VAPOR COMPRESSION

REFRIGERATION CYCLE
 Vapor-Compression
Refrigeration
► Most common refrigeration cycle in use
today Cycle
► There
controlare four principal
volumes
involving these
components:
► Evaporator
► Compressor
► Condenser Two-phase
liquid-vapor mixture
► Expansion valve
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.
Process 2-3: vapor refrigerant
condenses to liquid through heat transfer
to the cooler surroundings. Process 3-4:
liquid refrigerant expands to the
evaporator pressure.
p-h Diagram
 The Vapor-Compression
Refrigeration Cycle
►Engineering model:
►Each component is analyzed as a control
volume at steady state.
►Dry compression is presumed:
the refrigerant is a vapor.
►The compressor operates adiabatically.
►The refrigerant expanding through the valve
undergoes a throttling process.
►Kinetic and potential energy changes are
ignored.
Applying mass and energy rate balances

Refrigerating Effect (RE)

- is the amount of heat
gained from the load.

RE = h1 - h4, KJ/kg
RE = m(h1 - h4), KW
RE = Qin
Evaporator For chilling water:
RE = mwcp(t1 – t2), KW
Applying mass and energy rate balances

 
 Applying mass and energy rate balances

Compressor Power (Wc) - is the power

needed to compress the refrigerant.

Wc = h2 - h1 , KJ/kg = m(h2 - h1), KW

where: m = mass of refrigerant
circulated

Compressor
Assuming adiabatic
compression
Applying mass and energy rate balances

Heat Rejected (QR) - is the

amount of heat rejected to the
cooling medium.

QR = h2 – h3 , KJ/kg
QR = m(h2 – h3), KW

Condenser For cooling water:

QR = mw cp (t2 – t1)
 Applying mass and energy rate balances

Expansion Valve Process (h3 = h4)

h3 = h4
h3 = hf4 + xhfg4
hfg4 = hg4 - hf4

where:
x = quality after expansion or
weight of flash gas per unit
weight of refrigerant circulated

Expansion valve
Assuming a throttling
process
 Performance
parameters
Coefficient of Performance (COP)

►The coefficientof performance is the ratio of the

refrigerating effect to the work of compression
 

►The power per KW of refrigeration is the inverse of

the coefficient of performance, and an efficient
refrigeration system has a low value of power per kW
of refrigeration but a high COP
 Performance
parameters
Coefficient of Performance (COP)
►The power per Ton of refrigeration is the inverse of
the coefficient of performance, and an efficient
refrigeration system has a low value of power per ton of
refrigeration but a high COP
 
 Performance
parameters
Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER)
►the ratio removed at the evaporator (refrigerating
effects) to the electrical energy consumed. This shall
confirm with the standards set by the Department of
Energy.
 
 Performance
parameters
Volume Flow at Suction (V1)

V1 = mv1 , m3/sec

Standard Refrigeration Cycle

Evaporation Temp: 5oF (-15oC)

Condenser Temp: 86oF (30oC)
 CHILLING AND COOLING LOAD

 
 CHILLING AND COOLING LOAD

 
 MOTOR AND COMPRESSOR PERFORMANCE

a.Efficiency of motor = Pom / Pim

b.Efficiency of coupling = Pic / Pom
c.Efficiency of compressor = Poc / Pic
d.Over-all efficiency = Poc / Pim

where:
Pim = power input of motor
Pom = power output of motor
Pic = power input of compressor
Poc = power output of compressor
= m(h2 - h1)
 REFRIGERATION COMPRESSORS

A. Compressor Output = m (h2 - h1) B. Volume flow at

suction, V1 = mv1 C. Volume Displacement, VD
Single Acting Cylinder:

Double Acting Cylinder:

where:
v1 = specific volume at suction D = bore = diameter
L = length of stroke c = no. of cylinders
N= number of cycles completed per unit time
N= (n)(1) (number of cylinders) for single-acting
compressor
N= (n)(2) (number of cylinders) for double-acting
compressor
 REFRIGERATION COMPRESSORS

D. Volumetric Efficiency,

E. Compression ratio = v1 /v2

where: c = percent clearance

v2 = specific volume at discharge
 REFRIGERATION COMPRESSORS

 
Example
A simple saturated refrigeration cycle for R-12 system operates at an evaporating
temperature of -5oC and a condensing temperature of 40oC. 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 1 kW, determine the (e) total heat
rejected at the condenser, (f) the work, and (g) the volume flow rate.
PRACTICE PROBLEM:
1. A standard vapor compression cycle developing 100 kW of refrigeration using
Ammonia refrigerant operates with a condensing temperature of 36oC and an
evaporating temperature of -20oC. Calculate:
a. Refrigerating effect in KJ/kg
b. the circulation rate of refrigerant in kg/sec
c. the power required by compressor in KW
d. the coefficient of performance
e. the volume flow rate measure at the compression suction in L/sec
f. the power per KW of refrigeration
g. the compressor discharge temperature
 Effect of Operating
Conditions
►Effect of increasing the
Vaporizing Temperature
►The refrigerating effect per
unit mass increases
►The mass flow rate per
ton decreases
►The volume flow rate per ton
decreases
►The COP increases
►The work per ton decreases
►The heat rejected at the
condenser per ton decreases
PRACTICE PROBLEM:
A R-12 simple saturated refrigerating cycle operates at an evaporating temperature of
-10oC and a condensing temperature of 40oC. Show the effects of increasing the
vaporizing temperature to 5oC.
 Effect of Operating
Conditions
►Effect of increasing the
Condensing Temperature
►The refrigerating effect per
unit mass decreases
►The mass flow rate per
ton increases
►The volume flow rate per ton
increases
►The COP decreases
►The work per ton increases
►The heat rejected at the
condenser per ton increases
PRACTICE PROBLEM:
A simple saturated refrigerating cycle using R-12 as the refrigerant, operates at a
condensing temperature of 40oC and an evaporating temperature of -10oC. Show the
effects of increasing the condensing temperature to 50oC.
 Effect of Operating
Conditions
►Effect of Superheating the
Suction Vapor (when
superheating produces useful
cooling)
►The refrigerating effect per unit
mass increases
►The mass flow rate per
ton decreases
►The volume flow rate per ton
decreases
►The COP increases
►The work per ton decreases
 Effect of Operating
Conditions
►Effect of Superheating the Suction
Vapor (when superheating occurs
without useful cooling)
►The refrigerating effect per unit
mass decreases
►The mass flow rate per ton
increases
►The volume flow rate per ton
increases
►The COP decreases
►The work per ton increases
►The heat rejected at the
condenser per ton increases
PRACTICE PROBLEM:
A simple saturated refrigerating cycle for R-12 system operates at an evaporating
temperature of -5oC and a condensing temperature of 40oC. Show the effects of
superheating the suction vapor from -5oC to 15oC.
 Effect of Operating
Conditions
►Effect of subcooling the liquid
►The refrigerating effect per unit
mass increases
►The mass flow rate per
ton decreases
►The volume flow rate per ton
decreases
►The COP increases
►The work per ton decreases
►The heat rejected at the
condenser per ton decreases
PRACTICE PROBLEM:
A simple saturated refrigerating cycle using R-12 as the refrigerant operates at an
evaporating temperature of -5oC and a condensing temperature of 40oC. Show the
effects of subcooling from 40oC to 30oC before reaching the expansion valve.
DEGREE SUPERHEATING AND DEGREE SUBCOOLING

Degree superheating - is the

difference between actual
temperature entering the
compressor and the evaporator
temperature.

°SH = t1 - tevap

Degree subcooling - is the

difference between condenser
temperature and the actual
temperature entering the expansion
valve.

°SC = tcon - t3
Example
A refrigerant 22, four cylinder, 85 x 70mm, compressor operating at 28r/s, a
condensing temperature of 38oC and an evaporating temperature of -2oC carries a
refrigerating load of 112KW. The motor driving the compressor has an efficiency of
92% and draws 32.5 KW. There is a 5oC subcooling and 7oC superheating of the
suction gas entering the compressor. Compute (a) the actual volumetric efficiency
and (b) the compression efficiency.
 Refrigeration System with Liquid-
Suction Heat Exchanger

The functions of heat exchager

are:

1. To ensure that no liquid

enters the compressor, and

2. To subcool the liquid from

the condenser to prevent
bubbles of vapor from
impeding the flow of refrigerant
through the expansion valve.
Example
A simple saturated refrigeration cycle using R12 as refrigerant operates at an
evaporating temperature of -5oC and a condensing temperature of 40oC. Show the
effects of installing a heat exchager that would superheat the suction vapor from -5oC
to 15oC in the heat exchager.
 Features of
Actual Vapor-Compression Cycle
As the refrigerant flows through the
system there will be pressure drops
in the condenser, evaporator, and
piping. Heat losses or gains will
occur depending on the temperature
difference between the refrigerant
and the surroundings. Compression
will be polytropic with friction and
heat transfer instead of isentropic.
The actual vapor compression cycle
may have some or all of the items of
departure from the simple saturation
cycle as shown on the p-h diagram
in the figure.
 Features of
Actual Vapor-Compression Cycle

The pressure drop in the evaporator is large and that in the condenser
is small. Due to various pressure drops, the capacity of the plant is
decreased and the power consumption per unit of refrigeration is
increased. The COP of the actual cycle is reduced.
 Features of
Actual Vapor-Compression Cycle
Process State
Superheating of the vapor in the evaporator 10-11
Heat gain in the suction line 11-12
Pressure drop in the suction line 12-13
Pressure drop due to wire drawing at the compressor suction valve 13-1
Polytropic compression with friction and heat transfer 1-2
Pressure drop at the compressor discharge valve 2-3
Pressure drop in the delivery line 3-4
Heat loss in the delivery line 4-5
Pressure drop in the condenser 5-6
Subcooling of the liquid in the condenser 6-7
Heat gain in the liquid line 7-8
Pressure drop in the evaporator 9-10