L E C T U R E 2 :

R E F R I G E R A T I O N
B A S I C S 2
R M M R 1 0 1 0 R E F R I G E R AT I O N
AND HVAC
Refrigeration Systems
The liquid receiver contains refrigerant that will evaporate if more heat is
received.

The expansion/metering device controls how much liquid refrigerant

enters the evaporator.

There is a low internal pressure in the evaporator, allowing the refrigerant

to evaporate as heat is received.
• Low internal pressure, means low saturation temperature.
• Heat will flow into the refrigerant.
 Refrigeration System

WE NEED TO REMOVE COMPRESSOR REMOVES AT THE CONDENSER, THE

REFRIGERANT VAPOUR AT REFRIGERANT VAPOUR, REFRIGERANT RELEASES
THE SAME RATE AT WHICH IT COMPRESSES IT SO THAT ITS LATENT HEAT AND RETURNS
DEVELOPS. SATURATION TEMPERATURE IS TO A LIQUID STATE AND THE
HIGHER THAN THE COOLING
MEDIUM. CYCLE RESTARTS.
Refrigeration Cycle
• We can represent the refrigeration cycle using a pressure-enthalphy (p-h) diagram.
Refrigeration Cycle
• Expansion: pressure is reduced on refrigerant, preparing it to accept
latent heat. (point 1 to point 2)

• Evaporation: heat flows into refrigerant, bringing it to boil (point 2 to

point 3).

• Compression: work is done on refrigerant by the compressor to raise

its temperature and pressure. (point 3 to 4)

• Condensation: heat flows out of refrigerant, bringing it back to liquid

state. (point 4 to 1)
Refrigeration Cycle

Superheating: more heat is Supercooling: more heat is

added in the evaporator removed than exactly
than necessary to evaporate necessary to un-saturate
the refrigerant. the refrigerant.

Superheating and
We allow superheating and
supercooling increase
supercooling for practical
power consumption and
reasons.
decrease process efficiency.
Refrigeration Cycle
• Superheating is necessary because allowing any liquid into the
compressor can damage it.
• Li quid id nearly incompressible
• More likely to have liquid refrigerant in the compressor during system
startup.
• Superheating is controlled by the metering device.
• Piping roughness and other practical features can lead to sudden
pressure drops.
• This decreases the pressure at the inlet to the compressor.
• The compressor has to work harder to deliver the correct outlet pressure.
Refrigeration Cycle
• Qin flows from the cooled area.
• Win is done by the compressor.
• Qout flows to the cooling medium
(ambient air).
Refrigeration Cycle
• Pressure-enthalpy diagrams are unique for each refrigerant.
• We can calculate heat removal rates from the diagram.
• Heat Absorbed by the evaporator: from points 1 to 2, there is no
change in enthalpy.
• There is a change between points 2 and 3 however, so:

Qe = h3 – h1
Refrigeration Cycle
• Energy Added by Compressor: the compressor moves the system
from points 3 to 4, so the energy input can be calculated using:

Qcompressor = h4 - h3

• Heat rejected by condenser: condenser rejects heat gathered by

the evaporator and heat added by the compressor.

Qcondenser = (h3 – h1) + (h4 – h3) = h4 – h1