Experiment No.

05: To measure Coefficient of Performance of

refrigerator.

1. Objective
To study Vapor Compression refrigeration cycle and determining COP of the cycle.

2. Required Equipment
TCRC/TCRB Computer Controlled Refrigeration Cycle Demonstration Unit

Description of Equipment:
3. The TCRC/TCRB unit allows the demonstration of the compression refrigeration
and heat pump cycle by means of a visual observation of the whole process. The
evaporator is a glass vertical cylinder closed at both ends by using stainless steel
flanges with a Viton gasket that guarantees the correct imperviousness of the
whole. A copper with nickel plating coil carries the water which flows through the
circuit across the coolant in the evaporator, with no contact between them. The
hermetic compressor will allow to obtain a low pressure in

Figure 01: Refrigeration Cycle Demonstration Unit

 the evaporator, so the coolant boils at a lower temperature, taking from the water
the necessary heat, reducing its temperature. Low pressure steam is formed in the
evaporator. It is led to the compressor where its pressure will rise. Once its pressure
has increased, it is carried to the condenser. Like the evaporator, the condenser is
also a vertical cylindrical glass vessel. It is adjusted at both ends by using stainless
steel flanges with a vi-ton gasket that guarantees a correct imperviousness of the
whole. In the condenser, the high pressure steam coming from the compressor
condenses, transferring the heat released by the change of state to the cooling water
which flows through the loop. The high pressure coolant, located at the base of the
condenser and the level regulating float valve act as if they were an expansion valve
whose working method is the following one: As the cooling gas is condensed, the
coolant level rises in the condenser until a maximum level, regulated by the float
valve is reached. At that moment, the float valve allows the passing of part of the
liquid to the evaporator so that equilibrium can be reached again. It is done in such
a way that there is the same amount of liquid passing than vapor is formed. The
passing of hot cooling liquid at high pressure through the float valve causes the
expansion of the coolant, and pressure drops. Temperature decreases to low
pressure saturation values. This temperature drop comes with the formation of
steam and the steam bubbles formed must be seen through the transparent glass
cylinder. When the separated liquid at low pressure and steam enter the evaporator,
the liquid re evaporates and the formed steam mixes with the other vapors, passing
to the compressor next.

Operating Procedure

4. Safety Checks before Startup:

a) Check hermetic compressor is working properly
b) Check the evaporator vessel is properly filled with the coolant.
c) Check Coolant load valves are closed before startup.

5. Normal operation
a) Adjust a specific water flow using the needle valves placed both in the condenser
and in the evaporator up to a flow level of about 1 l/min.
b) Turn on the unit main switch and start the hermetic compressor via software.
c) Vapor is routed from the evaporator to the condenser by means of the
compressor and the condensed liquid returns to the evaporator
 Theory
6. The vapor-compression refrigeration cycle is the most widely used cycle for
refrigerators, air-conditioning systems, and heat pumps. It consists of four
processes:

Figure 02: Vapor Compression Refrigeration Cycle

1-2 Isentropic compression in a compressor

2-3 Constant-pressure heat rejection in a condenser
3-4 Throttling in an expansion device
4-1 Constant-pressure heat absorption in an evaporator

Coefficient of Performance:

7. The efficiency of a refrigerator is expressed in terms of the coefficient of

performance (COP), denoted by COPR. The objective of a refrigerator is to
remove heat (QL) from the refrigerated space. To accomplish this objective, it
requires a work input of Wnet,in Then the COP of a refrigerator can be expressed as

COPR = Desired output/Required Input

 COPR = QL/ Wnet,in

As

Wnet,in = QH – QL

So,

COPR = QL/ QH – QL

This relation can also be written as:

COPR = TL/ TH – TL

8. Practical Procedure:
a) Switch on the unit. The pressure to which the condenser stabilises will depend
on the water inlet temperature.
b) Open the Valve for water circulation and note the flow rate.
c) Click on the software TCRC installed in computer.
d) Start the compressor from software by clicking on AP-1 actuator.
e) Make sure that there is no air in the system and let the unit work for 15 minutes,
approximately, to reach uniform operation conditions.
f) Note down the values of outlet temperature of refrigerant from compressor TH
and Outlet temperature of refrigerant from throttle valve TL showing in software
interface.
g) Record the values of temperature in the table and calculate value of COPR
using formula.

9. Table:
Sr. Flow rate of Outlet Outlet COPR
No water Temperature of Temperature of
(Liter/min) Compressor TH Throttle valve TL
(˚C) (˚C)
10. Observations & Analysis:

11. Comments: