CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction

Refrigeration has a large impact on industry, lifestyle, agriculture and settlement

patterns. It has been essential in everyday lives, from preserving foods, cooling beverages
and other application. Refrigeration is a process of cooling substances to a certain
temperature where it can be cooled or keep fresh for a long period of time. The interests in
refrigeration lead the students in producing a laboratory device that can help to understand
the concept and principles of refrigeration that can be applied in the field or in actual job.

The project aims to improve the mini ice plant by replacing damaged parts and adding
parts that are recommended by the past researchers. Training module is based on a simple
vapor-compression cycle; most commonly used refrigeration cycle. Vapor-compression cycle
compromises of four processes; evaporation, compression, condensation and expansion
processes. It contains the following components; compressor, condenser, brine tank,
evaporator coil, pressure gauge and expansion valve (Yadav, 2011).

The training module will help the students to further understand the concept of the
refrigeration system and apply their basic knowledge that they have learned from the subjects
that are related to refrigeration like heat transfer and thermodynamics.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

An existing mini-ice plant has been built and developed by Mechanical Engineering
students in the previous years. There are several problems discovered due to inactivity and
other causes will be addressed before we can modify the machine. The researchers inspected
and identified the following problems.

The training module is not equipped with a solenoid valve;

Pressure gauges are not working;
Installing fan blower in the condenser to improve heat transfer;
The mini-ice plant doesnt have oil separator; and
Replacing brine tank.
1.3 Significance of the Project

The significance of the project is to develop the competitiveness of mechanical

engineering students of University of the East especially in the field of refrigeration. The
training module is an outcomes based education which is advantageous for mechanical
engineering students.

The modified mini-ice plant will be placed inside UE Manila where the students may
see and use the equipment, and also, to be familiarized to the concepts, purpose and operating
principle of mini-ice plant. Mini-ice plant will give proper overview for those who are
interested to the field of refrigeration.

1.4 Objectives

The general objective of the study is to modify and improve the mini-ice plant by
replacing the parts to increase the efficiency of the mini-ice plant. In order to attain the
general objectives, the following specific objectives are set as follows:

To inspect and determine the problems of the mini-ice plant;

To replace and restore damaged parts of mini ice plant training module to
improve its performance (Restoration to minimize the cost )
To consider the recommendations that have encountered by the past
researchers:
1. Install flow meter for heat balance;
2. Install pressostat to meter the suction and discharge pressure
3. Install solenoid valve for safety purposes;
4. Install oil separator to prevent the oil from flowing to the system.
To provide training module with specifications;
To provide lab manual with safety precautions as guide in the module
operations; and
To test the mini-ice plant and compare the performance to the existing mini-
ice plant.
1.5 Scope and Delimitations
Mini-ice plant is only a training module or testing machine which have a volume
limit to produce. There is provision of better insulation to achieve a higher heat transfer
rate and reduce losses so as to improve performance of the system. The training module
is only beyond school premises and only mechanical engineering students can use it.

Testing of the module is not established and the gathered data is based on the
theories. The research is limited until the canvassing of materials needed on the project.
The canvassing of materials conducted by the researchers is based on online market.