Vapor Compression Refrigeration Steady State

The purpose of this lab exercise is to acquaint the students with the available AC trainer(s). This will be achieved by recording system states at steady state in the capillary tube and thermal expansion valve refrigeration modes. The data will then be used for some basic performance calculations. I. System Description The Hampden Refrigeration System Trainer is designed to operate either as a normal refrigeration cycle or else as a heat pump (reverse cycle). This lab will focus on the refrigeration mode. The system is built around a basic vapor compression refrigeration cycle. Common system components include: condenser, evaporator, compressor (reciprocating), control valves, control switches, pressure gauges, thermometers, liquid receivers, filter-driers, sight glasses, thermostat, reversing valve. 1. Metering Devices The trainer is provided with a choice of metering elements to provide for refrigerant expansion. - Capillary Tube: This is a length of tubing of small diameter, with the internal diameter held at close tolerances. It is used as an orifice to separate the high and low pressure sides of the system, and meters the proper feed of liquid refrigerant. Since there are no moving parts, it is simple and trouble free if kept free of foreign material. Since the orifice is fixed, the rate of feed is relatively inflexible. Under conditions of constant load and constant discharge and suction pressures, the capillary tube performs satisfactorily. However, changes in the evaporator load can result in under or overfeeding of the evaporator. A major advantage of the capillary tube is the fact that refrigerant continues to flow into the evaporator after the compressor stops operation, thus equalizing pressures in the high and low sides of the system. Therefore, a low torque motor may be used. The refrigerant charge is critical in systems using capillary tubes since normally there is no receiver to store excess refrigerant. Too much refrigerant will cause high discharge pressures and motor overloading, and possible liquid flood back to the compressor during the off cycle; too little will allow vapor to enter the capillary tube causing a loss of system capacity. - Thermostatic Expansion Valve (TEV/TXV): As opposed to the capillary tube, the TEV allows control of the flow of liquid refrigerant into the evaporator. An orifice in the valve meters the flow into the evaporator, the rate being modulated as required by a needle type plunger and seat, which varies the orifice opening. The needle is controlled by a diaphragm subject to three forces. The evaporator pressure is exerted beneath the diaphragm tending to close the valve. The force of the superheat spring is also exerted beneath the diaphragm in the closing direction. Opposing these two forces is the pressure exerted by the charge in the thermal bulb, which is attached to the suction line at the evaporator outlet. As the temperature of the refrigerant gas leaving the evaporator rises (an increase in superheat) the pressure exerted by the thermal bulb on the outlet of the coil increases, and the expansion valve flow increases; as the temperature of the leaving gas decreases (a decrease in superheat) the pressure exerted by the thermal bulb decreases, thus the expansion valve closes slightly and the flow decreases. In order to achieve closer control for varying applications, expansion valves are available with different types of charge in the thermal bulb, each having different operating characteristics. The superheat spring is also normally equipped with an external adjusting screw so that it can be set for the desired superheat on a given application. - Hand Expansion Valve (HEV): The Hampden trainer also comes equipped with a hand expansion valve, which allows for manual control of the evaporator feed. A needle valve controls the rate. The degree of adjustment is dependent on system load, the capacity of the evaporator and the type of refrigerant used. With a given setting and valve opening, the rate of feed is relatively inflexible. Under conditions of constant load, constant discharge and suction pressures, the HEV performs satisfactorily. However, changes in system load can result in under or overfeeding of the evaporator.

2. Specifications Hampden H-RST-3B Refrigeration System Trainer 4100 Btu condensing unit with 1/3 hp (3400 rpm) hermetic compressor (bore=1.234", stroke=0.625") 200 cfm forced air evaporator Control valves LRI/LRO - liquid receiver in/out LRB - liquid receiver bypass HEV - hand expansion valve TEV - thermal expansion valve CTV - capillary tube valve II. General Operating Procedures Hampden Procedures a. Prestart: open LRI, LRO, close LRB, CTV, TEV, HEV - S4 must be off turn on S1, S2, S3 (S1 has a 10 second delay), when compressor starts go to desired mode. b. Normal capillary mode: Close HEV, LRI, LRO, open CTV, LRB. The unit should maintain approximately the same evaporating and condensing pressures. If the evaporating pressure drops, indicating a shortage of refrigerant, briefly open valve LRO to add more. If condensing pressure rises, indicating excessive refrigerant, briefly open valve LRI to allow some of the refrigerant to flow into the receiver. c. Thermostatic valve control: open TEV. d. Shutdown: open LRI; close CTV, TEV, HEV, LRB, LRO. Evaporator pressure will begin to fall and the compressor will shut off automatically according to the low pressure cut-out setting. Turn off S1, S2, S3 (S4 should already be off). Close LRI to contain refrigerant in the receiver. III. Procedure Required measurements include steady-state operation in capillary tube and thermal expansion valve refrigeration mode. Therefore, collect all system point data necessary to evaluate COP. In order for the system to reach steady state, wait approximately 15 minutes from mode startup or until gauge values remain constant. IV. Requirements Coefficient of performance for refrigeration cycles: Control switches S1 - compressor cut-off S2 - condenser fan cut-off S3 - evaporator fan cut-off S4 - reversing valve cut-off

COPsystem =

m.h Win, elec

COPfluid =

h evaporator h compressor

where, electrical power input is electrical power supply to the system in watts. Flow rates can be directly obtained. Watts are converted to Btu/min by multiplying by 0.05692 Btu/min/W.

Tabulate the data for this mode of operation. Then: Calculate system and fluid coefficients of performance for the given refrigeration operation mode. Draw a P-h (use the R12 diagram) and T-s cycle diagram for this mode at steady state. Sketch a schematic of the cycle at steady state. Discuss results.