Standard and Actual Vapor

Compression Refrigeration Cycle

Mechanical Vapor Compression Refrigeration Cycle

The most commonly used refrigeration systems which

employs a compressor.

Four major thermal processes: evaporation, compression,

condensation, and expansion.
Evaporation
Gaseous escape of molecules from the surface of a liquid by
the absorption of a considerable quantity of heat without
any change in temperature.
Compression
Compressor raises the pressure of the refrigerant vapor
obtained from the evaporator through the addition of heat.
Condensation
Changing a vapor into a liquid by extracting heat.
Condensing the refrigerant gas allows reuse at the
beginning of the next cycle.
Expansion
A throttling device such as a valve, orifice plate, or capillary
tube for the expansion process is used to reduce the
pressure of the refrigerant liquid to the low-pressure level
and the boiling temperature of the refrigerant to below the
temperature of the heat source.
Basic MVCR
Processes
(1–2) Reversible adiabatic
compression

(2–3) Reversible heat rejection

at constant pressure

(3–4) Irreversible expansion at

constant enthalpy

(4−1) Reversible heat addition

at constant pressure
Processes
(1–2) Reversible adiabatic
compression

(2–3) Reversible heat rejection

at constant pressure

(3–4) Irreversible expansion at

constant enthalpy

(4−1) Reversible heat addition

at constant pressure
Components
Evaporator: Boils the liquid refrigerant at a low
temperature, which causes the refrigerant to absorb heat.
Suction line: Carries the refrigerant to the compressor. In
this line, the refrigerant is a superheated gas.
Compressor: Remove vapor from the evaporator to keep
the evaporator’s boiling point low and compress the low-
temperature refrigerant vapor creating a high-temperature,
high-pressure superheated vapor.
Components
Hot gas discharge line: Carries high-pressure, high-
temperature superheated refrigerant vapor it to the
condenser.
Condenser: Expel heat and changes the state of the
superheated refrigerant vapor back into a liquid.
Liquid line: Connects the condenser with the refrigerant
control device, including the expansion valve.
Components
Refrigerant control: It monitors the liquid refrigerant that
enters the evaporator and makes sure that all the liquid is
boiled off before the refrigerant goes to the suction line.
Additional features: liquid receiver, service valves, suction
service valve, discharge service valve, and liquid receiver
service valve.
Analysis of MVCR Cycle
Compressor:

𝐸𝑖𝑛 = 𝐸𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝑚ℎ1 + 𝑊 = 𝑚ℎ2
𝑊 = 𝑚(ℎ2 − ℎ1 )

m = mass flow rate of refrigerant, kg/s

h = enthalpy, kJ/kg
W = compressor power input, kW
Analysis of MVCR Cycle
Condenser:

𝐸𝑖𝑛 = 𝐸𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝑚ℎ2 = 𝑚ℎ3 + 𝑄𝐻
𝑄𝐻 = 𝑚(ℎ3 − ℎ2 )

m = mass flow rate of refrigerant, kg/s

h = enthalpy, kJ/kg
Qh = heat rejection from condenser, kW
Analysis of MVCR Cycle
Expansion valve:

𝐸𝑖𝑛 = 𝐸𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝑚ℎ3 = 𝑚ℎ4
ℎ3 = ℎ4

m = mass flow rate of refrigerant, kg/s

h = enthalpy, kJ/kg
Analysis of MVCR Cycle
Evaporator:

𝐸𝑖𝑛 = 𝐸𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝑚ℎ4 + 𝑄𝐿 = 𝑚ℎ1
𝑄𝐿 = 𝑚(ℎ1 − ℎ4 )

m = mass flow rate of refrigerant, kg/s

h = enthalpy, kJ/kg
QL = refrigerating capacity, kW
Analysis of MVCR Cycle
Entire refrigeration
system:

𝐸𝑖𝑛 = 𝐸𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝑊 + 𝑄𝐿 = 𝑄𝐻
𝑄𝐿 ℎ1 − ℎ4
𝐶𝑂𝑃 = =
𝑊 ℎ2 − ℎ1
Analysis of MVCR Cycle
Efficiencies:
Isentropic efficiency of adiabatic
compressor

𝑖𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑐 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑊𝑠
𝜂𝑐 = =
𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑊𝑎
ℎ2𝑠 − ℎ1
𝜂𝑐 =
ℎ2𝑎 − ℎ1
Analysis of MVCR Cycle
Efficiencies:
Isentropic efficiency of adiabatic
turbine

𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑊𝑎
𝜂𝑇 = =
𝑖𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑐 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑊𝑠
ℎ1 − ℎ2𝑎
𝜂𝑇 =
ℎ1 − ℎ2𝑠