Refrigeration & Air-conditioning Lab

EME-654

Experiment No. 6
Objective: Study of Single stage Air compressor and find out:
The volumetric efficiency
Isothermal Efficiency
And calculate compression ratio.

Apparatus: Single stage Air compressor.

Introduction:
Air compressor is a device, which sucks the air from atmosphere and
compresses it and delivers in reservoir tank. It compresses the air by means
of a reciprocating piston. Which reciprocates in a stationary cylinder? It can
be single stage or multi stage. It can be single acting or double acting.

Theory:
In a single cylinder air compressor, piston reciprocates in the cylinder. It is
driven by crankshaft through a connecting rod. There are two valves
mounted in the head of cylinder. These valves are the inlet and delivery
valves. Both the valves usually operate as a result of pressure difference
across them.
The compressed air is used in a wide range in industrial, domestic,
aeronautics fields etc. so compressors are applied in wide range.
Compressors are used where the air is required at high pressure.

Description:
Single stage air compressor test rig consists of single cylinder, piston & a
reservoir tank. Driven by A.C. motor, Temperature sensors are provided at
inlet and outlet. To find out the inlet volume of air, an orifice meter is
provided, pressure gauges is provided at reservoir tank. Safety valve and
auto power out switch is provide for the safety factor.

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Refrigeration & Air-conditioning Lab

EME-654
Experimental procedure:
1. Close the outlet valve of tank and start the compressor.
2. Let the reservoir pressure rise up to around 2 kg/ cm 2. Now open the
delivery valve so that constant delivery pressure is achieved.
3. Wait for some time and see that delivery pressure remain constant.
Now note down the pressure.
4. Record the time for 10 pulses of energy meter.
5. Record the manometer readings.
6. Record the temperature of air at inlet.
7. Find out the rpm of compressor with the help of tachometer.
8. Find out the volumetric efficiency and isothermal efficiency by given
formula.
9. Repeat the same procedure for different delivery pressures.
Observations & calculations:
Data:
d

d0

dp

Cd

E.M.C
Patm

=
=

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Refrigeration & Air-conditioning Lab

EME-654
Observation Table:
S.No.

N
RPM

Pd
Kg/cm2

H1
cm

H2
cm

Calculation:
h=

h 1h 2
100

H =

, m = m

m
1 }
a

x h, m of air = m

Department of Mechanical Engineering

T
K

tp

Refrigeration & Air-conditioning Lab

EME-654

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Refrigeration & Air-conditioning Lab

EME-654

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Refrigeration & Air-conditioning Lab

EME-654

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Refrigeration & Air-conditioning Lab

EME-654
Experiment No. 4
Objective: Study of different types of compressors used in Refrigeration
and Air-conditioning Systems.

Apparatus: Models of Different types of compressors.

Introduction:
The compressor is the most critical component of a mechanical vapor
compression refrigeration system. Air compressor is a device, which sucks
the air from atmosphere and compresses it and delivers in reservoir tank. It
compresses the air by means of a reciprocating piston, which reciprocates
in a stationary cylinder. It can be single stage or multi stage. It can be single
acting or double acting. There are four types of compressors commonly
used in refrigeration and air conditioning applications are: Reciprocating,
Vane, Centrifugal and Screw type. Recently scroll type compressors have
been introduced into the market.

Semi sealed Compressor:

When the compressor and motor operate on the same shaft and are enclosed
in a common casing, they are known as semi sealed compressors. These
types of compressors eliminate the use of crankshaft seal, which is
necessary in ordinary compressors in order to prevent leakage of
refrigerant. These compressors may operate on either reciprocating or
rotary principle land may be mounted with the shaft in either vertical or
horizontal position. The hermetic units are widely used for small capacity
refrigerating system such as domestic refrigerators, home freezers and
window air conditioners.
A semi-hermetic compressor has an electric motor and a compressor built
into an integral housing, similar to those in home refrigerators. The motor
and compressor have a common shaft and bearings. The motor is generally
cooled by suction gas (refrigerant) passing through the windings of the
electric motor, but it may be water cooled. These units eliminates the
problems of motor mountings, couplings alignment , motor lubrication and
refrigerant leakage at shaft seals , since the entire unit is hermetically seals
into one housing.

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Refrigeration & Air-conditioning Lab

EME-654
Hermetic compressors may be sealed (requiring factory service for repairs)
or accessible (permitting service on the job. be sure you know which type
you have before attempting repairs.

Hermetic sealed compressor:

A hermetic sealed compressor is a factory-sealed unit in which the
compressor, either reciprocating or rotary, and motor is direct connected
and enclosed in a gastight housing, true hermetic compressors are factory
sealed and cannot be disassembled for repair in the field. They are limited
to fractional horse power units and up to 7 hp. larger units, some to
several hundred horse power, are being built and have been very successful
operation. These units have the same advantage as hermetic compressors
but should be classified as semi hermetic, since they can be disassembled in
the field.

Reciprocating compressor:
The reciprocating compressors suck the low pressure and low temperature
refrigerant during its suction stroke and deliver it at high pressure and high
temperature. A reciprocating compressor consists of one or more piston and
cylinder combinations. The piston moves in reciprocating motion to draw
the suction gas into the cylinder on one stroke and to compress and
discharge it to the condenser on the return stroke.

Rotary compressors:
In rotary compressor the vapor refrigerant from the evaporator is
compressed due to the movement of blades. The rotary compressors are
positive displacement types compressors type. Since, the clearance in
rotary compressors is negligible; therefore they have high volumetric
efficiency. This compressor may use R-22, R-12 and R-114. There are two
basic types of compressors:
Single stationary blade type rotary compressor.
Rotating blade type rotary compressor.

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Refrigeration & Air-conditioning Lab

EME-654
Single stationary Blade type Rotary compressor:
A single stationary blade type rotary compressor consists of a stationary
cylinder, a roller (or impeller) and a shaft. The shaft has an eccentric on
which the roller is mounted. A blade is set into the slot of a cylinder in such
a manner that it always maintains contacts with the roller by means of a
spring. This blade moves in and out of the slot to follow the rotor when it
rotates. Since the blade separates the suction and discharge ports, therefore
it is often called a sealing blade. When the shaft rotates, the roller also
rotates so that it always touches the cylinder wall.
The completion of intake stroke and the beginning of compression stroke.
When the roller rotates, the vapor refrigerant ahead of the roller is being
compressed and the new intake from the evaporator is drawn into the
cylinder. As the roller turns towards mid position, more vapor refrigerant is
drawn into the cylinder while the compressed refrigerant is discharged to
the condenser. At the end of compression stroke, a new charge of
refrigerant is drawn into the cylinder. This, in turn, is compressed and
discharge to the condenser. In this way, the low pressure and temperature
vapor refrigerant is compressed gradually to a high pressure and
temperature.

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Refrigeration & Air-conditioning Lab

EME-654

Experiment No. 9
Objective: Study of different types of condensers.
Apparatus: Models of Different types of condensers.
Shell and tube type condenser:
The shell and tube condenser consists of a cylindrical steel shell containing
a number of straight water tubes. The tubes are expanded into grooves in
the tube sheet holes to form a vapor-tight fit. The tube sheets are welded to
the shell at both the ends. The removable water boxes are bolted to the tube
sheet at each end to facilitate cleaning of the condenser. The intermediate
supports are provided in the shell to avoid sagging of the tubes. The
condenser tubes are made either from steel or copper, with or without fins.
The steel tubes without fins are usually used in ammonia refrigerating
corrode copper tubing. In this type of condenser, the both vapor refrigerant
enters at the top of the shell and condensers as it comes in contact with
water tubes. The condensed liquid refrigerant drops to the bottom of the
shell which often serves as a receiver. However , if the maximum storage
capacity for the liquid refrigerant is less than the total charge of the system,
then a receiver of adequate capacity has to be added in case the pump down
facility is to be provided as in ice plant, cold storage etc. In some
condensers, extra rows of water tubes are provided at the lower end of the
condenser for sub cooling of the liquid refrigerant below the condensing
temperature.

Shell and coil type condenser:

These are usually on smaller tonnage low pressure units. They cannot of a
shell that contains a coil for circulating the water. They do not have

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Refrigeration & Air-conditioning Lab

EME-654
removable heads and the water side of the coil may be cleaned only with
chemicals. In case of a coil leakage the entire coil bank must be replaced.

Fins and Tube type Condenser:

The condenser must have enough heat transfer surface to condenser the
delivered vapor into a liquid state. This must be done at a reasonable
operating pressure and temperature. The condenser must also have enough
volume to store the vapor pumped by the compressor. Before condensing,
the vapor occupies a definite volume: this volume can be decreased by
increasing the pressure, but an increase in pressure causes an increase in the
horse power required to operate the system. If a condenser has sufficient
surface, it usually has enough volume. Care should be taken when selecting
finned surface condensers. Finned surface may indicate sufficient area for
heat rejection without providing enough volume. The condenser must also
allow enough space for the condensed liquid to separate from the vapor and
drain to the liquid receiver.

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Refrigeration & Air-conditioning Lab

EME-654

Experiment No. 3
Objective: Study of different types of Evaporators.
Apparatus: Models of different evaporators:
Finned evaporators:
The finned evaporators consists of bare tubes or coils over which the metal
plates or fins are fastened. The metal fins are constructed of thin sheets of
metal having good thermal conductivity. The shape, size or spacing of the
fins can be adapted to provide best rate of heat transfer for a given
application, since the fins greatly increases the contact surfaces for heat
transfer, therefore, the finned evaporators are also called extended surface
evaporators.
The finned evaporators are primarily designed for air conditioning
applications where the refrigerator temperature is above 0 0c, because of the
rapid heat transfer of the finned evaporator, it will defrost itself on the off
cycle when the temperature of the coil is near 00c. A finned coil should
never be allowed to frost because the accumulation of frost between the
fins reduces the capacity. The air-conditioning coils which operate at
suction temperatures which are high enough so that frosting never occurs,
have fin spacing as small as 3mm. the finned coils which frost on the on
cycle and defrost on the off cycle have wider fin spacing.

Plate evaporator/ chest evaporator / skin evaporator:

In this type of evaporator, the coils are either welded on one side of a plate
or between the two plates which are welded together at the edges. The plate
evaporators are generally used in house hold refrigerators, home freezers,
beverage coolers, ice cream cabins, locker plants etc.

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Refrigeration & Air-conditioning Lab

EME-654
Shell and tube evaporators:
The shell and tube evaporator is similar to a shell and tube condenser. It
consists of number of horizontal tubes enclosed in a cylindrical shell. The
inlet and outlet headers with perforated metal tube sheets are connected at
each end of the tubes.
These evaporators are generally used to chill water or brine solutions.
When it is operated as a dry expansion evaporator, the refrigerant circulates
through the tubes and the liquid to be cooled fills the space around the
tubes within the shell. The dry expansion shell and tube evaporators are
used for refrigerating nits of 2 to 259TR capacities. When it is operated as a
flooded evaporator, the water or brine flows through the tubes and the
refrigerant circulates around the tubes. The flooded shell and tube
evaporates are used for refrigerating units of 10 to 5000 TR capacities.

Shell and coil evaporators/ immersed type evaporators:

The shell and coil evaporators are generally dry expansion evaporators to
chill water. The cooling coil is a continuous tube that can be in the form, of
a single or double spiral. The shell may be sealed or open. The sealed shells
are usually found in shell and coil evaporators used to cool drinking water.
The evaporators having flanged shells are often used to chill water in
secondary refrigeration system.
Both types evaporators are usually used where small capacity (2 to 10TR)
liquid cooling is required. It may be noted that the shell and coil evaporator
is restricted to operation above 50c in order to prevent the freezing
problems.

Tube in tube or double tube evaporators:

The tube in tube or evaporators (or double tube evaporator), consists of one
tube inside another tube. The liquid to be cooled flows through the inner
tube while the primary refrigerant or secondary refrigerant (i.e. water, air or
brine) circulates in the space between the two tubes. The tube in tube
evaporator provides high heat transfer rates. However, they require more
space than shell and tube evaporators of the same capacity. These
evaporators are used for wine cooling and in petroleum industry for chilling
of oil.

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Refrigeration & Air-conditioning Lab

EME-654

Experiment No -5
Object: To study the vapor compression air conditioning cycle and to
calculate coefficient of performance (COP) by the use of P-H diagram.

Introduction:
Air conditioning is the simultaneous control of the temperature, humidity,
motion and purity of the atmosphere in a confined space. Air conditioning
applies in the heating season as well as in the cold season. The air
conditioning has wide applications in submarine ship, aircraft and rockets.
Air conditioning is associated with the human comforts and controlling the
humidity ratio.

Theory:
Air conditioning 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. This is widely used for cooling of storage
chambers in which perishable foods, drinks and medicines are stored.
Figure shows the schematic of the unit with complete description.

Compressor:
The main function of compressor is to raise the pressure and temperature of
the refrigerant by the compression of the refrigerant vapor and then pump it
into the condenser.

Condenser:
Condense the high pressure vapor refrigerant into the high pressure liquid
by condenser fan and passes it into the receiver tank for recirculation.

Capillary tube:
Expands the liquid refrigerant at high pressure to the sub cooled liquid
refrigerant at low pressure so that a measured quantity of liquid refrigerant
is passed into the evaporator.

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Refrigeration & Air-conditioning Lab

EME-654
Evaporator:
Evaporates the sub cooled liquid refrigerant by absorbing the sensible heat
into vapor refrigerant and sends back into the compressor.

Vapor compressor cycle:

The refrigerant starts at some initial state or condition, passes through a
series of processes in a definite sequence and returns to the initial
condition. This series of processes is called a cycle.
The standard vapor compressor cycle (SVCC) consists of the following
process:
Reversible adiabatic compression from the saturated vapor to a
super heated condition.
Reversible heat rejection at constant pressure (sub cooling liquid
and condensation of the refrigerant).
Irreversible enthalpy expansion from saturated liquid to a low
pressure sub cool liquid.
Reversible heat addition at constant pressure.

Coefficient of performance (COP):

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Refrigeration & Air-conditioning Lab

EME-654
The coefficient of performance (C.O.P) of a refrigerating cycle is defined
as the ratio between net refrigeration (output) and compressor work (input).

C.O.P= RE
CW
RE = H1-H4
CW= H2-H1
C.O.P=

C . O. P=

H 1H 4
H 2H 1

Experimental Procedure:
1. Clean the apparatus and make it free from dust.
2. Ensure that all ON/OFF switches given on the panel are at OFF
position.
3. Now switch ON the main power supply.
4. After 2 minutes switch ON compressor.
5. After the gap of 10 or 15 minutes take the reading of pressure gauges,
voltmeter, ampere meter and T1, T2, T3,T4,T5 and T6 by digital
indicator.

Observation & calculations:

OBSERVATION TABLE
S.No.

P1

P2

T1

T2

T3

T4

Department of Mechanical Engineering

T5

T6

Refrigeration & Air-conditioning Lab

EME-654

Calculation
:

C . O. P=

H 1H 4
H 2H 1

Mark point 1, 2, 3 using (P1,T1), (P2,T2), and (P2,T3) respectively on P-H

diagram for (R-22) and read H1, H2 and H3 (where H3=H4) to calculate COP.

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Refrigeration & Air-conditioning Lab

EME-654

Experiment No -7
Object: To study the working of Ice plant and to study the vapor
compression refrigeration cycle and its performance. And to find out:
Theoretical C.O.P of the unit.
Actual C.O.P of the Unit.
Relative C.O.P of the unit.

Introduction:
Natural ice was used for preservation purpose for a very long time. But it
has been replaced to a large extend by manufactured ice since the
beginning of twentieth century because of the uncertainty of the natural
supply and also because of the cost of transportation to the retail trade. The
manufacture of ice is one of the principal needs of refrigeration and it will
continue, as ice is the cheapest means for short time preservations of food.

Theory:
The vapor compression refrigeration cycle is based on a circulating fluid
media viz , a refrigerant having special properties of vaporizing at
temperatures lower than the ambient and condensing back to the liquid
form, at slightly higher than ambient conditions by controlling the
saturation temperature and pressure . When the refrigerant evaporates or
boils at temperatures lower than ambient it extracts or removes heat from
the load and lowers the temperature consequently providing cooling. The
superheated vapor is increased to a level by the compressor to reach a
saturation pressure so that heat added to vapor is rejected into the

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Refrigeration & Air-conditioning Lab

EME-654
atmosphere, using operational ambient conditions with cooling medias such
as air or water. The vapor is condensed to the liquid form and recycled
again to form the refrigeration cycle.

The main components used in refrigeration cycle are

1. Compressor
2. Condenser
3. Throttling Device
4. Evaporator.

Coefficient
of

performance:
The coefficient of performance (c.o.p) of a refrigerating cycle is defined as
the ratio between net refrigeration (output) and compressor work (input).
C . O. P=

CW

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Refrigeration & Air-conditioning Lab

EME-654
RE= H1-H4
CW= H2-H1
C . O. P=

H 1H 4
H 2H 1

Procedure:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Ensure that ON/Off switches given on the panel are at OFF position.
Switch On the condenser fan switch.
After 2 minutes, switch ON the compressor.
Check the compound and pressure gauge and note the readings.
Note down the readings of pressure and temperature.
Put brine solution in the tank.
Note down the temperature of brine tank from digital temperature
indicator.
8. At the time of starting the apparatus note down the ammeter &
voltmeter reading.
9. Note down the reading of gauges, temperatures, ampere meter &
voltmeter after running of the rig at least 20 to 30 minutes .take 2 or 3
readings.
10. Start the agitator motor for 5 minutes only, after the gap of every 15
minutes.
11. Run the unit continuous and note down the brine solution
temperature, if the brine temperature reaches up to 40c then put water in the
ice cans for freezing.
12. Now check the temperature of suction pressure and discharge
pressure.

Observation & calculation:

Data:

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Refrigeration & Air-conditioning Lab

EME-654
Cos = 0.8

Cph

0
= 3.20 kJ/kg C

h = ..kg/m3

Observation Table:
S.No
.

P1

P2

T1

T2

T3

T4

T5

T6

Calculations:
H 1H 4
H 2H 1

COPth

COPact

N
W

COPrel

COPact
COP th

Mark points 1, 2, 3 using (P1, T2), (P2, T2) and (P3, T3) respectively on P-H
Diagram for (R-134a) and read H1, H2 and H3 (where H3=H4) to calculate
theoretical COP.

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Refrigeration & Air-conditioning Lab

EME-654

Experiment No -1
Object: To study refrigeration test rig and to study the vapor compression
refrigeration cycle. And to calculate coefficient of performance and draw PH diagram.

Apparatus: Refrigeration Test rig.

Introduction:
Refrigeration is the branch of science that deals with the process of
reducing and maintaining the temperature of a space or material below the
temperature of the surroundings. Heat must be removed from the body
being refrigerated and transferred to another body whose temperature is
below that of the refrigerated body.

Theory: Refrigeration may be defined as the process of removing heat

from a substance under controlled conditions. It is used for the manufacture
of ice and similar products. This is widely used for cooling of storage
chamber in which perishable foods, drinks and medicines are stored. The
refrigeration has also wide applications in submarines ships, aircrafts.

Vapor compression cycle:

The refrigerant starts at some initial state or condition, passes through a
series of processes in a definite sequence and returns to the initial

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Refrigeration & Air-conditioning Lab

EME-654
condition. This series of processes is called a cycle.The standard vapor
compressor cycle (SVCC) consists of the following processes:
1-2 reversible adiabatic compression from the saturated vapor to a
super heated condition input.
2-3 Reversible heat rejection at constant pressure (de-superheating
and condensation of the refrigeration).
Irreversible is enthalpy expansion from saturated liquid to a lowpressure vapor.

Reversible heat addition at constant pressure.

Compressor:
The main function of compressor is to raise the pressure and temperature of
the refrigerant by the compression of the refrigerant vapor and then pump it
into the condenser.

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Refrigeration & Air-conditioning Lab

EME-654
Condenser:
condense the vapor
refrigerant into the
liquid by condenser
fan and passes it into
the receiver tank for
recirculation.

Capillary tube:
It expands the liquid
refrigerant at high pressure to the liquid refrigerant at low pressure so that a
measured quantity of liquid refrigerant is passed into the evaporator.

Evaporator:
It evaporates the liquid refrigerant by absorbing the heat into vapor
refrigerant and sends back into the compressor.

Drier:
A drier is used between the condenser and expansion device. The main
function of the drier is to absorb the moisture from the liquid refrigerant
and filter the dust particles.

Accumulator: An accumulator is fitted in between the evaporator and

compressor. It prevents the liquid refrigerant from entering the compressor.

Coefficient of performance: The coefficient of performance (C.O.P) of

a refrigerating cycle is defined as the ratio between net refrigeration
(Output) and compressor work (Input).
C . O. P=

CW

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Refrigeration & Air-conditioning Lab

EME-654
RE= H1-H4
CW= H2-H1
C . O. P=

H 1H 4
H 2H 1

Utilities required:
Electric supply: single phase, 220 volt AC, 5-15 Amp socket with earth
connection.

Water supply @ 2 LPM.

Drain Required.

Experimental procedure:
1. For batch operation, fill known amount of water in the evaporator
tank and put temperature sensor T6 in the evaporator water.
2. Ensure that all ON/OFF switches given on the panel are at OFF
position.
3. Switch ON mains power supply.
4. Switch On the compressor.
5. Open the valve for discharge and suction pressure gauges.
6. Switch ON the pump for uniform temperature of water in the
evaporator.
7. Note down the readings as per observation table after every 10 min.
interval.
8. Experiment can be repeated on load by switch ON the heater.
9. Repeat step 2 to 7.

Observation & calculation:

Data:
Cos = 0.7

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Refrigeration & Air-conditioning Lab

EME-654
w

= 1000kg/m3

Cp

= 4.186 kJ/kg0C

Area of evaporator = 30 x 25 cm2

Observation Table:
For batch operation

T6i = 0C
S.No

t
min

P1
P2
2
Kg/cm Kg/cm2

T1
0
C

T2
0
C

T3
0
C

T4
0
C

T6
0
C

Vw
ltr

Vvolt

Iamp

Calculation:
Mark points 1, 2, 3 using (P 1,T1), (P2,T2), (P3,T3) respectively on p-h
diagram for R-134 a . Read H1, H2 and H3 (where H3=H4).

C . O. P th=

H 1H 4
H 2H 1

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Refrigeration & Air-conditioning Lab

EME-654
m=

Vwxw
kg / sec=.
tx 1000 x 60

REact.= mXCpx(T6i-T6)kJ/sec.=
CWact=

VxIxCos
kJ / sec=
1 000

(CO.P)act

REact
=
CWact

EME-654: REFRIGERATION & AIR CONDITIONING Lab

Minimum 8 experiments out of following;
1. Experiment on refrigeration test rig and calculation of various
performance
Parameters.
2. To study different types of expansion devices used in refrigeration
system.
3. To study different types of evaporators used in refrigeration systems.
4. To study basic components of air-conditioning system.
5. Experiment on air-conditioning test rig & calculation of various
performance
Parameters.
6. To study air washers.
7. Study of window air conditioner.

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Refrigeration & Air-conditioning Lab

EME-654
8. Study & determination of volumetric efficiency of compressor.
9. Experiment on Ice-plant.
10. Study of Hermetically sealed compressor.
11. Experiment on Desert coolers.

Department of Mechanical Engineering