Simple Vapour Compression

Refrigeration System
 Advantages of Air Refrigeration

I. It uses air as refrigerant

II. Air is an inert gas. It is inflammable, non-
toxic, and hence safe as a refrigerant.
III. Air refrigeration system working on Bell-
Colemann cycle , are suitable for aircraft.

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Simple Vapour Compression
Refrigeration System
 Limitations of Air Refrigeration
I. The value of specific heat is very low for air and
hence for a given temperature difference, large
mass flow rate of air is required per TR.
II. It requires bigger size compressor to handle air.
III. COP is very low and hence more power
requirement.
IV. Large installation space per TR.
V. Air contains moisture , condensation of which at
lower temperature causes maintenance problem.
VI. Air is contaminated with pollutants , hence
requiring air filters.
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Vapour Compression Refrigeration
System

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Vapour Compression Refrigeration
System

Processes
1-2 = Isentropic compression process
2-3 = Condensation process
3-4 = Expansion process
4-1 = Evaporation process

Vapor compression cycle on (a) T-s (b) p-v (c) p-h diagram
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Vapour Compression Refrigeration
System
1-2 = Isentropic compression process-
w = Work done = ( h2 – h1) kJ/kg

2-3 = Condensation process-

qh = heat rejected = ( h2- h3 )

3-4 = Expansion process-

It is an isenthalpic expansion process. So, h3=h4

4-1 = Evaporation process-

qL = h1 – h4

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 Analysis
For Cooling ,
h -h
COP = 1 4

h -h
R

2 1

For Heating,
h -h
COP = 2 3

h -h
H

2 1

m = Refrigerant flow rate

Total refrigerating effect Q
=  L

Refrigerating effect per unit mass q L

Theoretical piston displacement mv

  = 1
V
Actual piston displacement V p

Where, v = Specific volumeof the gas at suction to compressor

1

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Analysis
.

m  mass flow rate per TR

3.5164
 ( kg / s ) /(TR )
q L

W  Power requirement per TR

*

3.5164  w
.

 m w 
q L

3.5164  v
V  *
( m / s ) /(TR )
1 3

q L

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Vapor Compression cycle when vapor is dry
saturated at the end of compression

T-s diagram when vapor is dry saturated

Vapor Compression system
at the end of compression

p-h diagram when vapor is dry saturated

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at the end of compression
Vapour Compression cycle when vapour is
wet saturated at the end of compression

T-s diagram when vapor is wet saturated at p-h diagram when vapor is wet saturated
the end of compression at the end of compression

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Effect of superheating the suction
vapour

p-h diagram 1-1a is suction gas superheating (ideal cycle 1-2-3-4)

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Effect of sub-cooling the liquid

p-h diagram 3-3a is sub cooling (ideal cycle 1-2-3-4)

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Liquid-suction heat exchanger
 The refrigerant vapour at the
outlet of the evaporator is at
low temperature. Therefore,
this cold vapour is used to
sub-cool the liquid refrigerant
from the condenser outlet in a
heat exchanger called liquid-
suction heat exchanger.
 The use of liquid-suction heat
exchanger is beneficial in two
ways,
i. It sub-cools the liquid
ii. It superheats the suction
Liquid suction heat exchanger vapour upto a certain extent

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Effect of Evaporator pressure

Effect of decreasing evaporator pressure

1. Refrigerating effect decreases
2. Specific volume increases.
3. Poor volumetric efficiency
4. Compressor work increases

Saturation cycle with drop in evaporator pressure

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Effect of condenser pressure
 An increase in condenser pressure results in a
decrease in refrigerating capacity and an increase in
power consumption.

Saturation cycle (1-2-3-4) and the cycle with increase in condenser

pressure(1-2a-3a-4a)
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Losses in Vapour Compression
Refrigeration System
Thermal losses:-
1d-1c = superheating of vapour
in the evaporator
1c-1b = Heat gain and
superheating of vapour in the
pipeline between the evaporator
and the compressor.
2b-2c = Heat loss and
desuperheating of vapour in the
discharge line joining the
compressor and the condenser
3a-3b = Heat flow from
Actual VC cycle on p-h diagram surrounding to the pipeline
between the expansion valve
and the condenser
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Losses in Vapour Compression
Refrigeration System
Pressure losses:-
1b-1a = Pressure drops in the suction
line.
1a-1 = Pressure drops at the suction
valve, suction port in the valve plate.
1-2 = Polytropic compression of
vapour which involves friction and
heat transfer.
2-2a = Pressure drops at the
compressor delivery valve.
2a-2b = Pressure drops in the
delivery line i.e. it includes discharge
muffler, tube connection between
the compressor and the condenser.
2b-3 = Pressure drops in the
Actual VC cycle on T-s diagram condenser unit.
4-1b = Pressure drops in the
evaporator unit.
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Assignments
 1. If a refrigerator is working at Pune and at Nagpur,
how about the performance and justify your answer.
 2. If a refrigerator used for storing Potatoes is used
for storing Cheese? What will happen to its
performance? Give justification.
 3. When the compressor of a refrigerator operates at
extreme conditions?
 4. If the discharge temperature of a compressor is
extremely high, what will happen to its working?
Submit your answers once we create a separate
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