RAC LAB ASSIGNMENT

Submitted to:
Mr. Adnan Qamar

Submitted by:
Salman Muneer
2014-ME-338
To study of:

Domestic Refrigerator
Split Air Conditioner

Components of Refrigerator:

Compressor:

Compressor is a hermitically sealed reciprocating pump. It is the heart of the refrigeration

system. It pumps refrigerant gas to the different components to effect the refrigeration cycle.
Their sizes are from 1/12 horse power to 1 horse power.

Condenser:

Condenser is made of serpentine copper tubes with aluminum fins. The combine heat of
gas refrigerant from the evaporator and the heat of the compressed gas refrigerant from the
compressor is being dissipated into the atmosphere, and changes the gas refrigerant into liquid
refrigerant.

Evaporator:

Evaporator is a serpentine aluminum tubes with aluminum fins. It absorbs the heat in the
freezing and refrigerating compartments and transfers it to the condenser. The low pressure
liquid refrigerant turns to gas after absorbing the heat. And is ready to make its journey through
the accumulator then to the compressor.

Expansion Valve:

For expansion valve, copper capillary tube is widely used on refrigeration appliances.
Their outside diameter is 2.5mm, and their length is between 8 feet to 12 feet. High pressure
liquid refrigerant leaves the capillary tube into low-pressure low-temperature liquid refrigerant.

Filter/dryer:

It filters the dirt and iron particles from the refrigerant. Some filter Dryer have moisture
absorbent materials like, Silica gel or synthetic silicates, which removes moisture from the
refrigerant. The filter/dryer protects the compressor by restricting and filtering the impurities and
moisture contents in the refrigerant.
Accumulator:

It is a refrigerant tank. It stores refrigerant so that the evaporator will not run out of it. Without
an accumulator, the 2-door no-frost refrigerating unit will exhibit the symptom of refrigerant
starvation.

Refrigerator-Fan-motor:

The fan motor of a 2-door no-frost is situated at the back of the evaporator coils, and it
blows the air into the freezer-coils and distribute the air into the freezing and refrigerating
compartments. The room area of the freezer is very much smaller than that of the refrigerator,
therefore the temperature can be maintained at a few degrees below 0 Centigrade.

Components of Split Air Conditioner:

Evaporator:

It consists of a network of tubes filled with refrigerant that remove heat and moisture from the air
as the refrigerant evaporates into a gas again. As the coolant inside the metal coils evaporates, it
acts as a heat sink for the air that moves across it from the blower. Copper conducts heat readily,
so the coils that contain the coolant are usually made of metal. To maximize surface area and
provide more cooling power, the copper coils have metal fins or vanes surrounding them.

Condenser:

It consists of a network of tubes filled with refrigerant that remove heat from the heated gas
refrigerant and convert the refrigerant into a liquid form again. The excess heat escapes into the
outside air. The condenser of air conditioner apparatus is outside where waste heat can dissipate
to the outdoor air as the heated gas inside it returns to its liquid state under pressure. Like the
interior coils, the exterior coils are a heat transfer site, however, the heat moves in the opposite
direction, going from the coolant into the surrounding air with the help of exhaust fans.

Air handling Unit:

An air handling unit is indoors where the blower and related portion of the central air
conditioning system moves air through the air ducts.

Outside Fan:

An outside fan pulls the air through the condenser coils for heat dispersal.
Air Filter:

The air filters are indoor elements that trap dust, pollen and other airborne particles as air moves
through the air conditioning system. Air filters contribute to both reliable air conditioner
operation and health.

Blower:
The blower moves the warm indoor air over the chilled evaporator apparatus as the exterior
exhaust fan moves hot air away from the heated condenser coils. All air conditioning units,
including window units, heat pumps and ductless units operate on the same principle. They differ
only in the size and configuration of the coils.

How it works:
A refrigerator does not cool items by lowering their original temperatures; instead, an
evaporating gas called a refrigerant draws heat away, leaving the surrounding area much
colder. Refrigerators and air conditioners both work on the principle of cooling through
evaporation.

Working Cycle:
The working cycle of refrigeration or air conditioning process is as:
 The refrigerant comes into the compressor as a low-pressure gas, it is compressed and
then moves out of the compressor as a high-pressure gas.

The gas then flows to the condenser. Here the gas condenses to a liquid, and gives off its
heat to the outside air.

The liquid then moves to the expansion valve under high pressure. This valve restricts the
flow of the fluid, and lowers its pressure as it leaves the expansion valve.

The low-pressure liquid then moves to the evaporator, where heat from the inside air is
absorbed and changes it from a liquid to a gas.

As a hot low-pressure gas, the refrigerant moves to the compressor where the entire cycle
is repeated.

Working Fluid:

R-12 refrigerant gas is commonly used. Newer environmentally friendly refrigerant gas such as
R-134a is being used for the newer models.

References:
http://www.air-conditioning-and-refrigeration.com/Refrigerator-components.html
https://www.quora.com/On-what-principle-does-a-refrigerator-work
https://www.swtc.edu/ag_power/air_conditioning/lecture/basic_cycle.htm