LESSON

INTRODUCTION TO COMPRESSORS

LECTURE
SUB-OBJECTIVE
At the end of this lesson the trainee will be able to:

1.0

1.

Identify the types compressors used in air conditioning and

refrigeration.

2.

Identify their parts and functions,

3.

Correctly troubleshoot for major and minor problems.

4.

Correctly maintain the said compressors.

LAWS OF REFRIGERATION
The compression system is the basis of operation of the refrigeration units
described in this chapter.
One must understand the system to accurately diagnose (identify) mechanical
difficulties.
Many types of compression mechanisms are explained to help the service
technician become familiar with their basic operations.
All refrigerating systems depend on five thermal laws:
1.

Fluids absorb heat while changing from a liquid state to a vapor state
and give up heat in changing from a vapor to a liquid.

2.

The temperature at which a change of state occurs is constant during

the change provided the pressure remains constant.

3.

Heat flows only from a body which is a at a higher temperature to a

body which is at a lower temperature (hot to cold)

4.

Metallic parts of the evaporating and condensing units use metals,

which have a high heat conductivity (copper, brass, aluminum).

4.

Heat energy and other forms of energy are interchangeable.

FOR EXAMPLE:
Electricity may be converted to heat; heat to electrical energy and
heat to mechanical energy.

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2.0

COMPRESSION CYCLE
The compression cycle is so named because it is the compressor, which
changes the refrigerant vapor from low pressure to high pressure.
This pumping causes the transfer of heat energy from the inside of the cabinet
to the outside. Since the compression machine transfers heat from one place
to another, it may also be called a heat pump.
A refrigerating system consists principally of a high pressure side and a lowpressure side Fig. 4-1-1.

A refrigeration cycle follows these steps: From the liquid receiver, G, liquid
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refrigerant, at a high pressure, flows through the refrigerant control, A, (a

pressure reducer).
It moves into the evaporator, B. The evaporator is under a low pressure.
Here the liquid refrigerant vaporizes (boils) and absorbs heat.
The low-pressure side extends from the refrigerant control, A, through
evaporator B.
Then to the compressor intake valve, C
Then the high-pressure side begins in the cylinder above the piston, D, on the
compression stroke.
It extends from the exhaust valve, E, through the condenser, F, and the liquid
receiver, G, and into liquid line, to the refrigerant control, A.
The vapor then flows into the compressor through the intake valve, C, and
back into the compressor cylinder.
The piston, D, on the compression stroke, squeezes the vapor into a small
space with an increase in temperature.
Fig. 4-1-2.Illustrates this principle.

Fig. 4-1-2. The heat of the vapor is compressed into a small space and raises
the vapor temperature greatly.
A-V1

Volume of vapor at the end of the intake stroke

This

8 cu. in. (131 cm3). T 1

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Which
Which=
Which
Which=
Which
Which=

=
The temperature of the vapor at end of the
intake stroke
50 F. (10 C.). B-V2
=
The volume of the vapor at the end of the
compression stroke
1/2 cu. in. (8.2 cm3). T 2
=
the temperature of the vapor at the end of the
compression stroke
250 F. (121 C.).

In Fig. 4-1-1, the compressed high temperature vapor is pushed through the
exhaust valve, E, into the condenser, F.
In the condenser, heat from the refrigerant is passed on to the surrounding air.
In giving up this heat, it returns to a liquid and is tore in the receiver. From
here the cycle is repeated.
To have a transfer of heat, there must be a temperature difference. To get the
temperature difference, there must be a low pressure side (heat absorber) and
a high-pressure side(heat dissipater).
3.0

OPERATION OF COMPRESSION CYCLE

In any compression refrigeration system, there are two different pressure
conditions. One is called the low side and the other the high side. The
evaporator is the low side. Heat is absorbed in the low side.
The accumulator, suction line and entrance to the compressor suction valve
are also on the low side.
The condenser is in the high side, where the heat is released from the
refrigerant.
The compressor exhaust valve, liquid receiver (if used), liquid line filter-drier,
liquid line and the refrigerant control are also on the high side.
A thermostat maintains correct operating temperature by controlling the
motor electrical circuit.

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Fig. 4-1-3. Compression cycle showing the flow of refrigerant.

The above Illustrates a typical compression cycle as used in a domestic
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refrigerator.

4.0

1.

Evaporator. 2.

Suction line. 3.

4.

Condenser

Capillary tube, A to B.

6.

Accumulator

5.

Compressor

TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE CONDITIONS IN THE COMPRESSION

CYCLE
When the compressor starts, it moves molecules of refrigerant from the lowpressure side to the high-pressure side without much difficulty. After this
change, the modules are not moving about much faster.
See Fig. 4-1-4B.
These molecules of refrigerant enter the condenser from the compressor
through opening at 1. The temperatures are the same (70 deg. F.) inside and
out.
Pressure is the sum of the bombarding molecules and temperature is the
speed of molecular motion.
It is necessary then to speed up the molecules. This will raise their
temperature to where they can give up heat to surrounding cooling surfaces
( air and water ).
The longer the compressor runs, the more vapor molecules it squeezes into
the condenser.
With each stroke, the pressure and temperature increase since more
molecules are hitting the sides of the container.
The compressor piston, pushing the vapor molecules against the higher
pressure, hits them harder, speeding them up (increasing temperature).
During compression, the pressure increases (due to Boyle's Law).
At the same time, the temperature increases (explained by Charles Law,)
until the vapor temperature is higher than the temperature of the condensercooling medium.
The higher temperature, as shown at B, Fig. 4-1-4, causes a flow of heat to
the surrounding metal and air. Heat now moves from the vaporized refrigerant
as shown at B2 to the cooling medium.

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.........Fig. 4-1-4. Refrigerant condition as it changes from vapor to liquid in

condenser.
This cooling continues until enough heat loss makes some vapor molecules
become liquid molecules as in B3. As these collect, they flow into the liquid
receiver. See B4.
The temperature and pressure will continue to rise until a balance is reached.
That is, just as many vapor molecules condense into a liquid as the
compressor pumps into the condenser, Fig. 4-1-4C.
If anything changes this balance, the condensing pressure and temperature
will adjust accordingly. For example, if the room were to get warmer, the
pressure and temperature will rise again until just as many vapor molecules
are condensing as are being pumped into the condenser.
After condensing (liquefying), the refrigerant is stored in the liquid receiver
until needed. When needed it passes through the high-pressure liquid line, 5,
to the refrigerant control. Here refrigerant pressure is reduced to allow
evaporation of the liquid at a low temperature.
The evaporating liquid absorbs much heat and so furnishes refrigeration. The
increase in its volume, as it evaporates, pushes the vaporized refrigerant
through the "suction" line.
It comes, finally, to the compressor intake, where pressure is greatly reduced.
It then passes through the intake valve of the compressor into the cylinder
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where a new cycle begins.

Fig. 4-1-5. Shell type evaporator used with capillary tube or high-side float type
refrigerant control (Houdaifle-Hersey).
5.0

EVAPORATOR
The liquid refrigerant entering the evaporator from the refrigerant flow control
is suddenly under low pressure.
This makes it vaporize (boil) and absorb heat. The vapors move on into the
suction line.
If all of the liquid refrigerant has not vaporized in the evaporator, there is
usually a cylinder (accumulator) to prevent liquid refrigerant has not vaporized
in the evaporator, there is usually a cylinder (accumulator) to prevent liquid
refrigerant from flowing into the suction line.
Evaporators are mainly of two types, a dry system and the flooded system.
Refrigerant is fed into the dry system evaporator only as fast as is needed to
maintain the temperature wanted.
In the flooded system, the evaporator is always filled with liquid refrigerant.
The type of refrigerant control used determines the type of evaporator to be
used.

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Fig. 4-1-6. Shelf type evaporator 9.

This shows the evaporator as it forms the shelf in the upright freezer.
The accumulator 10 is located at the outlet of the evaporator.
This is small reservoir to catch refrigerant not needed in evaporator.
EVAPORATORS ARE MADE IN FOUR DIFFERENCE STYLES:
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1.

Shell type, Fig. 4-1-5.

2.

Shelf type, Fig. 4-1-6.

3.

Wall type, used in chest type freezer, Fig. 4-1-7.

4.

Fin tube type with forced circulation. This type of evaporator is used
most with frost-free construction. (See views A and B of Fig. 4-1-8 &
4.1.7

Fig. 4.1.7 Wall type evaporator.

Note that:
The evaporator tubing is attached to the lining of the
freezing cabinet. This arrangement provides smooth inside
surface with uniform cooling throughout cabinet.
Frost-free refrigerators usually need a fan or fans. They circulate the air over
the evaporator and distribute cold air throughout the cabinet.
There are many types of commercial system evaporators. Air cooling and
liquid cooling are two of the basic designs.
Fig. 4.1.8

6.0

ACCUMULATOR
The accumulator is a safety device to prevent liquid refrigerant from flowing

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into the suction line and into the compressor.

Liquid refrigerant, if it were to flow into the compressor, could cause
considerable knocking and damage to the compressor.
A typical accumulator, Fig. 4-1-5 and 4-1-6, has the outlet at the top. Any
liquid refrigerant that flows into the accumulator will be evaporated.
Then vapor only will flow into the suction line.
Since the accumulator is located inside the cabinet, it also provides some
refrigeration.
Note evaporator tubing is attached to lining of freezing cabinet.
This arrangement provides smooth inside surface with uniform cooling
throughout cabinet.

Fig. 4-4-8. Forced Convection evaporator.

1.

A forced circulation evaporator, the circulation evaporator is used

in this upright freezer cabinet. Door switch stops the fan when the
cabinet door is opened (Gibson Products Corp).

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2.

A Fin type evaporator. Note that the trough is their to collect and
carry away the defrost moisture, which drains from the evaporator
during the defrost part of the cycle.

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