ME 161

MULTIPRESSURE SYSTEMS

A multipressure system is a refrigeration system that has two or more ``low-side” pressure.
The low-side pressure is the pressure of the refrigerant between the expansion valve and the intake of
the compressor. A multipressure system is distinguished from the single-stage system which has but one
low-side pressure.

A) Removal of Flash Gas

Expansion process showing replacement of process 3-2

With the combination of 4-5 and 6-7.

A saving in power required by a refrigeration system results if flash gas that develops when liquid
refrigerant expands is removed and recompressed before complete expansion. When saturated liquid
expands through an expansion valve, the percentage of vapor progressively increases. The expansion
process shown in the P-h diagram takes place from 1-2. The state point, as the expansion proceeds,
moves into a region of greater percentage of vapor.

The end point of the expansion, 2, could have been achieved by interrupting the expansion at 3
and separating the liquid and vapor phases, which are 4 and 6. The expansion could then continue by
expanding the liquid at 4 and the vapor at 6 to the final pressure, giving 5 and 7 respectively. The
combination of refrigerant at states 5 & 7 gives point 2.

Inspection of the expansion from 6 to7 confirms that it is wasteful. The refrigerant at 7 can do
no refrigerating and work will be required to compress the vapor back to the pressure it had at 6. Why
not perform part of the expansion, separate the liquid from vapor, continue expanding the liquid, and
recompress the vapor without further expansion? The equipment to achieve this separation is called the
flash tank shown. The expansion from 2 to 3 takes place through a float valve. The valve serves the
further purpose of maintaining a constant level in the flash tank. To recompress the vapor at 6, a
compressor must be available with a suction pressure at 6. Thus two compressors are needed in the
system.

B) Intercooling

Intercooling between two stages of compression reduces the work of compression per pound
(or kg) of vapor.

Intercooling in two- stage compression of air Intercooling of refrigerant in two- stage compression

Methods of Intercooling

• Water cooled heat exchanger

 • Using liquid refrigerant

Optimum Pressure of Intercooling

The optimum pressure of intercooling can be approximately determined by using the formula:
1
𝑝𝑖 = (𝑝𝑠 𝑝𝑑 )2
Where 𝑝𝑖 = 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑜𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑟 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒

𝑝𝑠 = 𝑠𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑜𝑤 − 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑜𝑟

𝑝𝑑 = 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑖𝑔ℎ − 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑜𝑟

VARIOUS COMPRESSOR-EVAPORATOR COMBINATIONS WITH FLASH TANK AND INTERCOOLER

• One Evaporator and One compressor

The flash tank does not improve the performance of the system. The only reason for using the flash tank
would be to keep the flash gas in the machine room rather than sending it to the evaporator The flash
gas in the evaporator tubes and long suction lines does no refrigeration but does increase the pressure
drop.

• Two Evaporators and One Compressor

 • Two Compressor and One evaporator

Example: Calculate the power required by the two compressors in an ammonia system which serves a
25-ton evaporator at -30 F. The system uses two-stage compression with intercooling and removal of
flash gas. The condensing temperature is 90 F. The system is as shown above.

Solution:

The intermediate pressure for optimum economy can be calculated as follows:

• Two Compressors and Two Evaporators
Example: In an ammonia system one evaporator is to provide 20 tons of refrigeration at -30 F and
another evaporator is to provide 40 tons at 10 F. The system uses two-stage compression with
intercooling and is arranged as shown in the figure above(figure4-12). Condensing temperature is 90 F
Calculate the required power by the compressors.
CYCLE WITH TWO-STAGE COMPRESSION, WATER INTERCOOLER, AND FLASH INTERCOOLER
CYCLE WITH TWO-STAGE COMPRESSION, WATER INTERCOOLER, AND FLOODED-TYPE SHELL-AND-COIL

INTERCOOLER

CYCLE WITH TWO STAGE COMPRESSION AND DRY-TYPE, SHELL-AND-COIL INTERCOOLER

SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM FOR TWO-STAGE CYCLE WITH BOTH LOW-PRESSURE AND INTERMEDIATE-
PRESSURE EVAPORATORS

Problem. A refrigerant -22 system is arranged as shown below. Condensing pressure is 1.5 MPa,
intermediate pressure is 0.5 MPa, and evaporating pressure is 0.2 MPa. The following temperatures are
known: t1 = 35 C, t3 = 5 C, t5 = -20 C, and t7 = 5 C. Assume isentropic compression and frictionless flow.
Calculate the coefficient of performance.
Solution:
Problem. A refrigerant-22 economizer cycle is arranged as shown. Assume isentropic compression and
frictionless flow. State 5 is compressed isentropically to state 6 which mixes with state 7 at the same
pressure to form state 8. This refrigerant is then compressed isentropically to state 9. Known data are: t1
= 90 F, t3 = 20 F, t5 = 0 F. (a) Calculate the coefficient of performance for this cycle (b) Compute the
coefficient of performance for this cycle when the mass flow rate at state 7 is reduced to zero. (c)
Comment on the difference between the results obtained in parts (a) and (b).
Solution: