ME-342

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

Dr. Binita Pathak
Refrigeration Cycles
 Carnot Cycle

• A reversible cycle is a hypothetical cycle in which all the processes

constituting the cycle are reversible
• Reversible cycles provide upper limits on the performance of real
cycles. Heat engines and refrigerators that work on reversible cycles
serve as models to which actual heat engines and refrigerators can be
compared
• The Carnot cycle is composed of four reversible processes—
two isothermal and Two adiabatic
 Reversed Carnot (Reversible Refrigeration) System

All processes are considered to be reversible

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Assumes Isothermal heat transfer

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For a refrigeration process:

●

WE
Wc

1
Carnot Heat Engine Reversed Carnot Heat Engine
𝑾𝒏𝒆𝒕,𝒐𝒖𝒕 (Carnot Refrigerator)
𝜼𝒓𝒆𝒗 =
𝑸𝑯
𝑸𝑯 − 𝑸𝑳 𝑸𝑳
= 𝑪𝑶𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒗,𝒓𝒆𝒇 =
𝑸𝑯 𝑾𝒏𝒆𝒕,𝒊𝒏
𝑸𝑯
𝑸𝑳 𝑪𝑶𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒗,𝒑𝒖𝒎𝒑 =
𝜼𝒓𝒆𝒗 = 𝟏 − 𝑾𝒏𝒆𝒕,𝒊𝒏
𝑸𝑯
 Reversed Carnot Cycle with gas as refrigerant:

➢ Ideal Refrigeration Cycle

➢ Gases are treated as ideal gases

qH
➢ Internal energy and enthalpy are functions of WE

temperature only
wc

Isentropic Compression[1-2]
●
qL

Isothermal Compression (Heat rejection) [2-3]

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Isentropic Expansion [3-4]

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Isothermal Expansion (Heat Absorption) [4-1]

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(A) Isentropic Compression [1-2] [𝑷𝑽𝜸 = 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕]

𝒔𝟐 = 𝒔𝟏 𝒒𝟏−𝟐 = 𝟎…………………………….(i) qH
𝟐 WE
𝒘𝟏−𝟐 = 𝒘𝒄 = − 𝒗𝒅𝑷
𝟏
𝟐
𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕. wc
=− 𝟏 𝒅𝑷
𝟏 𝑷 𝜸
−𝜸
= 𝜸−𝟏 (𝑷𝟐 𝑽𝟐 − 𝑷𝟏 𝑽𝟏 )………...(ii) qL

First law of Thermodynamics:

𝒘𝟏−𝟐 = 𝒘𝒄 = 𝒉𝟐 − 𝒉𝟏 = 𝒄𝒑 (𝑻𝟐 − 𝑻𝟏 )…...(iii)

(B) Isothermal Heat rejection [2-3]

𝑷𝟐 𝒗𝟐 = 𝑷𝟑 𝒗𝟑 = 𝑹𝑻𝟐 = 𝑹𝑻𝟑 = 𝑹𝑻𝑯 = constant
𝟑 𝟑
𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕. 𝑷𝟑
𝒘𝟐−𝟑 = − 𝒗𝒅𝑷 =− 𝒅𝑷 = −𝑹𝑻𝑯 𝐥𝐧 … … . . (𝒊𝒗)
𝟐 𝟐 𝑷 𝑷𝟐
𝒉𝟑 = 𝒉𝟐
First law of Thermodynamics:
𝒒𝟐−𝟑 = (𝒉𝟑 −𝒉𝟐 ) + 𝒘𝟐−𝟑 = 𝒘𝟐−𝟑 = 𝑻𝑯 𝒔𝟑 − 𝒔𝟐 ………………………….(v)
(C) Isentropic Expansion [3-4] [𝑷𝑽𝜸 = 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕]

𝒔𝟑 = 𝒔𝟒 ⇒ 𝒒𝟑−𝟒 = 𝟎…………………………..(vi) qH
𝟒 WE
𝒘𝟑−𝟒 = 𝒘𝑬 = − 𝒗𝒅𝑷
𝟑
−𝜸 wc
= (𝑷𝟒 𝑽𝟒 − 𝑷𝟑 𝑽𝟑 )…………….(vii)
𝜸−𝟏

First law of Thermodynamics: qL

𝒘𝟑−𝟒 = 𝒘𝑬 = 𝒉𝟒 − 𝒉𝟑 = 𝒄𝒑 (𝑻𝟒 − 𝑻𝟑 )…...(viii)

(D) Isothermal Heat Absorption [4-1]

𝑷𝟒 𝒗𝟒 = 𝑷𝟏 𝒗𝟏 = 𝑹𝑻𝟒 = 𝑹𝑻𝟏 = 𝐑𝑻𝑳 = 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭

𝟏 𝟏
𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕. 𝑷
𝒘𝟒−𝟏 = − 𝒗𝒅𝑷 = − 𝒅𝑷 = −𝑹𝑻𝑳 𝐥𝐧 𝟏 … … … . … . . (𝒊𝒙)
𝟒 𝟒 𝑷 𝑷𝟒
𝒉𝟒 = 𝒉𝟏
First law of Thermodynamics:
𝒒𝟒−𝟏 = (𝒉𝟒 −𝒉𝟏 ) + 𝒘𝟒−𝟏 = 𝒘𝟒−𝟏 = 𝑻𝑳 𝒔𝟏 − 𝒔𝟒 ……………..………………………………(x)
(A) Isentropic Compression [1-2] [𝑷𝑽𝜸 = 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕]
𝒒𝟏−𝟐 = 𝟎…………………………………………………..…….(i)
𝒘𝟏−𝟐 = 𝒘𝒄 = 𝒉𝟐 − 𝒉𝟏 = 𝒄𝒑 (𝑻𝟐 − 𝑻𝟏 )…………...(iii)
(B) Isothermal Heat rejection [2-3] [𝑻𝟐 = 𝑻𝟑 = 𝑻𝑯 = constant]
𝑷𝟑
𝒘𝟐−𝟑 = −𝑹𝑻𝑯 𝐥𝐧 … … … … … … … … … . … … . (𝒊𝒗) qH
𝑷𝟐
𝒒𝟐−𝟑 = 𝒘𝟐−𝟑 = 𝑻𝑯 𝒔𝟑 − 𝒔𝟐 ………………………….(v) WE

(C) Isentropic Expansion [3-4] [𝑷𝑽𝜸 = 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕] wc

𝒒𝟑−𝟒 = 𝟎…………………………………………………………..(vi)
𝒘𝟑−𝟒 = 𝒘𝑬 = 𝒉𝟒 − 𝒉𝟑 = 𝒄𝒑 (𝑻𝟒 − 𝑻𝟑 )…………….(viii) qL
(D) Isothermal Heat Absorption [4-1] [𝑻𝟒 = 𝑻𝟏 = 𝑻𝑳 = 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭]
𝑷𝟏
𝒘𝟒−𝟏 = −𝑹𝑻𝑳 𝐥𝐧 … … … . … … … … … … … … . . . (𝒊𝒙)
𝑷𝟒
𝒒𝟒−𝟏 = 𝒘𝟒−𝟏 = 𝑻𝑳 𝒔𝟏 − 𝒔𝟒 ……………..…………………(x)

|𝒒 | 𝑻𝑳
COP=|𝒘 𝑳 | = 𝑻
𝒏𝒆𝒕 𝑯 −𝑻𝑳
 Dependence of COP on temperatures

Temperature Limitations

𝒒 𝑻𝑳
COP=𝒘 𝑳 = 𝑻
𝒏𝒆𝒕 𝑯 −𝑻𝑳
 Limitations of Reversed Carnot Cycle:

Consider process 4-1: is possible only if the processes take place in an infinitesimally slow
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manner (quasi-static)

Isentropic compression and expansion : not feasible due to Irreversibilities

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 Joule Cycle/ Bell-Coleman Cycle/ Reversed Brayton Cycle
 Gas-cycle refrigeration system
 Isothermal heat transfer in reversed Carnot cycle is replaced by “Isobaric” processes
 Increase in net work: area x + area y
 Reduction in Refrigeration: area y
 Definitely, COP reduces as compared to Reversed Carnot Cycle
 Since the reversed Brayton cycle results in an inferior performance, we have not
succeeded in devising an efficient and practicable system QR
2
T

WC
3
1’
WE

4’ 1

4
QL S
a b
(A) Isentropic Compression [1-2] [𝑷𝑽𝜸 = 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕] QH
𝒔𝟐 = 𝒔𝟏 , 𝒒𝟏−𝟐 = 𝟎……………………………..(i)
𝟐
𝒘𝟏−𝟐 = 𝒘𝒄 = − 𝒗𝒅𝑷
𝟏
WC
𝟐
𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕. WE
=− 𝟏 𝒅𝑷
𝟏 𝑷 𝜸
−𝜸
= 𝜸−𝟏 (𝑷𝟐 𝑽𝟐 − 𝑷𝟏 𝑽𝟏 )………......(ii)
First law of Thermodynamics: QL

𝒘𝟏−𝟐 = 𝒘𝒄 = 𝒉𝟐 − 𝒉𝟏 = 𝒄𝒑 (𝑻𝟐 − 𝑻𝟏 )….....(iii)

(B) Isobaric Heat rejection [2-3]

𝑷𝟐 = 𝑷𝟑 = 𝑷𝑯 = constant
𝟑
𝒘𝟐−𝟑 = − 𝒗𝒅𝑷 = 𝟎………………....(iv)
𝟐
First law of Thermodynamics:
𝒒𝟐−𝟑 = (𝒉𝟑 −𝒉𝟐 ) + 𝒘𝟐−𝟑 = 𝒄𝒑 𝑻𝟑 − 𝑻𝟐 ….(v)
 QH
(C) Isentropic Expansion [3-4] 𝜸
[𝑷𝑽 = 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕] QH

𝒔𝟑 = 𝒔𝟒 , 𝒒𝟑−𝟒 = 𝟎…………………………..(vi)
𝟒 WC
𝒘𝟑−𝟒 = 𝒘𝑬 = − 𝒗𝒅𝑷 WC
WE
𝟑 WE
−𝜸
= 𝜸−𝟏 (𝑷𝟒 𝑽𝟒 − 𝑷𝟑 𝑽𝟑 )…………….(vii)

First law of Thermodynamics: QL

QL
𝒘𝟑−𝟒 = 𝒘𝑬 = 𝒉𝟒 − 𝒉𝟑 = 𝒄𝒑 (𝑻𝟒 − 𝑻𝟑 )…...(viii)

(D) Isobaric Heat Absorption [4-1]

𝑷𝟒 = 𝑷𝟏 = 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 = 𝑷𝑳
𝟏
𝒘𝟒−𝟏 = − 𝒗𝒅𝑷 = 𝟎…………………….(ix)
𝟒

First law of Thermodynamics:

𝒒𝟒−𝟏 = (𝒉𝟒 −𝒉𝟏 ) + 𝒘𝟒−𝟏 = 𝒄𝒑 𝑻𝟏 − 𝑻𝟒 .………………(x)
(A) Isentropic Compression [1-2] [𝑷𝑽𝜸 = 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕] QH
𝒔𝟐 = 𝒔𝟏 ⇒ 𝒒𝟏−𝟐 = 𝟎

|𝒘𝟏−𝟐 | = 𝒘𝒄 =𝒄𝒑 (𝑻𝟐 − 𝑻𝟏 )

(B) Isobaric Heat rejection [2-3]
WC
𝒘𝟐−𝟑 = 𝟎
|𝒒𝟐−𝟑 | = 𝒄𝒑 𝑻𝟐 − 𝑻𝟑 WE

(C) Isentropic Expansion [3-4]

[𝑷𝑽𝜸 = 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕]
𝒒𝟑−𝟒 = 𝟎
|𝒘𝟑−𝟒 | = 𝒘𝑬 = 𝒄𝒑 (𝑻𝟑 − 𝑻𝟒 ) QL
(D) Isobaric Heat Absorption [4-1]
𝒘𝟒−𝟏 = 𝟎
|𝒒𝟒−𝟏 | = 𝒄𝒑 𝑻𝟏 − 𝑻𝟒
𝒒𝑳 𝑪𝑷 (𝑻𝟏 −𝑻𝟒 )
COP= =
𝒘𝒏𝒆𝒕 𝑪𝑷 𝑻𝟐 −𝑻𝟏 −𝑪𝑷 (𝑻𝟑 −𝑻𝟒 )
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
= = =
𝑻𝟐 − 𝑻𝟑 𝑻𝟑 𝜸−𝟏
𝜸
𝑻𝟏 − 𝑻𝟒 − 𝟏 𝑻𝟐 𝟏 − 𝑻 𝟐 𝑷𝟐
−𝟏
𝑷𝟏
𝑻𝟏 𝑻𝟒 − 𝟏
𝟏−𝑻
𝟏
 𝟏
𝑪𝑶𝑷 = 𝜸−𝟏
𝒓 𝜸 −𝟏 2’
2’’

• COP decreases with increase in ‘r’

• Minimum pressure ratio (r) for maximum COP ??
𝜸 𝐏𝟐,𝐦𝐢𝐧
𝑷𝟐 𝑻𝟐 𝜸−𝟏
𝒓= =
𝑷𝟏 𝑻𝟏

Minimum ‘r’ at minimum 𝑻𝟐,𝒎𝒊𝒏 = 𝑻𝟏′ = 𝑻𝟑

𝜸
𝑷𝟐 𝑻𝟑 𝜸−𝟏
=
𝑷𝟏 𝒎𝒊𝒏
𝑻𝟏
 Actual Cycle [Joule Cycle/ Bell-Coleman Cycle/ Reversed Brayton Cycle]
compression and expansion are non-isentropic processes

Actual compression work: 𝑾𝒄,𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍 = 𝒎𝒄𝒑 (𝑻𝟐′ − 𝑻𝟏 )

Actual expansion work: 𝑾𝑬,𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍 = 𝒎𝒄𝒑 (𝑻𝟑 − 𝑻𝟒′ )

2’
Actual heat rejection: 𝑸𝑯,𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍 = 𝒎𝒄𝒑 𝑻𝟐′ − 𝑻𝟑

Actual heat absorption: 𝑸𝑳,𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍 = 𝒎𝒄𝒑 𝑻𝟏 − 𝑻𝟒′′

𝑸𝑳,𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍 𝑪𝑷 (𝑻𝟏 −𝑻𝟒′′ )

COPactual= =
𝑾𝒏𝒆𝒕,𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍 𝑪𝑷 𝑻𝟐′ −𝑻𝟏 −𝑪𝑷 (𝑻𝟑 −𝑻𝟒′ )

(i) Isentropic Efficiency of Compressor:

𝑾𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒏 𝒎𝒄𝑷 (𝑻𝟐 −𝑻𝟏 )
𝜼𝑪 = =
𝑾𝑪,𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍 𝒎𝒄𝑷 𝑻𝟐′ −𝑻𝟏 4’’

(iii) Isentropic Efficiency of turbine:

𝑾𝑬,𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍 𝒎𝒄𝑷 (𝑻𝟑 −𝑻𝟒′ )
𝜼𝑬 = =
𝑾𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒏 𝒎𝒄𝑷 𝑻𝟑 −𝑻𝟒
Actual Cycle [Joule Cycle/ Bell-Coleman Cycle/ Reversed Brayton Cycle]

Pressure drops during heat transfer processes

𝑷𝟑′ = 𝑷𝟐 − ∆𝑷𝟐
𝑷𝟒′ = 𝑷𝟏 − ∆𝑷𝟏
𝜸−𝟏
𝜸
𝑻𝟒 𝑷𝟒
=
𝑻𝟑′ 𝑷𝟑′
𝜸−𝟏 1
𝜸
𝑷𝟏 − ∆𝑷𝟏 1’
=
𝑷𝟐 − ∆𝑷𝟐
𝜸−𝟏
𝜸−𝟏 𝜸
𝜸
𝑷𝟏 𝟏 − ∆𝑷𝟏 /𝑷𝟏
= 1’2’3’4’
𝑷𝟐 𝟏 − ∆𝑷𝟐 /𝑷𝟐
𝜸−𝟏
𝜸
𝑷𝟏 𝜸−𝟏
𝜸 −
𝜸−𝟏
𝜸
= 𝟏 − ∆𝑷𝟏 /𝑷𝟏 𝟏 − ∆𝑷𝟐 /𝑷𝟐
𝑷𝟐
𝒌 𝒌
𝟏 𝒌 −𝒌
𝟏 ∆𝑷𝟏 ∆𝑷𝟐
= 𝟏 − ∆𝑷𝟏 /𝑷𝟏 𝟏 − ∆𝑷𝟐 /𝑷𝟐 = 𝟏−𝒌 +𝒌 + ⋯..
𝒓 𝒓 𝑷𝟏 𝑷𝟐
[k=(𝛾 − 1)/𝛾]