Refrigeration is the process of cooling a space,

substance, or system to lower and/or maintain its

temperature below the ambient one (while the removed
heat is rejected at a higher temperature). In other

Introduction -
words, refrigeration means artificial (human-
made) cooling[1][2]. Heat is removed from a low-
temperature reservoir and transferred to a high-
temperature reservoir. The work of heat transfer is
traditionally driven by mechanical means, but can also
be driven by heat, magnetism, electricity, laser, or other
means. Refrigeration has many applications, including,
but not limited to: household refrigerators,
industrial freezers, cryogenics, and air
conditioning. Heat pumps may use the heat output of the
refrigeration process, and also may be designed to be
reversible, but are otherwise similar to air conditioning
units.
Types -

 Mechanical-Compression Refrigeration Systems

 Absorption Refrigeration
 Evaporative Cooling
 Thermoelectric Refrigeration
 Wide World of Refrigeration
Mechanical-Compression Refrigeration
Systems

 The most widely used refrigeration cycle method is mechanical compression.

It has applications in both air conditioning and commercial and industrial
refrigeration.
 As the name suggests, these types of systems transfer heat by mechanically
compressing refrigerant into a low-pressure, cold liquid and expanding it into
a high-pressure, hot gas. Refrigerants are substances that can boil at a wide
range of temperatures with the application or removal of pressure
Absorption Refrigeration

 Heat is also transferred in absorption refrigeration systems by compressing and expanding

refrigerant.
 These systems rely on the process of absorption and heat, instead of an electrically powered
mechanical compressor, to move the refrigerant from the low-pressure side to the high-
pressure side. Unlike mechanical-compression refrigeration systems, which typically use R-
22 and R-410A for refrigerants, absorption refrigeration systems use refrigerants that other
substances are attracted to and absorb.
 For example, residential HVAC chillers often use ammonia as the refrigerant and water as the
absorbent. The water is located in a component called the absorber, where it sucks ammonia
from the low-pressure side of the system and removes heat while absorbing it. A pump sends
the water-ammonia solution to a generator, which boils it, separating the ammonia from the
water before sending it to the high-pressure side.[3]
 In addition to the process of absorption, heat is also used to move the refrigerant throughout
the system. The heat can derive from hot water, steam, natural gas or other fuel sources.
Evaporative Cooling

 Unlike the mechanical-compression and absorption refrigeration systems

discussed above, evaporative cooling doesn’t use the traditional refrigeration
cycle. Instead, these units, often called swamp coolers, cool warmer outdoor
air by blowing it over water-soaked pads as it enters the home.
 The water absorbs the heat from the air and evaporates. The cooler air is
channeled into the home and the warm air out of it.
 Evaporative coolers can reduce air temperature by 15° to 40°F but are best
suited for dry climates, such as those in the southwestern U.S. They’re also
less costly to install and use about a quarter of the energy of central air
conditioners.
Thermoelectric Refrigeration

 Thermoelectric refrigeration systems are unique from the three other types of
refrigeration in that no refrigerant or water is used. These systems use an electric
current and a thermocouple.
 A thermocouple is made up of two different metal wires that are united at both
ends. Insulation separates the rest of the wires from each other. When the current
is directed on the thermocouple, one end will become hot and the other cool.
 Reversing the current’s direction has the effect of swapping the cold and hot
junctions. The hot end will typically be placed outside of the area to be cooled
with a heat sink attached to it to keep it the same temperature as the surrounding
air.
 The cold side, which is below room temperature, is placed in the area to be
cooled, attracting heat out of the air.[7]
 This type of refrigeration is generally used for small cooling loads that can be
difficult to access, such as electronic systems
Process

 Refrigeration, or cooling process, is the removal of unwanted heat from a

selected object, substance, or space and its transfer to another object,
substance, or space. Removal of heat lowers the temperature and may be
accomplished by use of ice, snow, chilled water or mechanical refrigeration.
 The job of the refrigeration cycle is to remove unwanted heat from one place
and discharge it into another. To accomplish this, the refrigerant is pumped
through a closed refrigeration system. If the system was not closed, it would
be using up the refrigerant by dissipating it into the surrounding media;
because it is closed, the same refrigerant is used over and over again, as it
passes through the cycle removing some heat and discharging it. The closed
cycle serves other purposes as well; it keeps the refrigerant from becoming
contaminated and controls its flow, for it is a liquid in some parts of the cycle
and a gas or vapor in other phases.
Advantages and application of air
refrigeration system
 Cheap and abundant refrigerant, highly reliable: Air is used as refrigerant, which is easily available
and inexpensive.
 Charging of refrigerant is very easy.
 Design and construction is simple, no complicated parts and its maintenance cost is low.
 Refrigerant (air) is non-toxic, non-flammable, non-corrosive. there is no danger of any kind of
leakage.
 There is no phase change(liquid-gas) during the operation of system.
 The cold air can be directly used for refrigeration; it is used in aircraft refrigeration at high
altitude.
 There would be no significant change in the performance of air refrigeration if it is operated much
away from its design conditions.
 It can produce very high temperature differences between hot and cold region. So the same system
can be used for used for both cooling and heating effects. It also helps to achieve very low
temperature.
 Air refrigeration is used in aircraft due to availability cold air at high altitude and it can achieve
both air-conditioning, as well as the pressurization of the cabin.
 1. Strong solution of ammonia is formed in the absorber, dissolving fairly dry
Ammonia vapour in cold water.The weak solution containing very little
ammonia in sprayed is absorber, absorbs ammonia from the evaporator, lower
the pressure in absorber & as a result more ammonia Vapour is drawn from
the evaporator.
 2. Pump.
 3. Heat exchanger.
 4. Heater/generator.
 5. Oil separator.
 6. Ammonia gas expelled from the strong solution in the generator & passes
on the condenser.
 7. Throttle Valve lowers the pressure
 Disadvantages of air refrigeration
system
 Lower C.O.P compared to other refrigeration cycle.
 Running cost is high
 The mass of air required to circulate in the system is very high when
compared to other type of refrigeration cycle due to low specific heat
capacity.