MIE 311 – Winter 2020 Instructor: Dr.

Aimy Bazylak

Practice Problems

Due: No submission

For all coursework, state assumptions, state equations used, and simplify equations in parameter form
before substituting in numerical values. Include units at the end of each calculation with 5 significant
figures. Show all of your work and steps. Be as explicit and neat with your solution as possible. No
submission is required as these are practice problems.

1) An air conditioner using refrigerant-134a as the working fluid and operating on the ideal vapor-
compression refrigeration cycle is to maintain a space at 22°C while operating its condenser at
1000 kPa. Determine the COP of the system when a temperature difference of 2°C is allowed for the
transfer of heat in the evaporator.

2) A refrigerator uses refrigerant-134a as its working fluid and operates on the ideal vapor-compression
refrigeration cycle. The refrigerant evaporates at 5°F and condenses at 180 psia. This unit serves a
45,000 Btu/h cooling load. Determine the mass flow rate of the refrigerant and the power that this unit
will require.

3) A heat pump using refrigerant-134a as a refrigerant operates its condenser at 800 kPa and its
evaporator at −1.25°C. It operates on the ideal vapor-compression refrigeration cycle, except for the
compressor, which has an isentropic efficiency of 85 percent. How much do the compressor
irreversibilities reduce this heat pump’s COP as compared to an ideal vapor-compression refrigeration
cycle?

4) Reconsider Question #3. What is the effect on the COP when the vapor entering the compressor is
superheated by 2°C and the compressor has no irreversibilities?