Student CD for Commercial Refrigeration for A/C

Technicians

Chapter 1
Refrigeration Principles

Copyright 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning

 Chapter 1 Overview
Temperature ranges of refrigeration
Refrigeration cycle
Relate refrigeration to air conditioning
Relationship between a refrigerant’s pressure and
its temperature
Newer refrigerants used in commercial
refrigeration systems
Relationship between the 4 basic components of a
refrigeration system

Copyright 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning

Common Space & Product Temperatures

Air Conditioning = 75°

High temperature refrigeration = 55°
Medium temperature refrigeration = 35°
Low temperature refrigeration = -10°
Extra low temperature refrigeration = -25°

Copyright 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning

 Simple A/C System
A compressor + two tanks + metering device is
used to illustrate a simple A/C system:
High pressure stays the same, but . . .
Refrigerant:
1. Temperatures drop as discharge gas cools
2. Condenses as heat is rejected
3. Sub-cools before entering the TEV
Low pressure stays the same, but . . .
Refrigerant:
1. Temperatures rise as liquid vaporizes and absorbs heat in the
evaporator
2. Then the vapor superheats after all refrigerant has evaporated

Copyright 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning

 Simple A/C System
AMBIENT AIR 95o 2 6 RETURN AIR 75o
7 9
p
8 si
p g
si
g
16 17 Compressor 60 5
5o 5o o
SuperHeat 0o
12 4
5o 0o

278#
69#
12
5o
SubCool
11 4
5o 0
10 40 o
5o o

Copyright 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning

Simple Medium Temperature Refrigeration
System
Compare the previous A/C system illustration to
the following refrigeration system:
Are the high side pressures and temperatures of both
systems different? Why or why not?
Are the low side pressures and temperatures of the
two systems different? Why or why not?

Copyright 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning

Simple Medium Temperature Refrigeration System
AMBIENT AIR 95o 2 4 RETURN AIR 35o
7 9
p
8 si
p g
si
g
16 17 Compressor 45 3
5o 5o o
SuperHeat 5o
12 2
5o 5o

278#
49#
12
5o
SubCool
11 2
5o 5
10 25 o
5o o

Copyright 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning

 “Standard” A/C Systemwith fixed
metering device

The following slide is an example of what

happens to refrigerant in an A/C system:
Compressor discharges hot gas
Gas condenses to liquid, releasing heat
Metering device lowers pressure
Refrigerant vaporizes, absorbing heat
Returns to the compressor

Copyright 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning

 Standard A/C System R-22
6 2
9 7
p
6 si 8 1 4
g p 7 0
0 si
º g 5º º
1
2
5º
CONDENSER

1 EVAPORATOR
2
5º
11 4
5º 0
º
5
0
º
AMBIENT AIR 95o RETURN AIR 75o
Copyright 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning
 Standard A/C System R-22
Total Superheat 20°
6 2 Super Heated
9 7
p Vapor
6 si 8 1 4
g p 7 0
0 si
º g 5º º
1
2 Evaporation
5º
CONDENSER Starts
Condensing Starts

1 EVAPORATOR
2 Fully Evaporated
5º
Fully Condensed Liquid 11 4
5º 0
Coil Superheat 10° º
Sub-Cooled Liquid 5
0
º
AMBIENT AIR 95o RETURN AIR 75o
Copyright 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning
Commercial Refrigeration System with a
TEV metering device

Comparing A/C to Refrigeration systems:

Same ambient, same high side pressures and
temperatures
Lower space temperature, low side pressures
and temperatures are lower than those on the
A/C system

Copyright 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning

 Typical Walk-In Refrigerator (R22)
5 2
0 8
p
4 si 0 1 2
g p 7 5
5 si
º g 5º º
1 TEV
2
5º
CONDENSER

1 EVAPORATOR
2
5º
11 2
5º 5
º
3
5
º
AMBIENT AIR 95o BOX TEMPERATURE
Copyright 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning
35°
 Typical Walk-In Refrigerator (R22)
Total Superheat 20°
5 2 Super Heated
0 8
p Vapor
4 si 0 1 2
g p 7 5
5 si
º g 5º º
1 TEV
2 Evaporation
5º
CONDENSER Starts
Condensing Starts

1 EVAPORATOR
2 Fully Evaporated
5º
Fully Condensed Liquid 11 2
5º 5
Coil Superheat 10° º
Sub-Cooled Liquid 3
5
º
AMBIENT AIR 95o BOX TEMPERATURE
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35°
Current refrigerants used in most new
refrigeration systems

Walk-in refrigerators – R22 and R404A

Walk- in freezers – R404A
Reach-in refrigerators – R22, R404A, 134a
Reach-in freezers – R404A
Note: after 2010, manufacturers will not be
allowed to produce equipment with R22
Note: R404A must be charged in a liquid state

Copyright 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning

The Four Basic Components of a Refrigeration
System

1. Metering device
Lowers the refrigerant temperature below the space
temperature
2. Evaporator
Absorbs heat as refrigerant evaporates
3. Compressor
Increases the refrigerant temperature above the ambient
temperature
4. Condenser
Rejects heat from the refrigerant as vapor condenses

Copyright 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning

 Basic Components and Piping

Discharge Line

Compressor
Condenser
Suction Metering
Line Device
Liquid
Line

Evaporator

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 Refrigeration System“Baseball
Diamond”

The 4 components can be illustrated in the

shape of a baseball diamond
Half the system is high pressure
Half the system is low pressure

Copyright 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning

Basic Components
Metering
“Baseball Diamond” Device

Liquid
Line

L
o
w
Evaporator Suction High Side Condenser
Line
S
i Discharge
d Line

e
Compressor
Copyright 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning
 The End
of Chapter 1
Refrigeration
Principles
Copyright 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning