Module 2: Vapor Compression System

direction indicated by the arrows. The order in

which it flows through the components is always
the same for cooling applications.

BASIC REFRIGERATION CYCLE

There are many types of mechanical refrigeration

systems. They come in a great variety of shapes,
sizes, component arrangements, and uses. If you
build your understanding of refrigeration by trying
to learn about each one, you will have a very long
and difficult task ahead. If, on the other hand, you
work hard at learning the basics of refrigeration Refrigeration is defined terms as in its simplest
presented in the first three modules of this Cooling by removal of heat. In terms of heat
program, your job will be much easier. The transfer, refrigeration is the transfer of from heat
principles of mechanical refrigeration and the a place where it is not wanted to place where it is
essential components of a system are the a less objectionable.
same, no matter how big or small the system, and
no matter how the system is packaged So, let's
begin by learning about the things all refrigeration
systems have in common. Then you A will find it
easy to sort out the details that make one system
different from another.

The normal strategy in mechanical refrigeration is

first to get the heat into the refrigerant. Then, the
refrigerant is pumped to a place where the heat
can be removed from it. The refrigerant makes
this heat transfer possible. For practical
purposes, a refrigerant is a fluid that picks up heat
by evaporating at a low temperature and pressure
Here is a schematic diagram of a mechanical
and gives up heat by condensing at a higher
refrigeration system. You will recall that there are
temperature and pressure.
four components. A fluid (a liquid or gas), called
refrigerant, is circulated through each component
for the purpose of moving heat. It flows between
components, through refrigerant piping, in the

Most of the heat transfer in a mechanical
refrigeration system takes place because the
refrigerant changes state. The liquid refrigerant
passes through an evaporator that absorbs its
latent heat of vaporization, and in the process
changes from a liquid into a vapor. The gas
refrigerant passing through the condenser rejects
its latent heat of vaporization, thus changing from
a gas into a liquid. This cyclic change in the state
of the refrigerant from a liquid into a gas, and then
from a gas back into a liquid, is what moves heat
to the desired place.
OPEN CYCLE VS. CLOSE CYCLE SYSTEM
Mechanical Refrigeration systems always use a
closed refrigeration cycle. In other words, the
refrigerant is isolated in a from the environment.
Open refrigeration cycles the substance doing the
cooling is open to its environment.
The old-fashioned icebox used an open
refrigeration cycle. The ice doing the cooling was
exposed to the environment around it. The icebox
was not mechanically refrigerated. A piece of ice
was placed in the top and the food was stored in
the bottom of the icebox. Heat was carried by air
convection currents from the food to the ice,
cooling the food and melting the ice as it
absorbed its latent heat of fusion. As the ice
melted, the runoff water carried the heat
absorbed by the ice out of the box into a drain pan
kept below the Icebox. In an open cycle the thing
doing the cooling cannot be easily reused he ice
had to be replaced regularly and the drain pan
emptied to keep the icebox working.
A canteen with a wetted outer jacket is another
example of an open refrigeration cycle. The water
on the canteen cover evaporates, absorbing its
latent heat of vaporization from the outer canteen
walls and surrounding air. The water within the
canteen, in turn, loses heat to the canteen walls,
cooling the water. This works especially well in
hot, dry climates where evaporation happens
quickly.
As with the icebox, the canteen is an open cycle
and the thing doing the cooling is in direct contact
with the environment around it When it has
accomplished its work, the water on the canteen
jacket is lost from the cycle and cannot be easily
reused because it is now mixed with air. More
water must be poured onto the canteen jacket to
keep the cycle working.
If water were far less plentiful than it is, is use in
open cycle refrigeration systems would
disappear. Instead, a means would be found to
contain and recycle the water so that none would
be lost to the environment.
Theoretically, refrigerant could be used in an
open cycle refrigeration system. Here it is being
released from a refrigerant drum into a coil. As
the liquid refrigerant absorbs its latent heat of
vaporization from the air outside the coil tubes,
the air is cooled and the refrigerant boils,
changing state from a liquid into a gas.

As with other open cycle systems, the thing doing
the cooling is open to its environment and is not
reused. Unlike water or ice, however refrigerants
are rare and ex pensive, as well as damaging to
our atmosphere in most places around the world,
it is illegal to release them directly into the
atmosphere.
CLOSED SYSTEM CYCLE
The "system" shown here illustrates why closed
refrigeration systems must have mechanical
devices to move heat It has neither a compressor
nor a metering device.
As we learned in Module 1, heat naturally flows
from a warmer to a cooler temperature. In this
arrangement, therefore, the refrigerant picks up
heat from the outdoor air and rejects that heat to
the indoor air. The space will soon reach the
same temperature as the outdoor air. What is
really needed is a way to move heat from a lower
temperature area (the indoor air) to a higher one
(the outdoor air). Just like moving water uphill.
This works against the laws of nature and
therefore requires mechanical energy.
Notice also that this closed cycle refrigeration
“system" has the outdoor coil evaporating liquid
refrigerant into a vapor, while the indoor coil
condenses vapor refrigerant into a liquid. We
need to rearrange temperatures and pressures
within the refrigeration system so that just the
opposite occurs. The indoor coil must evaporate
liquid refrigerant into a vapor by absorbing heat
from the indoor air. It will cool the indoor air in the
process. he outdoor col must condense gas
refrigerant into a liquid by transferring heat from
the refrigerant to the outdoor air.
Adding a compressor and a metering device
solves the problem by making it a mechanical
refrigeration system. These two components will
allow us to do two things that were impossible
without them. First, the compressor allows us to
add mechanical energy to the refrigerant so that
eat can be forced to flow "uphill. Secondly, they
allow us to create two pressure zones in the same
system.
Our system needs to absorb heat from the in-
door air in order to keep it cooler indoors than
out-doors. The refrigerant in a system absorbs
heat when it evaporates (boils) We need a
system that will evaporate refrigerant at a low
enough temperature that heat will flow from the
indoor air into the refrigerant within the
evaporator. In a comfort air conditioning system,
a normal saturation temperature for the
refrigerant in the evaporator is 40°F. Heat will
flow downhill from the 75°F air flowing over the
coil to the 40°F refrigerant within it. Since
pressure and boiling points are directly related
for all fluids, the refrigerant can be made to
evaporate at a desired temperature simply by
adjusting its pressure to the proper level. For R-
22, a saturation temperature of 40 F occurs at
PSIG a pressure of about 69 PSIG.
Our system also needs to reject heat from the
refrigerant to the outdoor air in order to move heat
out of the building and to make the refrigerant
reusable at the evaporator the next time it goes
around the system. The refrigerant rejects heat
when it condenses from a gas into a liquid. We
need a system that will condense refrigerant at a
high enough temperature that heat will flow from
the refrigerant within the condenser coil into the
outdoor air flowing over the coil. A normal
saturation temperature for the refrigerant in an
air-cooled condenser when it is 95 ºF outdoors is
about 120 ºF as in the evaporator proper pressure
will cause the refrigerant to change state at the
desired temperature. For R-22, a saturation
temperature of 120 occurs at a pressure of about
263 PSIG.
HIGH SIDE/ LOW SIDE
The compressor and metering device work
together to create a high-pressure zone and a
low-pressure zone in the same system. They
allow the same refrigerant that evaporates at
40°F to condense at 120°F. These two devices
mark the dividing points between the high-
pressure side and low-pressure side, or simply
high side and low side of the refrigeration system.
Looking at the system diagram, we will review the
components of the high side and low side of the
system. Locate each item mentioned on the
diagram as it is discussed.
CLOSED CYCLE SYSTEM
The compressor takes in refrigerant gas at low
pressure and temperature (about 40°F) and
compresses it. The discharge of the compressor
is on the high side of the system. The compressor
has raised the pressure to about 263 PSIG and
the temperature to 170°F. Also, on the high side
is the interconnecting tubing ("line") that carries
the hot gas from the compressor to the condenser
coil. This is called the hot gas line. The condenser
coil is on the high side, as is the liquid line which
connects the condenser to the metering device.
Refrigerant enters the metering device at a high
pressure and temperature, but leaves at a low
pressure and temperature.
The inlet of the metering device is the high on
side, but the outlet is on the low side of the
system. The evaporator coil also is on the low
side of the system, as is the suction line
connecting the evaporator with the inlet to the
compressor. The suction, or inlet, side of the
compressor is the last item on the low side of the regulate refrigerant pressure and flow within the
system. system. The compressor and liquid metering
device belong to this group.

MECHANICAL REGRIGERATION COMPONENTS

The Evaporator

In summary, the basic, essential components of

a mechanical refrigeration system are:
1. An evaporator to absorb heat into the
refrigerant system.
2. A condenser to reject heat from the
The evaporator is a heat exchanger that transfers
refrigerant system.
heat from the fluid flowing over it to the refrigerant
3. A compressor to establish the pressures
within its tubes. The result is that the heat content
necessary to force heat to flow "uphill.
of the fluid flowing over the evaporator is reduced
4. A liquid metering device to regulate the
while that of the refrigerant is increased. The
flow of refrigerant and, in the process, to
evaporator absorbs heat into the refrigeration
establish two pressure levels.
system. Evaporators can be used to cool air or
liquids. For jobs below 20 tons of cooling
Piping is used to inter connect these components
capacity, an air-cooling evaporator is used almost
and to keep the refrigerant closed off from
all the time. The air cooled by the evaporator is
contamination by the environment outside the
sent directly to the air-conditioned space. An air-
system. Many accessories are available for the
cooling evaporator is called a direct expansion
refrigeration system, but they are not absolutely
coil, often abbreviated D-X coil, or simply
essential to its operation. They will be covered in
evaporator
a separate module Now let’s take a closer look at
each of these four basic components.

An evaporator that cools liquids is called a cooler

The four basic components can be divided into
two groups, each containing two items. The first
group is heat exchangers; these transfer heat.
The evaporator and the condenser make up this
group. The second mechanical devices which
and is part of a refrigeration system called a
chiller which is designed to chill liquids, normally
water. Liquid cooling by the use of chillers
becomes especially attractive when the
refrigeration system exceeds 100 tons of
capacity. When a cooler is used, the liquid it cools
is piped to the areas needed, where it is then
circulated through chilled water fan coils and
returned to the cooler.
The direct expansion evaporator, shown here, is
a finned-tube type commonly used in air
conditioning and commercial refrigeration. The
fins are flat, thin sheets of aluminum fastened to
the coil tubes. They provide additional heat
transfer sur- face for extracting heat from the air
as it passes over the coil. Some have been
removed in this diagram for easy viewing of the
three tubes within the coil.
Warm air (about 80°F) is blown over the coil by
the fan. As it flows over the cool coil. Surface
(about 53°F), the heat from the air flows downhill
from the warmer air into the cooler coil fins and
tubes, and then into the refrigerant. The air
leaving the coil is considerably cooler than when
it entered; a 15°F to 25°F temperature drop is
normal for comfort air conditioning systems. This
cool air can now be circulated back through the
space to absorb more heat and bring it back to
the coil.
The refrigerant is supplied to the coil by small
pipes which connect the liquid metering device
to the evaporator. One of these pipes, or circuits
is shown. There as circuits in the coil as are
many there are liquid connections to the coil.
The temperature and condition of the refrigerant
as it passes through the evaporator can be
graphed on a temperature-enthalpy (T-H)
diagram. For this example, the heavy line shows
the actual condition of the refrigerant, while the
broken line shows various possible conditions of
the refrigerant at the evaporator pressure.
Here we see that the refrigerant enters the coil at
saturation. It is to the right of the saturated liquid
point so it is a liquid/gas mixture. It is evaporating
(boiling at a constant temperature as it passes
through the coil.
Its enthalpy is increasing steadily as more
refrigerant changes into gas. When it reaches the
saturated vapor point, additional heat
Absorption causes it to increase in temperature,
becoming super healed.
MECHANICAL REFRIGERATION
COMPONENTS

Even though the temperature changes from
beginning to end is small (only 10°F), the
enthalpy change is significant. It enters at about
42 Btu/ lb. and leaves at about 110 Btu/lb. The
enthalpy changes per pound of refrigerant
circulated is 110 Btu/lb. 42 Btu/lb. 68 Btu/lb. It is
this enthalpy change which, in large part,
determines the cooling capacity of the system.
To summarize: the refrigerant enters the
evaporator from the metering device as a low
pressure, low temperature, saturated liquid-vapor
mixture that is mostly liquid. It leaves the
evaporator as a low pressure, low temperature,
super-heated gas Refrigerant leaving the
evaporator flows into the compressor inlet.
THE CONDENSER
The condenser is a heat exchanger that transfers
heat from the refrigerant flowing within its tubes
to the fluid which flows over it. The result is that
the heat content of the fluid flowing over it is
increased while that of the refrigerant is
condensed. This process lets us reuse the
refrigerant to cool air or fluid in the evaporator.
The condenser rejects heat from the refrigeration
system.
Condensers can use either air or water to remove
heat from the refrigerant. Condensers that reject
heat to air are called air-cooled condensers while
those that reject heat to water are called. water-
cooled condensers. For jobs below 100 tons of
cooling capacity, air cooled condensers are used
most of the time. The larger the tonnage of the job
the more likely that water-cooled condensers will
be used. Systems above 100 tons of cooling
capacity that use coolers to chill water often use
water-cooled condenser. The vast-majority of
residential and light commercial equipment uses
air cooled condenser.
The air-cooled condenser shown here is a finned-
tube type commonly used in air conditioning and
commercial refrigeration. Notice how similar its
tubes, fins, and general construction are to those
on the D-X (evaporator) coil, shown previously.
Condenser coils are manufactured in a variety of
shapes and sizes. The style of fins may vary from
solid, plate fins, like those shown here to spiny
fins which have a ribbon-like appearance. Some
of the fins have been removed in this diagram for
easy viewing of the three tubes within the coil.
As outdoor air (about 95°F) is drawn over the
condenser coil by the condenser fan, the heat
from the refrigerant flows from the hot refrigerant
to the air. Even though the outdoor air has a
rather high temperature, the high pressure
created by the compressor makes the refrigerant
quite a bit warmer (120°F saturation temperature
or 170°F actual temperature with superheat) than
the air so that heat is transferred from the
refrigerant to the air. Refrigerant is supplied to
the condenser coil by a hot gas line coming from
the compressor discharge. Depending upon the
size of the coil, there may be a single connection
or multiple connections from a hot gas header as
shown here. the refrigerant pathway through the
coil is shown here for only one circuit. even
though there are as many circuits as there are hot
gas connections to the coil.
The temperature and condition of the refrigerant
as it passes through the condenser may be
graphed on a temperature-enthalpy (T-H)
diagram. The heavy line shows the actual
condition of the R-22 refrigerant at the condenser
pressure of 263 PSIG. During condensation, the
heat content decreases from about 125 Btu/ lb.
to42 Btu/ lb.: this creates an enthalpy difference
of about 83 Btu/ lb. This heat loss from the
refrigerant is about 22% higher than the enthalpy
gained at the evaporator.
The reason for the difference is that heat is added
to the refrigerant after it leaves the evaporator.
The compressor adds this heat when it
compresses the gas coming from the evaporator.
The condenser must remove the heat added by
the compressor, as well as that gained in the
evaporator, in order to restore the refrigerant to
the proper condition to once again enter the
evaporator as a liquid/vapor mixture.
The refrigerant undergoes a sensible, then a
latent and, lastly, a sensible heat transfer process
as it flows through the condenser. In other words,
the condenser de-superheats, condenses, and
sub cools the refrigerant. Additional sub-cooling
is added in the condenser, in this case it is 15°F.
The refrigerant comes into the condenser from
the compressor outlet. When it leaves the
condenser, it flows to the metering device. The
enthalpy of the refrigerant leaving the condenser
is the same as that entering the evaporator (42
Btu/lb.). We'll discuss this subject again later.
THE COMPRESSOR
The compressor is a mechanical device that
boost pressure from the low side to high side of
the refrigeration system. It takes the low
pressure, low temperature, superheated gas from
the evaporator and compress It to the high
temperature, high pressure, superheated gas.
This hand pump shows in a simple way what the
compressor does to the refrigerant gas. In the top
view, the piston is way out and the cylinder
contains a large volume of low temperature
(50°F), low pressure (69 PSIG) R-22 gas. The
gas is superheated because the saturation
temperature at 69 PSIG is 40°F. To find
superheat, subtract saturation temperature from
actual temperatures (S.H. ATST). These
conditions are typical for the gas in a comfort air
conditioning system as it enters the com pressor
coming from the evaporator. In the bottom view,
the piston has been forced in; this action
compresses the gas into a very small space. The
pressure has gone up to 263 PSIG causing the
temperature to rise to 165° F The refrigerant is
now a high temperature, high pressure,
superheated gas. The gas is still Superheated
because the saturation temperature at 263 PSIG
is 120 ºF. This compressed condition is typical for
the gas as it leaves the compressor and enters
the condenser.
The compression of refrigerant gas requires
constant energy input by an electric motor or
other power source that generates heat which is
added to the gas. This is called the heat of
compression. As we mentioned in the condenser
discussion, this heat, plus the heat absorbed in
the evaporator, must be removed from the
refrigerant in the condenser. The heat of
compression usually adds about 22% to 30% to
the heat absorbed in the evaporator.
THE LIQUID METERING DEVICE
The liquid metering device is a mechanical
device that provides a pressure drop. In the
process, it regulates the flow of refrigerant. It
separates the high side from the low side of the
refrigeration system. High temperature, high
pressure, subcooled liquid coming from the
condenser enters the liquid metering device and
passes through a small opening into a larger
area. As it enters the larger area, the pressure
and temperature of the refrigerant drop rapidly
down to the low levels at which it will enter the
evaporator.
There are several types of metering devices used
in mechanical refrigeration systems today.
Sometimes the pressure drop from high side to
low side is accomplished entirely by the metering
device, and sometimes it is a result of the
metering device and the distributor combined.

When the high temperature, high pressure
subcooled liquid coming from the condenser
passes through the liquid metering device it
becomes a low temperature, low pressure
mixture of about 80 saturated liquid and 20
saturated vapors.
As this gas enters the compressor, it is reduced
in volume, then compressed, so that it is
reduced in volume, then compressed, co that it
leaves the compressors as high temperature
(170ºF), high pressure (263 PSIG), superheated
gas.

COMPONENT SUMMARY

As this gas passes through the condenser, heat

is rejected from the refrigerant, so that it
changes I into a high temperature (105ºF), high
Let's summarize the functions of the four basic
pressure (263PSIG), subcooled liquid.
refrigeration cycle components by tracking the
conditions of the refrigerant around the system.
These conditions are typical for a comfort air
conditioning system that uses R-22 as its
refrigerant. They are for peak load and peak
capacity. The evaporator absorbs heat from the
conditioned space into the refrigerant. The heat
causes the refrigerant to boil, which changes
the refrigerant from a low temperature (40°F), low
pressure (69 PSIG), saturated liquid-vapor
mixture into a low temperature (50° F), low
pressure (69 PSIG), superheated gas.

MECHANICAL REFRIGERATION
COMPONENTS The metering device takes this liquid and, in order
to regulate is flow to the evaporator, puts it
through a pressure drop. In the process the
refrigerant changes into a low temperature
(40ºF), low pressure (69 PSIG), saturated liquid-
vapor mixture. The refrigerant will repeat the
cycle by entering the evaporator in this condition.

HOW OT READ P-H DIAGRAMS

WHY BOTHER?

Let’s look at a familiar example of temperature

versus enthalpy and work from there to
understand the pressure – enthalpy relationship
shown on a P – H diagram.
Here is a T – H diagram for R-22 at 69 PSIG,
which is about normal for the evaporator of a
comfort air conditioning system. The saturation
You might ask, "Why should I bother learning temperature, or boiling point, is 40ºF at 69 PSIG.
about how to read pressure-enthalpy diagrams?
Since your time is both limited and very HOW TO READ P – H DIAGRAMS
valuable, that's a good question. The use of P-H
diagrams is an important skill for which we laid
the foundation in GTACI, Module 1, Introduction
To Refrigeration and Module 2, Temperature
and Pressure. There we graphed heat using
temperature-enthalpy (T-H) diagrams. We also
used T-H diagrams to show heat transfer for the
evaporator and condenser in this module. Now
we will transfer this understanding of the T-H
diagram to the P-H diagram for the following
reasons
1. Help you troubleshoot a mechanical
refrigeration system, If the pressure is changed, the T-H plot will look
2. Help you see the functions of each of different because the boiling point of fluid is any
part of the mechanical refrigeration determined by pressure. For example, here is a
system and how they work together to
T-H diagram that is really three H diagrams in
change pressure and move heat.
3. Help you predict the pressures and one. We have plotted only the saturation portion
temperatures you should expect to find of the graph here. It shows the T-H relationship
at various places within a system. for saturated R-22 refrigerant at 102 PSIG, 69
4. Give you an important tool for learning PSIG, and 43 PSIG. The higher the pressure,
other principles about the refrigeration the higher the boiling (saturation) temperature;
system that will be presented in later
the lower the pressure, the lower the saturation
modules.
You can function without understanding the P-H temperature. At 102 PSIG, the saturation
diagram, but you can make your job easier, temperature is 60°F: at 69 PSIG, it is 40 F, and
more successful, and more profitable if you at 43 PSIG, it is 20°F
master this technique and use it.

T – H DIAGRAM

We could continue to add lines for R-22 at
several more pressures, as we have done here.
In fact, if we really wanted to, we could draw a
separate saturation line for every pound of
pressure. This makes it quick and easy to up
match up pressure with saturation temperature.
In this diagram, we have shown pressures in
PSIA instead of PSIG. PSIA is always used on
P-H diagrams, as we learned in module 2.
When all the saturated liquid points are
connected, they form a saturated liquid line. The
same is true for the points of saturated vapor.
The space between these lines is mixture of
liquid and vapor. When making this diagram, we
plotted many T-H diagrams on one diagram, just
as we did for the three pressures in the previous
diagram. This is awkward, and is not the use for
which the T-H diagram is intended.
P-H DIAGRAMS
Instead of making our T-H diagram more and
complicated, we can easily plot absolute
pressure (PSIA) in the place of temperature to
make a single P-H diagram. The pressure is
plotted on the vertical scale of the graph and the
saturation temperatures are written on the
plotted lines. These are the same saturation
lines and points on the T-H diagram just shown.
The area between the saturated liquid and
saturated vapor lines shows mixtures of
saturated liquid and vapor. In this mixture area,
the closer the refrigerant condition is to the
saturated liquid line.
The more liquid is present Conversely, the
closer the refrigerant is to the saturated vapor
line, the more vapor is present. To the left of the
saturated liquid line, you see the subcooled
liquid line. On the right of the saturated vapor
line superheat gas conditions are represented.

In this P-H diagram, the temperature lines at
saturation have been plotted in five-degree
increments. The 40°F temperature line has been
extended beyond the saturation points to show
the normal shape of all temperature lines. As we
see in this diagram, the 40°F refrigerant can
exist at almost any condition. It can be a sub-
cooled liquid when in the subcooled area of the
P-H diagram. Point A is one such example. It
can also be pure, saturated liquid (point B), pure
saturated vapor (point D) or a mixture of the two
(point C). It can also be superheated gas, as
illustrated at point E. Knowing only the
temperature of the refrigerant is not enough to
determine its condition.
SEEING THE INVISIBLE
The P-H diagram allows you to “see the
invisible”. Most service work on the refrigerant
conditions at various points in the system. You
must know its temperature, pressure, and state.
HOW TO READ P-H DIAGRAMS
With an electrical temperature probe, you can find
the refrigerant temperature at many places in the
system. With temperature alone, however, you
won’t know whether the refrigerant is high or low
pressure, or whether it is subcooled, saturated, or
superheated. If it is saturated, you won’t know if it
is saturated liquid, a saturated vapor, or a mixture
of the two. Since we can’t really see the inside of
the system. The P-H diagram gives us the “eyes”
we need to “see” refrigerant conditions other than
temperature.
A temperature reading of 40°F for the refrigerant
will not tell us, by itself, the other refrigerant
conditions. However, if we also know that its
pressure is 55.3 PSIG which is 70 PSIA (55.3
PSIG+14.7 PSI = 7O PSIA), and we are using the
accompanying P-H diagram. then we know that
the refrigerant is at point "E” which is a
superheated gas
We can also see from this P-H diagram that the
refrigerant contains about 10°F superheated
because the saturation temperature at 70 PSIA is
about 30°F. our sample is 40°F which is 10°F
higher than this (10°F superheated)
one side of the system plot matching each of the
four basic refrigeration cycle components.
The step-by-step discussion that follows shows
the same principle in more detail. The refrigerant
Conditions entering and leaving each component
are emphasized.
Both this plot and the more detailed one that
follows are a little simpler than reality because
they ignore the refrigerant pressure losses in the
refrigerant piping as well as in the evaporator and
condenser. They also ignore heat gain and loss
through the refrigerant piping. Even without these
adjustments, our plots are reasonably accurate.

So far, we have seen that the P-H diagram can

be used to quickly find the pressure that matches
any saturation temperature for a refrigerant. It
also allows you to find all refrigerant conditions
when temperature and pressure are known. A
third purpose of the P-H diagram is to plot on one
diagram, the performance of all the components
of the refrigeration system. A system plot allows
us to visualize what each part of the system is
doing with respect to the pressure, heat content,
and temperature of the refrigerant as it flows
along. It also helps us gain a true picture of how This shows how the four essential components of
each component works with, and affects. the the refrigeration cycle match up with the cycle plot
other components of the system. just shown on the P-H diagram. The same
numbers will be used in the detailed P-H plot
which follows. Use these numbers along with this
THE SIMPLE CYCLE
simple picture as we follow the refrigerant around
the system on the P-H diagram.

Here is a view of how the refrigerant will plot on a

P-H diagram for the entire system. This diagram
shows the system plot in its simplest fashion with
Starting at the entrance to the evaporator (point
1), the refrigerant is at the saturation temperature
his matches a gauge pressure of about 69 PSIG
which is the same as 83.7 PSIA (169 PSIG + 147
PSI). On the P-H diagram, you can see that
the refrigerant entering the evaporator in this
example is about 80% saturated liquid and 20%
saturated vapor: this is typical for a comfort air
conditioning system.
EVAPORATOR
As the refrigerant moves through the evaporator,
it absorbs heat, increasing its enthalpy (heat
content). We see this on the P-H diagram by the
line drawn to the right of point 1. The refrigerant
leaves the evaporator at point 2. Its enthalpy
changes from 42 Btu/lb. to 110 Btu/b, a total of 68
Btu/lb. In other words, about 68 Btu's will be
absorbed by the evaporator into the refrigerant for
each pound of refrigerant circulated through the
system This is what allows the system to do its
cooling job. The amount of heat absorbed by the
evaporator per pound of refrigerant Circulated is
called the refrigeration effect of the system. As
the refrigerant leaves the evaporator, It has
already begun to superheat. It is a low
temperature, low pressure, superheated gas at
an actual temperature of about 50º F.
COMPRESSOR
The gas leaving the evaporator at point 2 now
enters the compressor and is changed into a high
temperature, high pressure, superheated gas. It
leaves the compressor at point 3. The
compressor has changed the pressure of the
refrigerant from 83.4 PSIA (69 PSIG + 14.7 PSI)
to 277.7 PSIA (263 PSIG 14.7 PSI). Along with
this change in pressure goes a change in the
saturation temperature from 40ºF to 120°F. The
gas is now superheated to about 165°F Thus it
contains about 45°F of superheat (165 F - 120 F
= 45°F).
The enthalpy of the refrigerant has increased
from about 110 Btu/lb. at the compressor inlet
(point 2) to about 125 Btu/lb. at the compressor
outlet (point 3). Heat has been added to it
because the compressor Worked on the gas to
increase its pressure. This additional heat is
called the heat of compression. In this example it
amounts to about 15 Btu/lb. (125 Btu/lb. – 110
Btu/lb.), or about 22% additional heat over that
absorbed in th evaporator.
CONDENSER
The high temperature, high pressure,
superheated gas, leaving the compressor
discharge at point 3, enters the condenser in
basically the same condition. Its saturation
temperature is 120°F. This matches a gauge
pressure of about 263 PSIG which is the same as
277.7 PSIA as shown on our diagram.
 Compression”). It must deal with compressor
heat, while the evaporator does not need to. As
result a condenser usually exchange about 20 to
30% more heat than evaporators.

METERING DEVICE
The liquid leaving the condenser enters the liquid
metering device in basically the same condition
(point 4). It now passes through a restricted
opening which causes the pressure to drop down
As the condenser removes heat from the
to the level of the evaporator. The pressure drops
refrigerant, its enthalpy decreases. Moving to the
from about 277.7 PSIA at the inlet of the metering
left from point 3 on our P-H diagram, the
device to about 83.4 PSIA at the inlet of the
refrigerant first loses its superheat to become a
evaporator (point 1). With this change in pressure
saturated vapor.
comes a change in saturation temperature from
As it continues to lose heat, its condition moves 120ºF to 40ºF. The refrigerant has now become a
to the left of the saturated vapor line to become a low pressure, low temperature mixture of
mixture of saturated vapor and saturated liquid. saturated liquid and vapor. There is no enthalpy
The vapor refrigerant is changing state; i.e., it is change in the refrigerant as it passes through the
condensing from a vapor into a liquid. When the metering device. The distance it travels is short,
saturated liquid line is reached, all the vapor has and the flow takes place rapidly.
become saturated liquid. As still more heat is
rejected, the refrigerant becomes subcooled. It
leaves the condenser (point 4) as a high
temperature(105ºF), high pressure, subcooled
liquid.
The total change in the heat content of the
refrigerant caused by the condenser is about 83
Btu/lb. It enters at 125 Btu/lb. and leaves at about
42 Btu/lb. (125- 42 83) The condenser rejects
from the refrigerant the heat absorbed by the
evaporator (the “Refrigerant Effect”) plus the heat
added by the compressor (the "Heat of