EXPERIMENT NO:

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF REFRIGERATION TEST RIG

AIM:

To find the actual COP of a refrigeration test unit and to estimate the energy consumption of the
given unit.

APPARATUS:

Compressor (1/3 HP), Condenser, Expansion Valve, Evaporator

WORKING:

In household refrigerator, generally Freon-12 is used as the refrigerant. In place of throttle valve
a capillary tube is used.

The low pressure vapour refrigerant is then passed through compressor where it is compressed to
high pressure vapour refrigerant. This high pressure vapour refrigerant then enters the condenser.
Here it is condensed to high pressure liquid refrigerant by rejecting heat to the atmosphere. This
high pressure liquid refrigerant is stored in receiver from where it is sent to capillary tube as per
requirements. The high pressure liquid refrigerant then expanded at capillary tube to low
pressure liquid refrigerant which then flows to evaporator.

A low pressure liquid refrigerant is passed through the evaporator where it absorbs heat from the
evaporator space and gets converted into low pressure vapour refrigerant.

Thus cycle is repeated again and again, where the refrigerant absorbs heat from the evaporator
and rejects that heat to atmosphere at condenser.

The work input supplied to this unit is at compressor where it is driven by supplying external
power in the form of electrical energy.

PROCEDURE:

1. Fill up the evaporator tank with known quantity of water(13kg).

 2. Switch on the power supply and start the compressor after time delay in the stabilizer.
3. After about 1 minute, switch on the stop watch and note the initial energy meter reading
and water temperature in the evaporator.
4. After a certain period of time (50 C drop in water temp) note down the refrigerator
temperature and pressure at the evaporator and condensor.
5. Note down the inlet and outlet pressure, temperature readings at evaporator and
condensor till a known period of time.
6. After reading a known period of time (15min), stopwatch is stopped. Note the final
energy meter reading and water temperature in the tank.

SAMPLE CALCULATION

Final energy meter reading-Initial energy meter reading

Power Consumed= Time for experiment

Refrigeration effect in KJ (Heat energy lost by water) = mc∆T

Refrigeration effect in KJ
Cooling Capacity = Time for experiment in seconds

Cooling Capacity
COP =
Power Consumed

From P-H diagram,

H1 = KJ/Kg

H2 = KJ/Kg

H3 = H4 = KJ/Kg

Refrigerating effect
Theoretical COP=
Work Done
 H1-H4
= H -H
2 1

TABULATION

1 TR = 50 Kcal/min

1.01 Bar =14.7 Psi (pound/inch2)

1 Cal. = 4.18 joules

Joule/second = watt

Water
Energy Time
temperature Condenser Evaporator Condenser Evaporator
Sl meter taken for
in temperature Temperature Pressure Pressure
No reading experiment
calorimeter (˚C) (˚C) (Psi) (Psi)
(KWh) (s)
(˚C)

Initial Final Initial Final Inlet Outlet Inlet Outlet Inlet Outlet Inlet Outlet
Figure 1: Elements of Vapour Compression Refrigeration System

Figure 2: A Schematic Diagram of a Household Refrigerator

RESULT

INFERENCE