University Of Zakho

College Of Engineering
Mechanical Department

Experiment No. (1)

Mechanical Lab

Effect Of Capillary Tube Length On

The Vcrs Performance

Name : Dilshad Sarbast Faisal

Stage : 4th Stage

Grope:A

Data Of Submitting: 9/11/2020

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Introduction:
Hermetic compressors are almost universally used in small systems such as domestic
refrigerators, water coolers, air conditioners and deep freezer, where efficiency is
not as important as customer convenience. In addition to this, the use of hermetic
compressors is ideal in systems, which use capillary tubes as expansion devices to
reduce the pressure in evaporator section. In capillary tube the refrigerant has to
overcome the frictional resistance offered by tube walls which leads to some
pressure drop, and also the liquid refrigerant flashes into wet vapour, as its pressure
reduces through the capillary tube. Both variables mentioned above increase the
pressure drop across the capillary tube, this pressure drop controls the mass flow rate
of refrigerant, and for a given value of condenser pressure, there is a definite value
of evaporator pressure at which the mass flow rates through the compressor and the
evaporator are the same. Thus the mass flow rate through the capillary tube increases
as the condenser pressure increases and/or the evaporator pressure decreases. One
of the most variables affect the pressure drop across a given capillary tube is the
capillary geometry, like the number of coils and pitch between the coils

Concept:
a vapor-compression refrigeration system is a system that uses liquid refrigerant in
a closed system which circulates the refrigerant through four stages in which it is
alternately compressed and expanded, changing it from liquid to vapor. As this
change happens, heat is either absorbed or expelled by the system, resulting in a
change in temperature of the surrounding air that is passing over the unit's
components.

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PURPOSE:

1. Determine the performance of vapor compression refrigeration system for

different capillary tube lengths.
1. Comparison between the performance of the VCRS for different cases.

APPARATUS:

The vapor compression refrigeration system using working fluid (R134a)

consist of the following parts (See fig. (1) and (2)):
1. Reciprocating Compressor: compresses the vapor working fluid from
evaporator pressure to condenser pressure.
2. Forced Air cooled Finned tube Condenser: reject heat at constant pressure
to the air.
3. Forced Air cooled Finned tube Evaporator: absorbs heat from the low
temperature reservoir (air) at constant pressure.
4. Thermostatic expansion (throttling) valve: expands the liquid working
fluid at constant enthalpy process.
5. Capillary tubes: expands the liquid working fluid at constant enthalpy
process with different lengths (1.5 m, 3 m, and 5 m).
6. Filter drier: to Prevent passing the contamination and moisture to the
capillary tube.
7. Sight glass: used to see working fluid state after heat rejection process.
8. Low pressure gauge: used to measure evaporator pressure.
9. High pressure gauge: used to measure condenser pressure.
10. Accumulator: to Prevent entrance of refrigerant liquid into the compressor.
11. Receiver: To store the liquid refrigerant during operation or when evacuated.
12. Solenoid valve: To open and close the liquid line during operation and
stoppage.
13. Dual Pressure switch: To protect the compressor when the evaporator
pressure dropped and condenser pressure increased.

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4
3. THEORY:

The ideal refrigeration cycle shown in figure (3), includes the following processes:
1-2: Isentropic compression, s2=s1
2-3: constant pressure heat rejection in the condenser.
3-4 : Throttling in the expansion valve, h3=h4 .
4-1 : constant pressure heat addition in the evaporator.
The refrigeration effect (evaporator) may be calculated as follows:
𝑹𝑬 = 𝒒𝒆𝒗𝒂𝒑 = 𝒒𝑳 = 𝒉𝟏 − 𝒉𝟒
Where h1 is the enthalpy at evaporator outlet (compressor inlet) at evaporator pressure, kJ/kg.
h4 is the enthalpy at evaporator inlet (expansion valve outlet) at evaporator pressure, kJ/kg.
The work added to the compressor, per unit mass, is
𝐰𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑. = 𝒉𝟐 − 𝒉𝟏
Where h2 is the enthalpy at compressor outlet (condenser inlet) at condenser pressure, kJ/kg.
The rejected heat from the condenser is:
𝒒𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 = 𝒒𝑯 = 𝒉𝟐 − 𝒉𝟑
Where h3 is the enthalpy at condenser outlet, kJ/kg.
The coefficient of performance of the refrigeration system is:
𝑹𝑬 𝒉𝟏 − 𝒉𝟒
𝑪𝑶𝑷 = =
𝐰𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑. 𝒉𝟐 − 𝒉𝟏

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EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE:
1. Switch on electrical power.

2. Change the capillary tube length from 1.5 m to 3m and then 5m.

3. Record the readings of the temperatures and pressures of the evaporator and condenser at

specified time until the readings become stable.

4. Repeat the third step with capillary tube lengths 3 m and 6 m.

Calculation and results:

No Length(m) 𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒘 (bar) 𝑷𝒉𝒊𝒈𝒉 (bar) 𝑻𝒆𝒐 𝑻𝒆𝒊 𝑻𝒄𝒊 𝑻𝒄𝒐
1 1.5 3 11 3 1 40 36
2 3 2.5 9 -2 -5 35 31
3 5 2 8 -8 -9 35 30

𝑅𝐸 = 𝑞𝑒𝑣𝑎𝑝 = 𝑞𝐿 = ℎ1 − ℎ4
w𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝. = ℎ2 − ℎ1
𝑞𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 = 𝑞𝐻 = ℎ2 − ℎ3
𝑅𝐸 ℎ1 − ℎ4
𝐶𝑂𝑃 = =
w𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝. ℎ2 − ℎ1

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For length 1.5m:
No Length(m) 𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒘 (bar) 𝑷𝒉𝒊𝒈𝒉 (bar) 𝑻𝒆𝒐 𝑻𝒆𝒊 𝑻𝒄𝒊 𝑻𝒄𝒐
1 1.5 3 11 3 1 40 36

• Note / we use the Table (A-11 and A-13) and interpolation

𝒉𝟏 = 𝒉𝒈 @𝑇𝑙𝑜𝑤 = 1°𝐂
𝒉𝟏 =248. 15

ℎ3 = ℎ4 = ℎ𝑓 @𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑔ℎ = 40°𝐂 𝒉𝟑 = 𝒉𝟒 = 𝒉𝒇 = 105.82

we can find :
𝑆2 = 𝑆3 = 𝑆𝑔 @𝑇𝑙𝑜𝑤 = 1°𝐂 𝑺𝟐 = 𝑺 =0.909
𝟑

also P high is 11bar and is 1.1Mpa

𝒉𝟐 = ℎ @𝑺𝟐 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑃ℎ𝑖𝑔ℎ From superheated table (A-13)
𝑺𝟐 =0.909 we get 𝒉𝟐 = 268.7
𝑅𝐸 = 𝑞𝑒𝑣𝑎𝑝 = 𝑞𝐿 = ℎ1 − ℎ4
𝑅𝐸 = 248.05 − 105.92 𝑅𝐸 = 142.13
wcomp. = h2 − h1
wcomp. = 268.7 − 248.05 wcomp. = 20.65𝑘𝑗/𝑘𝑔
𝑞𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 = 𝑞𝐻 = ℎ2 − ℎ3
𝑞𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 = 268.7 − 105.92 𝑞𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 = 162.78
𝑅𝐸 ℎ1 − ℎ4
𝐶𝑂𝑃 = =
𝑤𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝. ℎ2 − ℎ1
142.13
𝐶𝑂𝑃 = 𝐶𝑂𝑃 = 6.78395
20.65

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For length 3m :
No Length(m) 𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒘 (bar) 𝑷𝒉𝒊𝒈𝒉 (bar) 𝑻𝒆𝒐 𝑻𝒆𝒊 𝑻𝒄𝒊 𝑻𝒄𝒐
2 3 2.5 9 -2 -5 35 31
• Note / we use the Table (A-11 and A-13) and interpolation

ℎ1 = ℎ𝑔 @𝑇𝑙𝑜𝑤 = −5°C 𝒉𝟏 =243.25

ℎ3 = ℎ = ℎ @𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑔ℎ = 35°C
4 𝑓
𝒉𝟑 = 𝒉𝟒 =98.94
we can find
𝑆2 = 𝑆3 = 𝑆𝑔 @𝑇𝑙𝑜𝑤 = −5°C 𝑺𝟐 = 𝑺 = 0.94
𝟑

also P high is 9bar and is 0.9Mpa

ℎ2 = ℎ @𝑆2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑃ℎ𝑖𝑔ℎ From superheated table (A-13)
𝑺𝟐 =0.94 we get ℎ2 = 271
𝑅𝐸 = 𝑞𝑒𝑣𝑎𝑝 = 𝑞𝐿 = ℎ1 − ℎ4
𝑅𝐸 = 243.25 − 98.85 𝑅𝐸 = 144.35
w𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝. = ℎ2 − ℎ1
w𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝. = 271 − 243.35 w𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝. = 27.65𝑘𝑗/𝑘𝑔
𝑞𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 = 𝑞𝐻 = ℎ2 − ℎ3
𝑞𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 = 271 − 98.9 𝑞𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 = 172.1
𝑅𝐸 ℎ1 − ℎ4
𝐶𝑂𝑃 = =
w𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝. ℎ2 − ℎ1
144.4
𝐶𝑂𝑃 = 𝐶𝑂𝑃 = 5.2199
27.7

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For Length 5m :
No Length(m) 𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒘 (bar) 𝑷𝒉𝒊𝒈𝒉 (bar) 𝑻𝒆𝒐 𝑻𝒆𝒊 𝑻𝒄𝒊 𝑻𝒄𝒐
3 5 2 8 -8 -9 35 30

• Note / we use the Table (A-11 and A-13) and interpolation

ℎ1 = ℎ𝑔 @𝑇𝑙𝑜𝑤 =-9 °C

𝒉𝟏 =242.49

ℎ3 = ℎ = ℎ @𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑔ℎ = 35°C
4 𝑓
𝒉𝟑 = 𝒉𝟒 =98.8
We can find
𝑆2 = 𝑆3 = 𝑆𝑔 @𝑇𝑙𝑜𝑤 = −9°C 𝑺𝟐 = 𝑺 =0.925
𝟑

also P high is 9bar and is 0.9Mpa

ℎ2 = ℎ @𝑆2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑃ℎ𝑖𝑔ℎ From superheated table (A-13)
𝑆2 =0.92459 𝒉𝟐 =270.03
𝑅𝐸 = 𝑞𝑒𝑣𝑎𝑝 = 𝑞𝐿 = ℎ1 − ℎ4
𝑅𝐸 = 242.83 − 98.2 𝑅𝐸 = 144.63
w𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝. = ℎ2 − ℎ1
w𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝. = 270.9 − 242.83 w𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝. = 28.07𝑘𝑗/𝑘𝑔
𝑞𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 = 𝑞𝐻 = ℎ2 − ℎ3
𝑞𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 = 270.03 − 98.8 𝑞𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 = 171.23
𝑅𝐸 ℎ1 − ℎ4
𝐶𝑂𝑃 = =
w𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝. ℎ2 − ℎ1
143.69
𝐶𝑂𝑃 = COP =5.2175
27.54

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 Discussion:
1.Draw p-h and T-s diagram for each case.
For length 1.5m

Phigh

plow

h3=h4=250kj/k
h1 = 385kj/kg h2 = 445kj/kg
g

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For length 3m

phig
h

plow

h3=h4=255kj/k h1=388kj/k h2=440kj/kg

g g

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For length 5m

phig
h

plow

h3=h4=250kj/kg
h1=390kj/k h2=443kj/k
g g

2.Calculate refrigeration effect, RE for each case.

Ans/I determined from calculation
3.Calculate work added to the compressor, wcomp for each case.
Ans/ I determined from calculation
4.Calculate heat rejected to the water, qcond for each case.
Ans/ I determined from calculation

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5.Calculate the coefficient of performance for refrigeration system, COP for each case.
Ans/ I determined from calculation
6.Draw the capillary tube lengths with Refrigeration effect and discuss it.
Ans/

length&RE
145.5

145 144.63
144.44
144.5

144
RE(kj/kg)

143.5

143

142.5 142.13
142

141.5
1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5
length(m)

The refrigeration effect increased with increase length of capillary tube the relationship is direct
7.Draw the capillary tube lengths with compressor work and discuss it.
Ans/
length&wc
30
27.65 28.07
28

26
wc(kj/kg)

24

22 20.65

20

18

16
length(m)

Increase of length capillary tube increased the work compressor the relationship is direct.

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8.Draw the capillary tube lengths with COP and discuss it.

length&COP
7 6.7839

6.5

6
COP

5.5 5.2199 5.2175

4.5

4
1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5
length(m)

Increase of length of capillary tube decrease the COP the relationship is inversely.

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Conclusion:

From the name of this experiment, Effect Of Capillary Tube Length On

The vapor compression refrigeration Performance, In the laboratory we
test three different dimension of capillary length tube. We see the effect
of changing of this three dimension of capillary tube, First length is
1.5m COP obtained 6.78 ,And then length is 3m COP obtained 5.2199,
Finely the length is 5m COP obtained 5.2175, From this number that
determined from the calculation this is mean when we increase the
length of capillary tube the COP is decrees that relationship is inversely
proportional, Maybe our reading we take from laboratory wasn’t 100%
accurate, because of many error in the device, First the compressor is
very big compare to conducer and evaporate this big of compressor
influent to condenser and evaporate the evaporate at very short time
temperature downed to under zero it is iced, because of this the
temperature is not accurate, That day the weather is cool and it is
another effect on device and our reading.

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