Contents

1. Introduction......................................................................................................... 2
2. Theoretical Background....................................................................................... 3
3. Experimental....................................................................................................... 5
4. Results................................................................................................................. 7
5. Discussion of Results........................................................................................... 9
6. Conclusion and Recommendations....................................................................10
7. Literature Cited................................................................................................. 11
8. Nomenclature.................................................................................................... 12
9. Appendix........................................................................................................... 13
9. A1: Raw Data........................................................................................................ 13
9. A1: Application of statistical principles................................................................14

1. Introduction.
Refrigerator is a device similar to heat pump but with reverse objective. A
major application area of thermodynamics is refrigeration, which is the
transfer of heat from a lower temperature medium to a higher temperature
medium. The devices that produce refrigeration are caller refrigerators, and
the cycles on that operate is called refrigeration cycles. In general words
refrigeration refers to the process of removing heat from an enclosed space,
or from a substance, to lower its temperature. The liquid, or refrigerant, used
in a refrigerator evaporates at a low temperature, creating cooling or
freezing temperatures inside the refrigerator.
The first use of refrigeration system is in 1756 by William Cullen at the
University of Glasgow in Scotland, and when it is widespread use in
commercial from 1870 till present. The experiment even created a small
amount of ice, but had no practical application at that time. Todays
refrigeration process is far more advanced, easy to use and control and more
environment friendly, and thus it has become a very common system
adopted at households and many other places as the first cost and operating
costs had also become reasonable. It has the prime function to remove heat
from low temperature region and it can also be applied as a heat pump for
supplying heat to a region of high temperature.
The experiment has been performed to investigate the optimum operating
efficiency of a system employing a thermostatic expansion valve, 1 and 2
meter capillary tubes in evaporator and condenser using the same power
supply. Where the average C.O.P it was calculated to be 7.63, 6.696 and
5.603 for Thermostatic Expansion Valve, 1 and 2 meter capillary tubes as
respectively.

2. Theoretical Background..
Refrigerators and heat pumps are devices that absorb heat at a low
temperature and reject heat at a higher temperature. Both refrigerators and
heat pumps operate in the same way using a reversed heat engine cycle, but
are labeled separately according to their purpose. Devices that are used to
maintain a temperature below ambient are known as refrigerators (or air
conditioners) while devices that are used to supply heat at a higher
temperature than ambient are known as heat pumps. Some devices, in
particular those used for space cooling, may be used as both a heat pump
and a refrigerator.

Figure 1: The objective of a refrigerator is to remove heat (QL) from

the cold medium.
Refrigeration duty is another term for the Cooling effect of the refrigeration
system, which is the rate of heating being removed from low temperature
region with specified evaporator and condensation temperatures.
The vapour compression cycle is the most commonly used refrigeration cycle and
involves the same four processes as a heat engine cycle but in the reverse order.
Figure 2 gives a schematic representation of the four essential mechanical
components in this cycle; figure 3shows the ideal cycle on a pressure-enthalpy
diagram.

Figure 2: Vapour Compression Cycle components.

Figure 3: Ideal cycle on temperature- entropy pressure- enthalpy diagram.

In ideal vapour compression cycle the refrigerant vapour is compressed
isentropically to a higher temperature and pressure (3 to 4). The compressed
vapour is then condensed isobarically which results in heat rejection to the
surroundings (4 to 1). The next step is the adiabatic throttling of the
refrigerant to the low temperature and pressure (1 to 2). The final step is
where the refrigerant is evaporated isobarically at low temperature and
pressure, which results in the absorption of heat from its surroundings (2 to
3). In an actual cycle states 1 and 3 should not lie on the saturation line as
there is subcooling.
The usual measure of performance of a refrigerator or heat pump is the
Coefficient of Performance COP which is defined as:

For the cycle shown here, we have:

C .O.P

QB
h h2
3
QC
h4 h3

CAPILLARY TUBE
A capillary tube is a long, narrow tube of constant diameter. Typical tube
diameters of refrigerant capillary tubes range from 0.5 mm to 3 mm and the
length ranges from 1.0 m to 6 m. The pressure reduction in a capillary tube
occurs due to the following two factors (1) the refrigerant has to overcome
the frictional resistance offered by tube walls this leads to some pressure
drop. The liquid refrigerant flashes (evaporates) into mixture of liquid and
vapor as its pressure reduces. The density of vapor is less than that of the
liquid. Hence, the average density of refrigerant decreases as it flows in the
tube. Mass flow rate and tube diameter (hence area) being constant, the
velocity of refrigerant increases. The increase in velocity or acceleration of
the refrigerant also requires pressure drop.
THERMOSTATIC EXPANSION VALVE
Thermostatic expansion valve is the most versatile expansion valve and is
most commonly used in refrigeration systems. It is variable opening type
expansion device. A thermostatic expansion valve maintains a constant
degree of superheat at the exit of evaporator; hence it is most effective for
dry evaporators in preventing the slugging of the compressors since it does
not allow the liquid refrigerant to enter the compressor. This consists of a
feeler bulb that is attached to the evaporator exit tube so that it senses the
temperature at the exit of evaporator. The feeler bulb is connected to the top
of the bellows by a capillary tube.

3. Experimental
3.1 Apparatus

1. Drier
2. Evaporator
3. Thermostatic expansion valve, 1 and 2 meter capillary tubes
4. Liquid line
5. Condenser
6. Discharge line
7. Compressor
8. Suction line:
9. Condenser Pressure Transducer
10.
Evaporator Pressure Transducer
11.
Outlet Condenser Thermometer
12.
Condenser Pressure Gauge Condenser
13.
Thermometer Inlet Condenser
14.
Temperature Indicator Inlet Evaporator
15.
Evaporator Pressure Gauge
16.
Evaporator Thermometer
17.
Outlet Evaporator Thermometer
18.
Pump
3.2 Procedure
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Allow the cycle to run at least an hour.

The main components of the refrigeration unit were identified.
The piping and control system were studied.
Connect Thermostatic expansion valve by closing 1, 2 and 3 meter
capillary tubes.
The unit was allowed to run approximately 5 minutes in order to reach
suitable temperature and pressure.
The temperatures, pressure high and low pressures, volts, current and
angle were recorded
Repeat steps 2 again record the reading for three trials.
For 1, 2 and 3 meter capillary tubes repeat step 1 to 7, but close the
valve that you do not want to take reading of them.

4. Results
Table 4.1
Mains
Voltag
e
220

Current (amps)

Cos

Power(W)

0.8

220

0.81

220

2.25

0.8

220

0.81

220

0.82

220

0.82

220

0.8

220

0.8

220

0.8

439.957110
6
439.956003
2
494.951749
4
439.956003
2
439.945393
4
439.945393
4
439.957110
6
439.956003
2
439.957110
6

Average Power
(W)

458.2882877

439.94893

439.9567414

Table 4.2 Thermostatic Expansion Valve Readings

Trial
h1(KJ/Kg)
h2(KJ/Kg)
h3(KJ/Kg)
h4(KJ/Kg)
h3-h2
h4-h3
C.O.P

1
242
242
400
418
158
18
8.777778

2
250
250
400
418
150
18
8.333333

3
255
255
400
425
145
25
5.8

Average
249
249
400
420.3333
151
20.33333
7.637037

Table 4.3 1 Meter Capillary Readings

Trial

Average

h1(KJ/Kg)

254

252

252

252.6667

h2(KJ/Kg)

254

252

252

252.6667

h3(KJ/Kg)

400

400

400

400

h4(KJ/Kg)

422

422

422

422

h3-h2

146

148

148

147.3333

h4-h3

22

22

22

22

C.O.P

6.636364

6.727273

6.727273

6.69697

Table 4.4 2 Meter Capillary Readings

Trial
h1(KJ/Kg)
h2(KJ/Kg)
h3(KJ/Kg)
h4(KJ/Kg)
h3-h2
h4-h3
C.O.P

1
258
258
398
425
140
27
5.185185

2
242
242
398
420
156
22
7.090909

3
262
262
398
428
136
30
4.533333

Average
254
254
398
424.3333
144
26.33333
5.603143

5. Discussion of Results
This experiment was carried out to calculate the performance each of the
equipment in the refrigerant unit, using thermostatic expansion valve, 1 and
2 meter capillary tubes. In the first experiment, three trials were performed
using thermostatic expansion valve. Its COP it was calculated to be 8.778,
8.333 and 5.8 from the first to third trial. It had consumed an average power
of 458.29W producing temperature of 3 degree Celsius to the evaporator.
For the second experiment, the same step as the first experiment but now
was using 1 meter capillary tube. Its COP it was calculated to be 6.636,
6.723 and 6.696 from the first to third trial. It had consumed an average
power of 439.95W. It had also produced temperature of 3 degree Celsius to
the evaporator.
For the second experiment, the same step as the first experiment but now
was using 2 meter capillary tube. Its COP it was calculated to be 6.636,
6.723 and 6.696 from the first to third trial. It had consumed an average
power of 439.95W. It had also produced temperature of negative one degree
Celsius to the evaporator.
The coefficient of performance is the ratio of the heat removed at the colder
temperature to the work required to do it. So, as the expansion valve length
increased, the COP should decrease. From the experiment we have done the
value of COP that we get is decreasing when using thermostatic expansion
valve, 1 and 2 meter capillary tubes. This is because by looking at the

COP
relation of

Qc
WP

QC

, if the heat remove (

) decrease and the work required

Wp
( ) is big, the COP will be lower but if the heat remove increase and the
work required is smaller, the COP will be bigger.

6. Conclusion and Recommendations

6.1 Conclusion
Modern life has reached in such position that temperature control is unavoidable in
various cases which cant be imagined without refrigeration. So it is important to
have an overall knowledge about refrigeration system, its different parts and
operating modes. Selection of refrigerator for any purpose depends on refrigerant
types and the expansion valves, efficiency required, system characteristics and
environmental feature.
A thermostatic expansion valve equipped refrigeration system provides energy
saving if it is compared the one that it had been equipped by capillary meter.
Thermostatic expansion valve have shown that they maintain higher level of
efficiency even when refrigerant charge is lower than the manufactures
specification. Experimental results shows thermostatic expansion valve has higher,
cop than capillary tube. Thermostatic expansion valve has less compressor work
than capillary tube. During experiment it is occurs that thermostatic expansion
valve able to drop down more pressure than the capillary which is produce more
refrigerant effect for the system.
In this experiment all the separate parts of the refrigeration unit, their structure and
mechanisms had been well observed and studied. The objective of this experiment
has been completely achieved as required and at the same time, all the parameters
required to be solved have been calculated and solved accordingly. In addition, all of
the experiments have eventually being done according to the procedures given
systematically and appropriately.
6.2 Recommendations

1. Consultation is compulsory in order to make sure the experiments are conducted

properly.
2. To make sure that the machine in good conditions and the experiment are been
doing wrong, we have to understand the general start up and general shut down.
3. Before the experiment begin, ensure that the mechanical heat pump should run
and warm up early for 60 minutes. It should be notice that, surrounding in the
laboratory also affect the result, thus it hard to get an accurate reading.
4. A trial should not be forgotten before running the experiment. This is due to get
an accurate result in the experiment. Thus, the graph of vapour compression cycle
plotted on p-h diagram of R-134a is in correct order with appropriate ideal cycle.

10

5. While running the experiment, if some technical problems occur directly ask the
technician to overcome the problems.

7. Literature Cited
1. Yunus A. Cengel, Micheal A. Boles Thermodynamics An Engineering
Approach ,McGraw-Hill Book Company, 7th edition 2011.
2. Yunus A. Cengel, Michael A. Boles, Thermodynamics: An Engineering
Approach 5th Edition, Mc Graw Hill, 2006.
3. Eastop & McConkey, Applied Thermodynamics for Engineering
Technologists 5th Edition, Prentice Hall, 1993.
4. 1. Abbot, M. M., Van Ness, and Smith, J. M., (2001), Introduction to
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING THERMODYNAMICS, 6th edition, Tata
McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Limited, pp. 309-322.
5. 2. Cengel, Y. A. and Boles, M. A., (2006), THERMODYNAMICS An
Engineering Approach, 5th edition, Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing
Company Limited, pp. 607-637.
6. 3. Perry, R. H. and Green, D. W., (1997) Perrys Chemical Engineers
Handbook, 7th edition, McGraw-Hill, New York, pp. 11/76-11/80.
7. 4. Experimental Operating and Maintenance Manual Refrigeration
cycle demonstration unit. P. A. Hilton Ltd. SI no 3080 Feb. 96, pp. 4,
27-29, 36-38, 40-42.
8. 5. Richard C. Jordan & Gayle B. Priester Refrigeration and Air
Conditioning, Chapter-2, pp. 16-17,423
9. 6. C P Arora, Refrigeration and Air conditioning, 2nd edition, Tata
McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Limited, New Delhi, 2000, pp.
113,119.
10.
7. Andrew D. Althouse, Carl H. Turnquist, Alfred F. Bracciano,
Modern Refrigeration And Air Conditioning, The Goodheart-Wilcox
Company, Inc.1968, pp. 319-324.
11.
8. Stoecker W. S., (1998), Industrial Refrigeration Handbook,
McGraw-Hill, New York, pp. 115-120.
12.
Stanley I. SandlerChemical, Biochemical, and Engineering
Thermodynamics (4th Edition
13.
J. M. Smith H.C. Van Ness M.M. Abbott Introduction to Chemical
Engineering Thermodynamics (7th Edition)
14.
M. D. Koretsky Engineering and Chemical Thermodynamics
15.
M. J. Moran H. N. Shapiro Fundamentals of Engineering
Thermodynamics (7th Edition)
16.
R. Smith Chemical Process Design and Integration
17.
D. R. Gaskell Introduction To The Thermodynamics Of Materials
11

18.
D. R. Lide, H. V. Kehiaia CRC handbook of thermophysical and
thermochemical data
19.
www.tyxer.hubpages.com/hub/theory-of-refrigeration
20.
www.solution.com.my/pdf/HE165(A4).pdf
21.
www.1.eere.energy.gov/manufacturing/tech_deployment/pdf/hea
tpump.pdf

8. Nomenclature
List of symbols used throughout the report are given below:
Table 4. List of symbols
Symbol
COP
COPAVG

Significance
Coefficient of performance
Average Coefficient of performance

Unit (SI)
Unitless
Unitless

P
PAVG

Power
Average Power

W
W

t1
t2
t3
t4
p
h

Evaporator In
Evaporator Out
Condenser In
Condenser Out
Pressure
Enthalpy
Angle

C
C
C
C
Kpa
KJ/Kg
Unitless

QC

Heat removed from low-temperature region

KJ/Kg

WP

Net work required for that heat removal

KJ/Kg

Current
Mains Voltage

A
V

12

9. Appendix
9. A1: Raw Data
Table 10.1
Tra
il

High
Pressure(K
Pa)
1000

Evapora
tor In
(C)
3

Evapora
tor Out
(C)
23

Conden
ser In
(C)
74

Condenser Out
(C)

Low
Pressure(K
Pa)
190

190

1000

22

75

35

200

1050

22

75

40

200

1050

22

68

40

200

1050

22

68

37

200

1050

22

72

37

175

950

-1

24

70

38

175

950

-1

24

62

32

175

950

-1

24

74

43

13

32

Thermostat
ic
Expansion
Valve
Thermostat
ic
Expansion
Valve
Thermostat
ic
Expansion
Valve
1 Meter
Capillary
Tube
1 Meter
Capillary
Tube
1 Meter
Capillary
Tube
2 Meter
Capillary
Tube
2 Meter
Capillary
Tube
2 Meter
Capillary
Tube

Table 10.2
Mains
Volta
ge
220
220
220
220
220
220
220
220
220

Current
(amps)

Cos

2
2
2.25
2
2
2
2
2
2

0.8
0.81
0.8
0.81
0.82
0.82
0.8
0.8
0.8

9. A1: Application of statistical principles

9.1 CALCULATION FOR THERMOSTATIC EXPANSION VALVE

Trial 1

h1 h2 242 KJ / Kg h3 400 KJ / Kg

h4 418KJ / Kg
and

COP

h3 h2 400 242 KJ / Kg
h4 h3 418 400 KJ / Kg

8.77

P VI cos 220V 2 A cos .8 439.96W

Second trial

h1 h2 250 KJ / Kg h3 400 KJ / Kg

h4 418 KJ / Kg
and

COP

14

h3 h2 400 250 KJ / Kg
h4 h3 418 400 KJ / Kg

8.33

P VI cos 220V 2 A cos .81 439.96W

Third trial
h1 h2 255 KJ / Kg h3 400 KJ / Kg

COP

and

h4 425 KJ / Kg

h3 h2 400 255 KJ / Kg 5.8

h4 h3 425 400 KJ / Kg

P VI cos 220V 2.25 A cos .8 494.95W

The average COP Thermostatic Expansion Valve
COPAVG

sum(COP ) 8.77 8.33 5.8

7.63
3
3

The average power at the Thermostatic Expansion Valve

PAVG

sum ( P) 494.95 439.95 494.95W

458.28W
3
3

9.2 CALCULATION FOR 1 Meter Capillary

Trial 1
h1 h2 254 KJ / Kg h3 400 KJ / Kg

h4 422 KJ / Kg
and

COP

h3 h2 400 254 KJ / Kg 6.636

h4 h3 422 400 KJ / Kg

P VI cos 220V 2 A cos .81 439.95W

Second trial

h1 h2 252 KJ / Kg h3 400 KJ / Kg

15

and

h4 422 KJ / Kg

COP

h3 h2 400 252 KJ / Kg 6.727

h4 h3 422 400 KJ / Kg

P VI cos 220V 2 A cos .82 439.95W

Third trial

h1 h2 252 KJ / Kg h3 400 KJ / Kg

h4 422 KJ / Kg
and

COP

h3 h2 400 252 KJ / Kg 6.727

h4 h3 422 400 KJ / Kg

P VI cos 220V 2 A cos .82 439.95W

The average COP Thermostatic Expansion Valve

COPAVG

sum(COP ) 6.636 6.727 6.727

6.70
3
3

9.3 CALCULATION FOR 2 Meter Capillary

Trial 1
h1 h2 242 KJ / Kg h3 398 KJ / Kg

h4 420 KJ / Kg
and

COP

h3 h2 398 258 KJ / Kg 5.185

h4 h3 420 398 KJ / Kg

P VI cos 220V 2 A cos .8 439.95W

Second trial
h1 h2 252 KJ / Kg h3 400 KJ / Kg

h4 422 KJ / Kg
and

16

COP

h3 h2 398 242 KJ / Kg
h4 h3 4420 398 KJ / Kg

7.09

P VI cos 220V 2 A cos .8 439.95W

Third trial

h1 h2 262 KJ / Kg h3 398 KJ / Kg

h4 428 KJ / Kg
and

COP

h3 h2 398 262 KJ / Kg 4.533

h4 h3 428 398 KJ / Kg

P VI cos 220V 2 A cos .8 439.95W

The average COP Thermostatic Expansion Valve

COPAVG

PAVG

17

sum (COP ) 5.18 7.09 4.533

5.60
3
3

sum( P) 439.95 439.95 439.95W

439.95W
3
3