ME-232 Thermodynamics

ME-232 (Thermodynamics-2)

Chapter 11
Refrigeration Cycles

Lecture # 3

Dr. Muhammad Asif

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, GIK

www.giki.edu.pk
Carnot refrigeration cycle (Reverse Carnot cycle)

T-s Diagram
Atmosphere at TH
T
P2
3 QH 2 QH
3 2
Condenser

Turbine P1
Compressor
Win
4 1
4
1
QL
Evaporator
QL s

Cooling space at TL
1-2 : Isentropic Compression
2-3 : Isothermal Heat rejection
3-4 : Isentropic Expansion
4-1 : Isothermal Heat addition
The heat transferred during isothermal processes 2-3 and 4-1 are given
by:

Net Work output =Heat rejected- Heat absorbed

Wnet=Q2-3 – Q4-1
Wnet=Th(S2 – S3) – TL(S1-S4)

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• COP can be maximized by maximizing TL (target

temperature)

• and minimizing Th (ambient temperature)

• In summer performance of refrigerator decreases because Th

increases.

• In Refrigerator the value of TL is less than for AC, so COP of AC

is higher than COP of Refrigerator.

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Limitations of Carnot cycle:
• Difficulty of achieving isothermal heat transfer during
processes 2-3 and 4-1. For a gas to have heat transfer
isothermally, it is essential to carry out work transfer from or
to the system when heat is transferred to the system
(process 4-1) or from the system (process 2-3). This is
difficult to achieve in practice.
• Frictional effects in compressor leads to irreversibility,
hence completely isentropic compression is not possible to
achieve.
• Perfect insulation cannot be made practically
• Compression in wet region is not practical
• Expansion of turbine in wet region is not practical

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Ideal Vapor-Compression Cycle
T
P2
QH
3 2

P1

4 1

Schematic Diagram QL

T s
Environment
P2

2
QH
Win
Condenser QH
3
3 2 P1

Expansion
Valve Compressor
Win 4 1

4
QL
1
Evaporator s
QL

Refrigerated Space
8
 3

Expansion
Valve

4 1
Evaporator

QL

Compressor
Win

QH 2
3
Condenser

h1 − h 4
¿
h1 − h 2
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ACTUAL VAPOR-COMPRESSION REFRIGERATION CYCLE
An actual vapor-compression refrigeration cycle differs from the ideal one in
several ways, owing mostly to the irreversibilities that occur in various
components, mainly due to fluid friction (causes pressure drops) and heat transfer
to or from the surroundings. The COP decreases as a result of irreversibilities.
DIFFERENCES
Non-isentropic
compression
Superheated vapor
at evaporator exit
Subcooled liquid at
condenser exit
Pressure drops in
condenser and
evaporator

Schematic and T-s diagram for the actual

vapor-compression refrigeration cycle. 10