Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Technology,

Coimbatore
(An Autonomous Intuition)
Department of Mechanical Engineering

UICE001-BASIC CIVIL AND MECHANICAL

ENGINEERING

S.Boovendravarman,
Assistant Professor,
Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Introduction

• Refrigeration is defined as the art of producing and

maintaining the temperature in a closed space below
atmospheric temperature.
• The refrigerator is the device that is responsible for
production and maintaining the lower temperature
• The refrigeration is used widely in many fields such as
food preservation, water coolers etc.
Basic principle of refrigeration
 The basic principle behind the concept of any refrigeration
unit is nothing but second law of thermodynamics.
 The law states that “Heat flows from a system at a lower
temperature to a system at a higher temperature with
a aid of external work”.
 The refrigerant is the working fluid in the refrigerator.it is
responsible for the heat transfer of heat from lower
temperature to higher temperature.
 The refrigerated space is known as the area which enclosed
or isolated from the atmosphere .
Properties of Refrigerant

 Thermodynamic properties
 Physical properties
 Chemical properties
 Safe working properties
Thermodynamic properties
• Low boiling point
• Low freezing point
• Higher latent heat of vaporization
• Higher COP

Physical properties
• Low viscosity
• Specific heat
• Leakage
Chemical properties
 Action with water
 Action with lubricating oil
 Chemical stability
 Odour and Color
Safe working properties
 Inflammability
 Non-Toxic
 Non-Corrosiveness
Refrigerants

There are several refrigerants used depending upon the

cooling requirements out of which few refrigerants are
listed below.
 Ammonia
 Freon-12
 Freon-22
 Co2
 Air
 Terminology
• Refrigeration effect
Rate of heat removal-kJ/second
• Ton of refrigeration
Amount of heat absorption from cold body
• Unit of Refrigeration
A ton of refrigeration can be defined as amount of heat
absorbed to produce 1 ton of ice at 0o c with in 24 hours.
Types of refrigeration systems
 Vapour compression refrigeration system
 Vapour absorption refrigeration system
Vapour Compression refrigeration system(VARS)

• In this refrigeration system Freon-12 or Freon-22 is

used as the refrigerant.
• A compressor does work on the refrigerant vapour to
increase its pressure and temperature
• The refrigerant alternatively undergoes a change of
phase from vapour to liquid and liquid to vapour
during cycle.
Components of a VCRS
• Condenser
• Air or water used as the cooling medium depending upon the
application
• Expansion valve
• The expansion valve reduces the pressure of the refrigerant.
• Evaporator
• This serves as refrigerating space
• Compressor
Domestic Refrigerator
Vapour absorption refrigeration system(VARS)

• In this refrigeration system liquid ammonia is used

as the refrigerant.
• In this type there is no compressor used to do
external work.
• The combined work of absorber pump and generator
is used to provide the work supplied to the system.
Components of a VARS
• Condenser
• Air or water used as the cooling medium depending upon the
application
• Expansion valve
• The expansion valve reduces the pressure of the refrigerant.
• Evaporator
• This serves as refrigerating space
• Absorber tank
• Circulating pump
• Generator
S.No VCRS VARS

Refrigerant vapour is absorbed and

1 Refrigerant vapour is condensed
heated

2 Freon-12 and Freon-22 Ammonia

3 Limited to 1000 tonnes Above 1000 tonnes

4 COP is about 4 to 5 As low as 1.1

High possibility of leakage due to

5 There is less possibility of leakage
increased pressure of the refrigerant

Lower operating costs as the pump

6 Higher operating costs
requires less amount of energy