Contents

Introduction: .................................................................................................................... 3
Objective.......................................................................................................................... 4
Equpiments ............................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Procedure ........................................................................................................................ 6
Theory and Calculations: .................................................................................................. 7
Calculation of the power input to compressor,W,in Watt using:................................................. 7
refrigerating effect (QR) for a potential difference valvue of 140................................................ 7
Coefficent of performance of the plant for Potential difference value of 140 .............................. 7
Carnnot C.O.P ........................................................................................................................... 8
C.O.P Carnot: .......................................................................................................................... 10
 1. Introduction

“Thermofluids” is quite a new term for the thermal science which includes various
interconnected disciplines such as thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer.
Therefore, mass, momentum and heat transfers are the fundamentals of thermo fluids.
Based on the definition of thermal systems (which are dealing with the storage,
transformation and transportation of energy) and the definition of fluids (which means any
substance that is not solid) a general definition of thermofluids can be given as being “subject
that analyzes systems and processes involved in energy, various forms of energy, and transfer
of energy in fluids” (M. Massoud, 2005, p. 21).
Nowadays, one of the most well-known systems of cooling is the vapour-compression
refrigeration system. An example of such system is the kitchen refrigerator which consists of
a compressor, heat transfer pipes, expansion valves, and refrigerant (the liquid that creates the
coldness inside of the refrigerator). Other examples are the air conditioner, refrigerated
railroad cars etc.
Vapour Compressor Refrigerating Systems (VCRS) requires a relatively low cost, is a mature
system (has a smaller size comparative with the air refrigeration), coefficient of performance
is high. However, it has also disadvantages such as the fact that initial cost can be high, and
leakages might appear (Sattler, Eckstein and Norton, 2010).
First vapour-compression system was built by J. Perkins in 1834, but it was a close-cycle,
while in 1856J. Harrison built the first practical VCRS and later he introduced for the first
time the commercial VCRS.
A refrigerator is working based on a cycle process which starts with the refrigerant gas being
compressed and heat up. Then the heat transfer pipes disperse the heat and the gas becomes
liquid because of the high pressure. After that, the gas transformed now in liquid flows
through the expansion valve and immediately boils and vaporizes. Again, its temperatures
goes down, bellow the freezing which makes cold the inside of the kitchen refrigerator. The
cold gas is absorbed by the compressor and the whole process starts over again (BERG
group, 2017).
All the components of a refrigeration system will be explained more detailed in the following
chapters.
 2. Theoretical background
As it was explained in first chapter, a refrigerator is a cooling device, a Carnot’s heat engine
which works in the reverse way. Thus, it is also called a heat pump.
“The Coefficient of Performance (C.O.P) is the quantity of heat removed per cycle from the
contents of the refrigerator to the energy spent per cycle W to remove this heat” (Wang, Li
and Tu, 2012).
The relation between different forms of energy can be explained by the 1st Law of
Thermodynamics which states that “energy can neither be created nor destroyed; it can only
change forms” (Çengel & Turner, 2005, p. 158). In other words, the energy can be conserved
and it can be changed from a form to another one.
Like it was mention earlier, a VCRS consists of 5 components: Compressor, Evaporator,
Condenser, Expansion Valve and Refrigerant (figure 2).

Fig. 2 Components of a Refrigeration system

The refrigerant gas goes into the compressor suction and then the compressor increase the
refrigerant pressure until the temperature goes above the medium cooling temperature. This
thermo differences allow the transfer of the heat from the vapour form to the liquid form.
Then the condensed liquid flows through the expansion valve becoming again a vapour,
cooling the remaining liquid refrigerant below the freezing temperature. The vapour is
removed by the compressor at a rate that can allow a low pressure in the evaporator system
and keep the refrigerant to flow through the system. The process is then repeating and it is the
so called refrigeration cycle (KLM Technology Group, 2014).

3. Objective
The main aim of this work paper is to determine and analyse the coefficient of performance
(COP) for a vapour compression refrigeration system.
Steps taken in achieving the objective:
 Calculating the power input to compressor, W
 Calculating the refrigerating effect QR of the plant in Watt
 Finding the value of the C.O.P. (coefficient of performance).
 Analysing and Comparing the C.O.P. of the vapour compression plant with that of
Carnot’s Refrigerator.

4. Equipment

 Mass flow rate meter (BLUE)

 Evaporator pressure gauge (RED)
 Voltmeter to measure potential difference across the electric heater (GREEN)
 Evaporator heat input control (Yellow)
 Ammeter to measure current (WHITE)
 Condenser pressure gauge (ORANGE)
 Condenser (PURPLE)
 Water flow meter (BLACK)
 Compressor attached to electric motor (AQUA)
 1

6
1

3 4 5
8

9
Hilton Laboratory Refrigeration
Unit

5. Apparatus:
 The device shown in Fig. 1 is called Tachometer.
 This device is controlling the rational speed of the comprador.

Fig.1

6. Procedure
1. The water flow rate to the condenser is fixed at 16 g/s and the potential difference across
the electric heater acting as an evaporator load to a value of 100 V.
2. The refrigeration system is opened and enables the plant to obtain a steady state. Once the
steady state is achieved, further notes are taken such as the evaporator pressure (𝑃𝑒 ),
condenser pressure (𝑃𝑐 ), current (I), the rotational speed (N’) of compressor, the reaction
force (F), mass flow rate (𝑚𝑅 ) of refrigerant through the system.
3. The experiment has been repeated for different values of the potential difference: 120,
140, 160, 180, 200.
 7. Data and Calculations
Question 1. For a potential difference (V) of 100, which are the power input to the
compressor in Watt (W), the refrigerating effect (QR ) and C.O.P.

Potential
F C.O.P.
difference PE PC I N’ mR W QR C.O.P.
Carnot
(V)
(kPa) (kPa) (A) (rev/min) (N) (g/s) (W) (W)
140 140 680 3.8 454.3 8.8 7 201.45 532 2.64 5.78

Step 1. Calculation of the power input to compressor (W) in Watt using:

N’ 1450
𝑊 = 0.15 × 𝐹 × (2𝜋) × 60 × 452

Simplified into

N’
𝑊 = 𝐹 × 19.845

By using the values from the above table, the result is as follows:

454.3’
𝑊 = (8.8) × = 𝟐𝟎𝟏. 𝟒𝟓𝟑𝑾
19.845

Step 2. Refrigerating effect (QR) for a potential difference valve of 140

𝑄𝑅 = 𝑉 × 𝐼

𝑄𝑅 = 140 × 3.8 = 𝟓𝟑𝟐𝑾

Coefficent of performance of the plant for Potential difference value of 140

𝑸𝑹
𝑪. 𝑶. 𝑷 = 𝑾

𝟓𝟑𝟐
𝑪. 𝑶. 𝑷 = = 𝟐. 𝟔𝟒𝟎𝟖
𝟐𝟎𝟏.𝟒𝟓𝟑
Carnnot C.O.P.

PE value of 140kPa
The pressure values of 140 132.730 and 163.940 as shown in the table

140kPa is closest to 132.730 therefore;

PClose = 132.730kPa Temperature Pressure

PFar = 163.940kPa Degrees Celcius
Figure 11, sectiopn of R134a
(kPa)
-25 106.400
TClose= -20 -20 132.730
Tfar= -15 -15 163.940
-10 200.600
To find the value of “T”

Tfar−TClose
𝑇 = Tclose ± (
PFar−PClose
) (𝑅𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 − 𝑃𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒)

(−15)−(−20)
𝑇 = −20 ± (163.940−132.730) (140 − 132.730)

5
𝑇 = −20 ± ( ) (7.27)
31.21
5
= −20 + (31.21) (7.27) = -18.35

5
= −20 − (31.21) (7.27) = -21.646

-18.35 fits in the interval of -20 to -15 so this is correct velue

now coverting in Kelvin

-18.35 + 273.15 = 254.4𝐾

so 𝑻𝑬 = 𝟐𝟓𝟒. 𝟓𝑲
____________________________________________
PC value of 680kPa
The pressure values of 140 132.730 and 163.940 as shown in the table

680kPa is closest to 665.380 therefore;

PClose = 665.380 kPa

PFar = 770.200kPa

TClose= 25
Tfar= 30 Temperature Pressure
Degrees Celcius (kPa)
To find the value of “T” 20 571.710
25 665.380
30 770.200
Tfar−TClose
𝑇 = Tclose ± (PFar−PClose) (𝑅𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 − 𝑃𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒) 35 886.980

(30)−(25)
𝑇 = 25 ± (770.200−665.380 ) (680 − 665.380)

5
𝑇 = 25 ± ( ) (−17.38)
104.82
5
= 25 + (104.82) (−17.38) = 24.170

5
= 25 − (104.82) (−17.38) = 25.829

25.829 fits in the interval of 25 to 30 so this is correct value

now converting in to Kelvin

25.829+273.15 = 298.979k

so 𝑻𝒄 = 𝟐𝟗𝟖. 𝟗𝟕𝟗K
C.O.P Carnot:

𝑻𝑬
𝑪. 𝑶. 𝑷. 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒐𝒕 =
𝑻𝑪−𝑻𝑬

put the value of TE and TC in the Equation.

Solution:
254.5
𝐶. 𝑂. 𝑃. 𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑛𝑜𝑡 =
298.979−254.5

𝑪. 𝑶. 𝑷. 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒐𝒕 = 𝟓. 𝟕𝟖
Potential PE PC I N’ F mR W QR C.O.P. C.O.P.
difference Carnot
(V)
(kPa) (kPa) (A) (rev/min) (N) (g/s) (W) (W)
100 30 600 2.7 476.7 8 3 192.16 270 0.52 2.87
120 80 648 3.3 466.8 8.2 5 192.88 396 2.05 4.24
140 140 680 3.8 454.3 8.8 7 201.45 532 2.64 5.78
160 160 720 4.3 451.5 9.4 7.5 231.86 688 2.96 5.96
180 170 740 4.8 446.3 9.8 8 220.39 864 3.92 6.06
200 180 750 5.4 442.9 9.9 8.5 220.94 1080 4.89 6.22