IDEAL VAPOR COMPRESSION REFRIGERATION CYCLE

By EngineerProf PH/Engr. Raymart Bonete

The vapor-compression refrigeration cycle is the most
widely used cycle for refrigerators, air-conditioning
systems, and heat pumps.
The Ideal Vapor Compression Refrigeration Cycle
Schematic, T-s and P-h Diagram
@State 1: The refrigerant enters the compressor at
state 1 as saturated vapor and is compressed
isentropically to the condenser pressure.
ℎ1 = ℎ𝑔@𝑃1
@State 2: The temperature of the refrigerant
increases after isentropic compression process to well
above the temperature of the surrounding medium.
The refrigerant then enters the condenser as super-
heated vapor
𝑠1 = 𝑠2
Using 𝑠2 and 𝑃2 , determine the enthalpy (superheated)
ℎ2 = ℎ@𝑠2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑃2

@State 3: Refrigerant leaves as saturated liquid at this

state as a result of heat rejection to the surroundings.
𝑃2 = 𝑃3
ℎ3 = ℎ𝑓@ 𝑃3

@State 4: The saturated liquid refrigerant at state 3

is throttled (h=constant) to the evaporator pressure
by passing it through an expansion valve or capillary
tube.
𝑃4 = 𝑃1
ℎ4 = ℎ3
ℎ4 = ℎ𝑓1 + 𝑥ℎ𝑓𝑔1

The refrigerant enters the evaporator at state 4 as a

low-quality saturated mixture, and it completely
evaporates by absorbing heat from the refrigerated
space. The refrigerant leaves the evaporator as
saturated vapor and reenters the compressor,
completing the cycle.

By Energy Balance in each component;

Compressor Work; 𝑊𝑐 = ℎ2 − ℎ1
Hear Rejected; 𝑄ℎ or 𝑄𝑅 ; 𝑄𝑅 = ℎ2 − ℎ3
Heat Removal/Abosrob/Refrigerating Effect/Cooling
Capacity ; 𝑄𝐿 or 𝑄𝐴 ; 𝑄𝐴 = ℎ1 − ℎ4
Reference: Thermodynamics by Cengel and Boles
1-2: Isentropic compression in a compressor
2-3: Constant-pressure heat rejection in a condenser By Energy Balance in the system;
3-4: Throttling in an expansion device 𝑄𝑅 = 𝑄𝐴 + 𝑊𝑐
4-1: Constant-pressure heat absorption in an
evaporator Coefficient of Performance (COP) and Energy Efficiency
Ratio (EER ; Btu per hr per Watts)
𝑄
Useful Conversions 𝐶𝑂𝑃 = 𝑊𝐴 ; 𝐸𝐸𝑅 = 3.412𝐶𝑂𝑃
𝑐
1 Ton of Refrigerant (TOR) = 200 Btu/min
1 Btu = 1055 J