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Lecture 4 - Refrigeration Basics 4

This document discusses refrigeration basics and refrigerant properties. It covers refrigerant identification and classification based on safety groups, environmental impact, and chemical origins. The document also discusses ideal physical and thermodynamic properties of refrigerants as well as specific properties like pressure-temperature relationships, density, miscibility, odor, and corrosion tendencies. Safety groups are classified based on toxicity and flammability standards. Environmental impacts include ozone depletion and global warming potentials.

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santiago Valle
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27 views

Lecture 4 - Refrigeration Basics 4

This document discusses refrigeration basics and refrigerant properties. It covers refrigerant identification and classification based on safety groups, environmental impact, and chemical origins. The document also discusses ideal physical and thermodynamic properties of refrigerants as well as specific properties like pressure-temperature relationships, density, miscibility, odor, and corrosion tendencies. Safety groups are classified based on toxicity and flammability standards. Environmental impacts include ozone depletion and global warming potentials.

Uploaded by

santiago Valle
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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LECTURE 4:

REFRIGERATION BASICS
RMMR1010 Refrigeration and HVAC
EXAMPLE

 An ammonia refrigeration plant operates with a 30˚C condenser


temperature and an evaporator temperature of -30˚C. Determine
using ammonia refrigeration temperatures:
a) Specific enthalphy of refrigerant entering evaporator.
b) Specific enthalphy of refrigerant leaving evaporator.
c) NRE
REFRIGERANT IDENTIFICATION AND
CLASSIFICATION
 Only some of the available refrigerants are commonly used commercially.
 Ways of classificiation:
 Flammability and toxicity (determines safety group)
 Impact on environment, operating temperature stability
 Identified in four ways:
 ASHRAE designation Chemical Name
 Chemical formula Trade Name
SAFETY GROUP

 Classified according to the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) B52


Mechanical Refrigeration Code
 6 groups according to toxicity and flammability
 Based on the ASHRAE Standard 34
 Groups A2 and B2 and A2L and B2L are considered lower flammability hazards,
but groups A2L and B2L are considered somewhat safer.
 Group A1 has low toxicity and low flammability.
 Group B3 is highly toxic and highly flammable.
SAFETY GROUP
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
 Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP): refrigerants can deplete the ozone layer if they
contain chlorine.
 Freon 11 (R-11) and Freon 12 (R-12) are no longer used because of their chlorine
content.
 Some refrigerants (R-22) are still produced but will be phased out because they
have a moderate impact on the ozone layer.
 Global Warming Potential (GWP): the potential of some refrigerants to generate
greenhouse gasses.
 CO2 is considered to have a GWP score of 0, since it does not produce CO 2 but
uses already available quantities.
 Natural Refrigerants: occur naturally, R-717 (Ammonia), R-744 (CO 2), and R-718
(Water)
 Many refrigerants are derived from hydrocarbons
 They are often highly flammable.
 Methane, ethane, propane, and butane are then modified to
obtain desired physical properties.
 Halogens: compounds containing chloride and fluoride.
 Halocarbons: hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs, being phased
out), fluorocarbons (CFCs, banned), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs,
may have high GWP)
 Operating Temperatures: not all refrigerants are capable of
operating at very low temperatures, even at deep vacuums.

CHEMICAL ORIGINS AND


OPERATING TEMPERATURE
PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
 Ideal Refrigerant:
 Low boiling point at atmospheric pressure
 High latent heat capacity
 Fairly low condensing pressure
 Inoffensive odour, yet easy to detect
 Noncorrosive action on metals
 Non-flammable and non-explosive when mixed with air
 Low vapour specific volume
 Low liquid density
 We also want it to be inexpensive.
 No refrigerant is able to meet all requirements, so compromises must be made.
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
 Properties of refrigerants define the performance of each substance.
 Pressure-temperature relationship
 Differences are significant: R-123 boils at high temperature and needs a low
pressure at -15˚C.
 This is suitable for air conditioners but not deep-freezers.
 Low pressure may lead to air leakage into the low-pressure side.
 R-134a and R-717 require high condensing pressure, requiring operation by a
Power Engineer.
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES

 Specific Volume
 Determines the displacement of the compressor and the distribution lines.
 Density
 Indicates the weight of the lines and define the size of control lines and piping.
 Refrigerant effect
 Gives and idea of how much refrigerant is needed for a particular application.
 Enthalpy
 Used to determine the net refrigeration effect.
 Can be used to calculate the word done on the refrigerant by the compressor.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

 Miscibility:
 When two or more liquids are soluble in all proportions
 Oil miscible refrigerants will dilute lubricating oil.
 Will consume pump crankcase oil (this needs to be taken into account)
 Will remove oil buildup in condensers and evaporators.
 Indicates the need for oil separators and oil return lines.
 Affects the size of piping: refrigerant velocity is kept high to prevent buildup of oil deposits.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

 Odour
 May be helpful in detecting leaks.
 Some odours may be so pungent that they may induce undue concern.
 Flammability
 Flammable refrigerants (R-290 – Propane) are limited by CSA B52 Code
 Usually to industrial applications where tighter control is present.
 Toxicity
 Some refrigerants are toxic
 Non-toxic refrigerants can still be toxic I decomposed: can occur if exposed to flame.
 Non-toxic refrigerants can displace air and be hazardous.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
 Leakage tendency:
 Depends on operating pressure, viscosity, density, and chemical composition.
 Moisture reaction
 Most refrigerants accept some form of moisture.
 Water in the lines should be avoided.
 Can form ice in the low-pressure side affecting metering.
 May form acids, increasing corrosion
 Ammonia may form ammonium hydroxide in the presence of water,
which is highly corrosive to copper.
 Never use copper components with ammonia.

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