4.

0 Theory

A German scientist had proposed a statement called Clausius’ statement in year 1850 which it said that
heat won’t be able to pass a region of low temperature to higher temperature. This is because the
transferring of heat only occurs spontaneously when it involved hot region to colder region yet
transferring of heat through region of cold to hotter region only when there is the aid of external work.
As for refrigerator, the heat do flows from cold to hot when it is being forced by an external agent,
refrigeration system. Therefore, the vapour compression cycle is used in refrigerator.

There are devices which known as refrigerators and heat pump in which it absorb heat at a low
temperature as well as discard heat at higher temperature. This both devices are labelled separately
depending on it purpose as both of it operate in the similar way as reversed heat engine cycle.
Refrigerators (or air conditioners) are normally use to retain a temperature below ambient whereas the
device that known as a heat pumps are used as a source to supply heat at higher temperature than the
ambient. In some cases, some devices might work as both a heat pump as well as a refrigerator in
particular those that have been used for space cooling.

In heat pump or refrigerator, it usually use vapour compression and also involving the four similar
process as heat engine cycle but in vice versa which is in the reverse order. For example, evaporation-
compression- condensation- expansion/ throttling). The figure 4.1 below shows a schematic diagram
of the four necessary components in this cycle (as shown in figure 4.2 that represent the ideal cycle on
a pressure-enthalpy diagram).

Figure 4.1 Vapour Compression Cycle Componenets

 Critical Point
Subcooling

Liquid 2
3
Pressure

4 1

Superheating

Enthalpy

Figure 4.2: Ideal Cycle on Pressure- enthalpy diagram.

In ideal vapour compression cycle the refrigerant vapour is compressed isentropically to a higher
temperature and pressure (12). The compressed vapour is then condensed isobarically which
results in heat rejection to the surroundings (23). The next step is the adiabatic throttling of the
refrigerant to the low temperature and pressure (34). The final step is where the refrigerant is
evaporated isobarically at low temperature and pressure, which results in the absorption of heat
from its surroundings (41). In an actual cycle states 1 and 3 should not lie on the saturation
line as there is subcooling (helpful to obtain state 3 in the diagram) and superheating (necessary
to avoid droplets (two phase region!) in the compressor).

The usual measure of performance of a refrigerator or heat pump is the Coefficient of

Performance COP which for a refrigerator COPR is defined as:

heat absorbed at the lower temperature QE

COPR = = (1a)
compressor net work W
For a heat pump COPH:

heat rejected at the higher temperature QC

COPH = = (1b)
compressor net work W

where E, C, R, H stand for Evaporator, Compressor, Refrigeration, and Heat pump respectively.
Note: The cooling water and refrigerant flow rate displays is in percentage (%). Below are the
formula to convert cooling water and refrigerant flow rate to LPM

𝐶𝑜𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒(%)
1. 𝐶𝑜𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒(𝐿𝑃𝑀) = 𝑥5 𝐿𝑃𝑀
100%

𝑅𝑒𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒(%)
2. 𝑅𝑒𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒(𝐿𝑃𝑀) = 𝑥1.26 𝐿𝑃𝑀
100%
5.0 Apparatus

Figure 5: SOLTEQ Mechenical Heat Pump & Thermodynamic Refrigeration Unit.

6.0 Procedure

General Start-up Procedure

1. The unit and all instruments are checked in proper condition.

2. Both water source and drain are checked connected then the water supply is open
and the cooling water flow rate is set at 1.0LPM.
3. The drain hose at the condensate collector is checked connected.
4. Power supply is connected and the main power is switched followed by main switch
at the control panel.
5. The refrigerant compressor is switched on. As soon as temperature and pressure
were constant, the unit was ready for experiment.

General Shut-down Procedure

1. The compressor is switched off, followed by main switch and power supply.
2. The water supply is closed and water is ensured not left running.

Experiment 1: Determination of power input, heat output and coefficient of performance

Objective:

To determine the power input, heat output and coefficient of performance of a vapour
compression heat pump system

Procedures:

1. The general start-up procedures are performed.

2. The cooling water flow rate is adjusted to 40%.
3. The system is allowed to rub for 15 minutes.
4. All necessary reading is recorded into experimental data sheet.
Experiment 2: Production of heat pump performance curves over a range of source and
delivery temperatures

Objective:
To produce the performance of heat pump over a range of source and delivery
temperatures
Procedures:
1. The general start-up procedures are performed
2. The cooling water flow rate is adjusted to 80%.
3. The system is allowed to run for 15 minutes.
4. All necessary readings are recorded into the experimental data sheet.
5. The experiment with reducing flow rate is repeated so that the cooling water
outlet temperature increases by about 3℃ (40% and 60%).
6. The experiment might be repeated at different ambient temperature.

Experiment 3: Production of water vapour compression cycle on p-h diagram and energy
balance study

Objective:

1. To plot the vapour compression cycle on the p-h diagram and compare with the ideal
cycle
2. To perform energy balances for the condenser and compressor

Procedures:

1. The general start-up procedures are performed

2. The cooling water flow rate is adjusted to 40% and the system is allowed to run for
15 minutes.
3. All necessary readings are recorded into experimental data sheet.
Experiment 4: Estimation of effect of compressor pressure ratio on volumetric efficiency

Objective:

To determine the compression ratio and volumetric efficiency

Procedures:

1. The general start-up procedures are performed.

2. The cooling water flow rate is adjusted to 40%.
3. The system is allowed to run for 15 minutes.
4. All necessary readings are recorded into experimental data sheet.
5. The experiment might be repeated at different compressor delivery pressure.
References

 Yunus A. Cengel, Micheal A. Boles “ Thermodynamics An Engineering Approach “,McGraw-Hill

Book Company, 7th edition 2011.
 http://www.itcmp.pwr.wroc.pl/~kriogen/Wyklady/PodsChlod/Refrigeration/refrigeration
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