ME2121

Thermodynamics

Lecture 6
The Vapour Compression
Refrigeration Cycle
Sections 11.1 - 11.4, 11.7 (Cengel & Boles)

Refrigerators and Heat Pumps

Refrigerators and heat pumps are devices operating on the

Refrigeration Cycle.
The devices are essentially the same but have different objectives!

The refrigerator is used to maintain a space at a temperature

less than that of the surroundings.
Also used to chill water or directly cool air for air-conditioning
applications!

The heat pump is used to maintain a space at a high

temperature by absorbing heat from a low temperature source
and supplying the energy to a warmer space!
Useful in the winter of temperate climates!

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L6: Refrigeration Cycle

Refrigerators and Heat Pumps (contd.)

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L6: Refrigeration Cycle

Refrigerators and Heat Pumps (contd.)

The performance of the devices is expressed in terms of the
coefficient of performance (COP):

COPR

QL
desired output cooling effect

required input
work input
Wnet , in

COPHP

QH
desired output heating effect

required input
work input
Wnet , in

Note that COPR can be greater than 1.

Also, COPHP = COPR + 1 COPHP is always greater than 1!

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L6: Refrigeration Cycle

Maximum COP with Reversed Carnot Cycle

COPHP, Carnot

TH
TH TL

Processes
not feasible

COPR, Carnot
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TL
TH TL

L6: Refrigeration Cycle

Ideal Vapour Compression Refrigeration Cycle

heat rejection
compression

Adiabatic expansion
heat absorbed
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L6: Refrigeration Cycle

Refrigeration Cycle (contd.)

The basic components:
compressor

Household refrigerator

positive displacement type

(reciprocating or rotary)
free compression or turbo
(centrifugal or axial flow)
Free compression or jet

Condenser
heat rejected to surroundings

expansion valve
irreversible expansion

evaporator
heat absorbed from refrigerated
space

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L6: Refrigeration Cycle

Refrigeration Cycle (contd.)

First Law for the processes:
1-2 isentropic compression
Wc = H2 H1

2-3 constant P heat rejection

Q H = H2 H 3

3-4 adiabatic irreversible throttling

H4 = H3

4-1 constant P heat addition

Q L = H1 H 4

COPR
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QL H1 H 4

Wc H 2 H1
L6: Refrigeration Cycle

P-h Diagram of an ideal vapour

compression refrigeration cycle

Actual Refrigeration Cycle

competing effects of
irreversibilities and heat loss

Pressure drop

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L6: Refrigeration Cycle

Cascade Refrigeration Cycle

m A h5 h8 m B h2 h3
h h3
m
A 2
m B h5 h8

m A
m B

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L6: Refrigeration Cycle

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Cascade Refrigeration Cycle

COPR, cascade

Q L
W

Example (R134a)

m A 0.05 kg/s

net , in

m B h1 h4
m B h2 h1 m A h6 h5

Considering energy balance

at the heat exchanger,

m A h5 h8 m B h2 h3
m B 0.039 kg/s

Q L m B h1 h4 7.13 kW
Wnet , in m A h6 h5
m B h2 h1 1.60 kW
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COPR=4.46

L6: Refrigeration Cycle

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Selected Terms in Refrigeration Design

Refrigeration effect
QL, the useful effect in refrigeration

Ton of refrigeration
heat required to melt 2000 lb of ice over 24 hr (3.516 kW)

Tonne (metric ton) of refrigeration

heat required to melt 1000 kg of ice over 24 hr (3.862 kW)

Coefficient of performance
COP = useful effect / energy input (in the same energy units)

Energy efficient ratio (EER)

COP = useful effect (Btu/hr) / energy input (W)
[1 Btu/sec = 1.054 kW]

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L6: Refrigeration Cycle

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Assignment 4
Please attempt:
Problem Set 2:
Q3
Q 4 (Imparo online tutorial)
(Please attempt problems before referring to the Outline Solutions
for maximum benefit in learning)
Enjoy!!

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L6: Refrigeration Cycle

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