EXPT 2

3. THEORY
A refrigeration cycle works to lower and maintain the temperature of a controlled space by heat transfer
from a low to a high temperature region.
High Temperature Reservoir, TH

QH
.

Wnet

QL
Low Temperature Reservoir, TL
Refrigeration duty is another term for the cooling effect of the refrigeration system, which is the rate of
heat being removed from the low temperature region with specified evaporation and condensation
temperatures. The unit for duty measurements is in Watts (for 1 ton of refrigeration = 3517W).
3.1

The Vapor Compression Cycle

Ideal refrigeration systems follows the theoretical Reversed Carnot Cycle process. In practical
refrigerators, compression and expansion of a gas and vapor mixture presents practical problems
in the compressor and expander. Therefore, in practical refrigeration, compression usually takes
place in the superheated condition and a throttling process is substituted for the isentropic
expansion.

The cycle :
12
23
34
41

Condensation of the high pressure vapour during which heat is transferred to the high
temperature region.
Adiabatic throttling of the condensed vapour from the condensing to the evaporating
pressure.
Evaporation of the low pressure liquid during which heat is absorbed from the low
temperature source.
Isentropic compression of the vapour, from the evaporating to the condensing pressures.

Energy Transfers Analysis

Compressor

q4-1 = h4 h1 + w4-1
If compression is adiabatic, q4-1 = 0, and w4-1 = h1 h4 = wcomp
Power requirement, P = (h1 h4), where is the flow rate of working fluid per unit time.
Condenser
q1-2 = h2 h1 + w
w = 0, therefore q1-2 = h2 h1 and rate of heat rejection Q1-2 = ( h2 h1 )

Expansion Valve

q2-3 = h3 h2 + w
w = 0, therefore q 2-3 = h2 h3 and process is assumed adiabatic q 0
therefore h2 = h3
Evaporator

q34 = h4 h3 + w
w = 0 therefore q34 = h4 h3 and rate of heat absorbed Q34 = ( h4 h3 )
Coefficient of Perfomance, COPref:

COPref =

h4 h3
q3 4
=
h1 h4
w