Simple Vapourr

Compression
Refrigerationn Systems
1. Introduction.
Vapour
2. Advantages and Disadvantages of
over Air
Compression Refrigeration System
Refrigeration System.
3. Mechanism ofa Simple Vapour Compression
Refrigeration System.
Chart.
4. Pressure-Enthalpy ( p-h)
Cycles.
5. Types of Vapour Compression with
Cycle
6. Theoretical Vapour Compression
Compression.
Dry Saturated Vapour afier with
Theoretical Vapour Compression
Cycle
7.
Wet Vapour after Compression.
Compression Cycle with
8. Theoretical Vapour
Compression.
Superheated Vapour after
Vapour Compression
Cycle with
9. Theoretical
Compression. 4.1 Introduction
Superheated Vapour before with refrigeration
Compression Cycle A vapour compression
10. Theoretical Vapour refrigerativm
Undercooling or
Subcooling Refrigerant.
of system is improved type of air
an
substance.
Cycle. in which a suitable working
11. Actual Vapour Compression system
It condenses and
used.
termed as refrigerant,
is
Pressure.
12. Effect of Suction at temperatures
and pressures close
Pressure. evaporates
13. Effect of Discharge Saturation Cycle. to the atmospheric
conditions. The refrigerants.
are ammonia
14: Improvements Simple with Flush Chamber
in
used for this purpose
usually, and sulphur
15. Simple Saturtion Cycle carbon dioxide (CO,)
Cycle with Accumulator or (NH), used, does no
16. Simple Saturation dioxide (SO,). The refrigerant
Precooler. from
refrigerant
with Subcooling of pressure vapour
17. Simple Saturation Cycle Since low
into high pressure
Vapour Refrigerant, is changed
Liquid Refrigerant by the evaporator compres
compressor,
in the
the
with Subcooling of refrigerant
Simple Saturation Cycle
vapour compression
18. named a s vapour
it is
Liquid Refrigerant. therefore
Liquid Refrigerant by refrigeration system.
 Chapter 4: Simple Vapour Compression Refrigeration Systems 109
leave the system, but is circulated
throughout the system alternately
Engine
condensing and evaporating. In
the refrigerant Heat i
evaporating, Heat out
absorbs its latent heat from the
hrine
br (salt water) which is used Compressor
for circulating it around the cold
chamber.While condensing, it
gives out its latent heat to the 2 Compression=
giv
circulating water of the cooler.
1 Evaporation
3 Condensation
The vapour compression
refrigeration system is, therefore a
latent heat pump as it pumps its 4 Expansion
fatent heat from the brine and
delivers it to the ceeter. Expansion valve
The vapour compression Evaporator Condenser
refrigeration system is now-a-days Engine-driven vapour compression heat pump.
used for all purpose refrigeration.
It is generally used for all industrial purposes from a small domestic refrigerator to a big air
conditioning plant.
4.2 Advantages and Disadvantages
Vapour Compression of
Refrigeration System over Air Refrigeration Systemn
Following are the advantages and disadvantages of the vapour compression refrigeration
system óver air refrigeration system:
Advantages
I. It has smaller size for the given capacity of refrigeration.
2. It has less running cost.
3. It can be employed over a large range of temperatures.
4. The coefficient of performance is quite high.
Disadvantages
1. The initial cost is high.
2. The prevention of leakage of the refrigerant is the major problem in vapour compression
system.
4.3 Mechanism of a Simple Vapour Compression
Refrigeration System
Fig. 4.1 shows the schematic diagram of a simple vapour compression refrigeration system.
Consists of the following five essential parts
1. Compressor. The low pressure and temperature vapour refrigerant from evaporator is
rawn into the compressor throygh the inlet or suction valvé A, where it is compressed to a high
Pressure and temperature. This high pressure and temperature vapour refrigerant is discharged into
e condenser through the delivery or discharge valve B.

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
rough the condenser, gives up its latentheatto the surroundingcondensingmedium which is
MOmally air or water.
Brine is used it has a very low freezing temperature.
 Conditioning
and Air
A Textbook of Refrigeration
110

In_ulated cold chamber

Low pressure liquid

vapour mixture

Evaporator

Expansion valve
Low pressure vapour or refrigerant
Pressure gauge
control valve

Pressure gauge
High pressure vapour
- High pressure liquid
Low pressure side

High pressure side

A B

Condenser
Compressor
Receiver
High pressure liquid
vapour mixture

Fig. 4.1. Simple vapour compression refrigeration system.

3. Receiver. The condensed liquid refrigerant from the condenser is stored in a vessel known
as receiver from where it is supplied to the evaporator through the expansion valve or refrigerant
control valve.
4. Expansion valve. It is also called throttle valveor 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 itspressure andtemperature. Some of the liquid refrigerant
evaporates as it passes through the expansion valve, but the greater portion is vaporised in the
evaporator at the low pressure and temperature.
5. Evaporator. An evaporator consists of coils of pipe in which the
at low pressure and temperature is evaporated and changed into vapour
liquid-vapour refrigerant
refrigerant at low pressure
and temperature. In evaporating, the liquid vapour refrigerant absorbs its latent
heat of vaporisation
from the medium (air, water or brine) which is to be cooled.
Note: In any compression refrigeration system, there are two different
pressure conditions. One is called the
high pressure side and other is known as low pressure side. The high
pressure side includes the discharge
line (i.e. piping from delivery valve B to the
condenser),
nressure side includes the evaporator, piping from the
condenser, receiver and expansion valve. The low
expansion valve to the
(i.e. piping from the evaporator to the suction valve A). evaporator
pc and the suction line

4.4 Pressure-Enthalpy (p-h) Chart

The most convenient chart for studying the behaviour of a
uhich the vertical grdinates represent pressure and horizontal refrigerant is the p-h chart. n
total heat). A typical chart is shown ordinates represent enthalpy (1.e.
in Fig.4.2, in which a
few important lines of the complete
chart are drawn. The saturated liquid ine ana
the critical point. A saturated lquid is
the saturated vapour line merge into one
another a
one which has a
temperature equal to the saturation
temperature corresponding to its pressure. Ine space to the left
therefare. be sub-cooled liquid region. The space between the of the saturated liquid line will.
r reoion and to the right of the saturated liquid and the va r lines is called
vapour line is a superhe
pour region.
 Chapter 4: Simple Vapour Compression Refrigeration Systems 111

In the following pages, we shall draw the p-h chart along with the T-s diagram of the cycle.

Critical point

Critical pressure

Superheated
Sub cooled
vapour region i
Wet vapour
liquid region region
Saturated
vapour line

Enthalpy
Constant volume
Constant temperature
Constant entropy
Fig. 4.2. Pressure- enthalpy (p-h) chart.

4.5 Types of Vapour Compression Cycles

We have already» discussed that vapour compression cycle essentially consists of
compression, condensation, throttling and evaporation. Many scientists have focussed their
attention to increase the coefficient of performance of the cycle. Though there are many cycles, yet
the following are important from the subject point of view:
1. Cycle with dry saturated vapour after compression,
2. Cycle with wet vapour after compression,
3. Cycle with superheated vapour after compression,
and
/4. Cycle with superheated vapour before compression,
5. Cycle with undercooling or subcooling of refrigerant.
Now we shall discuss all the above mentioned eycles, one by one, in the following pages.

4.6 Theoretical Vapour Compression Cycle with Dry

Saturated Vapour after Compression
A vapour compression cycle with dry saturated vapour after compression is shown on T-s
and p-h diagrams in ig. 4.3 (a) and (b) respectively, At point 1, let T. p, and s, be the
emperature, pressure and entropy of the vapour refrigerant respectively. The four processes of the
cycle are as follows **

1. Compression process. The vapour refrigerant at low pressure p, and temperature 7, is

compressed isentropically to dry saturatetvapeE-as-show by the vertical line T-2on T-s diagram
am-by-theceurve
T, respectively.
T-2 on p-hdiagram. The pressure and temperature nises from p,to p,and 7, to
The work done during isentropic compression per kg of refrigerant is given by
W = h,
 Conditioning
and Air i.e,.at
112 A Textbook of
Refrigeration
at
temperature T,.
refrigerant
h,= Enthalpy the
ofvapour and
where S u c t i o n of
compressor,

at temperature 7,. i.e.

refrigerant
Enthalpy the of vapour
h =

discharge of the compressor.h a

Cond.
PPa 2
T3Cond.
2 2 duuoo
P-P 1
74 Evap.
TT
4 Evap.

S S2 hnhh h h2
Entropy - Enthalpy-
(a) T-s diagram. (b) p-h diagram.

Fig. 4.3. Theoretical vapour compression cycle with dry saturated vapour after compression.
2. Condensing process. The high pressure and temperature vapour refrigerant from the
compressor is passed through the condenser where it is completely condensed at constant pressure
Pa and temperature T2 as shown by the horizontal line 2-3 on T-s and p-h diagrams. The vapour
refrigerant is changed into liquid refrigerant. The refrigerant, while passing through the condenser,
gives its latent heat to the surrounding condensing medium.
3. Expansion process. The liquid refrigerant at pressure p,
T p, T2and
1
=
P, and temperature =

expanded by *throttling process through the expansion valve to a low pressure p=

temperature T, = T, as shown by the curve 3-4 on 7-s diagram and by the vertical line 3-4 on
p-h diagram. We have already discussed that some of the
liquid refrigerant evaporates as it passes
through the expansion valve, but the greater portion vaporised in the evaporator. We know that
is
during the throttling process, no heat is absorbed or rejected by the liquid refrigerant.
Notes: (a) In case an expansion cylinder is
used in place of throttle or expansion valve to
refrigerant, then the refrigerant will
expana isentropicaly as shown by dotted vertical lineexpand the liquid
in Fig. 4.3 (a). The isentropic on T-s diagram
expans1On reauces the external work being
camnressor and increases the refrigerating expanded in
result of using the expansion running is to
ertect. hus, the net the
increase the coefficient of performance.
cylinder
Since the expansion cylinder system
or expanding the liquid
not Jusined ror smallrefrigerant
involves greater initial cost, therefore is quite
the flow rate of the itS Use 1s
complicated and
refrigerant can De Conuroed win throttle
gain in cooling capacity. Moreover,
expansion cylinder which has a fixed cylinder volume. valve which is
not possible in case
( In modern domestic of
refrigerators, a
capillary (Smal bore
A
Vanorising process. The tube) is used in
ature T. =T, is evaporatedliquid-vapour place of an expansion
and
changed mixture
into
of the
refrigerant at
valve
shown by the horizontal line on T-svapour refrigerant at pressure p, P, anu =

refrigerant absorbs its latent heat of 4 and p-h diagrams. constant pressure and
hrine) which is to be cooled. his heat which is vaporisation from the During evaporation, tne
and it is briefly written as absorbed by the medium (air, water or
the starting point and thus the cycle is
N uc
completed. poessorvaporisation refrigerant is called refrigerrating
continues upto point 1 which 1s
The throttling process
is an irreversible proces
 Chapter 4: Simple Vapour Compresslon Refrigeration Systems 113
We know that the refrigerating effect the heat absorbed extracted by the
or or
liquid vapnur
refrigerant during evaporation per kg of refrigerant is givgp by
R = h, h, = h, - h
h =h,)
where hf Scnsible heat at temperature 7, i.e. cnthalpy of liquid
refrigerant leaving the condenscr.
It may be noticed from the cycle that the liquid-vapour refrigerant has extracted heat during
evaporation and the work will be done by the compressor for isentropic compression of the high
pressure and temperature vapour refrigerant.
Coefticient of perormance,
C.O.P. = Refrigerating effect hh -h
Work done h2-h h-hA
Example 4.1. In an ammonia vapour compression system, the pressure in îhe evaporator
is 2 bar Ammonia at exit is O.85 dry and at entry its drynessfraction is 0.19, During compression,
the work done per kg of ammonia is 150 kJ. Calculate the C.0.P and
the volume
entering thee compressor per minute, if the rate of ammonia circulation is 4.5 kg/min. The latent
heat and specific volume at 2 bar are 1325 kI/kg and 0.58 m'hg respectively
Solution. Given: p, = P^ = 2 bar; x, = 0.85; x = 0.19; w = 150 kJ/kg; m, = 4.5 kg/min;
h1325 kJ/kg: v, =0.58 m'kg
C.0.P
The T-s and p-h diagrams are shown in Fig. 4.3 (a) and (b) respectively.
Since the ammonia vapour at entry to the evaporator (i.e. at point 4) has dryness fraction
(r) equal to 0.19, therefore enthalpy at point 4,
h = * x h = 0.19 x 1325 = 251.75 kJ/kg

Similarly, enthalpy of ammonia vapour at exit i.e. at point 1,

h,= x h =0.85 x 1325 = 1126.25 kJ/kg
Heat extracted from the evaporator or refrigerating effect,
h, -h, = 1126.25 251.75 874.5 k/kg
R =

We know that work done during compression,

w = 150 kJ/kg

C.O.P= R,/w =874.5/ 150 = 5.83 Ans.

Volume of vapour entering the compressor per minute

We know that volume of vapour entering the compressor per minute
= Mass of refrigerant / min x Specific volume
= m,x v, = 4.5 x 0.58 = 2.61 m°/min Ans.

ammonia refrigerating 25°C and

Example 4.2. The temperature limits of an system are

10°C. If the gas is dry at the end of compression, calculate the coefficient of performance of the
Cycle assuming no undercooling of the liquid ammonia. Use the following table for properties of
ammonia:

Temperature Liquid heat Latent heat Liquid entropy

(C) (kJ/kg) (k/kg) (kIkg K)

25 298.9 1166.94 1.1242

135.37 1297.68 0.5443
-10
 Air 263 Kk.
and C
of Refrigeration
135.37kJng
=

114 A Textbook
298 K :
T, =

=25 +273
K i
kJ/kg
=T, =25°C kJ/kg; s ,
1.1242
=
Given 7,
,01ution. = l166.94
/Kg h20.5443 kJ/kg K
r e s p e c t i v e l y .

and (b)
12g7o kJ/kg: s,, = 4.4 (a)
h = 1297.68 in Fig. 1.
B diagrams
are
at point
shown
fraction
The T-s and p-h Dryness
X=
Let
at point 1, *I297.68

We know that entropy

+
4"gl 0.5443
=0.5443+
= 263

=
S+ i)
0.5443 +4.934 x
at point 2, .(i)
Similarly, entropy 1166.94 5.04
+"2 =1.1242+09
298
equating
equations (i)
therefore

entropy at point 2,
1 is equal to
the entropy at point
nce x = 0.91
and (i), 5.04 or
0.5443+ 4.934 x,
=

298
2 D%
h 3

2 Mi
2 263
h-
h2
S S2

hrah - Enthalpy-
Entropy

(a) T-s diagram.

(b) p-h diagram.
Fig. 4.4

We know that enthalpy

at point 1,
h =
h + hi= 135.37 + 0.91 x 1297.68 =1316.26 kJ/kg
h. = hr2 +h= 298.9+ 1166.94 = 1465.84 kJ/kg
and enthalpy at point 2, h
Coefficient of performance of the cycle

h-hy 1316.26-298.9
= 6.8 Ans.
h-h 1465841316.26
o 50
Example 4.3. A vapour compression refrngerator works between the pressure limits of
har and 25 bar. The working fuid is jut dry at the end of compression and there is no under
cooling of the liquid before the expansi valve. Determine: 1. C.0.P. of the fycle
Vcle ; and

2. Capacity of the refrigerator y he Jula jlow is at the rate of 5 kg/min.

Data
Pressure
Saturation Enthalpy (kJ/kg) Entropy (kJ/kg K)
temperaure (K)Liquid Vapour
(bar) Liquid Vapour
295 151.96 293.29
60 0.554 1.0332
261 56.32 322.58
25 0.226 1.2464