Chapter 5 – Multi-Pressure System

Exercises 5.1
An R 22 refrigerating plant with back pressure control has a capacity of
30,000 kJ/h at –30°C and 45,000 kJ/h at –25°C. The refrigerant flow is
controlled by thermostatic expansion valves with 8°C superheat. The
condensing temperature is 35°C. There is no heat exchanger. The vapors
are superheated by 15°C in the suction line. The compressor is single-acting
and has four cylinders. It runs at 930 rpm and its bore/stroke ratio is 1.25.
Volumetric efficiency may be assumed as 70 per cent. Calculate the
dimensions of the cylinders. Also calculate the power consumption and COP.

5.2 An ammonia refrigerating plant is working at an evaporating

temperature of – 30°C and a condensing temperature of 37°C. There is no
subcooling of the liquid refrigerant, and the vapor is in the dry-saturated
condition at the inlets to the compressors. The capacity is 150 kW
refrigeration. Estimate the power consumption
(i) when one-stage is used,
(ii) when two-stage compression with flash intercooling is used, and
(iii) when two-stage compression with flash chamber and liquid
subcooled is used. Assume suitable intermediate pressure.
Explain why it is not advisable to use multistage compression to produce
refrigeration temperatures of the order of, say, – 90°C.

5.3 A two-stage 10 tons NH3 refrigeration plant with shell and coil type flash
intercooler as shown in Fig. 5.14 is operating at the following conditions:
Condensation temperature 35°C
Evaporator temperature – 40°C
Inter-stage pressure 2.91 bar Subcooling of liquid in flash intercooler
by 30°C
Thermostatic expansion valve setting 5°C superheat
Assuming that the vapors leaving the LP compressor are intercooled to 40°C
by water before entering the flash chamber, determine:
(a) Refrigerant mass flow rate in evaporator.
(b) Refrigerant mass flow rate through HP compressor.
(c) Total power consumption.
(d) Total power consumed in a single-stage NH3 plant for the same
duty.
State what are the advantages of using flash intercooler in comparison to
single stage system.
5.4 A two-stage R 22 plant with flash intercooler for food freezing has two
45 mm bore and 40 mm stroke compressors as follows:
LP Compressor: No. of cylinders 6
Rpm 1000
Volumetric efficiency 75%
HP Compressor: No. of cylinder 4
Rpm 800
Volumetric efficiency 69%
Find the refrigerating capacity of the plant when operating at a condenser
temperature of 40°C and an evaporator temperature of – 40°C. Also, find
the inter-stage pressure.