Summary

This experiment is carried out to study the refrigeration cycle. The real objective of
conducting this experiment are to determine the coefficient of performance of a refrigerator
unit, study the effect of evaporating and condensing temperature on the refrigeration rate and
condenser heat output, investigate the effect of compressor pressure ratio on system
performance and determine the overall heat transfer coefficient between R141b and water in
the evaporator and condenser.
Based on methodology section in the report, it tells about the steps involved while conducting
the experiment while the results section shows the recorded value of COP for difference
condenser pressure, heat transfer in evaporator and condenser for difference condenser
pressure , compressor pressure ratio and overall heat transfer. In addition, it also shows the
enthalpy based on P-h diagram for five different pressure, H. Instead of that, the discussion
section shows the graph plotted using the result obtained and discussed it more detail based
on chemical reaction engineering theory. The error and recommendation to avoid mistakes
while doing the experiment is are also shared in the discussion. The conclusion section
concludes all the objectives and calculations of this experiment.

Aim

To determine the coefficient of performance of a refrigeration unit.

To study the effect of evaporating and condensing temperature on the refrigeration

rate and condenser heat output.

To investigate the effect of compressor pressure ratio on system performance.

To determine the overall heat transfer coefficient between R141b and water in the
evaporator and condenser.

Introduction
The term refrigeration may be defined as the process of removing heat from a substance
under controlled conditions. It also includes the process of reducing and maintaining the
temperature of a body below the general temperature of its surroundings. In other words, the
refrigeration means a continued extraction of heat from a body whose temperature is already
below temperature of its surroundings. In a refrigerator, heat is virtually pumped from a
lower temperature to a higher temperature. According to Second Law of Thermodynamics,
this process can only be performed with the aid of some external work. It is thus obvious that
supply of power is regularly required to drive a refrigerator. Theoretically, a refrigerator is a
reversed heat engine or a heat pump which pumps heat from a cold body and delivers it to a
hot body. The substance which works in a pump to extract heat from a cold body and to
deliver it to a hot body is known as refrigerant.

Theory
In 1850, the German scientist had proposed the Clausius statement that heat can never pass
from a colder region to hot region. The process of heat transfer from cold to hot
region cannot occur spontaneously without aid from the external work. In
refrigerator, heat flows from cold to hot when forced by an external agent, the
refrigeration system. The vapour compression cycle is used in refrigerator.

VAPOUR COMPRESSION CYCLE

The fluid that is used in refrigerator is called refrigerant. The refrigerants generally used for
this purpose are ammonia (NH3), carbon dioxide (CO2) and sulphur-dioxide (SO2). The

refrigerant will undergo the process of condensation and evaporation alternately. During
evaporation process, the refrigerant absorbs latent heat from the water which is used for
circulating it around the cold chamber and in condensing; it gives out its latent heat to the
circulating water of the cooler.

Figure 1.1 Vapour compression cycle

It consists of the following essential parts:
Compressor
The low pressure and temperature vapour refrigerant from evaporator is drawn into the
compressor through the inlet or suction valve 1, where it is compressed to a high pressure and
temperature. This high pressure and temperature vapour refrigerant is discharged into the
condenser through the delivery or discharge valve 2.
Condenser
The condenser or cooler consists of coils of pipe in which the high pressure and temperature
vapour refrigerant is cooled and condensed. The refrigerant, while passing through the
condenser, gives up its latent heat to the surrounding condensing medium which is normally
air or water.
Expansion Valve
It is also called throttle valve or refrigerant control valve. The function of the expansion valve
is to allow the liquid refrigerant under high pressure and temperature to pass at a controlled
rate after reducing its pressure and temperature. Some of the liquid refrigerant evaporates as
it passes through the expansion valve, but the greater portion is vaporized in the evaporator at
the low pressure and temperature

Evaporator
An evaporator consists of coils of pipe in which the liquid-vapour. refrigerant at low pressure
and temperature is evaporated and changed into vapour refrigerant at low pressure and
temperature. In evaporating, the liquid vapour refrigerant absorbs its latent heat of
vaporization from the medium (air, water or brine) which is to be cooled.

Experimental Method
1. The unit is started and ensured that the unit is air free by venting air from the
condensor.
2. The evaporator water flow is set to a mid range value and the unit is allowed to run
approximately 15 - 20 minutes.
3. All system parameters is recorded.
4. The experiment is repeated for 5 different condenser pressures by adjusting the
condenser flow rate from 50 g/s to 10 g/s.

Test No.

Gauge Evaporator Pressure, Pe (KN/m2)

-19

-19

-19

-20

-20

Absolute Evaporator Pressure, Pe (KN/m2)

82.325

82.325

82.325

81.325

81.325

Evaporator Temperature, T5 (oC)

27

26

25

25

25

Evaporator Water Flow Rate, ms (g/s)

25

25

25

25

25

Evaporator Water Inlet Temp, T1 (oC)

35

33

32

31

31

Evaporator Water Outlet Temp, T2 (oC)

31

30

29

28

28

Condensed Liquid Temp, T8 (oC)

44

43

43

44

47

Gauge Condensor Pressure, Pc (KN/m2)

+82

+81

+80

+82

+102

Absolute Condensor Pressure, Pc (KN/m2)

183.325

182.325

181.325

183.325

203.325

Condensor Temp, T6 (oC)

45

44

44

45

48

Condensor Water Flow Rate, mc (g/s)

50

40

30

20

10

Condensor Water Inlet Temp, T4 (oC)

35

33

32

31

31

Condensor Water Outlet Temp, T3 (oC)

36

36

35

36

42

Compressor Discharge Temp, T7 (oC)

68

73

76

79

82

Compressor Power Input, W (watts)

235

235

235

235

235

Discussion
a) i) Calculate COP by using this formula :
COP =
=
Test No

Refrigerator effect , Qc
Compressor work, W
h 2 h1
h 2 h1
1

h1

455.56

455.56

452.78

455.56

455.56

h2

483.36

488.92

491.70

494.48

500.00

h3

258.34

261.12

255.56

258.34

261.12

h4

258.34

261.12

255.56

258.34

261.12

COP

7.0942

5.7386

5.0673

5.0673

4.3753

b) i) Heat transfer in evaporator for different condensor pressures, Q.

Using this formula to calculate Q :
Q = msCpdT , where Cp = 4.18

kJ
kg.K

Test No

Evaporator Water Flow Rate, ms (g/s)

0.025

0.025

0.025

0.025

0.025

Evaporator Water Outlet Temp, T2 (K)

304

303

302

301

301

Evaporator Water Inlet Temp, T1 (K)

308

306

305

304

304

dT (T2-T1)

-4

-3

-3

-3

-3

Q ( J/s)

-418

-313.5

-313.5

-313.5

-313.5

b ii) Heat transfer in condensor for different condensor pressures,Q.

Using this formula to calculate Q :
Q = mcCpdT , where Cp = 4.18

kJ
kg.K

Test No

Condensor Water Flow Rate, mc (g/s)

0.05

0.04

0.03

0.02

0.01

Condensor Water Outlet Temp, T3 (K)

309

309

308

309

315

Condensor Water Inlet Temp, T4 (K)

308

306

305

304

304

dT (T3-T4)

11

Q ( J/s)

209

501.6

376.2

418

459.8

Test No

Absolute Condensor Pressure, Pc (KN/m2)

183.325

182.325

181.325

183.325

203.325

Absolute Evaporator Pressure, Pe (KN/m2)

82.325

82.325

82.325

81.325

81.325

7333
3293

7293
3293

7253
3293

7333
3253

iii) Compressor Pressure Ratio Pc/Pe

Compressor Pressure Ratio Pc/Pe

203.325
81.325

v) Overall heat transfer, U.

By using this formula to calculate U.
Q= UAdT
U=

Q
AdT

IWater Coil Surface Area of Evaporator , A

= 0.032 m2

i) Overall heat transfer for evaporator

Test No

Q ( J/s)

-418

-313.5

-313.5

-313.5

-313.5

Overall heat transfer , U (W/K.m2)

3265.62

3265.62

3265.625

3265.625 3265.62
5

a) Overall heat transfer for condensor

Water Coil Surface Area of Evaporator , A = 0.032 m2
Test No

Q ( J/s)

209

501.6

376.2

418

459.8

Overall heat transfer , U (W/K.m2)

6531.25

5225

3918.75

2612.5

1306.25

Discussion
From table :
1. The COP for each test that we have calculated are 7.0942 , 5.7386 , 5.0673 , 5.0673 , and 4.3753.
The variation of the measurement of temperature has an effect on the calculated of COP.
2. When calculating the values for the refrigerant, we read the values on the tables based on pressure
and not temperature. This was done to minimize the error in calculations due to the variation involved
with the thermometers.
3.The smaller the difference between the condensing and evaporating pressures, or between
condensing and evaporating temperatures, the lower the Win input to the compressor at a specific Q
refrigeration effect , QEF and, therefore, the higher the COP.A higher evaporating pressure and
evaporating temperature or a lower condensing pressure and condensing temperature will always
conserve energy.

5. Parallax error .This is because the Pressure gauges must be read from directly in front and not
from a slight angle. The gauges should also be calibrated by manufactures. This will cause errors in
the calculations because this is just an estimate of the actual transfer of heat to the
surroundings the values obtained from the actual refrigerator will not be equal to those of the ideal
refrigerator
6. The gauge evaporator pressure have negative value because heat loss to surrounding but for the
gauge condensor pressure have positive value because heat absorbed to system.
From graph :
1. From the heat transfer against compressor pressure ratio graph, we obtained evaporator curve is
increasing.
2. However, the theoritical graph is supposed to parallel to the x-axis while the condenser in our graph
is increasing eventhough there is a slightly decrease in heat transfer.
3. The deviation of the experimental curves and some observation of data for which the rate of heat
transfer was not identical with other calculate value might cause the presence of air in refrigeration
unit causes the compressor pressure to rise, reducing the COP.
4.In P-h diagram it shows different value of COP . For the COP value , test 5 showed the least value
of COP which is 4.3753. The highest the value of COP, the more efficient it is.

Conclusion
From the refrigeration laboratory, the pressure, enthalpy, and temperature were calculated at the four
state points of the vapour compression refrigeration cycle . With the state point properties and the
power drawn by the compressor the COP can be determined. However the COP can be determined
from the work input to the compressor, or as the work applied to the working fluid.
In comparison with the ideal vapour compression refrigeration cycle , data obtained and calculated
from the laboratory (actual results) differed from those of the ideal cycle. The differences are a result
of the assumptions made when working with the ideal cycle to simplify the calculations. The
assumption that the compressor is isentropic shows the greatest impact on the variation of the ideal
and the actual cycle.

A relevant source of error involves the accuracy of the measuring equipment and of the methods used
in obtaining the measured values. The actual cycle would greatly approximate that of the ideal cycle
if the assumptions could be reached, such as constant pressure heat transfer across heat exchangers,
and the reduction of heat transfer to and from the environment due to insinuated devices.

Reference
-Refrigerant, Refrigerant Cycles and Refrigerant System [online], Retrieved from :
http://www.itcmp.pwr.wroc.pl/~kriogen/Wyklady/PodsChlod/Refrigeration/refrigeration%209.1.pdf
on March 3, 2014.
-Norwegian University of Technology and Science. (2002). Manual Operation For Lab
Experiment [online], Retrieved from :
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v424/n6952/abs/4241013a.html on
March 3, 2014.