Department of Mechanical Engineering

ME 322 – Mechanical Engineering

Thermodynamics

Lecture 29

The Vapor Compression Refrigeration

(VCR) Cycle
 VCR used for Cooling

energy sought Qin

E    COPC
energy that costs Wcycle
TH

Observation:  E may be >1   E  100% 

R
The concept of an efficiency being greater than 100%
makes people uneasy. Therefore, the conversion
TL efficiency for a refrigerator is called the Cooling
Coefficient of Performance (COPC). A refrigeration
system that is used for cooling is called a refrigerator.

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 VCR used for Heating

energy sought Qout

E    COPH
energy that costs Wcycle
TH

Observation:  E may be >1   E  100% 

R
The concept of an efficiency being greater than 100%
makes people uneasy. Therefore, the conversion
TL efficiency for a refrigerator is called the Heating
Coefficient of Performance (COPH). A refrigeration
system that is used for cooling is called a heat pump.

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 Theoretical Carnot Refrigerator
For the Refrigeration cycle …
Qin Qin 1
th  COPR   
Wcycle Qout  Qin Qout / Qin  1
TH
1 1 TL
COPR, Carnot   COPR,Carnot 
 Qout / Qin  rev  1 TH / TL  1 TH  TL

R For the Heat Pump cycle …

Qout Qout 1
th  COPH   
TL Wcycle Qout  Qin 1  Qin / Qout
1 1 TH
COPH, Carnot   COPH,Carnot 
1   Qin / Qout  rev 1  TL / TH TH  TL

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 Terminology
• Refrigeration cycle
– The cycle is operating in a refrigeration cycle
• The goal is to keep the cold space cold
– Transfer heat from a low-temperature source

• Heat pump cycle

– The cycle is operating in a refrigeration cycle
• The goal is to keep the hot space hot
– Transfer heat to a high-temperature sink

The words refrigeration or heat pump define the goal of the cycle.

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 What’s Inside?

TH

R
TL

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 Refrigerant Properties
• Two phase changes
Working fluid = Refrigerant
– Boiling (evaporator)
– Condensing (condenser)
• Low temperature boiling fluids

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 Refrigerant Naming Convention
Most refrigerants are halogenated hydrocarbons. The naming
convention adopted by ASHRAE is,

R(a-1)(b+1)d = CaHbClcFd c = 2(a – 1) – b – d

Example: R22 (R022)

a 1  0  a  1 H
b 1  2  b  1
d 2 F C F chlorodifluoromethane
c  2  a  1  b  d
c  2  1  1  1  2  1 Cl

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 The Pressure-Enthalpy P-h Diagram

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 Refrigeration Cycle Analysis

 m  h 2  h 3 
Performance
Q in
COPC 
W c

 m  h 2  h1 
h3  h 4

 m  h1  h 4 

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 The Ideal VCR Cycle on the P-h Diagram
P
1-2: Isentropic compression
2-3: Isobaric heat rejection
3-4: Isenthalpic expansion
4-1: Isobaric heat addition
qout  Q out / m
 m  h 2  h3 
3 2

4  m  h 2  h1 
1 h3  h 4

qin  Q in / m wc  W c / m

 m  h1  h 4 
h

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 Refrigeration Effect and Capacity

Refrigeration Effect: qin  h1  h 4

Refrigeration Capacity: Q in  m  h1  h 4 

Refrigeration capacity is often expressed in tons of

refrigeration. Definition …

1 ton of refrigeration is the steady state heat transfer rate

required to melt 1 ton of ice at 32°F in 24 hours.

1 ton = 12,000 Btu/hr = 3.516 kW

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 VCR Cycle Irreversibilities
P

2s
Pressure drop through 2
the condenser 3
Isentropic efficiency
4
Pressure drop through of the compressor
the evaporator 1

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 Practical VCR Cycle
P T3 SCT SCT = Saturated Condensing Temperature
DSC = Degrees of Subcooling = SCT – T3

Subcooling increases the

2s 2 refrigeration capacity
3

Superheating provides a dry

vapor at the compressor inlet
1
4

SET = Saturated Evaporating Temperature

T1
DSH = Degrees of Superheat = T1 – SET
SET

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