Refrigeration System

Compressor Performance of Reciprocating Compressor

ME141 • Piston Displacement, 𝑉𝐷 or
Displacement Rate: is the volume
swept through by the pistons in their
Compressor suction strokes per unit time.
• Theoretical Piston Displacement
Types of Compression: 𝑚3
𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜. 𝑉𝐷 = 𝑚̇𝑅 (𝑣𝑠 ), → 𝑠
1. Wet Compression: the refrigerant Where:
leaving the compressor is dry and 𝑣𝑠 = 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑎𝑡 𝑠𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
saturated. → 𝑚3 /𝑠
2. Dry Compression: the refrigerant • Actual Piston Displacement
entering the compressor is dry and 𝑚3
saturated. 𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝐷 = 𝐿𝐴𝑁, → 𝑠
Where: 𝐿 = 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑘𝑒
Types of Compressors:
𝑁 = 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑦𝑐𝑙𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑
1. Reciprocating Compressor
2. Centrifugal Compressor 𝑁 = 𝑁𝑠 𝑁𝑐
3. Rotary Compressor 𝑁𝑠 = 𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑, → 𝑟𝑝𝑠
a. Screw Compressor
b. Gear Compressor 𝑁𝑐 = 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑦𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑠
c. Vane Compressor 𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝐷 = 𝐿𝐴𝑁𝑠 𝑁𝐶
 Cylinder Dimension:
36 𝑐𝑚 𝑥 40 𝑐𝑚 𝑥 5 𝑐𝑚
Note:
D (bore) = 36 cm
L (stroke) = 40 cm
D (piston rod diameter) = 5 cm

Single-acting compressor makes one

For single-acting cylinder:
complete cycle in one revolution.
𝜋𝐷2
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎, 𝐴 = 𝐴 𝑇𝐷𝐶 = Double-acting compressor makes two
4 complete cycles in one revolution.
For double-acting cylinder:
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎, 𝐴 = 𝐴 𝑇𝐷𝐶 + 𝐴𝐵𝐷𝐶
𝜋𝐷2 𝜋(𝐷2 − 𝑑 2 )
= +
4 4
Or neglecting piston rod diameter, 𝑑:
𝐴 = 2𝐴 𝑇𝐷𝐶
Efficiency
Volumetric Efficiency: tends to limit the volume of gas delivered by the compressor.
Factors influencing Volumetric Efficiency:
1. Compressor Clearance
2. Wire Drawing: pressure drop due to restriction of refrigerant flow
3. Valve Leakage
4. Cylinder Heating
Actual Volumetric Efficiency, 𝑛𝑣𝑎 :
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑜𝑟 𝑉1
𝑛𝑣𝑎 = =
𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑜𝑟 𝑉𝐷
Clearance Volumetric Efficiency, 𝑛𝑐𝑣 :
1
𝑃2 𝑘 𝑣1 𝑣1
𝑛𝑐𝑣 = 1 + 𝑐 − 𝑐 [ ] = 1 + 𝑐 − 𝑐 [ ] = 1 − 𝑐 [ − 1]
𝑃1 𝑣2 𝑣2
Where:
𝑐 = 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
𝑣2 = 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑎𝑝𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑐 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑜 𝑃2
𝑘 = 1.304 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑚𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑖𝑎
Clearance Volumetric Efficiency, 𝑛𝑐𝑣 :
For polytropic compression:
1
𝑃 𝑛
𝑛𝑐𝑣 = 1 + 𝑐 − 𝑐 [𝑃2 ]
1

Adiabatic Compression Efficiency or Compression Efficiency, 𝑛𝑐𝑛 :

𝑖𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑐 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑇2 − 𝑇1
𝑛𝑐𝑛 = = 1−( ) → 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑚𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑖𝑎 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦
𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 739
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒: 𝑇 = °𝐶 𝑜𝑟 𝐾
Power Requirement Over-all compression Efficiency,
𝑛𝑐𝑜 = 𝑛𝑚 𝑛𝑐𝑛
𝑇𝑃
𝐵𝑃 = 𝑛
𝑐𝑜

𝐹𝑃 = 𝐹𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟: power loss due to

friction

𝑇𝑃 = 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟:
Also called Fluid Power; power measured on
the gas based on thermodynamic processes
𝑇𝑃 = 𝑚̇𝑅 (ℎ2 − ℎ1 ), 𝑘𝑊 𝐵𝑃 = 𝐼𝑃 + 𝐹𝑃
𝐸𝑃 = 𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟: power input to the
motor
𝐼𝑃 = 𝐼𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟: 𝐵𝑃
𝑀𝑜𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦, 𝑛𝑚𝑜 = 𝐸𝑃
Power measured inside the compressor
cylinder 𝐸𝑃 = 𝑛
𝐵𝑃
𝑚𝑜
𝐼𝑃 = 𝑃𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑝 𝑉𝐷 = 𝑃𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑝 𝐿𝐴𝑁, 𝑘𝑊
𝑃𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑝 = 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛 𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒

𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦.
𝑇𝑃
𝑛𝑐𝑛 =
𝐼𝑃

𝐵𝑃 = 𝐵𝑟𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟: power measured at the

shaft; power input to the compressor; power
output from motor.
𝑀𝑒𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦,
𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝐼𝑃
𝑛𝑚 = =
𝑖𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝐵𝑃
𝐼𝑃 𝑇𝑃
𝐵𝑃 = 𝑛 = 𝑛
𝑚 𝑚 𝑛𝑐𝑛
For Water-jacketed Compressor

𝐼𝑃 + 𝑚̇𝑅 ℎ1 = 𝑚̇𝑅 ℎ2 + 𝑄𝑗𝑤

𝐼𝑃 = 𝑚̇𝑅 (ℎ2 − ℎ1 ) + 𝑄𝑗𝑤
𝑄𝑗𝑤 = ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑟𝑏𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑡 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
𝑄𝑗𝑤 = 𝑚̇𝑗𝑤 𝐶𝑝𝑤 (𝑡0 + 𝑡𝑖 )

Where:
𝑚̇𝑗𝑤 = 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑡 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟, 𝑘𝑔/𝑠
𝑡𝑖 , 𝑡0 = 𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑡 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟, °𝐶
Sample Problem
1. Find the actual power or Indicated Power of a compressor delivering 0.038 kg/s of NH3 . The
gas enters the compressor at 200 kPaa and -10oC and is compressed to 1100 kPaa and 120oC.
0.076 kg/s of cooling water enters the compressor jacket at 27oC and leaves at 30oC.

𝑚̇𝑅 = 0.038 𝑘𝑔/𝑠

𝑚̇𝑗𝑤 = 0.076 𝑘𝑔/𝑠
𝑡𝑜 = 30°𝐶
𝑡𝑖 = 27°𝐶
𝐼𝑃 = 𝑚̇𝑅 (ℎ2′ − ℎ1 ) + 𝑄𝑗𝑤

But, 𝑄𝑗𝑤 = 𝑚̇𝑗𝑤 𝐶𝑝𝑤 (𝑡𝑜 − 𝑡𝑖 )

𝑘𝑔 𝑘𝐽
𝑄𝑗𝑤 = (0.076 ) (4.187 𝑘𝑔∙𝐾 ) (30 − 27)𝐾
𝑠

𝑄𝑗𝑤 = 0.9546 𝑘𝐽/𝑠

𝐼𝑃 = 𝑚̇𝑅 (ℎ2′ − ℎ1 ) + 𝑄𝑗𝑤
𝑘𝑔 𝑘𝐽 𝑘𝐽 𝑘𝐽
𝐼𝑃 = [(0.038 ) (1730 − 1459 )] + 0.9546
𝑠 𝑘𝑔 𝑘𝑔 𝑠
𝑘𝐽
𝐼𝑃 = 11.253
𝑠
𝐼𝑃 = 11.253 𝑘𝑊
Note that: ℎ2′ and ℎ1 are obtained using the table below.
Sample Problem
2. A simple cold storage plant has the following loads:
a. 211,000 kJ/hr for heat leakage
b. 4,000 L/hr of milk cooling from 27oC to 5oC with specific heat of 3.77 kJ/kg-K and
relative density of 1.03
c. 500 kg/hr of ice at -5oC from 27oC water.
The condensing and evaporating temperatures of the refrigeration system used are 40oC
and -10oC, respectively.
Determine
a. The size of a single-acting twin cylinder ammonia compressor at 400 rpm with stroke
equal to 1.25 of the bore with compression efficiency of 80% and clearance volumetric
efficiency of 85%; and
b. The power required to drive the compressor allocating 10% of the Theoretical Power for
Friction.
𝑄𝐴 = 𝑐𝑜𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑
𝑄𝐴 = 𝑄𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠 + 𝑄𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑘 + 𝑄𝑖𝑐𝑒
𝑄𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑘 = [𝑚̇𝐶𝑝 (∆𝑇]𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑘
𝜌𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑘
𝑚̇ = (𝑉𝜌)𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑘 ∶ 𝑟𝑒𝑙. 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 = 𝜌𝑤

𝑘𝑔
𝜌𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑘 = 1.03 (1 )
𝐿

𝜌𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑘 = 1.03 𝑘𝑔/𝐿

𝐿 𝑘𝑔
𝑚̇ = (4000 ℎ𝑟) (1.03 )
𝐿

𝐿 𝑘𝑔 𝑘𝐽 𝑘𝐽
𝑄𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑘 = [(4000 ) (1.03 )] (3.77 ) (27 − 5)𝐾 = 341712.8
ℎ𝑟 𝐿 𝑘𝑔 ∙ 𝐾 ℎ𝑟
𝑄𝑖𝑐𝑒 = 𝑚̇𝑖𝑐𝑒 [𝐶𝑝𝑤 (∆𝑇) + 𝐿𝐻𝐹 + 𝐶𝑝𝑖𝑐𝑒 (∆𝑇)]
𝑘𝑔 𝑘𝐽 𝑘𝐽 𝑘𝐽
𝑄𝑖𝑐𝑒 = (500 ) [(4.187 ) (27 − 0)𝐾 + 334.98 + (2.0935 ) [0 − (−5)]𝐾]
ℎ𝑟 𝑘𝑔 ∙ 𝐾 𝑘𝑔 𝑘𝑔 ∙ 𝐾
𝑘𝐽
𝑄𝑖𝑐𝑒 = 229248.25
ℎ𝑟
𝑘𝐽 𝑘𝐽 𝑘𝐽
𝑄𝐴 = [211000 + 341712.8 + 229248.25 ]
ℎ𝑟 ℎ𝑟 ℎ𝑟
𝑘𝐽
𝑄𝐴 = 781961.05
ℎ𝑟
 a. Bore and stroke
𝜋
𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝐷 = 𝐿𝐴𝑁 = 𝐷2 𝐿𝑁𝑠 𝑁𝑐
4
𝜋 400
= 4 𝐷2 (1.25 𝐷 ) ( 60 ) (2)(1)
𝑉
And from 𝑛𝑣𝑎 = 𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙
1
𝑉 𝐷

𝑉 𝑚̇𝑅 𝑣1
𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝐷 = 𝑛 1 = 𝑛
𝑣𝑎 𝑐𝑛 𝑛𝑐𝑣

(0.205)(0.417477)
𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝐷 = (0.8)(0.85)

𝑚3
𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝐷 = 0.126
𝑠

𝜋 2 400
𝐷 (1.25 𝐷) ( ) (2)(1) = 0.126
4 60
𝐷 = 0.213 𝑚 = 21.3 𝑐𝑚
𝐿 = 1.25 (21.3 𝑐𝑚) = 26.6 𝑐𝑚

b. Power required to drive the compressor, BP

𝐵𝑃 = 𝐼𝑃 + 𝐹𝑃
𝐵𝑃 = 𝐼𝑃 + 0.1𝑇𝑃
𝑇𝑃
𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝐼𝑃 = 𝑛
𝑐𝑛

𝑇𝑃
𝐵𝑃 = + 0.1 𝑇𝑃 = 1.35 𝑇𝑃
0.8
𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝑇𝑃 = 𝑚̇𝑅 (ℎ2 − ℎ1 )
𝑇𝑃 = (0.205)(1706 − 1450.22)
𝑇𝑃 = 52.435 𝑘𝑊
𝐵𝑃 = 1.35 𝑇𝑃
𝐵𝑃 = 1.35 (52.435 𝑘𝑊 )
𝐵𝑃 = 70.79 𝑘𝑊
Sample Problem
3. An ammonia compressor operates at an evaporator pressure of 200 kPaa and a condenser
pressure of 1300 kPaa. The refrigerant is subcooled 7oC before entering the expansion valve
and leaves the drier loop of an evaporator superheated by 8oC. A twin-cylinder double-acting
compressor with D/L = 0.8, operating at 500 rpm with clearance of 4% is used. For a
refrigerating capacity of 30 TOR, determine:
a. The amount of cooling water required by the condenser if ∆𝑡𝑤 is 7oC;
b. The bore and stroke of the compressor in cm;
c. The Brake Power if 𝑛𝑚 = 76%
 a. Mass of cooling water, 𝑚̇𝑐𝑤
𝑄𝑅 = 𝑚̇𝑐𝑤 𝐶𝑝𝑤 ∆𝑡𝑤 = 𝑚̇𝑅 (ℎ2 − ℎ3′ )
𝑄𝐴 3.516 𝐶𝐴𝑃 3.516(30) 𝑘𝑔
𝑚̇𝑅 = = = = 0.0931
(ℎ1′ − ℎ4 ) (ℎ1′ − ℎ4 ) (1459 − 325.503) 𝑠
𝑚̇𝑐𝑤 𝐶𝑝𝑤 ∆𝑡𝑤 = 𝑚̇𝑅 (ℎ2 − ℎ3′ )
𝑚̇𝑐𝑤 (4.187)(7) = (0.0931)(1750 − 325.503)
𝑘𝑔
𝑚̇𝑐𝑤 = 4.525
𝑠
b. Bore and stroke (D x L)
𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜. 𝑉𝐷 = 𝑉1′ = 𝑚̇𝑟 𝑣1′
𝑘𝑔 𝑚3 𝑚3
𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜. 𝑉𝐷 = (0.0931 ) (0.61 ) = 0.0568
𝑠 𝑘𝑔 𝑠
1 1
𝑃𝑑 𝑘 1300 1.304
𝑛𝑐𝑣 = 1 + 𝑐 − 𝑐 ( ) = 1 + 0.04 − 0.04 ( ) = 0.87
𝑃𝑠 200
𝑇𝑑 − 𝑇𝑠 130 − (−10.94)
𝑛𝑐𝑛 = 1 − =1− = 0.809
739 739
𝑚3
𝑉1′ 0.0568 𝑠 𝑚3
𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝐷 = = = 0.081
𝑛𝑐𝑣 𝑛𝑐𝑛 0.87(0.809) 𝑠
𝜋 2 𝐷
𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝐷 = 𝐿𝐴𝑁 = 𝐷 𝐿𝑁𝑠 𝑁𝑐 → = 0.8
4 𝐿
𝜋 500
(0.8𝐿)2 𝐿 ( ) (2)(2) = 0.081
4 60

Solve for L
𝐿 = 0.17 𝑚 = 17 𝑐𝑚
𝐷 = 0.8 (17 𝑐𝑚) = 13.6 𝑐𝑚
𝐷 𝑥 𝐿 = 13.6 𝑐𝑚 𝑥 17 𝑐𝑚
c. For Brake Power, BP
𝑇𝑃 𝑚̇𝑅 (ℎ2 − ℎ1′ )
𝐵𝑃 = =
𝑛𝑚 𝑛𝑐𝑛 𝑛𝑚 𝑛𝑐𝑛
(0.0931)(1750 − 1459)
𝐵𝑃 =
0.76(0.809)
𝐵𝑃 = 44.064 𝑘𝑊
Sample Problem
4. A vapor compression refrigeration system is designed to have a capacity of 100 tons of
refrigeration. It produces chilled water from 22oC to 2oC. Its actual coefficient of performance
is 5.86 and 35% of the power supplied to the compressor is lost in the form of friction and
cylinder cooling losses.
Determine: (a) size of the electric motor required to drive the compressor in kW, (b) volume
flow rate of the chilled water in liters per second, and (c) the condenser cooling water
required in kg/s for a temperature rise of 10oC (Board Problem)

𝑄 3.516 (100)
a. Actual Work = 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙𝐴 𝐶𝑂𝑃 = = 60 𝑘𝑊
5.86
b. 𝑄𝐴 = 𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 = 𝑚̇𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 (𝐶𝑝𝑤 )(∆𝑡𝑤 )
3.516(100) = 𝑚̇𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 (4.187)(22 − 2)
𝑘𝑔
𝑚̇𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 4.2
𝑠
22 + 2
𝑡𝑤𝑎𝑣𝑒 = = 12°𝐶
2
From steam table, at 12oC
𝑚3
𝑣𝑓 = 0.001005
𝑘𝑔
𝑚3 𝐿
̇
𝑆𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡, 𝑉𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 4.2(0.0010005) = 0.0042 = 4.2
𝑠 𝑠
c. 𝑄𝐿 = 0.35𝑊(35% 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘 ) = 0.35(60 𝑘𝑊 ) = 21 𝑘𝑊
Taking the cycle as our thermodynamic system and making an energy balance:
𝑄𝑅 + 𝑄𝐿 = 𝑊 + 𝑄𝐴
𝑄𝑅 = 60 + 3.516(100) − 21 = 390.6 𝑘𝑊
And, 𝑄𝑅 = 𝑚̇𝑐𝑤 𝐶𝑝𝑤(∆𝑡𝑤)
390.6 𝑘𝑔
𝑚̇𝑐𝑤 = = 9.33
4.187 × 10 𝑠
Sample Problem: Actual Compression of Refrigerant
5. A refrigerant 12 refrigerating system operates with a condensing temperature of 38oC and an
evaporating temperature of -12oC. The refrigerant leaves the evaporator at -2oC. The
compressor is a 4-cylinder, V-arrangement single acting type, driven by an electric motor at
875 rpm. The clearance is 5%, the capacity is 40 tones of refrigeration, bore-to-stroke ratio
is 1.25 and compression is polytropic with n = 1.275. Determine (a) the bore and stroke, (b) the
piston speed, and (c) the indicated horsepower of the compressor.
 a. bore and stroke
𝜋 2 𝜋 875
𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝐷 = 𝐷 𝐿𝑁𝑠 𝑁𝐶 = (1.25𝐿)2 𝐿 ( ) (4)(1)
4 4 60
1 1
𝑃𝑑 𝑛 914.23 1.275
𝑛𝑐𝑣 = 1 + 𝑐 − 𝑐 ( ) = 1 + 0.05 − 0.05 ( ) = 0.8878
𝑃𝑠 203.9
𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜. 𝑉𝐷 𝑉1 𝑚̇𝑅 𝑣1
𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑛𝑐𝑣 ≈ 𝑛𝑣𝑎 = = =
𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝐷 𝑉𝐷 𝑉𝐷
3.516 𝐶𝐴𝑃 3.516(40) 𝑘𝑔
𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑚̇𝑅 = = = 1.207
ℎ1 − ℎ4 353 − 236.51 𝑠
𝑚̇𝑅 𝑣1 𝜋 875
𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝐷 = = (1.25𝐿)2 𝐿 ( ) (4)(1)
𝑛𝑐𝑣 4 60
1.207(0.086) 𝜋 875
= (1.25)2 ( ) (4)(1)𝐿3
0.8878 4 60
b. piston speed
rotational speed = 875 rev/min
distance swept in one revolution = 2L
2(0.1178𝑚) 875 𝑟𝑒𝑣 𝑚
piston speed = ( 𝑟𝑒𝑣 ) ( 𝑚𝑖𝑛 ) = 206.15 𝑚𝑖𝑛

c. Indicated Horsepower
For polytropic process:
𝑛−1 𝑛−1
𝑛𝑃1 𝑣1 𝑃2 𝑛 𝑛𝑃𝑠 𝑣1 𝑃𝑑 𝑛
𝑊= [( ) − 1] = [( ) − 1]
1 − 𝑛 𝑃1 1 − 𝑛 𝑃𝑠

1.275−1
(1.275)(203.9)(0.086) 914.23 1.275
𝑊= [( ) − 1]
1 − 1.275 203.9

𝑘𝐽
𝑊 = −31.0675
𝑘𝑔
𝑘𝑔 𝑘𝐽
𝑊 = (1.207 ) (31.0675 ) = 37.4985 𝑘𝑊
𝑠 𝑘𝑔
1 ℎ𝑝
𝐼𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝐻𝑜𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 = 37.4985 𝑘𝑊 × = 50.27 ℎ𝑝
0.746 𝑘𝑊
Exercises
1. An industrial plant has available 4-cylinder, 76-mm bore by 102-mm stroke, 800 rpm, single-
acting compressor for use with Refrigerant 12. Proposed operating conditions are 38°C
condensing temperature and 5°C evaporating temperature. It is estimated that the refrigerant
will enter the expansion valve as a saturated liquid, that the vapor will leave the evaporator
at 7°C, and will enter the compressor at 13°C. Assume a compressor volumetric efficiency of
70%. Assume frictionless flow. Calculate the refrigerating capacity in kW for a system
equipped with this compressor.

Answer: 40.96 kW

2. A Refrigerant 12 refrigeration system requires a load of 54 kW at an evaporator pressure of

270 kPa and a condenser pressure of 1009 kPa. The refrigerant is subcooled 10 °C before
entering the expansion valve and vapor is superheated 14°C before entering the compressor.
A twin-cylinder compressor with stroke equal to 1.25 times the bore is to be used at a speed
of 27 rev/s. The volumetric efficiency is 84%. Determine (a) the quantity of cooling water in
the condenser for an 11-degree Celsius increase in temperature, (b) the bore and stroke, and
(c) the compressor power.

Answers
(a) 1.4 kg/s,
(b) 8.58 x 10.73 cm,
(c) 10.5 kW

3. A refrigerant 22 refrigeration system carries a load of 82 kW at an evaporator pressure of

354 kPa and a condenser pressure of 1460 kPa. The liquid refrigerant is subcooled by 4°C
before entering the expansion valve and the vapor is superheated by 5°C before entering the
compressor. The compressor operates at 28 rev/s. The stroke-to-bore ratio of the twin
cylinder compressor is 1.20 and the actual volumetric efficiency is 82%. Determine (a) mass
flow rate of refrigerant, (b) mass flow rate of cooling water in the condenser for a 7-degree
C change in temperature, and (c) the bore and stroke.

Answers
(a) 0.5025 kg/s
(b) 3.43 kg/s
(c) 9.2 x 11cm