INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION
Vapourcompressionrefrigerationsystemisasystemwhichisusedtotransferheat from low
temperature reservoir to high temperature reservoir with the help of working fluid, called
refrigerant.There are different types of refrigerant, which were used as the working
mediuminvapourcompressionrefrigerationsysteminthelastfewdecades,butthey cause of
ozonelayer depletion and green house effect. In other words the refrigeration means a
continued extraction of heat from a body whose temperature is already below temperature of
its surroundings. In a refrigerator heat is virtually pumped from a lower temperature to a
higher temperature. According to the second law of thermodynamics this process can only
be performed with the aid of some external work.It is thus obvious that supply of power is
regularly required to drive a refrigerator. Theoretically a refrigerator is a reversed heat
engine or a pump which pumps heat from a cold body and delivers it in to a hot body is
known as refrigerant.
The vapour compression cycle which is used in vapour compression refrigeration
system is now a days used in all purpose refrigeration. It is used for all industrial purpose
from a small domestic refrigerator to a big air conditioning unit.

PARTS AND THEIR FUNCTIONS

PARTS AND THEIR FUNCTIONS

Compressor
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The compressor is located at the back of the refrigerator and in the bottom area. The compressor
sucks the refrigerant from the evaporator and discharges it at high pressure and temperature. The
compressor is driven by the electric motor and it is the major power consuming devise of the
refrigerator.

Condenser

The condenser is the thin coil of copper tubing located at the back of the refrigerator. The
refrigerant from the compressor enters the condenser where it is cooled by the atmospheric air
thus losing heat absorbed by it in the evaporator and the compressor. To increase the heat transfer
rate of the condenser, it is finned externally.

Receiver
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The condensed liquid refrigerant from the condenser is stored in a vessel known as receiver from
where it is supplied to the evaporator through the expansion valve or refrigerant control valve.

Expansive valve or the capillary

It is also called as throttle valve or refrigerant control valve. The function of the expansion valve
is to allow the liquid refrigerant under high pressure and temperature to pass at a controlled rate
after reducing its pressure and temperature. Some of the liquid refrigerant evaporates as it pass
through the expansion valve but the greater potion is vaporized in the evaporator at the low
temperature and pressure.

Evaporator
An evaporator consists of coils of pipe in which the liquid vapour. The refrigerant at very low
pressure and temperature enters the evaporator or the freezer. The evaporator is the heat
exchanger made up of several turns of copper or aluminum tubing. In domestic refrigerators the
plate types of evaporator is used as shown in the figure above. The refrigerant absorbs the heat
from the substance to be cooled in the evaporator, gets evaporated and it then sucked by the
compressor. This cycle keeps on repeating.

Refrigerant
The refrigerant flows through all the internal parts of the refrigerator. It is the refrigerant that
carries out the cooling effect in the evaporator. It absorbs the heat from the substance to be
cooled in the evaporator (chiller or freezer) and throws it to the atmosphere viacondenser. The
refrigerant keeps on recirculating through all the internal parts of the refrigerator in cycle.

WORKING PRINCIPLE OF REFRIGERATION

SYSTEM

Working principle of refrigeration system

The liquid coming out from the condenser is passed through the throttle valve. The pressure of
the refrigerant is reduced as it passes through the throttle valve. The function of the throttle is to
allowed the liquid refrigerant under high pressure to pass at a controlled rate into the low
pressure part of the system known as the evaporator. A mixture of vapour and liquid refrigerant
enters the evaporator at low pressure. The liquid refrigerant absorbs the heat in the refrigerator as
its latent heat of evaporator is used to convert liquid into vapour. The function of the compressor
is to increase the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant so that the refrigerantvapour would
be able to dissipate its latent heat to the atmosphere. The high pressure, high temperature
refrigerantvapour leaving the compressor enters into the condenser where the latent heat of
refrigerant is removed by circulating either atmospheric air or water. The liquid refrigerant
leaving the condenser again enters the throttle valve and the cycle is repeated.
The domestic refrigerator works on a compression refrigeration cycle and also uses compressor,
condenser, capillary, and evaporator which are the basic components of the system. But the
arrangement of these components is different from the refrigeration system used for other
purpose. The compressor is directly coupled with electric motor and both are sealed in a steel
box therefore this is known as sealed unit. This arrangement helps to reduce the noise of motor,
prevents the leak of the refrigerant and motor is cooled by the refrigerant vapour as it is exposed
to the same. Such systems are very popular as they are very rigid and compact. The condenser is
generally made of a grid of copper tubes provided with fins, mounted behind the unit and cooled
by natural air convection. Capillary is used as a throttling device for reducing the pressure and
temperature of the refrigerant. The refrigerator is the box which forms the evaporator part of the
system and it is heavily insulated around with thermocole to reduce the heat flow from the
surrounding to the evaporator. This evaporator divided in to three compartments. The top
compartment works as a freezer where the temperature of the refrigerant is minimum as the
refrigerant first enters in this compartment. Other middle bottom, two compartments, are known
as cold chambers.The other two compartments, middle and bottom are cooled by natural
convection as the cooled air in the freezer descends and then goes up after absorbing the heat
from the middle and bottom compartments.
The top compartment of the refrigerator is used for making ice, kulfi. The middle and bottom
compartments are used for preserving milk, curd, vegetables and fruits. The door of the
refrigerator is also provided with space which is used for putting the water bottles.
The control used is on-off control and it is operated automatically by a thermostat valve.

REFRIGERATION CYCLES AND PROCESS

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Theoretical Vapour Compression Cycle with Dry

Saturated Vapour after Compression
A vapour compression cycle with dry saturated vapour after compression is
shown on T-s diagrams in Figures 2.2(a) and (b) respectively. At point 1, let T1, p1
and s1 be the temperature, pressure and entropy of the vapour refrigerant
respectively. The four processes of the cycle are as follows :

(a) T-s Diagram

(b) p-h Diagram

Compression Process
The vapour refrigerant at low pressure p1 and temperatureT1 is compressed isentropically to dry
saturated vapour as shown by the vertical line 1-2 on the T-s diagram and by the curve 1-2 on p-h
diagram. The pressure and temperature rise from p1 to p2 and T1 to T2 respectively.
The work done during isentropic compression per kg of refrigerant is given by
w = h2 h1
whereh1 = Enthalpy of vapour refrigerant at temperature T1, i.e. at suction of the compressor,
and
h2 = Enthalpy of the vapour refrigerant at temperature T2. i.e. at discharge of the compressor.

Condensing Process
The high pressure and temperature vapour refrigerant from the compressor is passed through the
condenser where it is completely condensed at constant pressure p2 and temperature T2 as shown
by the horizontal line 2-3 on T-s and p-h diagrams. The vapour refrigerant is changed into liquid
refrigerant. The refrigerant, while passing through the condenser, gives its latent heat to the
surrounding condensing medium.

Expansion Process
The liquid refrigerant at pressure p3 = p2 and temperature T3 = T2, is expanded by throttling
process through the expansion valve to a low pressure p4 = p1 and Temperature T4 = T1 as
shown by the curve 3-4 on T-s diagram and by the vertical line 3-4 on p-h diagram. Some of the
liquid refrigerant evaporates as it passes through the expansion valve, but the greater portion is
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vaporized in the evaporator. We know that during the throttling process, no heat is absorbed or
rejected by the liquid refrigerant.

Vaporizing Process
The liquid-vapour mixture of the refrigerant at pressure p4 = p1 and temperature T4 = T1 is
evaporated and changed into vapour refrigerant at constant pressure and temperature, as shown
by the horizontal line 4-1 on T-s and p-h diagrams. During evaporation, the liquid-vapour
refrigerant absorbs its latent heat of vaporizationfrom the medium (air, water or brine) which, is
to be cooled, This heat which is absorbed by the refrigerant is called refrigerating effect and it is
briefly written as RE. The process of vaporization continues up to point 1 which is the starting
point and thus the cycle is completed.
We know that the refrigerating effect or the heat absorbed or extracted by the liquid-vapour
refrigerant during evaporation per kg of refrigerant is given by
RE = h1 h4 = h1 hf3
Wherehf3 = Sensible heat at temperature T3, i.e. enthalpy of liquid refrigerant leaving the
condenser.
It may be noticed from the cycle that the liquid-vapour refrigerant has extracted heat during
evaporation and the work will be done by the compressor for isentropic compression of the high
pressure and temperature vapour refrigerant.
Coefficient of performance, C.O.P. = (Refrigerating effect)/( Work done)
= h1 h4
h2 h1
= h1 hf3
h2 h1

Carnot Refrigeration Cycle

In refrigeration system, the Carnot cycle considered is reversed Carnot cycle. We know
that a heat engine working on Carnot engine has the highest efficiency. Similarly, a
refrigeration system working on the reversed cycle, has the maximum coefficient of
performance.

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T-s Diagram
p-v Diagram
A reversed Carnot cycle, using air as the working medium is shown on p-v and T-s diagrams in
Figures respectively. At point 1, let p1, v1, T1be the pressure, specific volume and temperature of
air respectively.
The four processes of the cycle are as follows:

Isentropic Compression Process

The air is compressed isentropically as shown by the curve 1-2 on p-v and T-s diagrams. During
this process, the pressure of air increases from p1 to p2, specific volume decreases from v1 to v2
and temperature increases from T1 to T2. We know that during isentropic compression, no heat is
absorbed or rejected by the air.

Isothermal Compression Process

The air is now compressed isothermally (i.e. at constant temperature, T2 = T3) as shown by the
curve 2-3 on p-v and T-s diagrams. During this process, the pressure of air increases from p2 to p3
and specific volume decreases from v2 to v3. We know that the heat rejected by the air during
isothermal compression per kg of air,
q2-3 = area 2-3-3-2
= T3 (s2 s3)
= T2 (s2 s3)

Isentropic Expansion Process

The air is now expanded isentropically as shown by the curve 3-4 on p-v and T-s diagrams. The
pressure of air decreases from p3 to p4, specific volume increases from v3 to v4 and temperature
decreases from T3 to T4. We know that during isentropic expansion, no heat is absorbed or
rejected by the air.
The air is now expanded isothermally (i.e. at constant temperature, T4 = T1) as shown by the
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curve 4-1 on p-v and T-s diagrams. During this process, the pressure of air decreases from p4 to
p1 and specific volume increases from v4 to v1. We know that the heat absorbed by the air
during isothermal compression per kg of air,
q4-1= area 4-1-2-3
= T4 (s1 s4)
= T4 (s2 s3)
= T1 (s2 s3)

We know that work done during the cycle per kg of air

= Heat rejected Heat absorbed
= q2-3 q4-1
= T2 (s2 s3) T1 (s2 s3)

Therefore, coefficient of performance of the refrigeration system working on reversed Carnot

cycle,
C.O.P =

Heat Absorbed
Work done
=

T1 ( S2 S3 )
(T2 T1 )(S2-S1)
= T1.
T2 T1 .

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