Energy & Environmental Engineering Practical

EXPERIMENT No. 3

Trial on Refrigeration Test Rig

AIM: To demonstrate vapor compression cycle and to calculate theoretical and actual COP
PRIOR KNOWLEDGE: Thermodynamic processes and working of VCC.

PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION:
The Refrigeration Test Rig works on vapor compression cycle. The refrigeration (i.e. process of
maintaining a closed space temperature below ambient temperature) is accomplished by continuously
circulating, evaporating and condensing a fixed supply of refrigerant in a closed system. Evaporation
occurs at a low temperature and low pressure while condensation occurs at a high temperature and
pressure. Thus it is possible to transfer heat from an area of low temperature (in this case evaporator) to
an area of high temperature (the surroundings).

R 134a

Figure: Simple Vapor Compression Refrigeration System

The compressor pumps the low-pressure refrigerant from the evaporator through the
accumulator, increases its pressure, and discharges the high-pressure gas to the condenser. The
accumulator prevents liquid refrigerant entering the compressor. In the condenser, the refrigerant rejects
its heat to thesurroundings by passing air over it. At that pressure, the refrigerant loses its latent heat and
liquefies. Then the refrigerant passes through the drier/filter where any residual moisture or foreign
particles present, these are plugged. The flow of refrigerant into the evaporator is controlled by
expansion device where its pressure and consequently temperature is lowered to the saturation
temperature at the corresponding pressure. The low temperature refrigerant enters the evaporator where
it absorbs heat from the surrounding medium and evaporates. The compressor sucks the cold vapours
and the cycle repeats.
The required instrumentation is provided to measure the various parameters at different points.
This includes pressure gauges, temperature indicators and controller, energy-meters, heater for applying
load and flow meter to measure the refrigerant flow.

REFRIGERATION TEST RIG

Test Rig enables students to study and understand Vapour Compression Cycle, its components,
principle and working. All the components are mounted on rigid steel frame. The trainer consists of a
hermetically sealed compressor; forced convection air-cooled condenser, filter / drier, flow meter,
expansion device and shell & coil type evaporator. Separate pressure gauges are provided to record
suction and discharge pressures and digital temperature indicators for various temperatures.
The refrigerant used is R-134a, which is environment friendly.
The calorimeter consists of an insulated stainless-steel tank. The evaporator tubes are made of
refrigerated grade annealed copper tubes. This is a direct expansion type evaporator. The heat absorbed
by the refrigerant is balanced by heater input. The heater is immersion type resistive water heater. The
calorimeter temperature can be set by a digital thermostat. Adequate safety devices such as HP/LP cut-
out, heating thermostat, and overload protection for compressor are incorporated to prevent any
malfunctioning of the system.

STANDARD VALUES AND FORMULAE

1. Standard Barometric = 1.013 bar = 1.013 x 105N /m2

Pressure
2. Density of Water = 1000 kg / m3
3. Specific Gravity of R- = 1.14
134a at 400
4. 1 Ton of Refrigeration = 3516 Watts = 3.516 kJ / s
effect
5. 1 bar = 14.5 psig
6. Specific heat of water = 4.187 kJ/kg K
7. Density of Air at 250C = 1.1 kg/m3
8. Gas Constant of Air = 287 kJ/kg-K
9. 1 kWh = 3600 kJ
OBSERVATION:
T1- Initial temperature of water =
T2- Final temperature of water =
E1- Initial energy meter reading (kWh)=
E2- Final energy meter reading (kWh) =
m = mass of water (kg) =
Duration of experiment = min

CALCULATION: -

Actual COP and refrigerating effect:

Actual refrigerating effect= Amount of heat removed from water by refrigerant

= (mwater* Cp* ∆T) kJ

Where, ∆T Difference of Initial and final temperature of water = T5-T6

Work input to the compressor= Energy consumed by the compressor = (E2-E1) * 60 kJ

Refrigerating effect
Actual COP of the System =
work input to the compressor
CONCLUSIONS:

QUESTIONS
1) Define: (a) refrigeration (b) COP (c) refrigerating effect
2) Write down at least 10 Refrigerants name.
3) Explain the working of Capillary tube, condenser, evaporator, and compressor
4) Explain the working of split air conditioning system
5) Write down complete specifications of any household refrigerator and Air conditioning
system