Refrigeration

Applied Thermodynamics
2013
N S Seannayake

Outline
Introduction

Refrigeration process, COP

Heat pump and refrigerator
Units
Thermodynamic cycle
Types of refrigeration
Refrigerants

Outline cont
Vapor compression refrigeration
Effect of compressor output state
Effect of sub cooling
Improvements in the simple saturation cycle

Introduction
Refrigeration is the process of removing heat
from a space under controlled conditions in
order to reduce the temperature in the space.

Refrigeration process

Refrigerator and Heat Engine

Units of refrigeration
Tonne of Refrigeration (TR)
J/s or W
BTU
1 TR = amount refrigerating effect produced by
melting 1tonne of ice at 0oC in 24h.
1TR = 3.5kW = 12,000BTU

Thermodynamic cycle (Reversed Carnot)

Effect of temperatures on COP

Limitations?

Types of Refrigeration
Vapour compression
Vapour absorption
Gas or air refrigeration

Refrigerants
Heat transfer medium
Properties:
low boiling temp., high critical temp., high latent
heat of vaporization, non corrosive, nonflammable,
mixes with oil, leaks easily detectable

Identification by R numbers
R11, R12, R134a, R717

Environmental impact
Depletion of ozone layer
Global warming

Vapour Compression refrigeration

Vapour compression cycle

Schematic representation of vapour

compression cycle

Components and Processes

Compressor :Isentropic compression

Condenser: Constant pressure heat rejection

Processes cont.
Expansion Valve : Constant enthalpy pressure
reduction

Evaporator: constant pressure heat absorption

COP

T s diagram

This is close to Reversed Carnot Cycle

Problems of the cycle that gives saturated dry

vapor after compression (cycle close to reversed
Carnot cycle)
This cycle cannot be used in practice for practical
limitations, Ex: point 1 which is wet vapour, cannot be
successfully compressed in a compressor. So, point 1 is
either saturated vapour or superheated.
Point 2 is often above Tc and point 3 is very often below
Tc.

Therefore, there are many refrigeration cycles which

have been studied by people aimed at improving the
performance and ensuring their practicability. Some
of the cycles are:

Practical modifications
Cycle with super heated vapour after
compression (simple saturated cycle)
Cycle with dry saturated vapour after
compression
Cycle with wet vapour after compression
Cycle with super heated vapour before
compression
Cycle with sub cooling of refrigerant

Procedure for analysis

Sketch the T s diagram/ p h diagram
Determine enthalpy values from state 1
(compressor inlet) to state 4 (inlet to evaporator
coil)
Determine work and heat transfer in each
component
To determine capacity use mass flow rate

Charts

Property tables
Specific volume
m3/kg

Specific enthalpy in kJ/kg

Specific entropy in
kJ/kgK

Vapour
(vg)

Liquid
(hf)

Vapour
(hg)

Latent
(hfg)

Liquid
(sf)

Vapour
(sg)

Saturation
temperature
in
(oC)

Saturation
pressure in
bar
Liquid
(p)
(vf)

-100

0.01185

0.000600 10.1951

- 51.84

142.00

193.84

- 0.2567

0.8628

-95

0.01864

0.000604 6.6231

- 47.56

144.22

191.78

-0.2323

0.8442

-90

0.02843

0.000608 4.4206

-43.28

146.46

189.74

-0.2086

0.8273

Simple saturated cycle on p-h and T-s coordinates

Saturated
liquid (f)

Saturated
vapor (g)

Example 1
For a simple vapour compression cycle with following
data, determine COP and refrigerant mass flow rate.
Refrigerant: R12, Capacity: 2TR
Evaporator temp: -12oC, Condenser temp: 40oC
Specific heat capacity of R12 in the superheated
region: 0.762kJ/kgK
Sat.
Pressure
Temperature
(bar)
(K)

Enthalpy (kJ/kg)

Entropy (kJ/kgK)

liquid

vapour

liquid

vapour

-12

2.034

188.95

347.25

0.9589

1.5651

40

9.5909

239.03

368.81

1.1315

1.5459

Solution

Point 1
Evaporator temperature is - 12oC. The state is saturated vapour.

Point 2

After compression the refrigerant is super heated. For the

determination of entropy at 2, we use following equation.

Point 3

Point 4

The condenser output is saturated liquid.

Since the process 3 4 is throttling the enthalpy is the same.

Mass flow rate required

Effect of compressor output state

on the refrigeration parameters

Example 2
(Saturated vapour after compression)
A vapour compression refrigerator works between the pressure
limits of 60bar and 25bar. The working fluid is dry saturated
after compression and there is no sub cooling in the condenser.
Determine (1) Refrigerating effect, (2) COP (3) mass flow rate
for 1TR (4) Compressor power
Enthalpy (kJ/kg)

Entropy (kJ/kgK)

Pressure
(bar)

Sat.
Temperatur
e (K)

liquid

vapour

liquid

vapour

25

261

56.32

322.58

0.226

1.2464

60

295

151.96

293.29

0.554

1.0332

Solution

Point 1

Point 1 lies between saturated liquid and saturated vapour points on

the 25bar constant pressure line as shown in the diagrams above.
Since we do not know exact position, we have to relate this state to
state point 2, which is known.

To find out x1 we use entropy values at points 1 and 2.

Since 1 2 is isentropic,

Therefore,

Point 2

Point 3

Point 4

State of point 2 is saturated vapour at 60bar pressure. Therefore,

from the table we directly get the enthalpy.

State of point 3 is saturated liquid at 60bar pressure. Therefore,

enthalpy can be obtained directly from the table.

Since, 3 4 is throttling, the enthalpy remains

same.

Refrigerating effect
qE h1 h4 266.6 151.96 114 .7 kJ / kg
COP

Mass flow rate 1TR

Since 1TR = 210kJ/min

210
1.831kg / min
114 .7

Compressor power

Pc m(h2 h1 )

1.831
(293.29 266.66) 48.76 812.66kW
60

Example 3
(Wet vapour after compression)
Determine the refrigerating effect, COP, mass flow
for 1TR and compressor power of the refrigeration
plant in example 2 above, when the refrigerant after
compression is 70% dry.

Enthalpy (kJ/kg)

Entropy (kJ/kgK)

Pressure
(bar)

Sat.
Temperature
(K)

liquid

vapour

liquid

vapour

25

261

56.32

322.58

0.226

1.2464

60

295

151.96

293.29

0.554

1.0332

Solution
70%
dry

Point 2 Since dryness fraction at point 2 is known, we start form here

Point 1 First find out the dryness fraction at point 1

Point 3

State of point 3 is saturated liquid.

Point 4 Since 3 4 is throttling process the enthalpy remains

same.

Refrigerating effect
qE h1 h4 229.389 151.96 77.429kJ / kg
COP

Mass flow rate 1TR

210
2.712kg / min
77.429

Compressor power

2.712
Pc m(h2 h1 )
(250.891 229.389) 971.89W
60

Example 4
(Super heated vapour after compression)
Determine the refrigerating effect, COP, mass flow
for 1TR and compressor power of the refrigeration
plant in example 2 above, when the refrigerant after
compression is superheated.

Enthalpy (kJ/kg)

Entropy (kJ/kgK)

Pressure
(bar)

Sat.
Temperature
(K)

liquid

vapour

liquid

vapour

25

261

56.32

322.58

0.226

1.2464

60

295

151.96

293.29

0.554

1.0332

Solution

Point 1

Saturated vapor

h1 hg1 322.58

Point 2 Super heated vapor, enthalpy is written as follows;

h2 h2 ' c pg T2 T2 '
To find out T2 , use entropy at 1 and 2

s2 s1 s g1 1.2464
s2 ' s g 2 ' 1.0332

T2

s2 s2 ' c pg ln
T2 '

c pg 0.762kJ / kgK

T2' 295 K

T2
1.2464 1.0332 0.762 ln

295

T2
0.2798
295

ln

T2 390 K
h2 h2 ' c pg T2 T2 ' 293.29 0.762 390 295

h2 365.68

Point 3 Saturated liquid at 60bar

h3 h f 3 151.96
Point 4Since the process 3 4 is throttling

h4 h3 151.96

Refrigerating Effect

qE h1 h4 322.58 151.96 170.62kJ / kg

COP

COP

qE
qE
170.62

3.96
wc h2 h1 365.68 322.58

Mass flow for 1TR

Since 1TR = 210kJ/min

QE mqE

210
m
1.231kg / min
170.62

Compressor power

1.231
Pc m(h2 h1 )
(365.68 322.58) 884.27W
60

The effect of state after compression

State of vapor
after
compression
Wet vapor
Saturated vapor
Super heated
vapor

Refrigeratin
g effect
(kJ/kg)

COP

Mass flow
for 1TR
(kg/min)

Comp.
power
(W)

77.427

3.6

2.712

972

114.7

4.3

1.831

813

170.62

3.9

1.231

884

The effect of sub cooling the liquid

on refrigeration parameters

The effect of sub cooling the liquid

Example 4
Evaporator temperature: - 10oC
Condenser temperature: 40oC
Sub cooled temperature: 30oC
Refrigerant: R12
Specific heat capacity of liquid R12: 1.03kJ/kgK
Specific heat capacity of superheated vapour R12 = 0.762kJ/kgK
Calculate COP

Temp
(oC)
-10
40

Sp.
Sat.
volume
pressure
(vapour)
(bar)
m3/kg
2.1893
9.5909

0.07731
0.01834

Enthalpy( kJ/kg)

Entropy (kJ/kgK)

Liquid

Vapour

Liquid

Vapour

190.78
239.03

348.17
368.81

0.5698
1.1315

1.5639
1.5459

Solution

Point 1

Point 1 is dry saturated.

Point 2

Because 1 2 is isentropic,
Since point 2 is super heated,

Point 3 Point 3 is sub cooled liquid.

Point 4 Since 3 4 is throttling

Refrigerating effect
For sub cooled cycle

For simple saturation cycle;

Compressor work:

Coefficient of performance:
For sub cooled cycle;

For Simple saturation cycle;

Mass flow rate needed for 1TR capacity:

1TR = 210kJ/min
For sub cooled cycle;

For simple saturation cycle;

Compressor volume capacity:

Compressor volume capacity is determined in terms of the volume of vapour
handled in unit time.
Vol. of vapour compressed per unit time = mass flow x specific volume

(m 3 / s)

(kg / s )

For both sub cooled and simple saturation

cycles
For sub cooled cycle;

For simple saturation

cycle

(m 3 / kg )

Power of compressor for 1TR:

For sub cooled cycle;

For simple saturation cycle;

Effect of sub cooling

Parameter

Unit of
measur
ement

Simple
saturatio
n cycle

Sub
cooled
cycle

Refrigerating effect per

kg of refrigerant

kJ/kg

109.14

119.44

Compressor work per

kg of refrigerant

kJ/kg

25.97

25.97

Mass flow rate per 1TR

Kg/min

1.924

1.76

4.21

4.6

COP
Compressor volume
capacity

m3/min

0.1487

0.1361

Power for 1TR

kW

0.833

0.762

Improvements to simple
saturation cycle
1. Flash Chamber
2. Pre cooler
3. Sub cooling condenser output
By liquid refrigerant
By vapor refrigerant

Flash Chamber
Used to separate vapour
and liquid and vapour is
directed to the compressor

No improvement to COP and reduce mass flow through evaporator

Considering thermal equilibrium of flash chamber

m2 h4 m1h4 ' (m2 m1 )h1

m2 h1 h4 m1 h1 h f 4 '
h1 h4
h1 h f 3
m1 m2
m2

h1 h f 4'
h1 h f 4 '
Refrigerating Effect, QE

QE m1 h1 h f 4 '

QE m2

h1 h f 3

h1 h f 4 ' m2 h1 h f 3

h1 h f 4 '

This is same as for

simple saturation
cycle

Compressor work, WC

WC m2 (h2 h1 )

h1 h f 3

This is same as for

COP
simple saturation
h2 h1
cycle
Refrigerating effect and COP are same as that of a simple saturation cycle
The effect flash chamber is only the reduction of mass flow
through the evaporator and hence the reduction in size of
evaporator

Accumulator or pre-cooler
Need for accumulator
The liquid refrigerant passing through the evaporator
is not completely evaporated to give dry saturated
vapour. If the compressor is supplied with liquid, with
vapour refrigerant, the compressor has to do an
additional work of evaporating and raising the
temperature of the liquid.
It also upset the normal functioning of the compressor,
which has been made to compress dry vapour.
The accumulator ensures that only the dry vapour is
fed into the compressor

Accumulator or pre-cooler
Ensures no liquid
enters the
compressor

No change in refrigerating effect, compressor work and COP

Considering thermal equilibrium for the accumulator

m2 h4 m1h1' m2 h1 m1h f 4 '

m2

m1

m1 (h1' h f 4 ' ) m2 (h1 h4 )

h1 h4
h1 h f 3
m1 m2
m2

h1' h f 4 '
h1' h f 4 '

m2 4
4

m1

Refrigerating effect, QE

h1 h f 3

QE m1 h1' h f 4' m2

h1' h f 4 '

h1' h f 4 '

QE m2 h1 h f 3

This is same as for

simple saturation
cycle

Compressor work, WC

COP

h1 h f 3
h2 h1

WC m2 (h2 h1 )
This is same as for
simple saturation
cycle

Refrigerating effect , compressor power and COP are same as that of a simple
saturation cycle
The accumulator is used to prevent he liquid refrigerant flowing
into the compressor

Sub cooling by liquid

The refrigerant leaving the condenser is at a higher
temperature than the liquid refrigerant leaving the
expansion valve.
The liquid refrigerant leaving the condenser is sub
cooled by passing through a heat exchanger which is
supplied with liquid refrigerant from the expansion
valve.

Sub cooling by liquid

No change in COP

m1= mass of refrigerant leaving the

evaporator
m2= mass of refrigerant leaving
through the condenser
m3= mass of refrigerant supplied to the
heat exchanger
Considering thermal equilibrium
of the heat exchanger

m2 h3 m3 h4 ' m2 h3' m3 h1

m2 (h f 3 h3' ) m3 (h1 h f 4 ' )

h f 3 h3'

h f 3 h3'
m3 m2
m2

h
h

h
1
f 4 '
1 3'

Refrigerating effect QE

QE (m2 m3 )(h1 h4 ' )

h f 3 h3'

QE m2 m2

h
1 3'

h1 h3'

QE m2 (h1 h3' ) m2 (h f 3 h3' )

QE m2 (h1 h f 3 )

This is same as for

simple saturation
cycle

Compressor work WC

WC m2 (h2 h1 )
This is same as for
simple saturation
cycle

Coefficient of Performance

QE m2 (h1 h f 3 ) (h1 h f 3 )
COP

WC
m2 (h2 h1 )
(h2 h1 )

This is same as for

simple saturation
cycle

Mass flow rate

through evaporator
for 1TR

210
m1
h1 h f 4 '

This is less than

that of simple
saturation cycle

Sub cooling by liquid

Since the COP and the compressor power are the
same as those of simple saturation cycle, this
arrangement of sub cooling the liquid refrigerant
is of no advantage.

Sub cooling by vapour

The refrigerant leaving the condenser is at a
higher temperature than the liquid refrigerant
leaving the evaporator
The liquid refrigerant leaving the condenser is
sub cooled by passing through a heat exchanger
which is supplied with dry saturated vapour
from the evaporator.

Sub cooling by vapour

COP, refrigerating increased; power for 1TR reduced

Considering thermal equilibrium of the heat exchanger

h f 3 h3' h1' hg1

Refrigerating effect QE

QE m(h1' h4 ' )

This is higher than that of

simple saturation cycle

Compressor work WC

WC m(h2 ' h1' )

This is higher than that of

simple saturation cycle

Coefficient of Performance

QE m(h1' h4 ' ) (h1' h4 ' )

COP

WC m(h2 ' h1' ) (h2 ' h1' )

This is less than that of

simple saturation cycle

Mass flow rate through evaporator for 1TR

210
m1
h1' h f 4'

This is less than

that of simple
saturation cycle

Sub cooling by vapour

Sub cooling the liquid by vapour refrigerant
reduces the COP.
However, this is used in practice despite some
loss of COP
Mass flow rate per 1TR is reduced, and this is an
advantage