Refrigeration Systems

Objectives
Introduce the concepts of refrigerators and heat pumps and the measure of their performance. Analyze the ideal and actual vapor-compression refrigeration cycles. Discuss the operation of refrigeration and heat pump systems. Evaluate the performance of innovative vaporcompression refrigeration systems.
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Refrigerators And Heat Pumps

The transfer of heat from a low-temperature region to a high-temperature one requires special devices called refrigerators. The objective of a refrigerator is to remove heat (QL) from the cold medium; the objective of a heat pump is to supply heat (QH) to a warm medium. Refrigerators and heat pumps are essentially the same devices; they differ in their objectives only.
Performance: for fixed values of QL and

QH

The Reversed Carnot Cycle

The most efficient refrigeration cycle operating between TL and TH. But not a suitable model for refrigeration cycles because: (i) process 2-3 involves compression of a liquidvapor mixture - requires a compressor that will handle two phases, (ii) (ii) process 4-1 involves expansion of high-moisture-content refrigerant in a turbine.

Both COPs increase as the difference between the two temperatures decreases, i.e. as TL rises or TH falls.
Schematic of a Carnot refrigerator and T-s diagram of the reversed 4 Carnot cycle.

Problem Class Exercise

A steady-flow Carnot refrigeration cycle uses refrigerant-134a as the working fluid. The refrigerant changes from saturated vapor to saturated liquid at 30C in the condenser as it rejects heat. The evaporator pressure is 160 kPa. Show the cycle on a T-s diagram relative to saturation lines, and determine: (a)the coefficient of performance, (b)the amount of heat absorbed from the refrigerated space, and (c)the net work input.
Answers: (a) 5.64, (b) 147 kJ/kg, (c) 26.1 kJ/kg
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Ideal Vapor-compression Refrigeration Cycle

Is the ideal model for refrigeration systems. The refrigerant is vaporized completely before it is compressed and the turbine is replaced with a throttling device.

The most widely used cycle for refrigerators, A-C systems, and heat pumps.

Schematic and T-s diagram for the ideal vapor-compression refrigeration cycle.

Ideal Vapor-compression Refrigeration Cycle

Process
4-1 Constant Pressure Evaporation Heat from a cold space is absorbed by the refrigerant. As a result, the refrigerant evaporates at a constant evaporator pressure, from state 4 to become a drier saturated vapor at state 1.

Ideal Vapor-compression Refrigeration Cycle

Process
1-2 Isentropic compression The saturated vapor is compressed from the evaporator pressure to the condenser pressure, in a reversible adiabatic manner. The refrigerant exits the compressor as a superheated vapor at state 2.

Ideal Vapor-compression Refrigeration Cycle

Process
2-3 Constant Pressure Condensation Heat is rejected from the refrigerant to a warm space. As a result, the refrigerant condenses at a constant condenser pressure until it becomes a saturated liquid at state 3.

Ideal Vapor-compression Refrigeration Cycle

Process 3-4 Constant Enthalpy Expansion The refrigerant expands through the throttle valve adiabatically. As a result, its pressure drops from the condenser to the evaporator pressure. The enthalpy is constant during the process, i.e. h3 = h4.

Note: The expansion process is highly irreversible, thus 10 making the vapor-compression cycle an irreversible cycle.

The ideal vapor-compression refrigeration cycle involves an irreversible (throttling) process to make it a more realistic model for the actual systems.
Steady-flow energy balance

An ordinary household refrigerator.

The P-h diagram of an ideal vapor-compression refrigeration cycle. 11

Refrigeration Load
Refrigeration Capacity,

& Q L

defined as the amount of heat that has to be transferred from a cold space per unit time determines the mass flow rate of refrigerant 1 ton = 200Btu/min = 211kJ/min = 3.516kW ton : the rate of heat transfer to produce 2000 lb of ice at 0oC (32o)F from liquid water at 0oC (32oF) in 24 hours Mass flow rate of refrigerant
& = m refrigerator capacity refrigerating effect per unit mass

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Solving Problem
2 methods can be used for cycle analysis. Using property table for refrigerants Using the P-h diagram
P
q2 = h2 h3

q2 = h1 h4

1 h
win = h2 h1 13

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P h Diagram for Refrigerant 134a

Problem
Ideal and Actual Vapor-Compression Refrigeration Cycles

A refrigerator uses refrigerant-134a as the working fluid and operates on an ideal vapor-compression refrigeration cycle between 0.12 and 0.7 MPa. The mass flow rate of the refrigerant is 0.05 kg/s. Show the cycle on a T-s diagram with respect to saturation lines. Determine: a) the rate of heat removal from the refrigerated space, b) the power input to the compressor, c) the rate of heat rejection to the environment, and d) the coefficient of performance. Answers: (a) 7.41 kW, 1.83 kW, (b) 9.23 kW, (c) 4.06
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Actual Vapor-Compression Refrigeration Cycle

An actual vapor-compression refrigeration cycle involves irreversibilities in various components - mainly due to fluid friction (causes pressure drops) and heat transfer to or from the surroundings. As a result, the COP decreases.
Differences Non-isentropic compression; Superheated vapor at evaporator exit; Sub-cooled liquid at condenser exit; Pressure drops in condenser and evaporator.

16 Schematic and T-s diagram for the actual vapor-compression refrigeration cycle.

Undercooling (Subcooling) And Its Effects

In the condenser, the vapor can be further cooled at constant pressure to a temperature that is lower than temperature in condenser
T 2 3
3

Cooling water temperature

1 s

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Undercooling (Subcooling) And Its Effects

Undercooling (subcooling) increases the refrigerating effect
(h1 h4) > (h1 h4) where h4 is enthalpy with undercooling (subcooling) and h4 is initial enthalpy

Undercooling (subcooling) is limited by temperature of cooling water and temperature difference of cycle
T 2 3
3

Cooling water temperature

1 s
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Problem Class Exercise

Ideal and Actual Vapor-Compression Refrigeration Cycles

Consider a 300 kJ/min refrigeration system that operates on an ideal vapor-compression refrigeration cycle with refrigerant-134a as the working fluid. The refrigerant enters the compressor as saturated vapor at 140 kPa and is compressed to 800 kPa. Show the cycle on a T-s diagram with respect to saturation lines, and determine the: a)quality of the refrigerant at evaporator inlet, b)coefficient of performance, and c)power input to the compressor.

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Selecting the Right Refrigerant

Several refrigerants may be used in refrigeration systems such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), ammonia, hydrocarbons (propane, ethane, ethylene, etc.), carbon dioxide, air (in the airconditioning of aircraft), and even water (in applications above the freezing point). R-11, R-12, R-22, R-134a, and R-502 account for over 90 percent of the market. The industrial and heavy-commercial sectors use ammonia (it is toxic). R-11 is used in large-capacity water chillers serving A-C systems in buildings. R-134a is used in domestic refrigerators and freezers, as well as automotive air conditioners. R-22 is used in window air conditioners, heat pumps, air conditioners of commercial buildings, and large industrial refrigeration systems, and offers strong competition to ammonia. R-502 (a blend of R-115 and R-22) is the dominant refrigerant used in commercial refrigeration systems such as those in supermarkets. CFCs allow more ultraviolet radiation into the earths atmosphere by destroying the protective ozone layer and thus contributing to the greenhouse effect that causes global warming. Refrigerants that are friendly to the ozone layer have been developed. Two important parameters to be considered - the temperatures of the refrigerated space and the environment with which the refrigerant exchanges heat.
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Innovative Vapor compression Refrigeration Systems

The simple vapor compression refrigeration cycle is the most widely used refrigeration cycle, and is adequate for most refrigeration applications. The ordinary vapor compression refrigeration systems are simple, inexpensive, reliable, and practically maintenance free. However, for large industrial applications, efficiency (not simplicity) is the major concern. For some applications the simple vapor compression refrigeration cycle is inadequate and needs to be modified. For moderately and very low temperature applications, some innovative refrigeration systems are used. The following cycles will be discussed: Cascade refrigeration systems Multistage compression refrigeration systems Multipurpose refrigeration systems with a single compressor Liquefaction of gases
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Cascade Refrigeration Systems

Some industrial applications require moderately low temperatures, and the temperature range they involve may be too large for a single vapor compression refrigeration cycle to be practical. A large temperature range also means a large pressure range in the cycle and a poor performance for a reciprocating compressor. One way of dealing with such situations is to perform the refrigeration process in stages, that is, to have two or more refrigeration cycles that operate in series. Such refrigeration cycles are called cascade refrigeration 22 cycles.

Cascade Refrigeration Systems

A two-stage cascade refrigeration cycle is shown. The two cycles are connected through the heat exchanger in the middle, which serves as the evaporator for the topping cycle and the condenser for the bottoming cycle.

A two stage compression refrigeration system with a flash chamber. A two-stage cascade refrigeration system with the same refrigerant 23
in both stages.

Cascade Refrigeration Systems

Assuming the heat exchanger is well insulated and the kinetic and potential energies are negligible, the heat transfer from the fluid in the bottoming cycle should be equal to the heat transfer to the fluid in the topping cycle. Thus, the ratio of mass flow rates through each cycle should be

The coefficient of performance of the cascade system is

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Problem
Cascade Refrigeration Systems

1142 Consider a two-stage cascade refrigeration system operating between pressure limits of 0.8 and 0.14 MPa. Each stage operates on the ideal vapor-compression refrigeration cycle with refrigerant-134a as the working fluid. Heat rejection from the lower cycle to the upper cycle takes place in an adiabatic counter-flow heat exchanger where both streams enter at about 0.4 MPa. If the mass flow rate of the refrigerant through the upper cycle is 0.24 kg/s, determine the: a) mass flow rate of the refrigerant through the lower cycle, b) rate of heat removal from the refrigerated space, c) power input to the compressor, and d) coefficient of performance of this cascade refrigerator. Answers: (a) 0.195 kg/s, (b) 34.2 kW, 7.63 kW, (c) 4.49
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Problem
Cascade Refrigeration Systems

1147 Consider a two-stage cascade refrigeration system operating between pressure limits of 1.2 MPa and 200 kPa with refrigerant-134a as the working fluid. Heat rejection from the lower cycle to the upper cycle takes place in an adiabatic counter-flow heat exchanger where the pressure in the upper and lower cycles are 0.4 and 0.5 MPa, respectively. In both cycles, the refrigerant is a saturated liquid at the condenser exit and a saturated vapor at the compressor inlet, and the isentropic efficiency of the compressor is 80 percent. If the mass flow rate of the refrigerant through the lower cycle is 0.15 kg/s, determine the: a) mass flow rate of the refrigerant through the upper cycle, b) rate of heat removal from the refrigerated space, and c) coefficient of performance of the system. Answers: (a) 0.212 kg/s, (b) 25.7 kW, (c) 2.68

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Multistage Compression Refrigeration Systems

When the fluid used throughout the cascade refrigeration system is the same, the heat exchanger between the stages can be replaced by a mixing chamber (called a flash chamber) since it has better heat transfer characteristics.

A two-stage compression refrigeration system with a flash 27 chamber.

Multistage Compression Refrigeration Systems

FLASH CHAMBER

Flash chamber is used in a multi-staging refrigeration system It separates vapor and liquid refrigerant during the throttling process The purpose is to avoid vapor refrigerants from entering evaporator The vapor developed during throttling (flash vapor) is bled out of the throttling device and fed back to the compressor

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Multistage Compression Refrigeration Systems

QH

A multistage compression refrigeration system is one example of a system that uses a flash chamber It can be carried out with the use of one or more compressors

Condenser

5
Expansio n Valve

4
Win

6
Flash Chamber

9 3 2
Win

7
Expansio n Valve

8
Evaporator

1 4
QL

Cycle Layout of a Two Stage Compression Refrigeration System

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Multistage Compression Refrigeration Systems

The T-s diagram representing the cycle of a two-stage vaporcompression cycle
T 4

2 9 6 8 3 1

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Multistage Compression Refrigeration Systems

Two-stage refrigeration cycle represented by the p-h diagram
P

The P-h diagram is a more convenient representation of the cycle because it can easily be compared to the plant layout

Condenser

Flash Chamber

3 9

Evaporator

h 31

Multistage Compression Refrigeration Systems

1kg refrigerant moves through condenser P 1kg liquid enters 1st throttle valve 1kg (mostly liquid) enters flash chamber and starts to evaporate and becomes mixture of gas (x)kg and liquid (1x)kg (x) moves towards 2nd stage compressor at Pi (1x)kg liquid make its way through the 2nd throttle valve into the evaporator (1x)kg vapor enters the 1st stage compressor where it is compressed to Pi At Pi (state 3) (1-x)kg vapor mixes with (x)kg vapor adiabatically and becomes 1kg vapor 1kg vapor is compressed in 2nd stage compressor 1kg vapor enters condenser to be condensed and becomes 1kg liquid

Condenser

3 7

2 9

Evaporator

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Multistage Compression Refrigeration Systems

ANALYSIS
Fraction of refrigerant which evaporates in the flash chamber can be given as follows.
x = h 6 h fi h fg i

Refrigerating Effect, QL= (1 x)(h1 h8) Total work input, Win = W12 + W94 = (1 x)(h2 h1) + (h4 h9) Heat rejected in condenser QH

= (h4 h5)
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Multistage Compression Refrigeration Systems

Coefficient of Performance
QL W in

COP R = =

(1 x )(h1 h8 ) (1 x )(h 2 h1 ) + (h4 h9 )

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Problem
Two-Stage Compression Refrigeration Systems

1144 A two-stage compression refrigeration system operates with refrigerant-134a between the pressure limits of 1 and 0.14 MPa. The refrigerant leaves the condenser as a saturated liquid and is throttled to a flash chamber operating at 0.5 MPa. The refrigerant leaving the low-pressure compressor at 0.5 MPa is also routed to the flash chamber. The vapor in the flash chamber is then compressed to the condenser pressure by the high-pressure compressor, and the liquid is throttled to the evaporator pressure. Assuming the refrigerant leaves the evaporator as saturated vapor at a rate of 0.25 kg/s and that both compressors are isentropic, determine the: a) fraction of the refrigerant that evaporates in the flash chamber, b) rate of heat removed from the refrigerated space, and 35 c) coefficient of performance.

Problem
Two-Stage Compression Refrigeration System

1148 A two-stage cascade refrigeration system operates between pressure limits of 1.2 MPa and 200 kPa with refrigerant-134a as the working fluid. Saturated liquid refrigerant leaving the condenser is throttled to a flash chamber operating at 0.45 MPa. The vapor from the flash chamber is mixed with the refrigerant leaving the low-pressure compressor. The mixture is then compressed to the condenser pressure by the high-pressure compressor. The liquid in the flash chamber is throttled to the evaporator pressure. The mass flow rate of the refrigerant is 0.15 kg/s. Assuming saturated vapor refrigerant leaves the evaporator and the isentropic efficiency is 80 percent for both compressors, determine the: a) mass flow rate of refrigerant in the high-pressure compressor, b) rate of heat removal from the refrigerated space, and c) coefficient of performance of the system. d) rate of heat removal and the COP if this refrigerator operated on a singlestage cycle between the same pressure limits with the same compressor efficiency and flow rate as in part (a). 36

Absorption Refrigeration Systems

When there is a source of inexpensive thermal energy at a temperature of 100 to 200C is absorption refrigeration. Some examples include geothermal energy, solar energy, and waste heat from cogeneration or process steam plants, and even natural gas when it is at a relatively low price.

Ammonia absorption refrigeration cycle.

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Absorption refrigeration systems (ARS) involve the absorption of a refrigerant by a transport medium. The most widely used system is the ammoniawater system, where ammonia (NH3) serves as the refrigerant and water (H2O) as the transport medium. Other systems include waterlithium bromide and waterlithium chloride systems, where water serves as the refrigerant. These systems are limited to applications such as A-C where the minimum temperature is above the freezing point of water. Compared with vapor-compression systems, ARS have one major advantage: A liquid is compressed instead of a vapor and as a result the work input is very small (on the order of one percent of the heat supplied to the generator) and often neglected in the cycle analysis. ARS are much more expensive than the vapor-compression refrigeration systems. They are more complex and occupy more space, they are much less efficient thus requiring much larger cooling towers to reject the waste heat, and they are more difficult to service since they are less common. Therefore, ARS should be considered only when the unit cost of thermal energy is low and is projected to remain low relative to electricity. ARS are primarily used in large commercial and industrial installations. 38

The COP of actual absorption refri-geration systems is usually less than unity. Air-conditioning systems based on absorption refrigeration, called the absorption chillers, perform best when the heat source can supply heat at a high temperature with little temperature drop.

The maximum COP of an absorption 39 refrigeration system.