REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS

VAPOR COMPRESSION CYCLE

TO COOLING CONDENSER
TOWER P=C
COMPRESSOR
S= C

EXPANSION VALVE
H=C

EVAPORATOR
P=C
TS - Diagram PH - Diagram

Superheated
2

Expansion valve
3
Temperature, K

3 Condensation 2

Pressure, kPa

n
sio
es
pr
1

m
4 4

Co
Evaporation
1
Entropy, kJ/kg-K Enthalpy, kJ/kg
Analysis of the Vapor Compression Cycle

1. Compressor
h2 h2
• =  work of compression, kJ/kg
w
v2 h1 = enthalpy entering the compressor, kJ/kg
h2 = enthalpy leaving the compressor, kJ/kg
w W m = mass flow rate, kg/s

h1 v1 h1 v1 W = theoretical compressor power, kJ/s or kW

m m v1 = specific volume of vapor, /kg , L/kg

1kg
V1 = volume flow rate, /s , L/s
w = h2 – h1 W = m (h2 – h1) V1 = mv1
Theoretical Power of the compressor, a.) adiabatic compression or isentropic
TP compression efficiency,
W = m (h2-h1)
 
TP = m (h2-h1) =
OR

  TP = -
TP = m (h2-h3) – m (h1-h4) TP = Theoretical Power
But h3 = h4
IP = Indicated Power
TP = m (h2-h1)
 c. Overall compression efficiency of
b. Mechanical efficiency the compressor
 
= •  =

IP = Indicated Power  
= x
BP = Brake Power
Analysis of the Vapor Compression Cycle

2. Condenser
qr h2 = enthalpy entering the condenser, kJ/kg
h3 = enthalpy leaving the condenser, kJ/kg
Condenser 1kg
h3 h2 Qr = total rejected, kJ/s
qr = heat rejected ,
qr = h2 – h3 kJ/kg
Qr

Condenser m
h3 h2

Qr = m(h2 – h3)
Analysis of the Vapor Compression Cycle

3. Expansion valve
h3 = enthalpy entering the expansion valve ,
h3 kJ/kg
h4 = enthalpy entering the expansion valve,
kJ/kg

h4

h3 = h4
Analysis of the Vapor Compression Cycle

4. Evaporator

qa
• refrigerating
=   effect, kJ/kg
h4 = enthalpy entering the evaporator, kJ/kg
1kg Evaporator h1 h1 = enthalpy leaving the evaporator, kJ/kg
h4
= refrigerating capacity, kJ/s

  = h1 – h4   = h1 – h3
Qa

m Evaporator h1
h4

  = m (h1 –h4)   = m (h1-h3)

Analysis of the Vapor Compression Cycle

5. Coefficient of Performance (COP)

•   COP:
Ideal
= = ;
= =
Actual COP:
=
=
6. Efficiency
•    = LAN   = LN   N=

=displacement rate of compressor

L = length of stroke c = no. of cylinders, 1 if not specified
A = bore area = = a = 1 , if single acting , 2 if double
N = compressor speed n = rpm
D = diameter of cylinder (bore) s = no. of stroke
2 stroke or 4 stroke (use 2 if not specified)
 Clearance volumetric efficiency,
 Actual volumetric efficiency,  
•=   •=  1 + c – c
= =1+c–c
Displacement rateV1 is =the
mv1volume swept through c = percent clearance
by the pistons in their suction strokes per unit
time. = specific volume of vapor after
isentropic compression to
k = 1.304 for ammonia
k = 1.14 for R-12
k = 1.18 for R-22
Example
•1. An air conditioning plant with a capacity of 300KW operates
between a condenser temperature of 37°C & evaporator
temperature of 3°C. Assuming simple saturation cycle and using R-12
as refrigerant Find: A.) Mass of flash gas in kg/kg of refrigerant
circulated B.) the volumetric flow rate at the suction condition in /
min. C.) discharge temperature of the compressor D.) Compressor
cylinder diameter & the length stroke if its volumetric efficiency is
70% with RPM of 1200 and stroke to bore diameter ratio is 1.2 E.) the
HP of the compressor if adiabatic efficiency is 85% and mechanical
efficiency is 90% F.) COP of the cycle theoretical & actual G.) COP if
working on a reversed carnot cycle.
2. A vapor compressor refrigeration system is designed to have a
capacity of 100TOR. It produces chilled water from 22 °C to 2 °C . Its
actual COP is 5.86 & 35% of the power supplied to the compressor is
lossed in the form of friction Find: A.) Size of Electric Motor req’d to
drive the compressor in HP. B.) the volume flow rate of the chilled
H2O in Li/sec C.) The Actual Condenser cooling H2O req’d in kg/s for
a temperature rise 10 °C .
Seatwork

1. A simple saturated refrigeration cycle for R-12 system

operates at an evaporating temperature of -5°C and a
condensing temperature of 40 °C. Determine (a) the
refrigerating effect per kg, (b) the work per kg, ( c) the heat
rejected at the condenser per kg, (d) the COP. For a
refrigerating capacity of 1kW, determine ( e) the total heat
rejected at the condenser, (f) the work, and (g) the volume flow
rate.
Seatwork
2. An air conditioning system of a high rise building has a
capacity of 350 kW of refrigeration, uses R-12. The evaporating
and condensing temperatures are 0°C and 35 °C, respectively.
Determine the following: (a) Mass of flash gas R-12 circulated
per second, (b) Mass of R-12 circulated per second, ( c)
Volumetric rate of flow under suction condition, (d) Work of
compression in kW, and ( e) COP.
Seatwork
3. A simple vapor-compression cycle develops 13 tons of
refrigeration. Using ammonia as refrigerant and operating at a
condensing temperature of 24 °C and evaporating temperature of
-18 °C and assuming that the compressors are isentropic and that
the gas leaving the condenser is saturated, find the following: (a)
Draw the ph diagram, (b) refrigerating effect in kJ/kg, ( c) circulation
rate of refrigerant in kg/min, (d) power requirement, (e) volume flow
in cubic meter/(min)(ton) , (f) coefficient of performance, and (g)
power per ton.
Methods of Improving the Performance of
Refrigerator
Increase the refrigerating capacity.
a.) By superheating the vapor refrigerant in the evaporator thru
efficient metering (instrumentation & control) of refrigerant flow.
2
3 2
3
Temperature, K

Pressure, kPa
4 1
4 1
Superheated Superheated

Entropy, kJ/kg-K Enthalpy, kJ/kg

 b. By subcooling the liquid refrigerant in the condenser. This is done
by circulating more cooling H2O in the condenser than what is
theoretically required.

Subcooled 2 Subcooled
3 2
3
Temperature, K

Pressure, kPa
4 1 4 1

Entropy, kJ/kg-K Enthalpy, kJ/kg

 c. By doing both a & b

2 Subcooled
Subcooled
3 1
3
Temperature, K

Pressure, kPa
4 1 4 1
Superheated Superheated

Entropy, kJ/kg-K Enthalpy, kJ/kg

Example 1
An ammonia compressor (R717) operates at an evaporator pressure
of 316.02kPa and a condenser pressure of 1514.3kPa. The refrigerant
is subcooled 5°C and a superheated 8°C. A twin cylinder compressor
with a bore to stroke ratio of 0.85 is to be used at 1200rpm. The
mechanical efficiency is 78%. For a load of 87.5kW determine. A.)
qty. of cooling water in the condenser in kg/s if the increase in temp
is 7°C B.) The bore and stroke for a clearance of 5%. C.) the size of
the driving motor in HP. D.) Quality of refrigerant entering the
evaporator.
Example 2
• 
Assuming an overall efficiency of 76% a volumetric efficiency of 83%. Ammonia
throttling valve to be 27 °C with 10 °C rise in temperature of cooling water and vapor
to be superheated to a temperature of 7°C. When it enters the compressor.
Determine the ff. when an ammonia compressor is operating under std. conditions,
(note: ammonia compressor working at standard condition has the efficiency
saturation temp of evaporator and condenser tsat of evap = -15 °C & tsat of cond. =
30 °C)
a. Refrigerant flow, kg/s per ton of refrigeration
b. Horsepower req’d by compressor per TOR
c. of cooling water per minute per TOR
d. Actual piston displacement per min per TOR
e. Ideal & Actual COP
Superheating & Subcooling by means of Liquid-to-Suction-
Heat Exchanger (LSHX)

LIQUID-TO-HEAT-
EXCHANGER
CONDENSER
P=C
2
b 3 a

COMPRESSOR
S= C
1
4