UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN MEKANIKAL

______________________________________________________________________
_____
Programme :
Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Mechanical
Course
:
Thermofluids Laboratory II
Course Code :
KJM 470
Lecturer
:
Assoc. Prof. Shif Bin Ismail
______________________________________________________________________
Laboratory Report Assignment
Title of Experiment
Variation in refrigeration coefficient of performance at various process temperatures
No.

Name

Student ID Number

1.

Khairunnisa Binti Mohammad Yunus

2004346361

2.

Muhammad Mustaqim Bin Mad Saad

2004346116

3.

Umar Bin Muhamad Suffian

2004104465

4.

Azlan Bin Rahmat

2004104618

5.

Mohd Alieff Bin Zainal

2004346210

6.

Wan Azliza Binti Wan Aziz

2004104657

Signature

Practical Session

: 6th February 2006

Report Submission

: 20th February 2006 Staff certification :

________________
(Signature)

Staff certification :
________________
(Signature)

Contents
Page No:
1. Title

2. Introduction

3. Objective

4. Theory

3- 5

5. Energy transfers analysis

6. Equipment

7. Energy Balance Formulas

6-7

8. Results

9. Discussion and Conclusion

9 - 16

10. References

16

TITLE
Variation in refrigeration coefficient of performance at various process temperatures.
INTRODUCTION
Refrigeration is used widely in various applications from industrial to domestic
situations, mainly for the storage and transport of perishable foodstuffs and chemical
substances. It has the prime function to remove heat from the low temperature region, and
it can also be applied as a heat pump for supplying heat to a region of high temperature.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the variation in Coefficient of Performance (COPR) of a vapor compression
refrigeration system.
THEORY
A refrigeration cycle works to lower and maintain the temperature of controlled space by
heat transfer from a low to a high temperature region.

Refrigeration duty is another term for the cooling effect for the refrigeration system,
which is rate of heat being removed from the low temperature region which specified
evaporation and condensation temperatures. The unit for duty measurements is in Watts
(for 1 ton of refrigeration = 3157W).

3.1

The vapor compression cycle

Ideal refrigeration systems follow the theoretical Reversed Carnot Cycle process.
In practical refrigerators, compression and expansion of a gas and vapor mixture presents
practical problems in the compressor and expander. Therefore, in practical refrigeration,
compression usually takes place in the superheated field and a throttling process is
substituted for the isentropic expansion.

The cycle:
1.2
2.3
3.4
4.5

Isentropic compression of the vapor, from the evaporating from the condensing
pressures.
Condensation of the high pressure vapor during which heat is transferred to the
high temperature region.
Adiabatic throttling of the condensed vapor from the condensing to the
evaporating pressure.
Evaporation of the low pressure liquid during which hat is absorbed from the low
temperature source.

Energy transfers analysis

Compressor

q1 2 h2 h1 w

If compression is adiabatic, q1 2 0 , and w h1 h2 .

Power requirement, P m (h1 h2 ) , where m is the flow rate of working fluid per unit
time.
Condenser

q 23 h3 h2 w
(h3 h2 ) .
w 0 , therefore q 2 3 h3 h2 , and rate of heat rejection Q 2 3 m

Expansion valve

q3 4 h4 h3 w

w 0 at the expansion valve, and process is adiabatic.

Therefore h4 h3 .

Evaporator

q 41 h1 h4 w
(h1 h4 ) .
w 0 , therefore q 41 h1 h4 , and rate of heat rejection Q 41 m

Coefficient of Performance (COP)

COPref

q 4 1 h1 h4

w
h2 h1

EQUIPMENT

RC713 Computer Linked Refrigeration Unit (P.A.HILTON)

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)

The experiment is start at a condenser saturation temperature of 20C.

Programme 1 is enter the evaporator load is increase to approximately 10%.
The main menu is return and Programme 2 is enter. No print-out is select
and these three parameters, 5. Condensing Temperature; 2. Refrigerant Flow
Rate; and 14. Cooling Water Flow Rate is display.
By small adjustments of the cooling water flow rate the condensing
temperature of 20C is maintained. All three parameters shows generally
horizontal lines (approximately 1 minute) which mean the system is stable.
The main menu is return and Programme 1 with print-out option (raw and
calculate data) is select.
Then evaporator load (by 10%) is increase, and the result is print-out. Step (i)
to (v) is repeat until evaporator load is 60%.

ENERGY BALANCE FORMULAS

Evaporator
Evaporator heat input

V I
Q
e
e e

Refrigerant Enthalpy Change Rate

r (h1 h4 )
m

(W)

Condenser
Heat transfer to cooling water

w Cp w (t 6 t 7 )
Q c m

Cp w 4.18

(W)

 r ( h2 h1 )
m

Refrigerant Enthalpy Rate

Compressor

Ps T

Shaft Power

2n
60

Pf 0.165 Ff

Friction Power

(W)

Ff 5 N

Indicated Power

Pi Ps Pf

Enthalpy Change Rate

r ( h2 h1 )
m

2n
60

(W)

Electrical Motor
Pel Vm I m cos

Electrical Power Input

Coefficient of Performance (COPR)
COPR (based on electrical input)

Q
e
Pel

SYMBOLS AND UNITS

Symbol
Cp
F
h
I

N
q

T
V
w

Quantity

Unit

Specific Heat
Force
Specific enthalpy
Current
Mass flow rate
Rotational speed
Heat Transfer per unit Mass
Heat Transfer Rate
Temperature
Potential Difference
Work per unit Mass
Angular velocity

J kg-1 K-1
N
J kg-1
A
kg/s
Rev/min
J kg-1
W
K
Volts
J kg-1
Rad s-1

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

7.1

By using data obtained from the experiments, for 1 set of data, plot the data on the
Pressure-enthalpy (P-h) diagram, and show the calculations and parameters below
using the energy equations based on enthalpy:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Refrigeration duty, Q
1 4

Compressor work, W
1 2

Heat rejected from condenser, Q

2 3
Coefficient of Performance, COPref

Result summary table

Load

Evaporator

Condenser exit
8

Refrigerant

Cooling Water

temperature
(C)
14.08
21.08
34.19
26.01
27.88

0
20
40
60
80
Load
0
20
40
60
80

h1
(kJ/kg)
312.5
329.2
329.2
335.4
339.6

h2
(kJ/kg)
337.5
343.8
350.0
354.2
354.2

temperature
(C)
22.29
19.72
17.65
16.84
17.49
h3=h4
(kJ/kg)
127.1
125.0
122.9
122.9
125.0

flow rate
(kg/s)
76.47
77.78
76.83
77.30
76.92

Q
1 4

W
1 2

Q
2 3

(kW)
14.1775
15.8827
15.8500
16.4263
16.5070

(kW)
-1.9118
-1.1317
-1.5981
-1.4532
-1.1230

(kW)
-3.1518
-3.2361
-3.2248
-3.1503
-3.0759

Sample of calculation
From experimental data load = 20
R134a , h1=392.2kJ/kg, h4=125kJ/kg.
Based from the graph m
77.78
m

g
1kg

s 1000 g

0.07778
m

kg
s

Q
4 1 m( h1 h4 )

Q
4 1 0.07778(392.2 125)

Q
4 1 15.8827 kW

R134a , h1=392.2kJ/kg, h2=343.8kJ/kg.

Based from the graph m
( h1 h2 )
W m
0.07647(343.8 392.2)
W

W 1.1317 kW

Based from the graph m H 2 O , h2=343.8kJ/kg, h3=125kJ/kg.

14.79
m

g
1kg

s 1000 g

Flow rate
(kg/s)
14.98
14.79
14.20
13.62
13.42
COPref
7.416
13.986
9.918
11.303
14.699

 0.01479
m

kg
s

(h3 h2 )
Q
2 3 m

Q23 0.01479(125 343.8)

Q
3.2361kW
2 3

Based from the graph h1=392.2kJ/kg, h2=343.8kJ/kg, h4=125kJ/kg.

Coefficient of Performance (COP)
q
h h4
COPref 4 1 1
w
h2 h1
392.2 125
343.8 125
13.986

7.2

Discussion
1)

Plot the graph of COPref against evaporator load at constant condenser

saturation temperature. From the graph, discuss the effect on the COPref as
the evaporation load is increase at a constant condenser temperature.

10

2)

Fill in the parameters from a set of experimental data into the refrigeration
system diagram (Figure 5).

11

Figure 5
From experimental data at load = 20
Evaporator heat input
V I
Q
e
e e

871.78VA

Shaft Power
W c Pi Ps Pf

12

Ps T TF

2n
60

294.08 999.90
14.78MW

Pf 0.165 Ff

0.165 5
41.47W

2n
60

2 (480)
60

; Ff 5 N

2 ( 480)
60

W c Pi Ps Pf

14.78M 41.47
14.78MW

Heat transfer to cooling water

w Cp w (t 6 t 7 )
Q c m
; Cp w 4.18
0.01479 4.18( 293.71 292.72)

0.06120W

3)

Explain the term COPref and its effect in rating refrigeration systems
against economic considerations.
The efficiency of a refrigerator or refrigerator performances are defined by
means of the coefficient of performance, COP denoted by COPref which is
given by
13

COPref

Q1
W

where COP is sometimes called the performance ratio. The best COP will
be given by a circle which is a Carnot cycle operation between the
temperature conditions. The objective of a refrigerator is to remove

given
heat

QL from the refrigerated space. To accomplish this objective, it requires a

work input of Wnet,in.
Warm environment
at TH>TL
QH
Reversed
heat engine

Wnet,in

QL
Cold refrigerated
at TL
For a refrigerator the important quantity is the heat supply to the system
from the surrounding, Q1. The power input, W is important
because it is
the quantity which has to be paid for and constitutes the
main item of the
running cost.

4)

Give example with appropriate diagrams and explanations of actual loads

in refrigeration practice in a factory.
An example of actual loads is storage of specific food. A refrigerator is
design to maintain the freezer section at -18C and the refrigerator section

14

at 3C. Lower freezer temperatures increase energy consumption without

improving the storage life of frozen food significantly. Different
temperatures for the storage of specific foods can be maintained in the
refrigerator section by using special-purpose compartment.
Generally, all full size refrigerators have the a large air-tight drawer for
leafty vegetable and fresh foods to seal moisture and protect from drying
effect. Some have a temperature controlled meat compartment maintained
at -0.5C, which keeps meat at lowest safe temperature without freezing it.
For specified external dimensions, a refrigerator is desired to have
maximum food storage volume, minimum energy consumption, and the
lowest possible cost to the consumer.
The size of compressor and another components of a refrigeration system
are determined on the basis of the anticipated heat load (or refrigeration
load), which is heat flow into the refrigerator. The heat load consist of the
predictable part, fan motor, defrost heaters and the unpredictable part.

The cross section of a refrigerator showing the relative magnitudes of various effects that
constitutes the predictable heat load.

5)

Outline at least 3 measures to increase the COPref of a refrigeration system.

i.
ii.
iii.

Work input, Wnet,in.

Temperature difference
Secondary working fluid

15

6)

Conclusion of the experiment.

As a conclusion from the experiment the value of COPref for each load 0,
20, 40, 60 and 80 are 7.416, 13.986, 9.918, 11.303 and 14.699 respectively
while the value of the work input, are -1.9118, -1.1317, -1.5981, -1.4532
and -1.1230 respectively. From the result it shows that all value of COPref
are more than unity. Noticed that the value of COPref can be greater than
unity. That is, the amount of heat remove from the refrigerated space can
be greater than the amount of the work input. This is in contrast to the
thermal efficiency, which can never be greater than 1. While the only
reason for expressing the efficiency of a refrigerator by another term the
coefficient of performance is desire to avoid the oddity of having
efficiencies greater than unity.

REFERENCES
1. Yunus A. Cengel, Michael A. Boles, Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach
5th Edition, Mc Graw Hill, 2006.
2. Eastop & McConkey, Applied Thermodynamics for Engineering Technologists 5th
Edition, Prentice Hall, 1993.

16