Refrigeration

Systems
2
Objectives
Introduce the concepts of refrigerators and heat
pumps and the measure of their performance.
Analyze the ideal and actual vapor-compression
refrigeration cycles.
Discuss the operation of refrigeration and heat
pump systems.
Evaluate the performance of innovative vapor-
compression refrigeration systems.
3
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Reversed Heat Engine Cycle
4.3 Performance of Refrigeration Cycle and
Heat Pump
4.4 The Ideal Vapor-Compression
Refrigeration Cycle
4.5 The Practical Refrigeration Cycle
4.6 Refrigeration Load
4.7 Flash Chamber
4.8 Multistage Compression Refrigeration
System
4.9 Cascade Refrigeration System
4.10 Absorption Refrigeration Systems
Topics
4
Refrigerators And Heat Pumps
The transfer of heat from a low-temperature
region to a high-temperature one requires
special devices called refrigerators.
The objective of a refrigerator is to remove heat
(QL) from the cold medium; the objective of a
heat pump is to supply heat (QH) to a warm
medium.
Refrigerators and heat pumps are essentially
the same devices; they differ in their objectives
only.
Performance:
From 1
st
Law of thermodynamics
dQ=dW;
The net work input to the system,W=W12-W34
The net heat rejected by the system;Q=Q2-Q1




If COP
R
is positive, then COP
HP
> 1
The rate of heat removal from a system is called cooling capacity.
Cooling capacity is normally measured in tons of refrigeration
1 ton = 211 kJ/min
1
1

R HP
in
L
HP
in
in L
in
H
in L H
COP COP
W
Q
COP
W
W Q
W
Q
W Q Q
Refrigerators And Heat Pumps
6
The most efficient heat engine is represented by the
Carnot cycle. (Remember that Carnot cycle is reversible)
A reversed heat engine is represented by Carnot cycle
which operates in a reversed direction
This cycle is called a reversed Carnot cycle
A refrigerator/heat pump using this cycle is called Carnot
refrigerator/Carnot heat pump
Its function is to remove heat from a low-temperature
region to a high-temperature region.

The Reversed Carnot Cycle
7

(1 2)
Wet vapor enters compressor and
is compress (Isentropic)
Temperature is increased
(2 3)
Vapor is condensed at constant
temperature
Heat rejected by refrigerant
(3 4)
Isentropic expansion (Isentropic)
Temperature is reduced
(4 1)
Heat for evaporation process is
supplied from cold source in
evaporator at constant
temperature.
The Reversed Carnot Cycle
1
2 3
4
1
2 3
4
8
The Reversed Carnot Cycle
Schematic of a Carnot refrigerator
and T-s diagram of the reversed
Carnot cycle.
Both COPs increase as the
difference between the two
temperatures decreases, i.e.
as T
L
rises or T
H
falls.
The most efficient refrigeration cycle (the reversed Carnot cycle) operating between
T
L
and T
H
. But it is impractical model for refrigeration cycles because:
(i)process 1-2 involves compression of a liquidvapor mixture - requires a compressor
that will handle two phases,
(ii)process 3-4 involves expansion of high-moisture-content refrigerant in a turbine.
Reversed Carnot cycle is only for comparison with the actual
refrigeration cycles.
PERFORMANCE OF REFRIGERATION CYCLE AND HEAT
PUMP
From T-s diagram,
T
L
= T
1
= T
4
and T
H
= T
2
= T
3
s
1
= s
2
and s
4
= s
3

Q
L
= T
L
(s
1
s
4
) and Q
H
= -T
H
(s
3
s
2
)

W
in
= Q
H
- Q
L

= -T
H
(s
3
s
2
) T
1
(s
1
s
4
) = -T
2
(s
4
s
1
) T
1
(s
1
s
4
)
= (T
2
T
1
) (s
1
s
4
)


The Reversed Carnot Cycle
10
Similarly for COP
HP
, we get:
H
L
L H
H
HP
T
T
T T
T
T T
T
COP

1
1
1 2
2


1
1
1 2
1
4 1 1 2
4 1 1

L
H
L H
L
R
R
in
L
R
T
T
T T
T
T T
T
COP
s s T T
s s T
COP
W
Q
COP
So, COP
R
can be given as follows:
The Reversed Carnot Cycle
11
A steady-flow Carnot refrigeration cycle uses refrigerant-134a
as the working fluid. The refrigerant changes from saturated
vapor to saturated liquid at 30C in the condenser as it
rejects heat. The evaporator pressure is 160 kPa. Show the
cycle on a T-s diagram relative to saturation lines, and
determine:

(a)the coefficient of performance,
(b)the amount of heat absorbed from the refrigerated space,
and
(c)the net work input.

Answers: (a) 5.64, (b) 147 kJ/kg, (c) 26.1 kJ/kg
Problem 1
Ideal Vapor-compression Refrigeration Cycle
Is the ideal model for refrigeration systems. The refrigerant is vaporized
completely before it is compressed and the turbine is replaced with a
throttling device.
Schematic and T-s diagram for the ideal vapor-compression refrigeration cycle.
The most widely used cycle for
refrigerators, A-C systems, and
heat pumps.
13
Process
4-1 Constant Pressure Evaporation
Heat from a cold space is absorbed by the
refrigerant. As a result, the refrigerant
evaporates at a constant evaporator pressure,
from state 4 to become a drier saturated
vapor at state 1.
Ideal Vapor-compression Refrigeration Cycle
14
Process
1-2 Isentropic compression
The saturated vapor is compressed from
the evaporator pressure to the condenser
pressure, in a reversible adiabatic manner.
The refrigerant exits the compressor as a
superheated vapor at state 2.
Ideal Vapor-compression Refrigeration Cycle
15
Process
2-3 Constant Pressure Condensation
Heat is rejected from the refrigerant to a warm
space. As a result, the refrigerant condenses at a
constant condenser pressure until it becomes a
saturated liquid at state 3.
Ideal Vapor-compression Refrigeration Cycle
16
3-4 Constant Enthalpy Expansion
The refrigerant expands through the
throttle valve adiabatically. As a result, its
pressure drops from the condenser to the
evaporator pressure. The enthalpy is
constant during the process, i.e. h3 = h4.
Ideal Vapor-compression Refrigeration Cycle
Note: The expansion process is highly irreversible, thus
making the vapor-compression cycle an irreversible cycle.
Process
17
An ordinary
household
refrigerator.
The P-h diagram of an ideal
vapor-compression
refrigeration cycle.
The ideal vapor-compression refrigeration cycle involves an
irreversible (throttling) process to make it a more realistic model for
the actual systems.
Steady-flow energy
balance
18
Refrigeration Load
mass unit per effect ing refrigerat
capacity or refrigerat
m

Refrigeration Capacity,
defined as the amount of heat that has to be transferred from a cold
space per unit time
determines the mass flow rate of refrigerant
1 ton = 200Btu/min = 211kJ/min = 3.516kW
ton : the rate of heat transfer to produce 2000 lb of ice at 0
o
C (32
o
)F
from liquid water at 0
o
C (32
o
F) in 24 hours
Mass flow rate of refrigerant
L
Q

Solving Problem
2 methods can be used for cycle analysis.
Using property table for refrigerants
Using the P-h diagram

P
h
1
2 3
4
q
2
= h
2
h
3

q
2
= h
1
h
4

w
in
= h
2
h
1

20
P
-
h

D
i
a
g
r
a
m

f
o
r

R
e
f
r
i
g
e
r
a
n
t

1
3
4
a

21

A refrigerator uses refrigerant-134a as the working fluid and
operates on an ideal vapor-compression refrigeration cycle
between 0.12 and 0.7 MPa. The mass flow rate of the refrigerant
is 0.05 kg/s. Show the cycle on a T-s diagram with respect to
saturation lines. Determine:
a) the rate of heat removal from the refrigerated space,
b) the power input to the compressor,
c) the rate of heat rejection to the environment, and
d) the coefficient of performance.
Answers: (a) 7.41 kW, 1.83 kW, (b) 9.23 kW, (c) 4.06
Problem 2
Ideal and Actual Vapor-Compression Refrigeration Cycles
22
Actual Vapor-Compression Refrigeration Cycle
Schematic and T-s diagram for the actual vapor-compression refrigeration cycle.
An actual vapor-compression refrigeration cycle involves irreversibilities
in various components - mainly due to fluid friction (causes pressure
drops) and heat transfer to or from the surroundings. As a result, the
COP decreases.
Differences
Non-isentropic
compression;
Superheated vapor
at evaporator exit;
Sub-cooled liquid at
condenser exit;
Pressure drops in
condenser and
evaporator.
23
T
s
1
2
4
3
Cooling water
temperature
4
Undercooling (Subcooling) And Its Effects
In the condenser, the vapor can be further cooled at constant
pressure to a temperature that is lower than temperature in
condenser
3
24
Undercooling (subcooling) increases the refrigerating effect
(h1 h4) > (h1 h4) where h4 is enthalpy with undercooling (subcooling) and h4 is
initial enthalpy
Undercooling (subcooling) is limited by temperature of cooling water and
temperature difference of cycle
T
s
1
2
4
3
Cooling water
temperature
4
3
Undercooling (Subcooling) And Its Effects
26
Refrigerant-134a enters the compressor of a refrigerator as
superheated vapor at 0.14 MPa and - 10C at a rate of 0.12 kg/s, and
it leaves at 0.7 MPa and 50C. The refrigerant is cooled in the
condenser to 24C and 0.65 MPa, and it is throttled to 0.15 MPa.
Disregarding any heat transfer and pressure drops in the connecting
lines between the components, show the cycle on a T-s diagram with
respect to saturation lines, and determine:

a)the rate of heat removal from the refrigerated space,
b)the power input to the compressor,
c)the isentropic efficiency of the compressor, and
d)the COP of the refrigerator.
Answers: (a) 19.4 kW, 5.06 kW, (b) 82.5 percent, (c) 3.83
Ideal and Actual Vapor-Compression Refrigeration Cycles
Problem 4
28
Selecting the Right Refrigerant
Several refrigerants may be used in refrigeration systems such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs),
ammonia, hydrocarbons (propane, ethane, ethylene, etc.), carbon dioxide, air (in the air-
conditioning of aircraft), and even water (in applications above the freezing point).
R-11, R-12, R-22, R-134a, and R-502 account for over 90 percent of the market.
The industrial and heavy-commercial sectors use ammonia (it is toxic).
R-11 is used in large-capacity water chillers serving A-C systems in buildings.
R-134a is used in domestic refrigerators and freezers, as well as automotive air conditioners.
R-22 is used in window air conditioners, heat pumps, air conditioners of commercial
buildings, and large industrial refrigeration systems, and offers strong competition to
ammonia.
R-502 (a blend of R-115 and R-22) is the dominant refrigerant used in commercial
refrigeration systems such as those in supermarkets.
CFCs allow more ultraviolet radiation into the earths atmosphere by destroying the
protective ozone layer and thus contributing to the greenhouse effect that causes global
warming. Refrigerants that are friendly to the ozone layer have been developed.
Two important parameters to be considered - the temperatures of the refrigerated space
and the environment with which the refrigerant exchanges heat.
29
Innovative Vapor-compression Refrigeration
Systems
The simple vapor-compression refrigeration cycle is the most widely used
refrigeration cycle, and is adequate for most refrigeration applications.
The ordinary vapor-compression refrigeration systems are simple,
inexpensive, reliable, and practically maintenance-free.
However, for large industrial applications, efficiency (not simplicity) is the
major concern.
For some applications the simple vapor-compression refrigeration cycle is
inadequate and needs to be modified.
For moderately and very low temperature applications, some innovative
refrigeration systems are used. The following cycles will be discussed:
Cascade refrigeration systems
Multistage compression refrigeration systems
Multipurpose refrigeration systems with a single compressor
Liquefaction of gases
30
Cascade Refrigeration Systems
Some industrial applications require moderately low
temperatures, and the temperature range they involve may
be too large for a single vapor compression refrigeration
cycle to be practical.
A large temperature range also means a large pressure
range in the cycle and a poor performance for a
reciprocating compressor.
One way of dealing with such situations is to perform the
refrigeration process in stages, that is, to have two or more
refrigeration cycles that operate in series.
Such refrigeration cycles are called cascade refrigeration
cycles.
31
Cascade Refrigeration Systems
A two-stage compression refrigeration
system with a flash chamber.
A two-stage cascade refrigeration cycle is shown. The two cycles are connected through the
heat exchanger in the middle, which serves as the evaporator for the topping cycle and the
condenser for the bottoming cycle.
A two-stage cascade refrigeration system with the same refrigerant
in both stages.
32
Cascade Refrigeration Systems
Assuming the heat exchanger is well insulated and the
kinetic and potential energies are negligible, the heat
transfer from the fluid in the bottoming cycle should be
equal to the heat transfer to the fluid in the topping cycle.
Thus, the ratio of mass flow rates through each cycle should
be


The coefficient of performance of the cascade system is
33
1141
Consider a two-stage cascade refrigeration system operating between
pressure limits of 0.8 and 0.14 MPa. Each stage operates on the ideal
vapor-compression refrigeration cycle with refrigerant-134a as the
working fluid. Heat rejection from the lower cycle to the upper cycle
takes place in an adiabatic counter-flow heat exchanger where both
streams enter at about 0.4 MPa. If the mass flow rate of the refrigerant
through the upper cycle is 0.24 kg/s, determine the:
a)mass flow rate of the refrigerant through the lower cycle,
b)rate of heat removal from the refrigerated space,
c)power input to the compressor, and
d)coefficient of performance of this cascade refrigerator.
Answers: (a) 0.195 kg/s, (b) 34.2 kW, 7.63 kW, (c) 4.49
Problem 5
Cascade Refrigeration Systems
35
Multistage Compression Refrigeration Systems
A two-stage compression refrigeration system with a flash
chamber.
When the fluid used throughout the cascade
refrigeration system is the same, the heat exchanger
between the stages can be replaced by a mixing
chamber (called a flash chamber) since it has better
heat transfer characteristics.
36
FLASH CHAMBER
Flash chamber is used in a multi-staging refrigeration system
It separates vapor and liquid refrigerant during the throttling
process
The purpose is to avoid vapor refrigerants from entering evaporator
The vapor developed during throttling (flash vapor) is bled out of
the throttling device and fed back to the compressor
Multistage Compression Refrigeration Systems
37
A multistage compression
refrigeration system is
one example of a system
that uses a flash chamber

It can be carried out with
the use of one or more
compressors
2
Q
L

Q
H

Condenser
Evaporator
W
in

Expansion
Valve
1
4
4
5
Flash Chamber
Expansion
Valve
8
7
6
9
3
W
in

Cycle Layout of a Two-Stage Compression
Refrigeration System
Multistage Compression Refrigeration Systems
38
The T-s diagram representing the cycle of a two-stage vapor-
compression cycle
1
2
3
9
4
5
6
7
8
s
T
Multistage Compression Refrigeration Systems
39
Two-stage refrigeration cycle represented by the p-h diagram
The P-h diagram is a
more convenient
representation of
the cycle because it
can easily be
compared to the
plant layout
Multistage Compression Refrigeration Systems
7
5
P
h
1
2
9
4
6
8
3
Evaporator
Condenser
Flash Chamber
40
1kg refrigerant moves through condenser
1kg liquid enters 1
st
throttle valve
1kg (mostly liquid) enters flash chamber and
starts to evaporate and becomes mixture of
gas (x)kg and liquid (1x)kg
(x) moves towards 2
nd
stage compressor at P
i

(1x)kg liquid make its way through the 2
nd

throttle valve into the evaporator
(1x)kg vapor enters the 1
st
stage compressor
where it is compressed to P
i

At P
i
(state 3) (1-x)kg vapor mixes with (x)kg
vapor adiabatically and becomes 1kg vapor
1kg vapor is compressed in 2
nd
stage
compressor
1kg vapor enters condenser to be condensed
and becomes 1kg liquid
P
h
1
2
9
4
5
6
7
8
3
Condenser
Evaporator
Multistage Compression Refrigeration Systems
41
ANALYSIS
Fraction of refrigerant which evaporates in the flash chamber can be given as
follows.



Refrigerating Effect, Q
L
= (1 x)(h
1
h
8
)

Total work input, W
in
= W
12
+ W
94

= (1 x)(h
2
h
1
) + (h
4
h
9
)


Heat rejected in condenser
Q
H
= (h
4
h
5
)


i
i
fg
f
h
h h
x

6
Multistage Compression Refrigeration Systems
42
Coefficient of Performance








9 4 1 2
8 1
1
1
h h h h x
h h x
W
Q
COP
in
L
R

Multistage Compression Refrigeration Systems

43
1144
A two-stage compression refrigeration system operates with
refrigerant-134a between the pressure limits of 1 and 0.14 MPa. The
refrigerant leaves the condenser as a saturated liquid and is throttled
to a flash chamber operating at 0.5 MPa. The refrigerant leaving the
low-pressure compressor at 0.5 MPa is also routed to the flash
chamber. The vapor in the flash chamber is then compressed to the
condenser pressure by the high-pressure compressor, and the liquid is
throttled to the evaporator pressure. Assuming the refrigerant leaves
the evaporator as saturated vapor at a rate of 0.25 kg/s and that both
compressors are isentropic, determine the:
a) fraction of the refrigerant that evaporates in the flash chamber,
b) rate of heat removed from the refrigerated space, and
c) coefficient of performance.
Problem7
Two-Stage Compression Refrigeration Systems
45
Absorption Refrigeration Systems
Ammonia absorption refrigeration cycle.
Absorption refrigeration is
when there is a source of
inexpensive thermal
energy at a temperature of
100 to 200C.
Some examples include
geothermal energy, solar
energy, and waste heat
from cogeneration or
process steam plants, and
even natural gas when it is
at a relatively low price.
46
Absorption refrigeration systems (ARS) involve the absorption of a refrigerant by a
transport medium. The most widely used system is the ammoniawater system,
where ammonia (NH
3
) serves as the refrigerant and water (H
2
O) as the transport
medium.
Other systems include waterlithium bromide and waterlithium chloride
systems, where water serves as the refrigerant. These systems are limited to
applications such as A-C where the minimum temperature is above the freezing
point of water.
Compared with vapor-compression systems, ARS have one major advantage: A
liquid is compressed instead of a vapor and as a result the work input is very small
(on the order of one percent of the heat supplied to the generator) and often
neglected in the cycle analysis.
ARS are much more expensive than the vapor-compression refrigeration systems.
They are more complex and occupy more space, they are much less efficient thus
requiring much larger cooling towers to reject the waste heat, and they are more
difficult to service since they are less common.
Therefore, ARS should be considered only when the unit cost of thermal energy is
low and is projected to remain low relative to electricity.
ARS are primarily used in large commercial and industrial installations.
47
The maximum COP of an absorption
refrigeration system.
The COP of actual absorption
refri-geration systems is usually
less than unity.
Air-conditioning systems based
on absorption refrigeration,
called the absorption chillers,
perform best when the heat
source can supply heat at a high
temperature with little
temperature drop.