Refrigeration

3rd Topic
 Refrigeration
• Temperature plays an important role in
maintaining the quality of stored food.
• The reaction rate is reduced to the half by
lowering the temperature by 10°C.
• Earlier a lower temperature was obtained by
the use of ice.
• Today, the cooling process is achieved by the
use of a mechanical refrigeration system.
 Refrigeration
• The transfer of heat is accomplished by using a refrigerant,
which changes state—from liquid to vapor and has a low
boiling point.
• The boiling point of a refrigerant can be varied by changing
the pressure. Thus, to increase the boiling point of
ammonia to 0°C, its pressure must be raised to 430.43
kPa.
• We use a mechanical vapor compression system to allow
collection of the refrigerant vapors and to convert it to
liquid state so that the same refrigerant can be reused.
(expensive)
 Refrigeration
• Selection of a refrigerant is based on properties at a desired temperature.
• Selection of a refrigerant is based on several performance characteristics.
• Important characteristics to consider:
1. Latent heat of vaporization. (high, small amount).
2. Condensing pressure. (low, avoid expense of heavy construction for
condensing and piping).
3. Freezing temperature. (below evaporator T)
4. Critical temperature. (high, above cannot liquefied, i.e. air cooled
condensers CT above highest expected ambient T).
5. Toxicity.
6. Flammability.
7. Corrosiveness.
8. Chemical stability.
9. Detection of leaks.
10. Cost.
11. Environmental impact.
COMPONENTS OF A REFRIGERATION
SYSTEM

mechanical vapor compression refrigeration system

 COMPONENTS OF A
REFRIGERATION SYSTEM
1- Expansion valve.

• Metering device that controls the flow of liquid refrigerant to an

evaporator.
• can be operated either manually or by sensing pressure or temperature at
another desired location in the refrigeration system.
• At location D prior the entrance to the expansion valve, the refrigerant is in a
saturated liquid state.
• The expansion valve separates the high pressure region from the low
pressure region.
• After passing through the expansion valve, the refrigerant experiences a
drop in pressure and a drop in temperature.
• Due to the drop in pressure, some of the liquid refrigerant changes to gas.
The liquid/gas mixture leaving the expansion valve is termed “ flash gas. ”
 COMPONENTS OF A
REFRIGERATION SYSTEM
2- Evaporator.

• The liquid/gas mixture enters the evaporator

coils at location E.
• The refrigerant completely vaporizes to gas by
absorbing heat from the media surrounding the
evaporator coils.
• The saturated vapor may reach a superheated
stage due to gain of additional heat.
 COMPONENTS OF A
REFRIGERATION SYSTEM
3- Compressor.

• The saturated or superheated vapor enter the compressor at

location A. (low T,P)
• The refrigerant is compressed to a high pressure.
• This high pressure must be below the critical pressure of the
refrigerant and high enough to allow condensation at a temperature
slightly higher than common ambient air or well water.
• The compression process is at constant entropy (isentropic process).
• The compression processes raise the temperature of the refrigerant
sufficiently above the ambient temperature surrounding the
condenser (dT)
 COMPONENTS OF A
REFRIGERATION SYSTEM
4- Condenser.

• The superheated vapors are then conveyed to a condenser.

• The refrigerant discharges heat to the surrounding media. (air or
water)
• The refrigerant condenses back to the liquid state (location D).
• After the entire amount of refrigerant has been converted to
saturated liquid, the temperature of the refrigerant may decrease
below that of its condensation temperature due to additional heat
discharged to the surrounding media. (sub cooled)
• The function of the condenser is to transfer heat from the
refrigerant to another medium.
 Some MATHEMATICAL EXPRESSIONS
 Cooling Load: The rate of heat energy removal from a given space
(or object) in order to lower the temperature of that space to a
desired level.
• Cooling capacity was often related to melting of ice.
• Unit for cooling load (one ton of refrigeration) used commercially.
• Latent heat of fusion of one ton of ice(2000 pound * 144
Btu/pound)/24 h = 288,000 Btu/ 24 h = 303,852 kJ/24 h = 3.5168
kW.
• Mechanical refrigeration system that has the capacity to absorb
heat from a space at the rate of 3.5168 kW is rated at one ton of
refrigeration
 Factors should be considered in calculating
the cooling load
1. If the product is a fresh fruit or vegetable, it
gives out heat due to respiration. This
Temperature must be removed to keep the
product and the space at a low temperature.
2. heat infiltration through walls, floor, and ceiling.
3. Heat gain through doors.
4. Heat given by lights, people, and use of fork lifts
for material handling.