Lecture 5

AIR REFRIGERATION & ITS SYSTEMS. AIR REFRIGERATION SYSTEM WORKING ON 'REVERSED CARNOT CYCLE'.

Introduction of Air refrigeration syatem

In air refrigeration system the refrigerant will remain in gaseous state through

out the cycle. It can be divided into two types

1. 2.

Closed system Open system

Open cycle Air Rn cycle

In an open air Rn cycle, the air is directly led to the space to be cooled, allowed

to circulate through the cooler and then returned to the compressor to start
another cycle.
Since the air is supplied to the refrigerator at atm pressure, therefore volume of

air handled by the compressor and expander is large. Therefore the size of compressor and expander should be large. Another disadvantage of this system is that the moisture is regularly carried away by the air circulated through the cooled space. This results in to blockage of the line. Thats why we use drier is

used in this system.

Closed cycle Rn cycle

In closed (or dense air) system, the air is passed through the pipes and

components parts of the system all the time. The air, in this system, is used for
absorbing heat from the other fluid (e.g brine) and this cooled brine is circulated into the space to be cooled. The air in the closed system does not come in contact directly with the space to be cooled .
Since it can work at a suction pressure higher than that of atm pressure,

therefore the volume of air handled by the compressor and expander are smaller as compared to an open air Rn cycle.
The operating pressure ratio can be reduced, which results in higher COP.

Air refrigerator working on reversed Carnot cycle