DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

REFRIGERATION LAB
VAPOUR COMPRESSION UNIT

Aim: To experiment (Using suction Liquid Heat Exchanger) and plot the graph for.

1) Refrigeration duty (load) Vs Evaporation Temperature

2) COP Vs Evaporation temperature
3) Heat delivered to condenser cooling water Vs condenser saturation
temperature.
4) Heat pump’s COP Vs condenser temperature.
5) Compressor volumetric efficiency Vs pressure ratio
6) Superheat Vs Evaporator temperature
7) Refrigerant flow rate Vs Refrigeration rate Qe/W.
8) Motor efficiency Vs shaft power

Theory

Refrigeration is playing an important role in all sectors of industry, commerce and in the
home. Refrigeration plants work on the vapour compression cycle. It has four basic
processes namely: a) Evaporation; b) Compression; c) Condensation and d) Expansion.

Specifications:

Refrigerant Used : R 12
Compressor Used : Two cylinder open type
Bore : 40 mm
Stroke : 30 mm
Swept volume : app. 75.7 cm3
Speed : 460 rev/min (nominal)
Clearance/step volume: = 0.025
Electrical motor shaft power: 370 W
Condenser : shell and coil type; heat transfer area 0.075 m2
Cooling medium : Water
Expansion valve : Thermostatic expansion valve

Instrumentation:

Pressure Gauges: To measure the evaporator and condenser pressure

Thermocouple: An 8 point electronic thermometer for the measurement of
Temperature at different points
Ammeter and Voltmeter: For measuring power input to motor and heater element by
using ammeter and voltmeter.
 CALCULATION SHEET –VAPOUR COMPRESSION UNIT
Series Test Unit 1 2 3
No.
0
Compressor delivery t2 C
0
Liquid leaving condenser t3 C
0
Liquid entering expansion valve t4 C
Condenser pressure (in gauge) Pc (kNm-2)
Condenser pressure (absolute) Pc (bar)
0
Evaporator inlet t5 C
0
Evaporator outlet t6 C
0
Compressor suction t1 C
Evaporator pressure (in gauge) Pe (kNm-2)
Evaporator pressure (absolute) Pe (bar)
R12 flow rate mr (kg/sec)
Evaporator volts Ve (V)
Evaporator Amps Ie (A)
Motor volts Vm (V)
Motor Amps Im (A)
Spring balance F (N)
Compressor Speed nc (rpm)
Motor Speed nm (rpm)
Water flow rate mw (g/sec)
0
Water inlet T7 C
0
Water outlet T8 C
Specific Enthalpy H1 KJ kg-1
Specific Enthalpy H2 KJ kg-1
Specific Enthalpy H3 KJ kg-1
Specific Enthalpy H4 KJ kg-1
Specific Enthalpy H5 KJ kg-1
Specific Enthalpy H6 KJ kg-1
Specific Volume V1 m3kg-1
Evaporator Heat input (i.e. Duty) Q˙e W
R12 enthalpy change rate W
Heat transfer to cooling water Q˚c W
R12 enthalpy change rate W
Volume flow rate at compressor V˚1 m3s-1
suction
Comp. swept volume rate V˚B m3s-1
Electrical input to motor Pel W
Motor shaft power Ps W
Compressor “indicated” power P1 W
Compressor enthalpy change rate W
Motor efficiency ηmot %
Mechanical Efficiency of comp., a ηmech. %
drive
Volumetric efficiency of compressor ηvol %
COP (Based on electrical input)
COP (Based on shaft power input)
COP (based on indicated power input)
COP (of ideal cycle)
0
Evaporation temp. te C
0
Condensation temp. tc C
Pressure Ratio P
0
Super Heat C

Conclusion /Remarks:-