1

Chapter 4
Refrigeration cycles
DEPARTMENT OF MARINE ENGINEERING
FACULTY OF OCEAN TECHNOLOGY
INSTITUTE TECHNOLOGI SEPULUH NOPEMBER
ME091307 (THERMODYNAMICS)
Aguk Zuhdi Muhammad Fathallah
4.1 Refrigerators and heat pumps
Refrigerator/heat pump Transfer heat from a
low temperature region to high temperature
region.
Objective of refrigerator :
Maintain the refrigerated space at low temperature
by removing heat from it
Objective of heat pump :
Maintain the heated space at a high temperature
by transfer heat to it
2
4.1 Refrigerators and heat pumps
4.1 Refrigerators and heat pumps
e performanc of t coefficien COP where
input Work
effect Heating
input required
output Desired
COP
input Work
effect Cooling
input required
output Desired
COP
in net
H
HP
in net
L
R
=
= = =
= = =
W
Q
W
Q
1 COP COP
R HP
+ =
Performance of refrigerators and heat pumps
1 COP
HP
>
3
4.2 The reversed Carnot cycle
High Temperature
Heat Source, TH
Low Temperature
Heat Sink, TL
Net Work
Output, Wnet
Heat Supplied, qs
Heat Rejected, qr
Forward Heat Engine
r s net
r net s
q q w
q w q
=
+ =
4.2 The reversed Carnot cycle
High Temperature
Heat Sink, TH
Low Temperature
Heat Source, TL
Net Work
Output, Wnet
Heat Rejected, qr
Heat Supplied, qs
Reversed Heat Engine
s r net
r net s
q q w
q w q
=
= + +
Carnot refrigerator
Carnot heat pump
4
4.2 The reversed Carnot cycle
Operation of the Carnot refrigerator
1-2 Isentropic
compression
(Compressor)
2-3 Isothermal heat
rejection
(Condenser)
3-4 Isentropic
expansion
(Turbine)
4-1 Isothermal heat
absorption
(Evaporator)
4.2 The reversed Carnot cycle
H
L
Carnot HP,
L
H
Carnot R,
1
1
COP
1
1
COP
T
T
T
T

=
Performance of Carnot refrigerators and Carnot heat pumps
COPs increase as the
difference between the
two temperatures
decrease, where
TL rises or TH falls
5
4.2 The reversed Carnot cycle
Impractical approximation especially for
Process 1-2 (Compressor)
Involve compression of liquid-vapor mixture
(two phases)
Process 3-4 (Turbine)
Expansion of high moisture content
refrigerant
Refrigeration load and effect
Is the rate which heat must be removed from the refrigerated space in
order to produce and maintain the desired temperature
4 1
3.516

evaporator at effect ing Refrigerat
load ing Refrigerat
rate flow Mass
h h
kW
m
r

=
=
&
Power required to drive the compressor ( )
1 2
Power, h h m w
r
= & &
Quantity of cooling water in condenser
) ( ) (
3 2 in out
h h m T T c m
r pc c
= & &
4.2 The reversed Carnot cycle
6
4.3 The ideal vapor-compression refrigeration cycle
Elimination of impracticalities with the
reversed Carnot cycle by
Vaporizing the refrigerant completely
before compression process
Replacing the turbine with a throttling
device (expansion valve or capillary tube)
4.3 The ideal vapor-compression refrigeration cycle
1-2 Isentropic
compression
(Compressor)
2-3 Isobaric heat
rejection
(Condenser)
3-4 Throttling
(Expansion
device)
4-1 Isobaric heat
absorption
(Evaporator)
Not an internally reversible cycle since it
involves an irreversibible (throttling) process
Higher efficiency but high
cost and complexity
7
4.3 The ideal vapor-compression refrigeration cycle
COP improved by 2
to 4 percent for each
o
C the evaporating
temperature is raised
or the condensing
temperature is
lowered
4.3 The ideal vapor-compression refrigeration cycle
( ) ( )
case ideal for @
and @ where
COP
and
COP
equation, energy flow steady The
3 3
1 g 1
1 2
3 2
in net
H
HP
1 2
4 1
in net
L
R
i e out in out in
P h h
P h h
h h
h h
w
q
h h
h h
w
q
h h w w q q
f
=
=

= =

= =
= +
8
Refrigerant R134a enters the compressor of a refrigerator as
superheated vapor at 0.14MPa and -10
o
C at a rate of 0.12kg/s,
and it leaves at 0.7MPa and 50
o
C. The refrigerant is cooled in
the condenser to 24
o
C and 0.65MPa, and it is throttled to
0.15MPa. Disregrading any heat transfer and pressure drops
in the connecting lines between the components, show the
cycle on a T-s diagram with respect to saturation lines, and
determine
a. The rate of heat removal from the refrigerated space and the
power input to the compressor
b. The isentropic efficiency of the compressor
c. The COP of the refrigerator
4.4 Actual vapor-compression refrigeration cycle
Irreversibilities in actual cycle
Fluid friction and piping losses
(cause pressure drops)
Heat transfer to or from the
surroundings
Mechanical inefficiencies
9
4.4 Actual vapor-compression refrigeration cycle
4.4 Actual vapor-compression refrigeration cycle
Actual compression with frictional
effects such as fluid friction and
heat transfer
(s increase 1-2 or s decrease 1-2)
Oer designed !uperheated
apor (ensure 1""# apor at
compressor inlet)
More desira$le cause lower
work input re%uirement
&ressure drop at condenser
until throttling ale
'efrigerant is su$cooled
$efore enteres the throttling
ale
10
4.5 Selecting the right refrigerant
Choice of refrigerants
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Ammonia
Hydrocarbons
(propane, ethane,
ethylene, etc)
Carbon
dioxide
Air
Water
Chlorine free R-134a
Refrigerants
4.5 Selecting the right refrigerant
Selection of the refrigerant
1. Temperatures of the two media (the refrigerated space and
the environment)
2. Non toxic
3. Non corrosive
4. Non flammable
5. Chemically stable
6. High enthalpy of vaporization (minimise mass flow rate)
7. Low cost
11
4.6 Heat pump systems
Different between heat pump and air conditioner
1. Condenser of the heat pump (located indoors)
function as the evaporator of the air conditioner.
2. Evaporator of the heat pump (located outdoors)
serves as the condenser of the air conditioner
HEAT PUMP OPERATION HEATING MODE
Fan
Fan
Compressor
Indoor
Coil
Reversing valve
Expansion
valve
Hot
Air
Cold
Air
Outdoor coil
High Pressure liquid
Low Pressure liquid vapor
Low pressure vapor
High Pressure vapor
4.6 Heat pump systems
12
Fan
Fan
Compressor
Expansion
valve
Out Hot
Air
Cold
Air
HEAT PUMP OPERATION COOLING MODE
Indoor
Coil
Reversing valve
Outdoor coil
4.6 Heat pump systems
High Pressure liquid
Low Pressure liquid vapor
Low pressure vapor
High Pressure vapor
4.7 Innovative vapor-compression refrigeration systems
Ordinary vapor compression refrigeration
a. Simple
b. Inexpensive
c. Reliable
d. Practically maintenance free
Not efficient , not simplicity for
large industrial application
Need modification and refinement
to innovative system
13
4.7 Innovative vapor-compression refrigeration systems
Cascade Refrigeration Systems
win
win
Closed type
Could be different working fluid for both compressor
4.7 Innovative vapor-compression refrigeration systems
Cascade Refrigeration Systems
Increase refrigeration capacity and decrease in compressor work
Refrigerants for both cycles not necessary to be same cause no mixing
) ( ) (
) (
) (
) (
) ( ) (
1 2 5 6
4 1
in net
L
Cascade R
8 5
3 2
3 2 8 5
h h m h h m
h h m
w
Q
COP
h h
h h
m
m
h h m h h m
B A
B
B
A
B A
+

= =

=
=
& &
&
&
&
& &
14
4.7 Innovative vapor-compression refrigeration systems
Multistage Compression Refrigeration Systems
A
A
m=x
m=1-x
m=1
winA
winB
Direct
contact heat
exchanger
Two phase,
closed vessel
m=x
m=1-x
winA
winB
QH
QL
4.7 Innovative vapor-compression refrigeration systems
Multistage Compression Refrigeration Systems
Heat exchanger replaced by a mixing chamber/flash chamber
Saturated vapor, state 3
Superheated vapor from Low
pressure compressor, state 2
High pressure compressor, state 9
Saturated liquid expand through
second expansion process, state 7
Regeneration process
15
4.7 Innovative vapor-compression refrigeration systems
Multipurpose Refrigeration Systems with a Single
Compressor
For application with more than one temperature : Refrigerator - Freezer
Study case : Requirement for refrigerator - freezer
1. Refrigerator : maintained above the ice point due
to high water content goods
2. Freezer : maintain at about -18
o
C for ice making
or solid good storage
()
()
(*
+in
16
4.7 Innovative vapor-compression refrigeration systems
Multipurpose Refrigeration Systems with a Single
Compressor
*igh e,panding
pressure- .
a$oe ice point
Low expanding
pressure, T below
ice point
4.7 Innovative vapor-compression refrigeration systems
Liquefaction of Gases
How to liquefy the Oxygen gas? Nitrogen gas?
What is the usage of the liquefied gases?
Preparation of liquid propellants for Rockets
Study of material at low temperatures
Exciting phenomena such as superconductivity
17
4.7 Innovative vapor-compression refrigeration systems
Liquefaction of Gases
W
4.8 Gas refrigeration cycles
Also known as reversed Brayton cycle
For the surrounding temperature, To
1-2 Gas compression process
2-3 Heat rejection of refrigeration
gas to To
3-4 Gas expansion process to
temperature T4
4-1 Heat absorption from the
refrigerated space
18
4.8 Gas refrigeration cycles
Also known as reversed Brayton cycle
[kJ/kg]
[kJ/kg]
[kJ/kg]
1 2 in comp
4 3 out turb
4 1 L
out turb in comp
L
in net
L
R
h h w
h h w
h h q
w w
q
w
q
COP
=
=
=

= =
4.8 Gas refrigeration cycles
Use a gas refrigeration cycle with a regenerator.
This is the idealized cycle with a regenerator. This is the idealized cycle with a regenerator.
Other system configurations are possible Other system configurations are possible
QH
QL
19
4.9 Absorption refrigeration systems
4.9 Absorption refrigeration systems
After the evaporator,
1. NH3 dissolved in water NH3.H2O (exothermic reaction
release heat to cooling water)
2. Pump transfer the liquid NH3.H2O to regenerator to vaporized
some of the solution NH3.H2O.
3. The vapor rich in NH3 is then passes through the rectifier to
separated the NH3 from water.
4. High pressure NH3 vapor is use for the rest of the refrigeration
process.
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4.9 Absorption refrigeration systems
gen
L
absorption
in pump gen
L
absorption
absorption
output Required
output Desired
Q
Q
COP
W Q
Q
COP
COP

+
=
=
4.9 Absorption refrigeration systems
For
maximum
COP (totally
reversible
cycle)