Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Applications

Prof. A. D. Kale
Vishwakarma Institute of Information Technology, Pune
Mechanical Engineering Department
Qualifications:
ME, Mechanical, Heat Power from COEP, Pune
Doing Ph-D in Cold Storages for Vegetable Preservation.

1
 Refrigeration
The term “refrigeration” is used to denote
maintenance of a system or body at a
temperature lower than that of its surroundings.
The system maintained at the lower temperature
is known as refrigerated system.

Refrigeration is a process of heat transfer from

a body at lower temperature to a body at higher
temperature with the help of an external agency.
The body at low temperature is an insulated
space and the body at higher temperature is the
atmosphere.

2
1) What are the Industrial Applications of
Refrigeration ?

2) Significance of Refrigeration in Chemical

Industries ?

3
 Applications of Refrigeration:

• 1) Industrial Applications:
• a) Processing of food products.
• b) Processing of farm crops.
• c) Processing of textiles, printing work, photographic materials, etc.
d) Cooling of concrete for dams.
e) Treatment of air for blast furnace.
f) Processing of tobacco, petroleum and other chemical products.

4
 Applications of Refrigeration:
• Preservation of Perishable Goods:
• a) Manufacturing of ice.
• b) Freezing or chilling, storage and transportation of food stuffs
including
• beverages, meat, poultry products, dairy products, fish, fruits,
vegetables, fruit juices, etc.
• c) Preservation of photographic films, archeological documents
etc.
• Providing comfortable environment:
• a) Industrial air-conditioning.
• b) Comfort air-conditioning of hospitals, residences,
hotels, restaurants, theatres, offices, etc.

5
App. of refrigeration in chemical and process industries
Separation of gases: In petrochemical plant, temperatures as low
as –150oC with refrigeration capacities as high as 10,000 Tons of
Refrigeration (TR) are used for separation of gases by fractional
distillation.

Condensation of Gases: some gases that are produced

synthetically, are condensed to liquid state by cooling, so that these can
be easily stored and transported in liquid state. For example, in synthetic
ammonia plant, ammonia is condensed at –10 to 10oC before filling in
the cylinders, storage and shipment. This low temperature requires
refrigeration.

Dehumidification of Air: Low humidity air is required in many

pharmaceutical industries. It is also required for air liquefaction plants.
This is also required to prevent static electricity and prevents short
circuits in places where high voltages are used.

6
 App. of refrigeration in chemical industries
Solidification of Solute: One of the processes of separation of a
substance or pollutant or impurity from liquid mixture is by its solidification at
low temperature. Lubricating oil is dewaxed in petroleum industry by cooling it
below –25oC. Wax solidifies at about –25oC.

Removal of Heat of Reaction: In many chemical reactions, efficiency is

better if the reaction occurs below room temperature. This requires
refrigeration. If these reactions are exothermic in nature, then more
refrigeration capacities are required. Production of viscose rayon, cellular
acetate and synthetic rubber are some of the examples

Cooling for preservation: Many compounds decompose at room

temperature or these evaporate at a very fast rate. Certain drugs, explosives
and natural rubber can be stored for long periods at lower temperatures.

Recovery of Solvents: These can be recovered by condensation at low temperature.

e.g: acetone in film manufacture and carbon tetrachloride in textile production.

7
Simple view of household
refrigerator

8
9
Generally, refrigeration and air conditioning are treated in a single subject due to
the fact that one of the most important application of refrigeration is in cooling
and dehumidification as required for summer air conditioning.
In the form of heat pump, a refrigeration system can also be used for winter
heating.

Definition of Air-conditioning:
A system for controlling the humidity, ventilation, and temperature in
a defined envelope e.g: building or vehicle, typically to maintain a
cool atmosphere when outside conditions are warm/hot.

10
Applications of Air Conditioning
Air conditioning is required for
 Providing thermal comfort to humans and other living beings - Comfort air conditioning.
 Providing conditions required for various products and processes in industries - Industrial air
conditioning.

Comfort Air Conditioning -

The objective of this is to provide thermal comfort to the occupants.
Thermal comfort may be defined as the state of mind that expresses satisfaction with its
surroundings. The requirement of thermal comfort is that human body core temperature to be
maintained about 37 degrees.

Classification of comfort air conditioning systems :

1. Air conditioning systems for residences.
2. Commercial air conditioning system.
3. Air conditioning system for hospitals.
4. Laptop, mobile air conditioning systems. Window Air Conditioner

11
Industrial Air Conditioning -
The objective of this is to provide favorable surrounding conditions so that the required processes
can be carried out and required products can be produced.
It should also provide at least a partial measure of comfort to the people working in the industries.

Industrial air conditioning examples -Textile industries

 Printing industries
 Manufacturing of precision parts
 Semi-conductor industries
 Pharmaceutics
 Photographic materials
 Computer rooms
 Mines, power plants, etc.

12
Assignment No. 1 Date of Submission: 26 June, 2016

Write Short Note on Topics:

1) Domestic Refrigerator 2) Cold Storage
3) Automotive Air Conditioners
4) Ice Plant 5)Evaporative Coolers

Write short note considering following points:

a) Labelled Schematic Diagram
b) Classification of RAC with tonnage capacity
c) Types of Refrigeration Systems
d) Typical refrigerants used
e) Values of COP, Kw/ton and applications

13
References:

1) NPTEL IIT, Khargpur Dr. Ram Gopal

Lectures
2) http://www.enggarena.net/2015/07/applicatio
ns-of-refrigeration-and-air.html

14