Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Madras

ME3103: Energy Conversion Systems

Tutorial – 2

1. A two-stage vapour compression refrigeration system operates with refrigerant-

134a between the pressure limits of 1 MPa and 0.14 MPa. The refrigerant leaves
the condenser as a saturated liquid and is throttled to a flash chamber operating at
0.5 MPa. The refrigerant leaving the low- pressure compressor at 0.5 MPa is
mixed with the vapour coming out of the flash tank and supplied to the high-
pressure compressor. The vapour is then compressed to the condenser pressure by
the high-pressure compressor. Assuming the refrigerant leaves the evaporator as
saturated vapour and both compressors are isentropic, determine (a) the fraction of
the refrigerant that evaporates as it is throttled to the flash chamber, (b) the rate of
heat removed from the refrigerated space for a mass flow rate of 0.25 kg/s through
the condenser, and (c) the coefficient of performance. Use the following tables.

Ans. a) x = 0.183
b) Heat removal rate = 33.87 KW
c) COP = 3.75

2. In a multi-evaporator, vapour compression refrigeration system working with ammonia,

the refrigeration capacity of the high temperature evaporator operating at –6.7°C is 5 TR,
while it is 10 TR for the low temperature evaporator operating at –34.4°C. The
condenser pressure is 10.8 bar. Assuming saturated conditions at the exit of evaporators
and condenser, ammonia vapour to behave as an ideal gas with a gas constant of 0.4882
kJ/kg.K and isentropic index (cp/cv) of 1.29, and isentropic compression: a) Find the
required power input to compressor in kW when a single compressor is used, b) Find the
required power input if separate individual compressors are used for low and high
temperature evaporators. c) Find the required power input if a two- stage compressor is
used and the exiting refrigerant from the LP compressor and high temperature evaporator
are mixed and supplied to the inlet of the HP compressor. Use the data given in the table:
 Ans. a) Power input = 18.67 KW
b) Power input = 14.88 KW
c) Power input = 14.87 KW

3. Consider a two-stage cascade refrigeration system operating between the pressure limits
of 1.2 MPa and 200 kPa with refrigerant-134a as the working fluid. Heat rejection from
the lower cycle to the upper cycle takes place in an adiabatic counterflow heat exchanger
where the pressure in the upper and lower cycles are 0.4 and 0.5 MPa, respectively. In
both cycles, the refrigerant is a saturated liquid at the condenser exit and a saturated
vapour at the compressor inlet, and the isentropic efficiency of the compressor is 80
percent. If the mass flow rate of the refrigerant through the lower cycle is 0.15 kg/s,
determine (a) the mass flow rate of the refrigerant through the upper cycle, (b) the rate of
heat removal from the refrigerated space, and (c) the COP of this refrigerator. Use the
following tables.

Ans. a) Mass flow rate through upper cycle = 0.212 kg/s

b) Heat removal rate = 25.67 KW
c) COP = 2.67

4. A two-stage (two evaporators and two compressors) ammonia system uses flash-gas
removal and intercooling in the flash tank. The refrigerant from the condenser is first
throttled; and then partly goes through the high temperature evaporator, and partly goes
through the flash tank and then into the low temperature evaporator through the throttling
process. The low temperature evaporator operates at -40°C and its refrigeration capacity
is 250 kW. The high temperature evaporator operates at 0°C and its refrigeration capacity
is 150 kW. The condensing temperature is 35°C. The entry to the compressors and exit
of the condenser are at saturated states. Assume compression processes to be isentropic.
Answer the following.
a) Sketch a block diagram of the system showing the different components.
b) Draw the processes in p-h and T-s diagrams.
c) Find the mass flow rate of refrigerant compressed by the high pressure compressor.

Use the tables below.

 Superheated table for ammonia:

Ans. c) Mass flow rate = 0.412 kg/s

5. In a vapour absorption refrigeration system, the generator is maintained at a temperature

of 117°C, the evaporator at -15°C, and the condenser and absorber at 37°C. The second
law efficiency of the system is 50%, and the refrigeration capacity is 100 TR. Find the
mass flow rate of steam supplied to the generator if saturated steam enters the generator
at 130°C and the condensate leaves the generator at 120°C. Use the following saturation
table for water.

Ans. Mass flow rate of steam = 0.311 kg/s