REFRIGERATION CYCLES

Modified by:
Yusli Yaakob
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
Universiti Teknologi MARA
MEC551 CHAPTER 5
REFRIGERATION SYSTEM

• Heat transfer usually experienced in direction of decreasing

temperature.
• Reversed process – need a mechanism.
• The purpose of refrigeration is to transfer heat from a chamber so
that the temperature inside is reduce to below that of its surrounding.
• The space inside the chamber is said to be cold and the machine used
to achieve this is called a refrigerator.
• Refrigeration process consists of:
• Continuous circulation of working fluid through a cycle of
processes.
• Used working fluid called refrigerant
REFRIGERATION SYSTEM

• QL = magnitude of heat removed from refrigerated space at

temperature TL.
• QH = magnitude of heat rejected to the warm space at temperature T H.
• Refrigeration has many practical applications in this modern life:
• Domestic refrigerator for preserving food
• Freezer for making ice and extended storage of foods eg. Meat,
vegetable, ice-cream
• Air-conditioning for comfort and hygiene
• Cryogenics i.e very low temperature for purpose of gas
liquefaction and scientific research
CARNOT REFRIGERATION CYCLES

• Carnot Refrigeration Cycle

CARNOT REFRIGERATION CYCLES
• T-s diagram for Carnot vapor refrigeration
cycle
• ab41- heat added to refrigerant from cold
region
• ab32 – heat rejected from refrigerant to
warm region
• 1234 – net heat transfer from refrigerant
= net work done on refrigerant
= WC – W T
CRITERIA OF PERFORMANCE

• The value cycle efficiency is no more suitable to value the working of

refrigeration cycle.
• The parameter to expressed performance must related the desired
effect as compared to the work input.
• The term used is the criteria of performance or Coefficient of
Performance (COP)
CRITERIA OF PERFORMANCE

• C.O.P for refrigeration

Desired Output
COPref 
Required Input
QL TL
• C.O.P for heat
pump
WC  WT

TH  TC

Desired Output Heating Effect

COPhp  
Required Input Work Input
QH TH
 
WC  WT TH  TC
EXAMPLE

1. A steady flow Carnot refrigeration cycle uses refrigerant -134a as the

working fluid. The refrigerant changes from saturated vapor to
saturated liquid at 30C in the condenser as it rejects heat. The
evaporator pressure is 120 kPa. Show the cycle on a T-s diagram
relative to saturation lines, and determine
i. the coefficient of performance
ii. the amount of heat absorbed from the refrigerated space
iii. the net work input.
DEPARTURES FROM CARNOT CYCLE

• We have considered a perfect Carnot cycle. In reality, vapour

refrigeration systems differ in 3 main ways
1. In order to maintain the cold region at TC, the refrigerant in the evaporator
must be at a slightly lower temperature, TC’. Similarly, the temperature in the
condenser must be at a temperature above TH, i.e. TH’.
DEPARTURES FROM CARNOT CYCLE

• The coefficient of performance becomes

TC
COP 
TH  TC
DEPARTURES FROM CARNOT CYCLE

2. or ’’ begins within the vapour dome with a

fluid-gas mixture for the compression. The fluid
droplets in this mixture can damage the compressor
blades. Thus, this wet compression is avoided by
starting with  (or ’)on the saturation line (sat. vapour)
to ensure dry compression.
3. The expansion through the turbine produces little WT
compared to WC . Therefore, to save on capital costs
and maintenance costs, the turbine is normally replaced
by an expansion valve
COMPONENTS OF VAPOR-COMPRESSION
REFRIGERATION SYSTEM
HOUSEHOLD REFRIGERATORS
COMPONENTS DESCRIPTION

• COMPRESSOR: Provide the driving force for the entire system by

drawing low pressure refrigerant in and adding pressure such that it
exits at a higher temperature.

• CONDENSER: Exhaust heat from the system by virtue of heat transfer

across a temperature gradient. The refrigerant in the condenser is at a
higher temperature than the ambient temperature.
COMPONENTS DESCRIPTION

• EXPANSION VALVE: Allow the refrigerant to expand dramatically in a

controlled process such that it exits the valve at a low quality liquid-
vapor mixture.

• EVAPORATOR: Absorb heat from the cold space by virtue of a

temperature gradient, similar to the condenser.
SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM
ANALYZING VAPOR-COMPRESSION
REFRIGERATION SYSTEM

• Thus, actual cycles more closely resemble the ideal vapour

compression cycle:
• 1  2s Isentropic compression
Starting with x1 = 1.0 (saturated vapour)
• 2s  3 heat transfer from refrigerant at constant P
in condenser
• 3  4 Throttling process to two-phase mixture
• 4  1 to refrigerant at constant P in
evaporator to saturated vapour state
ANALYZING VAPOR-COMPRESSION
REFRIGERATION SYSTEM

• T-s diagram
ANALYZING VAPOR-COMPRESSION
REFRIGERATION SYSTEM

• p-h Diagram
ANALYZING VAPOR-COMPRESSION
REFRIGERATION SYSTEM

• Refrigeration effect qL (kJ/ kg) is the heat extracted by a

unit mass of refrigerant during the evaporating process in
the evaporator.

• Refrigerating load QL (kW) is the required rate of heat

extraction by the refrigerant in the evaporator.
ANALYZING VAPOR-COMPRESSION
REFRIGERATION SYSTEM

• Refrigerating capacity, or cooling capacity, QRC (kW) is the

actual rate of heat extracted by the refrigerant in the
evaporator. In practice, the refrigeration capacity of the
equipment selected is often slightly higher than the
refrigerating load. This is because the manufacturer’s
specifications are a series of fixed capacities. Occasionally,
equipment can be selected so that its capacity is just equal
to the refrigeration load required.
ANALYZING VAPOR-COMPRESSION
REFRIGERATION SYSTEM

• As the refrigerant passes through the evaporator, heat

transfer from the refrigerated space results in vaporization
of the refrigerant. For a control volume enclosing the
refrigerant side of the evaporator, the mass and energy
rate balances reduce to give the rate of heat transfer per
unit mass of refrigerant flowing as

Q in
h1  h4

m
ANALYZING VAPOR-COMPRESSION
REFRIGERATION SYSTEM

• Where m m is the mass flow rate of the refrigerant.

• The heat transfer rate Qin is referred to as the
refrigeration capacity. The capacity is normally expressed
in kW.
• Another commonly used unit for the refrigeration capacity
is the ton of refrigeration, which is equal to or about 211
kJ/min.
ANALYZING VAPOR-COMPRESSION
REFRIGERATION SYSTEM

• The refrigerant leaving the evaporator is compressed to a

relatively high pressure and temperature by the
compressor. Assuming no heat transfer to or from the
compressor, the mass and energy rate balances for a
control volume enclosing the compressor give

W
c
h2  h1
 rate of power input per unit mass of
• Where W/m is the
m
refrigerant flowing
ANALYZING VAPOR-COMPRESSION
REFRIGERATION SYSTEM

• The refrigerant passes through the condenser, where the

refrigerant condenses and there is heat transfer from the
refrigerant to cooler the surroundings. For a control
volume enclosing the refrigerant side of the condenser,
the rate of heat transfer from the refrigerant per unit mass
of refrigerant flowing is

Q out
h2  h3
m
ANALYZING VAPOR-COMPRESSION
REFRIGERATION SYSTEM

• Finally, the refrigerant at state 3 enters the expansion

valve and expands to the evaporator pressure. This
process is usually modelled as throttling process for which

h3 h4
• The refrigerant pressure decrease in the irreversible
adiabatic expansion and there is an accompanying
increase in specific entropy. The refrigerant exits the valve
at state 4 as two-phase liquid-vapour mixture.
ANALYZING VAPOR-COMPRESSION
REFRIGERATION SYSTEM

• In the vapour-compression system, the net power input is

equal to the compressor power, since the expansion valve
involve no power input or output. Using the quantities and
expression introduce before, the Coefficient Of
Performance of the vapour compression refrigeration
system is

CoolingEffect Q h1  h4
in
COPref   
WorkInput W  h2  h1
c
 ANALYZING VAPOR-COMPRESSION
REFRIGERATION SYSTEM

• The refrigeration capacity decides the mass flow rate of a

given refrigerant when working under specified
conditions, i.e:
• Mass flow rate of refrigerant, m 
m

Refrigerat ion capacity m h1  h4 

m  
Refrigerat ing effect per unit mass h1  h 4
EXAMPLE

• A refrigerator uses R134a as the working fluid and operates on an

ideal vapour-compression refrigeration cycle between 0.1Mpa and
1.0Mpa.If the mass flow rate of refrigerant is 0.05 kg/s. Determine
i. The rate of heat removal from the refrigerated space and power input to the
compressor.
ii. The rate of heat rejection to the environment
iii. The coefficient of performance.
ACTUAL CYCLE (IRREVERSIBLE)

• Adiabatic Irreversible Compression

ACTUAL CYCLE (IRREVERSIBLE)

• The effect of irreversible compression can be accounted for by using the

isentropic compressor efficiency, which for states designated as in
figure above is given by

h2s  h1
c 
h2  h1
EXAMPLE

• A refrigerator uses R134a as the working fluid and operates on an

ideal vapour-compression refrigeration cycle between 0.12Mpa and
1.0Mpa.If the mass flow rate of refrigerant is 0.05 kg/s and exit
temperature of the compressor is 60 degrees, determine
i. The rate of heat removal from the refrigerated space and power input to the
compressor.
ii. The isentropic efficiency of the compressor
iii. The rate of heat rejection to the environment
iv. The coefficient of performance for refrigerator and heat pump
ACTUAL CYCLE (SUPERHEATED)

• The superheated condition at the evaporator exit (state 1), which differs
from the saturated vapour condition shown in Figure below
ACTUAL CYCLE (SUBCOOLING)

• The subcooling of the condenser exit (state 3), which differs from the
saturated vapour condition shown in Figure below
EXAMPLE

• Refrigerant-134a enters the compressor at 0.1 MPa and -

20°C at a rate of 0.05 kg/s, and it leaves at 1.2 MPa and
80°C. The refrigerant is cooled in the condenser to 40°C.
Determine
i. The rate of heat removal from the refrigerated space and power input to the
compressor.
ii. The rate of heat rejection to the environment
iii. The coefficient of performance heat pump and refrigeration cycle
iv. The compressor efficiency
EXAMPLE

• A refrigerator uses R134a as the working fluid. The refrigerant

enters the compressor at 0.14Mpa, -100c and is compressed to
0.8MPa. The refrigerant then cooled in the condenser to 0.72Mpa,
260c and is throttled to 0.15 Mpa. Mass flow rate of refrigerant is 5
kg/s and isentropic efficiency of the compressor is 85 percent,
determine
i. The rate of heat removal from the refrigerated space and
power input to the compressor.
ii. The rate of heat rejection to the environment
iii. The coefficient of performance
iv. The quality of refrigerant
SELECTION OF REFRIGERANT

• Ammonia – commercially used for industrial – low cost, higher

COP, good heat transfer coefficient but toxic.
• Sulfur dioxide, ethyl chloride – toxic
• CFC – freon – Low cost – R11 (chiller), R12 (fridge), R22
(commercial building), R502 (supermarket) – ozone effect.
• Considerations
i) The temperature of refrigerated space and surroundings
ii) Nontoxic, noncorrossive, chemically stable, nonflammable, low
cost.
VAPOR COMPRESSION
REFRIGERATION SYSTEM

Cascade Refrigeration system.

• Due to large temperature different and to avoid large single vapor
compression, modification for two or more refrigeration system
are needed.
• Usually used counter flow heat exchanger in the middle, act as
evaporator for the topping cycle (cycle A) and the condenser for
bottoming cycle (cycle B).

m A h2  h3
m A (h5  h8 ) mB (h2  h3 )  
mB h5  h8
VAPOR COMPRESSION
REFRIGERATION SYSTEM

Cascade Refrigeration system.

• As the result

QL mB (h1  h4 )
COPR ,cascade  
WIN , NET m A (h6  h5 )  mB (h2  h1 )
VAPOR COMPRESSION
REFRIGERATION SYSTEM

Cascade Refrigeration system.

VAPOR COMPRESSION
REFRIGERATION SYSTEM
Consider a two-stage cascade refrigeration system operating between
pressure limits of 1.2 MPa and 0.1MPa. Each stage operates on an ideal
vapor-compression refrigeration cycle with R134a as the working fluid.
Heat rejection from the lower cycle to the upper cycle takes place in an
adiabatic counterflow heat exchanger where both streams enter at
about 0.6 MPa. The Compressor efficiency for lower and upper cycle is
80% and 85%, respectively. The exit temperature of the condenser for
lower and upper cycle is 20° and 40°. If mass flow rate of the
refrigeration through the upper cycle is 0.05kg/s, determine;
i) The mass flow rate of the refrigerant through the lower cycle (kg/s)
ii) The rate of heat removal from refrigerated surface & power input to
the compressor (kW)
iii) COPHP and COPRef
VAPOR COMPRESSION
REFRIGERATION SYSTEM

Multistage compression refrigeration system.

• Better heat transfer characteristics, lead to change the heat
exchanger to the flash chamber / mixing chamber.
• Refrigerant expand at first expansion valve, enter the flash
chamber. Part of the liquid vaporized during this process than will
mixed with superheated vapor exit from low pressure compressor,
entered the high pressure compressor.
VAPOR COMPRESSION
REFRIGERATION SYSTEM

Multistage compression refrigeration system.

 VAPOR COMPRESSION
REFRIGERATION SYSTEM
Consider a two-stage cascade refrigeration system operating between pressure limits of
1.2 MPa and 0.1MPa with R134a as the working fluid. The exit temperature of the
condenseris 40° and is throttled to a flash chamber operating at 0.6 MPa. Part of the
refrigerant evaporates during this flashing process, and this vapor mixed with the
refrigerant leaving the low pressure compressor. This mixture than compressed to high
pressure compressor. The Compressor efficiency for lower and upper stage is 80% and
85%, respectively. The liquid in flash chamber than throttled to the evaporator pressure
and cools the refrigerated space as it vaporized in the evaporator. Assume refrigerant
leaves the evaporator as saturated vapor. If mass flow rate of the refrigeration through
the upper stage is 0.05kg/s, determine
i) The fraction of the refrigerant that evaporates as it is throttled to the flash chamber
ii) The rate of heat removed from refrigerated surface & the compressor work per unit
mass of refrigerant flowing to the condenser.
iii) COPhp and COPref
VAPOR ABSORPTION

 Inexpensive thermal energy source (1000C – 2000C) such as

geothermal energy, solar energy, natural gas etc.
• Involve the absorption of a refrigerant by a transport medium –
widely used ammonia (refrigerant) – water (transport) system,
water-lithium bromide, water-lithium chloride system.
• The system are almost same with refrigeration except the
compressor section seem more complicated – consist an absorber,
a generator, a pump, a regenerator, a valve and a rectifier.
VAPOR ABSORPTION
 Inexpensive thermal energy source (1000C – 2000C) such as geothermal energy, solar
energy, natural gas etc.
• Involve the absorption of a refrigerant by a transport medium – widely used ammonia
(refrigerant) – water (transport) system, water-lithium bromide, water-lithium chloride
system.
• The system are almost same with refrigeration except the compressor section seem more
complicated – consist an absorber, a generator, a pump, a regenerator, a valve and a
rectifier.
• Process inside ‘the box’:-
a) Ammonia vapor leaves the evaporator and enter the absorber to form NH 3.H2O.
The absorber need to maintain cooled in order to maximize NH 3 dissolved in water.
b) Then this NH3 will pump to the generator. In generator, heat is transfer from the
vapor source, than this vapor will through rectifier where discharge the water.
VAPOR ABSORPTION
 VAPOR ABSORPTION

b) Then this NH3 will pump to the generator. In generator, heat is

transfer from the vapor source, than this vapor will through
rectifier where discharge the water.
c) The high pressure pure NH3 will continue to the rest of the system,
and the hot NH3+H2O passes through regenerator, throttled back to
the absorber pressure.
 Advantage; work input to the absorber relatively small.
 Drawback; expensive, complex, space consumed, require larger
cooling tower to discharge heat.

Desired Output QL QL
COPabsorption   
Required Input QGEN  WIN , PUMP QGEN
VAPOR ABSORPTION

 By assuming all the process is reversible, the maximum COP will

generate. This possible by Qgen were transferred to a Carnot heat
engine, and work output supplies to a Carnot refrigerator.

Output Wor k, W TH , REV xQGEN

QL WxCOPR ,rev TH , REV QGEN COPR ,rev

QL  T0   TL 
COPrev ,absorption  TH ,rev COPR ,rev  1    
QGEN  TS   T0  TS 