Chapter 10

Refrigeration and Heat Pump Systems

 Learning Outcomes
► Demonstrate understanding of basic vapor-
compression refrigeration and heat pump
systems.
► Develop and analyze thermodynamic models of
vapor-compression systems and their
modifications, including
► sketching schematic and accompanying T-s diagrams.
► evaluating property data at principal states of the
systems.
► applying mass, energy, and entropy balances for the
basic processes.
► determining refrigeration and heat pump system
performance, coefficient of performance, and capacity.
 Vapor-Compression
Refrigeration Cycle
► Most common refrigeration cycle in use today
► There are four principal
control volumes involving
these components:
► Evaporator
► Compressor
► Condenser
► Expansion valve Two-phase
liquid-vapor mixture

All energy transfers by work and heat are taken as positive in

the directions of the arrows on the schematic and energy
balances are written accordingly.
 The Vapor-Compression
Refrigeration Cycle
► The processes of this cycle are
Process 4-1: two-phase liquid-vapor
mixture of refrigerant is evaporated
through heat transfer from the
refrigerated space.
Process 1-2: vapor refrigerant is
compressed to a relatively high
temperature and pressure requiring
work input. Two-phase
Process 2-3: vapor refrigerant liquid-vapor mixture

condenses to liquid through heat

transfer to the cooler surroundings.
Process 3-4: liquid refrigerant
expands to the evaporator pressure.
 The Vapor-Compression
Refrigeration Cycle
► Engineering model:
► Each component is analyzed as a control
volume at steady state.
► The compressor operates adiabatically.
► The refrigerant expanding through the
valve undergoes a throttling process.
► Kinetic and potential energy changes are
ignored.
 The Vapor-Compression
Refrigeration Cycle
► Applying mass and energy rate balances
Evaporator Q in
= h1 − h4 (Eq. 10.3)
m
► The term Q in is referred to as the
refrigeration capacity, expressed in kW
in the SI unit system or Btu/h in the
English unit system.
► A common alternate unit is the ton of
refrigeration which equals 200 Btu/min
or about 211 kJ/min.
 The Vapor-Compression
Refrigeration Cycle
► Applying mass and energy rate balances
Compressor Wc
= h2 − h1 (Eq. 10.4)
Assuming adiabatic m
compression
Condenser Q out
= h2 − h3 (Eq. 10.5)
m
Expansion valve
Assuming a throttling h4 = h3 (Eq. 10.6)
process
 The Vapor-Compression
Refrigeration Cycle
► Performance parameters
Coefficient of Performance (COP)

(Eq. 10.7)

Carnot Coefficient of Performance

(Eq. 10.1)

This equation represents the maximum theoretical

coefficient of performance of any refrigeration cycle
operating between cold and hot regions at TC and TH,
respectively.
 Features of
Actual Vapor-Compression Cycle
► Heat transfers between refrigerant and cold and
warm regions are not reversible.
► Refrigerant temperature
in evaporator is less than
TC.
► Refrigerant temperature
in condenser is greater Back of Refrig.

than TH.
► Irreversible heat Keep Ice Cream Cold

transfers have negative

effect on performance.
 Features of
Actual Vapor-Compression Cycle
► The COP decreases – primarily due to increasing
compressor work input – as the
► temperature of the
refrigerant passing Trefrigerant ↑
through the evaporator is
reduced relative to the
temperature of the cold
region, TC.
► temperature of the
refrigerant passing Trefrigerant ↓

through the condenser is increased relative to the

temperature of the warm region, TH.
 Features of
Actual Vapor-Compression Cycle
► Irreversibilities during the compression process are
suggested by dashed line from state 1 to state 2.
► An increase in specific
entropy accompanies an
adiabatic irreversible
compression process. The
work input for compression
process 1-2 is greater than for
the counterpart isentropic
compression process 1-2s.
► Since process 4-1, and thus the refrigeration capacity,
is the same for cycles 1-2-3-4-1 and 1-2s-3-4-1, cycle
1-2-3-4-1 has the lower COP.
 Isentropic Compressor Efficiency
► The isentropic compressor efficiency is the ratio of
the minimum theoretical work input to the actual
work input, each per unit of mass flowing:
work required in an isentropic
compression from compressor inlet
state to the exit pressure

(Eq. 6.48)

work required in an actual

compression from compressor
inlet state to exit pressure
 Actual Vapor-Compression Cycle
Example: The table provides steady-state operating
data for a vapor-compression refrigeration cycle
using R-134a as the working fluid. For a refrigerant
mass flow rate of 0.08 kg/s, determine the
(a) compressor power, in kW,
(b) refrigeration capacity, in tons,
(c) coefficient of performance,
(d) isentropic compressor efficiency.
State 1 2s 2 3 4
h (kJ/kg) 241.35 272.39 280.15 91.49 91.49
 Actual Vapor-Compression Cycle
State 1 2s 2 3 4
h (kJ/kg) 241.35 272.39 280.15 91.49 91.49

(a) The compressor power is

Wc = m
 (h2 − h1)

 ⎛ kg ⎞ kJ 1 kW
Wc = ⎜ 0.08 ⎟(280.15 − 241.35) = 3.1 kW
⎝ s ⎠ kg 1 kJ/s
(b) The refrigeration capacity is

Q in = m
 (h1 − h4 )

 ⎛ kg ⎞ kJ 1 ton 60 s
Qin = ⎜ 0.08 ⎟(241.35 − 91.49) = 3.41 tons
⎝ s ⎠ kg 211 kJ/min min
 Actual Vapor-Compression Cycle
State 1 2s 2 3 4
h (kJ/kg) 241.35 272.39 280.15 91.49 91.49

(c) The coefficient of performance is

(h1 − h4 )
β=
(h2 − h1 )

(241.35 − 91.49)kJ/kg
β= = 3.86
(280.15 − 241.35)kJ/kg
 Actual Vapor-Compression Cycle
State 1 2s 2 3 4
h (kJ/kg) 241.35 272.39 280.15 91.49 91.49

(d) The isentropic compressor

efficiency is

W c / m )s ( h2 s − h1 )
(
ηc = =
W c / m ( h2 − h1 )

(272.39 − 241.35)kJ/kg
ηc = = 0.8 = 80%
(280.15 − 241.35)kJ/kg
 p-h Diagram
► The pressure-enthalpy (p-h) diagram is a
thermodynamic property diagram commonly used
in the refrigeration field.
 Selecting Refrigerants
► Refrigerant selection is based on several
factors:
► Performance: provides adequate cooling
capacity cost-effectively.
► Safety: avoids hazards (i.e., toxicity).
► Environmental impact: minimizes harm to
stratospheric ozone layer and reduces
negative impact to global climate change.
 Refrigerant Types and Characteristics

Global Warming Potential (GWP) is a simplified index that estimates the potential
future influence on global warming associated with different gases when released
to the atmosphere.
 Refrigerant Types and Characteristics
► Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and Hydrochlorofluorocarbons
(HCFCs) are early synthetic refrigerants each containing chlorine.
Because of the adverse effect of chlorine on Earth s stratospheric
ozone layer, use of these refrigerants is regulated by international
agreement.
► Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and HFC blends are chlorine-free
refrigerants. Blends combine two or more HFCs. While these
chlorine-free refrigerants do not contribute to ozone depletion, with
the exception of R-1234yf, they have high GWP levels.
► Natural refrigerants are nonsynthetic, naturally occurring
substances which serve as refrigerants. These include carbon
dioxide, ammonia, and hydrocarbons. These refrigerants feature
low GWP values; still, concerns have been raised over the toxicity
of NH3 and the safety of the hydrocarbons.
Ammonia-Water Absorption Refrigeration

► Absorption
refrigeration systems
have important
commercial and
industrial applications.
► The principal
components of an
ammonia-water
absorption system are
shown in the figure. Absorber
coolant
Ammonia-Water Absorption Refrigeration

► The left-side of the

schematic includes
components familiar
from the discussion of
the vapor-compression
system: evaporator,
condenser, and
expansion valve.
Only ammonia flows
through these Absorber
coolant
components.
Ammonia-Water Absorption Refrigeration
► The right-side of the
schematic includes
components that
replace the compressor
of the vapor-
compression
refrigeration system:
absorber, pump, and
generator. These
components involve
liquid ammonia-water Absorber
coolant

solutions.
Ammonia-Water Absorption Refrigeration

► A principal
advantage of the
absorption system is
that – for comparable
refrigeration duty – the
pump work input
required is intrinsically
much less than for the
compressor of a
vapor-compression Absorber
coolant
system.
 Ammonia-Water Absorption Refrigeration
► Specifically, in the
absorption system ammonia
vapor coming from the
evaporator is absorbed in
liquid water to form a liquid
ammonia-water solution.
► The liquid solution is then
pumped to the higher
operating pressure. For the
same pressure range,
significantly less work is
required to pump a liquid
Absorber
solution than to compress a coolant

vapor (see discussion of Eq.

6.51b).
Ammonia-Water Absorption Refrigeration
► However, since only
ammonia vapor is
allowed to enter the
condenser, a means must
be provided to retrieve
ammonia vapor from the
liquid solution.
► This is accomplished
by the generator using
heat transfer from a Absorber

relatively high- coolant

temperature source.
 Ammonia-Water Absorption Refrigeration

► Steam or waste heat

that otherwise might go
unused can be a cost-
effective choice for the
heat transfer to the
generator.
► Alternatively, the heat
transfer can be provided
by solar thermal energy,
burning natural gas or Absorber
coolant

other combustibles, and

in other ways.
 Vapor-Compression Heat Pump Systems
► The objective of the heat pump is to maintain the
temperature of a space or industrial process above
the temperature of the surroundings.
► Principal control volumes involve these components:
► Evaporator
► Compressor
► Condenser
► Expansion valve
The Vapor-Compression Heat Pump Cycle
► Performance parameters
Coefficient of Performance

(Eq. 10.10)

Carnot Coefficient of Performance

(Eq. 10.9)

This equation represents the maximum theoretical

coefficient of performance of any heat pump cycle
operating between cold and hot regions at TC and TH,
respectively.
 Vapor-Compression Heat Pump System
► The method of analysis for vapor-compression heat
pumps closely parallels that for vapor-compression
refrigeration systems.
Example: A vapor-compression heat pump cycle with
R-134a as the working fluid maintains a building at 20oC
when the outside temperature is 5oC. The refrigerant
mass flow rate is 0.086 kg/s. Additional steady state
operating data are provided in the table. Determine the
(a) compressor power, in kW,
(b) heat transfer rate provided
to the building, in kW, TH = 293 K (20oC) TC = 278 K (5oC)

(c) coefficient of performance.

State 1 2 3
h (kJ/kg) 244.1 272.0 93.4
 Vapor-Compression Heat Pump System
State 1 2 3
h (kJ/kg) 244.1 272.0 93.4 TH = 293 K (20oC) TC = 278 K (5oC)

(a) The compressor power is

Wc = m
 (h2 − h1)

 ⎛ kg ⎞ kJ 1 kW
Wc = ⎜ 0.086 ⎟(272.0 − 244.1) = 2.4 kW
⎝ s ⎠ kg 1 kJ/s
(b) The heat transfer rate provided to the building is

Q out = m (h2 − h3 )

 ⎛ kg ⎞ kJ 1 kW
Qout = ⎜ 0.086 ⎟(272.0 − 93.4) = 15.4 kW
⎝ s ⎠ kg 1 kJ/s
 Vapor-Compression Heat Pump System
State 1 2 3
h (kJ/kg) 244.1 272.0 93.4 TH = 293 K (20oC) TC = 278 K (5oC)

(c) The coefficient of

performance is

Q out 15.4 kW
γ =  γ= = 6.4
Wc 2.4 kW
Comment: Applying Eq. 10.9, the maximum theoretical
coefficient of performance of any heat pump cycle
operating between cold and hot regions at TC and TH,
respectively is
TH 293 K
γ max = γ max = = 19.5
TH − TC 293 K − 278 K
 Brayton Refrigeration Cycle
► The working fluids of vapor-compression systems
undergo liquid-to-vapor phase change. In Brayton
refrigeration systems the working fluid remains a
gas throughout.
► The Brayton
refrigeration cycle
is the reverse of
the Brayton power
cycle introduced in
Sec. 9.6 as shown
in the figure.
 Brayton Refrigeration Cycle
► The processes of this cycle are
Process 1-2: the refrigerant gas, which
may be air, enters the compressor at
state 1 and is compressed to state 2.
Process 2-3: The gas is cooled by
heat transfer to the warm region at
temperature TH.
Process 3-4: The gas expands through
the turbine to state 4, where the
temperature, T4, is well below TC.
Process 4-1: Refrigeration of the cold
region is achieved through heat transfer
from the cold region to the gas as it
passes from state 4 to state 1, completing the cycle.
The work developed by the turbine assists in driving the compressor.
 Brayton Refrigeration Cycle
► The coefficient of performance of the cycle is

(Eq. 10.11)
 Automotive Air Conditioning using
Carbon Dioxide
► Owing to its low GWP of 1,
carbon dioxide, CO2, is
under consideration for use
in automotive air-
conditioning systems.
► The schematic shows such
a CO2-charged air-
conditioning system. It
combines aspects of gas
refrigeration with aspects of
vapor-compression
refrigeration.
 Automotive Air Conditioning using
Carbon Dioxide
► The processes of this cycle are
Process 1-2: CO2 vapor enters
the compressor at state 1 and is
compressed to state 2.
Process 2-3: The CO2 vapor is
then cooled to state 3 by heat
transfer to the ambient at
temperature TH.
Process 3-4: The CO2 next
passes through the
interconnecting heat exchanger,
where it is further cooled to
temperature T4 < TH.
 Automotive Air Conditioning using
Carbon Dioxide
Process 4-5: The CO2 expands
through the valve to state 5, where
it is a two-phase liquid-vapor
mixture at T5 < TC, the passenger
cabin temperature, and then enters
the evaporator.
Process 5-6: As the CO2 passes
through the evaporator, it is
vaporized by heat transfer from the
passenger cabin.
Process 6-1: Finally, CO2 vapor
passes through the heat exchanger,
where its temperature is increased
to T1, completing the cycle.
 Automotive Air Conditioning using
Carbon Dioxide
► The states visited in the
cycle are shown on the T-s
diagram:

(Critical
Temperature
of CO2)
 2 2
dEcv V V
= Q − W + m i (ui + i
+ gzi ) − m e (ue + e
+ gze )
dt 2 2
dEcv !
= Qcv ! W! cv +
dt
Vi2 Ve2
m! i (hi + + gzi ) ! m! e (he + + gze )
2 2

Two-phase
liquid-vapor mixture