relatively, water leaking from the refrigerator is also
one of the most common refrigerator problems but can be
serious sometimes. There is a separate water line connected to
the freezer, which transfers the water from the freezer after
defrosting the ice. The leakage problem is often caused by the
blocked, clogged, frozen, tearing, or breaking of defrost water
drainage line, The defrost water drainage line can be blocked for
many reasons such as accumulation of dirt or leafy food waste.
Solution:

problem 3: Refrigerator Produces Noisy Sound

Normally, the refrigerator makes little noise due to its
compressor or condenser fan operations. But, it is tolerable and
produces not that much strange noise, But, if you experience
your refrigerator producing too much noise, the problem is
probably with its condenser fans or motor. It happens when a
thick layer of dust accumulated on the fins of the fan. You can
also check the motor of the fan if it is producing noise because
of some fault or dirt.

Solution:
To fixing this noisy problem with your refrigerator you need to
clean your refrigerator condenser fan properly first. If still your
problem is not solved, then check the fan motor and if it finds
faulty, then replace it.
Problem 4: Build-up of Ice Layer or Frost in the
Freezer
It is the most common refrigerator problem you generally found
in Direct Cool refrigerator types. The main reason for the
building-up of ice or frost inside the freezer is the convectional
cooling process, In conventional cooling, the air is moving
according to the conventional current process. In the
Convectional process, the cold air is moving downward, and the
hot air is moving upward because it is lighter than the cold one,
and the cycle goes on. There is no role of fans, which are used to
spread cool air inside the refrigerator evenly. Hence, due to the
absence of fans, the cold air is not distributed or spread evenly
inside the refrigerator.

Solution:
To conquer the frosting problem in your direct cool refrigerator,
you need to find a defrost button first. Nowadays, most Direct
Cool refrigerators come with defrost button technology in it. In
this technology, pressing the defrost button will automatically
enhance the temperature of your freezer and helps in melting
the ice.
But, if your refrigerator doesn’t have a defrost button, simply
take all the food out from the fridge. And unplug your fridge for
some time until the ice from the freezer is completely melted.
Problem 5: Water Dispenser is not Working
Is your refrigerator has a Water Dispenser? And if it is failed to
provide you with cold water, then the main reason behind this
problem can be its frozen water filling tube.
This problem can occur due to a faulty water inlet valve or an
insufficient water supply. Accumulation of water minerals or
debris inside the filter can also be a reason for water not
dispensing.

Solution:
By passing water through it, you can check the water-filling tube
to find that it is really frozen. If the water is not passing through
the line it means the line is frozen. You have to take a hairdryer
to melt out the ice from the tube. For that, you just need to blow
hot air on the pipe outlet or where you find it frozen.
To fix this problem, you have to repair your water pressure, but
if the fault is in the inlet valve, then you have to replace it. And
to avoid water blockages or clogging, you should have to clean
or change your filter from time to time.
 7. Refrigerator - Merits, Demerits, Care:

Merits:
1.It helps to preserve food stuffs so that they maintain their
natural, physical appearance and nutritive value.

2.It helps to keep things cool.

3.It has made possible the enjoyment of many foods

throughout the year.

4.Daily shopping is no longer necessary. It saves steps,

energy, and time.

De-Merits:
1. The advent of no frost or automatic de-frosting
refrigerators and freezers have resulted in a tendency to
clean these less frequently. So, it results in food spoilage.

2. If spills are not wiped up and foods not covered, their

odours may be absorbed by other foods in the
compartment. As a result, the original flavour may be
altered.
 Care:
1. The refrigerator should not be over crowded.

2. Frequent opening of the refrigerator should be avoided.

3. Hot vessels should be cooled before being placed in the

refrigerator.

4. Regular inspection of stored food and the removal

before spoilage is required to keep the refrigerator clean.

5. Defrosting should be done periodically. This may be

done by shutting off the current or by opening the fridge
door. Defrosting is advised before the deposit is too thick.

6. It should be placed in a cool place about 15 to 30 cm

away from the wall to permit heat escape.

7. Avoid using sharp instruments to remove ice in ice trays

or in scraping off frost.
8. Exercise :
Ex1 A refrigerator uses refrigerator-134a as the
working fluid and operates on ideal vapor-
compression refrigeration cycle between 0.4 and
0.8 Mpa. If mass flow rate of the refrigerator is 0.05
kg/s, determine.
(a) The rate of heat removal from the refrigerated
space and the power input to the compressor.
(b) The rate of heat rejection to the environment.
(c) The COP of the refrigerator.

Solutions:
References:
https://byjus.com/physics/refrigeration /
https://byjus.com/physics/refrigerator-heat-pump
https://www.brainkart.com/article/Refrigerator---Merits,-Demerits,-
Care_2156/
10 Most Common Refrigerator Problems And Their Solutions 2023
(allaboutrefrigerators.in)