Principles of Refrigeration

Chapter 6
Multiple Evaporator and
Compressor System

Prepared By
Dr. Mohammed Al-odat
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
• Introduction
• Types of Multiple Evaporator and Compressor system
• Multiple evaporator at same temperature with single compressor,
• and expansion valve
• Multiple evaporator at different temperature with single compressor,
individual expansion valves and back pressure valves
• Multiple evaporator at different temperature with single compressor,
multiple expansion valves and back pressure valves
• Multiple evaporator at different temperature with individual compressors
and individual expansion valves
• Multiple evaporator at different temperature with individual compressors
and multiple expansion valves
• Multiple evaporator at different temperature with compound compression
and individual expansion valves
• Multiple evaporator at different temperature with compound compression,
individual expansion valves and flash intercoolers
• Multiple evaporator at different temperature with compound compression,
multiple expansion valves and flash intercoolers 2
• 6.1 Introduction
In the single evaporator system entire load is carried by a
single evaporator at one temperature.
But in many refrigeration installations different
temperatures are required to be maintained at various
points in the plant such as in hotels, large restaurants,
institution, industrial plants and food markets where the
food quantities are received in large quantities and
stored at different temperatures. For example, the fresh
fruits, fresh vegetables, fresh cut meats, frozen product,
dairy products, canned goods, bottled goods have all
different conditions of temperature and humidity for
storage. In such cases, each location is cooled by its own
evaporator in order to obtain more satisfactory control of
the condition. 3
6.2 Types of Multiple evaporator and compressor
system
Following types of multiple evaporator and compressor
systems are important from the subject point of view:
1. Multiple evaporators at the same temperature with
single compressor and expansion valve.
2. Multiple evaporators at different temperature with
single compressor, individual expansion valves and back
pressure valves.
3. Multiple evaporators at different temperature with
single compressor, multiple expansion valves and back
pressure valves.
4. Multiple evaporators at different temperature with
individual compressors and individual expansion valves 4
5. Multiple evaporators at different temperatures with
individual compressors and multiple expansion valves.
6. Multiple evaporators at different temperatures with
compound compression and individual expansion valves.
7. Multiple evaporators, at different temperature with
compound compression, individual expansion valves and
flash intercoolers.
8. Multiple evaporators at different temperatures with
compound compression, multiple expansion valves and
flash intercoolers.
All above mentioned types of multiple evaporators and
compressor systems are discussed in detail in the
following pages

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6.3 Multiple evaporators at the same temperature with single
compressor and expansion valve
• The arrangement of system with three evaporators EP1, EP2
and EP3 at the same temperature with single compressor and
expansion valve and corresponding p-h diagram shown in Fig.
6.1 (a) and (b).

Fig. 61 (a) Multiple

evaporators at the same
temperature with single
compressor and expansion
valve

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Fig. 6.1 (b) p-h diagram
Let, Q1, Q2 and Q3 = loads on the evaporators EP1, EP2 and
EP3 respectively in tonnes of refrigeration.
Mass of refrigerant required to be circulated through the
first evaporator EP1,

Mass of refrigerant required to be circulated through

the second evaporator EP1,

Mass of refrigerant required to be circulated

through the third evaporator EP 3,
Total mass of refrigerant
required to be circulated through
the evaporators or compressor
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Example 6.1 A single compressor using R-12 as
a refrigerant has a three evaporators of capacity
10TR, 20 TR, and 30 TR. All the evaporators
operate at – 10 oC and the vapours leaving the
evaporator are dry and saturated. The condenser
temperature is 40 oC. The liquid refrigerant
leaving the condenser is subcooled to 30 oC.
Assuming isentropic compression find (a) the
mass of refrigerant flowing through each
evaporator ; (b) the power required to drive the
compressor and (c) the C.O.P
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• Solution Given Q1=10 TR, Q2= 20 TR Q3-30 TR
tE=-10 oC, tc=40 ; t3=30 oC

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Using the p-h diagram to obtain the
enthalpies at each point of the cycle

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6.4. Multiple Evaporators at Different Temperature
with Single Compressor, Individual Expansion Valves
and Back Pressure Valves
The arrangement of system consists of three evaporators EP1,
EP2 and EP3 at different temperature with single compressor,
individual expansion valves and back pressure valves and
corresponding p-h diagram shown in Fig. 6.2 (a) and (b).

Fig. 6.2 (a) Multiple

evaporators at
different
temperatures with
single compressor,
individual
expansion valves and
back pressure valves
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Fig. 6.2 (b) p-h diagram

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• From Fig. 6.2 (a), we see that the refrigerant corning
out of the third evaporator EP3 at pressure pE3 is
further expanded through the back pressure valve
shown by 5-6, to a pressure of the first evaporator
pE1. Similarly, the refrigerant coming out E the
second evaporator EP2 pressure pE2, is further
expanded in back pressure valve as shown by 8-9, to
a pressure of the first evaporator EP1.
• Now the refrigerant leaving the back pressure valves
at points 6 and 9 are mixed together with the
refrigerant leaving the first evaporator at point 11, at
the pressure of the first evaporator (pE1) which is the
suction pressure of the compressor.

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• The condition of the refrigerant after mixing
and entering in the compressor is shown by
point 1. The enthalpy at this point is given by,

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• Example 6.2 A single compressor using R-12 as a
refrigerant has a three evaporators of capacity 10TR,
20 TR, and 30 TR. The temperature of the three
evaporators is maintained at – 10 oC, 5 oC and 10
oC respectively.. The condenser pressure is 9.609
bar.. The liquid refrigerant leaving the condenser is
subcooled to 30 oC. The vapour leaving the
evaporators are dry and saturated. Assuming
isentropic compression find (a) the mass of
refrigerant flowing through each evaporator ; (b) the
power required to drive the compressor and (c) the
C.O.P 20
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6.5 Multiple Evaporators at Different
Temperature with Single Compressor,
Multiple Expansion Valves and Back
Pressure Valves
The arrangement consists of three evaporators EP1,
EP2 and EP3 operating at different temperatures with
single compressor, multiple expansion valves E1, E2,
and E3 and back pressure valves and the corresponding
p-h diagram is shown in as shown in Fig. 6.3 (a) and (b).
In this system the refrigerant flows from the condenser
through expansion valve E3 where its pressure reduced
from the condenser pressure pc to the pressure of third
evaporator (i.e. highest temperature evaporator) EP3
(i.e. pE3). 24
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All the vapour formed after leaving the expansion valve E3 plus
enough liquid to take care of the load of evaporator EP3 passes
through this evaporator EP3. The remaining refrigerant then
flows through the expansion valve E2 where its pressure is
reduced from pE3 to pE2. Again all the vapour formed after
leaving the expansion valve E2 plus enough liquid to take care of
the load of evaporator EP2 passes through the evaporator EP2.
The remaining liquid now flows through the expansion valve E1
and supplies it to first evaporator (i.e. lowest temperature
evaporator) EP1. The vapour refrigerants coming out of the
second and third evaporators EP2 and EP3 are further expanded
through the back pressure valves to reduce their pressures to
pE1 as shown by 9-9' and 6-6' respectively. Now the refrigerants
leaving the back pressure valves at points 6 and 9 are mixed
together with the refrigerant leaving the first evaporator at point
11, at pressure pE1 which is the suction pressure of the
compressor.
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