BASIC CIVIL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

UNIT V

REFRIGERATION AND AIRCONDITIONING

PART A

1. Define refrigeration.

It is a science of providing and maintaining the temperature below that of the surrounding
temperature.

2. Define Ton of Refrigeration

Ton of refrigeration is defined as the quantity of heat to be extracted to produce one ton of ice at
0o C, within 24 hours when the initial condition of water is also at 0oC. In SI units 1 TR is
equivalent to 210 kJ/in or 3.5 kW.

3. Define Coefficient of Performance (COP).

Coefficient of performance is defined as the ratio between the quantity of heat extracted to Work
done by the system.

4. What are the various applications of refrigeration?

(i) Used in water coolers for supplying cold water.

(ii)For preservation of food, vegetables, milk, ice cream etc., refrigeration system is used.
(iii) For preservation of perishables like fish, mutton, chicken etc.,

5. What are the various properties of refrigerants?

(i) Low boiling point, low freezing point, high latent heat of evaporation.
(ii) Low specific heat and low viscosity.
(iii) Refrigerants should be easy to liquefy.
(iv) Chemical stability
(v) Non flammable.

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6. Differentiate between vapour compression refrigeration and vapour absorption
refrigeration system.

S.No. Vapour compression refrigeration system Vapour absorption refrigeration

system
1 Smaller in use Very large in size
2 COP is higher COP is lesser
3 System produces noise Silent in operation
4 Maintenance cost is high Maintenance cost is low
5 Refrigerant used is R134 a Refrigerant used is ammonia

7. What are the various applications of air conditioning?

(i) Airconditioning of houses, hotels, theatres etc.,

(ii) For comfort of passengers in cars, buses, trains, ships and aircrafts.
(iii) Airconditioning is used textile industries, printing and machine tools etc.

8. Define the following. (i) Dry air (ii) Moist air (iii) Dry bulb temperature (iv) Wet bulb
temperature.

(i) Dry air : Air without water vapour or moisture

(ii) Moist air : It is a mixture of dry air and moisture
(iii) Dry bulb temperature : Actual temperature of a gas, measured by a standard mercury
thermometer
(iv) Wet bulb temperature : The temperature measured by a mercury thermometer, when the
bulb is covered by a moistened cloth.

9. What are the various applications of centralized air conditioning?

The central air conditioning system is adopted for large buildings, hotels, hospitals, cinema
theatres etc. This sytem is used only for heavy loads of about 20 tons or more.

10. What is meant by dry ice refrigeration?

Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide. It may be pressed into various sizes and shapes, blocks, or slabs.
As it absorbs heat, it changes directly from a solid to a vapor. It does not go through the liquid
state. This change from solid to vapor is called sublimation. At atmospheric pressure, solid
carbon dioxide vaporizes at -109'F (-78C).

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 PART B

1. With a neat layout briefly explain the construction and working principle of a vapour
compression refrigeration system.

Construction : Vapour compression refrigeration system contains a reciprocating vapour

compressor, condenser, capillary tube (expansion device) and evaporator. Reciprocating vapour
compressor compresses the incoming low pressure vapour refrigerant into high pressure vapour
refrigerant. The function of an expansion device (capillary tube) is to reduce the pressure of high
pressure liquid refrigerant into low pressure liquid refrigerant. Condenser and evaporator are the
devices in which the phase of the refrigerant occurs.

Working :

1. The low pressure refrigerant vapour coming out of the evaporator flows into the
compressor.
2. The compressor is driven by a prime mover.
3. In the compressor the refrigerant vapour is compressed.
4. The high pressure refrigerant vapour from the compressor is then passed through
the condenser.
5. The refrigerant gives out the heat it had taken in the evaporator (N)
6. The heat equivalent of work done on it (w) on the compressor.
7. This heat is carried by condenser medium which may be air or water.
8. The high pressure liquid refrigerant then enters the expansion valve.
9. This valve allows the high pressure liquid refrigerant to flow at a controlled rate
into the evaporator.
10. While passing though this valve the liquid partially evaporates.

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11. Most of the refrigerant is vapourised only in the evaporator, at a low pressure.
12. In the evaporator the liquid refrigerant absorbs its latent heat of vapourisation
from the material which is to be cooled.
13. Thus the refrigerating effect (N) is obtained.
14. Then the low pressure refrigerant enters the compressor and the cycle is repeated

2. With a neat layout, briefly explain about the construction and working principle of a
vapour absorption refrigeration system.

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Construction :

The vapour absorption system consists of a condenser, an expansion valve and an

evaporator.
They perform the same as they do in vapour compression method.
In addition to these, this system has an absorber, a heat exchanger, an analyser
and a rectifier

Working :

Dry ammonia vapour at low pressure passes in to the absorber from the evaporator.
In the absorber the dry ammonia vapour is dissolved in cold water and strong solution of
ammonia is formed. Heat evolved during the absorption of ammonia is removed by circulating
cold water through the coils kept in the absorber. The highly concentrated ammonia (known as
Aqua Ammonia) is then pumped by a pump to generator through a heat exchanger. In the heat
exchanger the strong ammonia solution is heated by the hot weak solution returning from the
generator to the absorber. In the generator the warm solution is further heated by steam coils, gas
or electricity and the ammonia vapour is driven out of solution. The boiling point of ammonia is
less than that of water.

Hence the vapours leaving the generator are mainly of ammonia. The weak ammonia solution is
left in the generator is called weak aqua. This weak solution is returned to the absorber through
the heat exchanger. Ammonia vapours leaving the generator may contain some water vapour. If
this water vapour is allowed to the condenser and expansion valve, it may freeze resulting in
chocked flow. Analyser and rectifiers are incorporated in the system before condenser.

The ammonia vapour from the generator passes through a series of trays in the analyser and
ammonia is separated from water vapour. The separated water vapour returned to generator.
Then the ammonia vapour passes through a rectifier. The rectifier resembles a condenser and
water vapour still present in ammonia vapour condenses and the condensate is returned to
analyser. The virtually pure ammonia vapour then passes through the condenser.

The latent heat of ammonia vapour is rejected to the cooling water circulated through the
condenser and the ammonia vapour is condensed to liquid ammonia. The high pressure liquid
ammonia is throttled by an expansion valve or throttle valve. This reduces the high temperature
of the liquid ammonia to a low value and liquid ammonia partly evaporates. Then this is led to
the evaporator.

In the evaporator the liquid fully vaporizes. The latent heat of evaporation is obtained from the
brine or other body which is being cooled. The low pressure ammonia vapour leaving the
evaporator again enters the absorber and the cycle is completed. This cycle is repeated again to
provide the refrigerating effect.
3. Differentiate between vapour compression refrigeration system and vapour absorption
refrigeration system.
S.No. Vapour compression system
1. This system has more wear and tear and
produces more noise due to the moving
parts of the compressor.
2. Electric power is needed to drive
the system.
3. Capacity of the system drops rapidly with
lowered evaporator pressure.
4. At partial loads performance is poor.
5. Mechanical energy is supplied
through compressor.
6. Energy supplied is to of the
refrigerating effect.
7. Charging of the refrigerating to the
system is easy.
8. Preventive measure is needed,
since liquid refrigerant
accumulated in the cylinder may
damage to the cylinder.
4. Draw the neat diagram of a window air conditioner and explain its working.
Vapour absorption system
Only moving part in this system is an
aqua pump. Hence the quieter in
operation and less wear and tear
Waste of exhaust steam may be used.
No need of electric power.
Capacity of the system decreases with
the lowered evaporative pressure, by
increasing the steam pressure in
generator.
At partial loads performance is not
affected.
Heat energy is utilized.
Energy supplied is about one and half
times the refrigerating effect.
Charging of refrigerant is difficult.
Liquid refrigerant has no bad effect on
the system.
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Working :
The low pressure vapour refigerant from the evaporator is sucked by compressor
through the open inlet valve.
The compressor compresses the vapour refrigerant.
The high pressure and high temperature vapour refrigerant then flows to the
condenser through the open outlet valve.
In the condenser, the outside atmospheric temperature in summer being around
42o C, air is circulated by fan.
After condensation, the high pressure liquid refrigerant formed passes through an
expansion valve which reduces its pressure
The low pressure refrigerant then enters the evaporator and evaporates, thus
absorbing latent heat of vapourisation from the room air.
The equipment which is used for evaporating the refrigerant is called evaporator.
After evaporation, the refrigerant becomes vapour.
The low pressure vapour is again passed to the compressor. Thus the cycle is
repeated.
A partition separates high temperature side of condenser, compressor and low
temperature side of evaporator
The quantity of air circulated can be controlled by the dampers.
The moisture in the air passing over the evaporator coil is dehumidified and
drips into the trays.
The unit automatically stops when the required temperature is reached in the
room. This is accomplished by the thermostat and control panel.

5. State the merits and demerits of a window air conditioner.

Merits :
A separate temperature control is provided in each room.
Ducts are not required for distribution.
Cost is less.
Skilled technician is required for installation.
Demerits:
It makes noise.
Large hole is made in the external wall or a large opening to be created in the
window panel. This leads to insecurity to inmates.
Air quantity cannot be varied.

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6. Draw the neat sketch, briefly explain the function of indoor unit and outdoor unit of a
split type air conditioner.

In split air type air conditioner noise making components like compressor and condenser are
mounted outside or away from room. Split type air conditioning system has two main
components.

(i) Outdoor Unit (ii) Indoor unit.

The outdoor unit consists of compressor and condenser.

The indoor unit consists of power cables, refrigerant tube and an evaporator mounted
inside the room.
Compressor is used to compress the refrigerant.
The refrigerant moves between the evaporator and condenser through the circuit
of tubing and fins in the coils.
The evaporator and condenser are usually made of coil of copper tubes and
surrounded by aluminium fins.
The liquid refrigerant coming from the condenser evaporates in the indoor
evaporator coil.
During this process the heat is removed from the indoor unit air and thus, the
room is cooled.
Air return grid takes in the indoor air.
Water is dehumidified out of air is drained through the drain pipe.

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The hot refrigerant vapour is passed to the compressor and then to the condenser
where it becomes liquid.
Thus the cycle is repeated.
A thermostat is used to keep the room at a constant, comfortable temperature
avoiding the frequent turning on off.

7. State the merits and demerits of a split type air conditioner.

Merits :
It is compact
Upto four indoor AHUs may be connected to one outdoor unit.
It is energy and money saving.
Duct is not used.
Easier to install.
It is noiseless, because rotary air compressor used is, kept outside.
It is more efficient and powerful.
It has the flexibility for zoning.

Demerits :
Initial cost is higher than window air conditioner
Skilled technician is required for installation.
Each zone or room requires thermostat to control the air cooling

8. Write briefly about comfort air conditioning.

Due to the natural phenomenon of body heat disposal by evaporation of moisture from the
human body and inflow of moisture from other sources, the humidity inside the room increases.
The increased humidity causes difficulty in disposing of body heat. Also, the room temperature
rises due to the heat dissipated from the human body and heat gains from light source and any
other equipments. When the room temperature is high, it causes human discomfort.

It has been found that for human comfort we need a dry bulb temperature of 20o C and 25o C and
relative humidity of 60 percent in the room. Any air conditioning system should primarily be
able to achieve the above conditions inside the room.