PANES, STANLEY D. / CHAUVER JULES C.

/RICAPLAZA

Introduction:

Refrigeration is an important aspect of both domestic and commercial food management.

The creation of the first modern fridge in the late 1800's was an ushering of a great era in

the food preservation and foodservice world. This has further been advanced by new

technology which has seen a current production of more than 1 billion refrigerators around

the world.

The one main reason why refrigerators are used in businesses and at home is to keep food

cold. Fridges are important because food stays fresh for longer, thus helping cut down

wastage in both homes and businesses. They also help increase profits in businesses by

maintaining the quality of food for a longer time and allowing chefs the time and

opportunity to create their best foods.

More production of food which is, in normal circumstances, highly perishable has

increased the need to have storage mechanisms that prevent wastage and unwanted loss.

However, as much as refrigeration is an important part of our lives, one question remains,

how does a refrigerator work and how does it maintain such cold temperatures for a long

time?(Gill Lester, 2023)

In this regard, the researchers found interest in the study since the researchers believe that as

future seafarers, it is a requisite that they must invest themselves in knowing and learning about

refrigeration because it is a prerequisite process these days. As shipping of goods from one place

to another is increasing a tremendous rate, protecting the food products is becoming vital. But it
is not just food product that uses refrigeration process. In gas tankers, gas is kept under liquid

state with the help of refrigeration process or Marine Refrigeration system. It becomes very vital

for any seafarer to know about this process. (Ericson, 2016)

This study is aimed to

 discuss what is refrigeration cycle,

 describe the components of a marine refrigeration system,

 describe the principles of refrigeration, and

 discuss the working principles and maintenance of a marine refrigeration system.

 Source: https://www.fridgefreezerdirect.co.uk/ffd-info-centre/the-truth-about/
commercial-refrigeration-101
 https://marinersgalaxy.com/marine-refrigeration-system-requirements
Background of the study:

Refrigeration is a process that has been used for centuries to keep food and other items cool. The
origin of refrigeration can be traced back to ancient times, when natural ice was harvested from
rivers or lakes and stored in insulated chambers. Over time, different methods of refrigeration
have been developed, such as the use of ice houses, evaporative cooling systems, and mechanical
compression systems. Today, modern refrigeration technology is used in homes and businesses
around the world to preserve food and keep it safe for consumption.

In the industrialized nations and affluent regions in the developing world, refrigeration is chiefly

used to store foodstuffs at low temperatures, thus inhibiting the destructive action of bacteria,
yeast, and mold. Many perishable products can be frozen, permitting them to be kept for months
and even years with little loss in nutrition or flavor or change in appearance. Air-conditioning,
the use of refrigeration for comfort cooling, has also become widespread in more developed
nations.

Cooling caused by the rapid expansion of gases is the primary means of refrigeration today. The
technique of evaporative cooling, as described heretofore, has been known for centuries, but the
fundamental methods of mechanical refrigeration were only discovered in the middle of the 19th
century. The first known artificial refrigeration was demonstrated by William Cullen at
the University of Glasgow in 1748. Cullen let ethyl ether boil into a partial vacuum; he did not,
however, use the result to any practical purpose. In 1805 an American inventor, Oliver Evans,
designed the first refrigeration machine that used vapor instead of liquid. Evans never
constructed his machine, but one similar to it was built by an American physician, John Gorrie,
in 1844.

Commercial refrigeration is believed to have been initiated by an American businessman,

Alexander C. Twinning, in 1856. Shortly afterward, an Australian, James Harrison, examined the
refrigerators used by Gorrie and Twinning and introduced vapor-compression refrigeration to the
brewing and meat-packing industries. A somewhat more complex system was developed
by Ferdinand Carré of France in 1859. Unlike earlier vapor-compression machines, which used
air as a coolant, Carre’s equipment contained rapidly expanding ammonia. (Ammonia liquefies at
a much lower temperature than water and is thus able to absorb more heat.) Carre’s refrigerators
were widely used, and vapor-compression refrigeration became, and still is, the most widely used
method of cooling.
REFRIGERATION CYCLE

Refrigeration cycles are the process of cooling a space or object by removing heat from it. This
process is used in many industries, including food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and air
conditioning. Refrigeration cycles can be divided into four main stages: compression,
condensation, expansion, and evaporation. In this article we will discuss each stage of the
refrigeration cycle in detail and explain how they work together to achieve the desired result.

The refrigeration cycle starts and ends with the compressor. The refrigerant flows into the
Compressor where it is compressed and pressurized. At this point, the refrigerant is a hot gas.
The refrigerant is then pushed to the Condenser which turns the vapor into liquid and absorbs
some of the heat.

Refrigeration is an important aspect of both domestic and commercial food management.

The creation of the first modern fridge in the late 1800's was an ushering of a great era in
the food preservation and foodservice world. This has further been advanced by new
technology which has seen a current production of more than 1 billion refrigerators around
the world.

The one main reasons why refrigerators are used in businesses and at home is to keep food
cold. Fridges are important because food stays fresh for longer, thus helping cut down
wastage in both homes and businesses. They also help increase profits in businesses by
maintaining the quality of food for a longer time and allowing chefs the time and
opportunity to create their best foods.

More production of food which is, in normal circumstances, highly perishable has
increased the need to have storage mechanisms that prevent wastage and unwanted loss.
However, as much as refrigeration is an important part of our lives, one question remains,
how does a refrigerator work and how does it maintain such cold temperatures for a long
time?

THE REFRIGERATION CYCLE COMPONENTS

A standard refrigerator will have mechanical elements that make it easy for it to achieve
and maintain cold temperatures. They are the components that will maintain the
refrigeration cycle. These components are highly specialized in order to provide the
desired effects.

They include a compressor, condenser, expansion valve/metering or throttling device and

an evaporator. Additionally, the fridge has to use a refrigerant, a substance that is used to
provide the cooling effect. The refrigerant has to pass through all these components and in
each, it is altered to achieve the required temperatures.

Here are the refrigeration components that complete the cycle. 

Compressor

Its work is to control the flow of the refrigerant by acting as a motor and a
pump. This allows it to pressurize the refrigerant and reduce its volume.

There are five types of compressors used in both commercial and domestic refrigerators.
They include reciprocating, rotary, screw, centrifugal and scroll. Of the five, the
reciprocating compressor is the most commonly used in home and commercial kitchen
refrigerators.

Condenser

The condenser works by condensing the refrigerant. The refrigerant entering the condenser
is hot and pressurized. The condenser then cools the refrigerant by converting it into a
liquid state.

There are three types of condensers.

Air-cooled. you will find this in small refrigerators such as the ones used at home. They
are ideal when the refrigerant quantity is small. The air-cooled condenser is also called
coil condenser because it comes with aluminium or copper coils at the back of the fridge.
The coils increase the surface area for cooling the refrigerant.

Air-cooled condensers are further divided into two. The natural convection condenser
which uses the natural flow of air to cool the refrigerant and the forced convection
condenser which uses a fan to draw in cold air.

Water-cooled condensers. These are used in large plants where there is more refrigerant.
They use water to provide the cooling effect on the refrigerant. Water-cooled refrigerants
are further subdivided into three.

 Tube-in-tube or double pipe type

 Shell and coil type
 Shell and tube type

Water-cooled systems typically work better when operating in higher ambient

temperatures.

Evaporative Condensers. These are used in ice plants and are a combination of water-
cooled and air-cooled condensers. As such, they come with benefits from both types of
condensers.

Expansion Valve

The expansion valve helps reduce the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant. The
sudden drop in pressure and temperature produces a cooling effect.

The expansion valve also regulates the amount of refrigerant used in meeting the load
requirements. The load, in this case, are the products that need cooling in the refrigerator.

There are various types of expansion valves. They include:

 Capillary Tube
 Constant Pressure or Automatic Throttling Valve
 Thermostatic Expansion Valve
 Float Valve

Evaporator

The evaporator absorbs heat inside the refrigerator. It acts as a medium of exchange for
heat from the stored products (load) to the refrigerant. In most cases, the evaporator is the
coldest part of the fridge or the freezer.

Here, the refrigerant is cold and moves at a slower pace in order to absorb as much heat as
possible from the load. As it absorbs the heat, it gets hotter and turns into a gas. By
evaporizing the refrigerant more heat is absorbed from the load. The refrigerant, now hot
and in gaseous form, is then pushed back into the compressor.

All types of commercial refrigeration will have these components, from  commercial
bottle coolers  and multideck  to commercial chest freezers  and cold rooms .

The Refrigeration Cycle

The refrigeration cycle starts and ends with the compressor. The refrigerant flows into
the Compressor where it is compressed and pressurized. At this point, the refrigerant is a
hot gas. The refrigerant is then pushed to the Condenser which turns the vapor into liquid
and absorbs some of the heat. The refrigerant then proceeds to the  Expansion
Valve where it expands, losing pressure and heat.

The refrigerant coming out of the expansion valve is cold and slow due to the loss of
pressure. It enters the Evaporator in a liquid state where the exchange of heat takes place
thus cooling the load inside the refrigerator. As the gas cools down the load, it absorbs the
heat which turns it into a gas. The gas is then pushed back into the  Compressor where it
can start the cycle again.
During the refrigeration cycle, a build-up of ice around the evaporator may occur. Both
commercial fridges and freezers will combat this build-up with some form of defrost
system.

Understanding the Refrigeration Cycle

The refrigeration cycle basically involves the movement of refrigerant from one place to
the next and in different forms with the ultimate goal of pulling down temperatures
whether in a cabinet, counter or even cold room format. The one main importance of
learning how your commercial fridge works is so that you understand how to clean and
maintain equipment effectively. For example, understanding that your fridge uses an air-
cooled condenser will help you find the ideal position for your unit in order to make its
work easier and lower the energy consumption. By understanding the basics, only then can
one fully benefit from their commercial refrigeration.

Marine refrigeration is an important component of any vessel, providing temperature control and
preservation of food, beverages and other items. It is a complex system that consists of several
components. These components include evaporators, condensers, compressors, expansion valves
and receiver-dryer units. The evaporator is responsible for cooling the air inside the vessel while
the condenser is used to remove heat from the refrigerant. Compressors are used to increase
pressure in order to move the refrigerant through the system while expansion valves regulate
flow rate and temperature. Receiver-dryer units are also used to store liquid refrigerant until it
can be released into the system when needed. Refrigeration components play an important role in
providing efficient cooling for vessels at sea. By working together, these components are able to
create a cooling system that is both efficient and reliable. From the evaporator to the condenser,
each component has its own unique purpose and function. All these components work together to
provide efficient cooling for vessels at sea. 

In simple terms, a refrigeration cycle's mission is heat absorption and heat rejection. As any
HVAC instructor will tell you (emphatically), you can't make cold, you can just remove heat.
The refrigeration cycle, sometimes called a heat pump cycle, is a means of routing heat away
from the area you want to cool. This is accomplished by manipulating the pressure of the
working refrigerant (air, water, synthetic refrigerants, etc.) through a cycle of compression and
expansion.  

That’s not the full picture, of course, but that’s the basic idea. Now, let’s get into
the equipment that helps execute that job. There are certainly other components in most loops,
but most would agree the four fundamental elements of a basic cycle are as follows:

 The compressor
 The condenser
 The expansion device
 The evaporator
The compressor

Compression is the first step in the refrigeration cycle, and a compressor is the piece of
equipment that increases the pressure of the working gas. Refrigerant enters the compressor as
low-pressure, low-temperature gas, and leaves the compressor as a high-pressure, high-
temperature gas.

Types of compressors

Compression can be achieved through a number of different mechanical processes, and because
of that, several compressor designs are used in HVAC and refrigeration today. Other examples
exist, but some popular choices are: 

1. Reciprocating compressors

2. Scroll compressors

3. Rotary compressors

The condenser

The condenser, or condenser coil, is one of two types of heat exchangers used in a basic

refrigeration loop. This component is supplied with high-temperature high-pressure,
vaporized refrigerant coming off the compressor. The condenser removes heat from the hot
refrigerant vapor gas vapor until it condenses into a saturated liquid state, a.k.a. condensation.
After condensing, the refrigerant is a high-pressure, low-temperature liquid, at which point it’s
routed to the loop’s expansion device.

The expansion device

These components come in a few different designs. Popular configurations include fixed orifices,
thermostatic expansion valves (TXV) or thermal expansion valves (pictured above), and the
more advanced electronic expansion valves (EEVs). But regardless of configuration, the job of a
system’s expansion device is the same - create a drop in pressure after the refrigerant leaves the
condenser. This pressure drop will cause some of that refrigerant to quickly boil, creating a two-
phase mixture.  

This rapid phase change is called flashing, and it helps tee up the next piece of equipment in the
circuit, the evaporator, to perform its intended function.

The evaporator
The evaporator is the second heat exchanger in a standard refrigeration circuit, and like the
condenser, it’s named for its basic function. It serves as the “business end” of a refrigeration
cycle, given that it does what we expect air conditioning to do – absorb heat.

This happens when refrigerant enters the evaporator as a low temperature liquid at low pressure,
and a fan forces air across the evaporator’s fins, cooling the air by absorbing the heat from the
space in question into the refrigerant.

After doing so, the refrigerant is sent back to the compressor, where the process restarts. And
that, in a nutshell, is how a refrigeration loop works. If you have any questions about the
refrigeration cycle or its components and how they work, give us a call. We've been helping
customers get the most out of their HVAC and refrigeration equipment for nearly 100 years.

The basic components of a modern vapor-compression refrigeration system are

a compressor; a condenser; an expansion device, which can be a valve, a capillary tube, an
engine, or a turbine; and an evaporator. The gas coolant is first compressed, usually by a piston,
and then pushed through a tube into the condenser. In the condenser, the winding tube containing
the vapor is passed through either circulating air or a bath of water, which removes some of the
heat energy of the compressed gas. The cooled vapor is passed through an expansion valve to an
area of much lower pressure; as the vapor expands, it draws the energy of its expansion from its
surroundings or the medium in contact with it. Evaporators may directly cool a space by letting
the vapor come into contact with the area to be chilled, or they may act indirectly—i.e., by
cooling a secondary medium such as water. In most domestic refrigerators, the coil containing
the evaporator directly contacts the air in the food compartment. At the end of the process, the
hot gas is drawn toward the compressor.

Source: https://www.fridgefreezerdirect.co.uk/
Principles of Refrigeration

The absorption of the amount of heat necessary for the change of state from a liquid to a vapor
by evaporation, and the release of that amount of heat necessary for the change of state from a
vapor back to the liquid by condensation are the main principles of the refrigeration process, or
cycle

Refrigeration is a process of cooling a space or material to a temperature below the ambient

temperature. In order to achieve this, principles of refrigeration must be followed. The principles
of refrigeration involve the transfer of heat from one area to another, and rely on the use of a
refrigerant, which is typically a gas or liquid. Refrigeration systems are used in many industries,
including food production and storage, pharmaceuticals, air conditioning, and medical
applications. By understanding the principles of refrigeration, we can better understand how
these systems work and how they can be used to maintain temperatures for specific purposes.

Marine refrigeration systems are essential for the safe and efficient operation of ships. They help
keep food and other perishables fresh while on board, and they also help to regulate the
temperature of the ship’s interior. In order to ensure that a marine refrigeration system runs
optimally, it is important to understand its working principles and maintenance requirements.
This article will discuss how marine refrigeration systems work, what components they include,
and how they should be maintained in order to ensure optimal performance.

 Refrigeration system fundamental components.

The job of the refrigeration cycle is to remove unwanted heat from one place and discharge it
into another. To accomplish this, the refrigerant is pumped through a closed refrigeration system.
If the system was not closed, it would be using up the refrigerant by dissipating it into the
surrounding media; because it is closed, the same refrigerant is used over and over again, as it
passes through the cycle removing some heat and discharging it. The closed cycle serves other
purposes as well; it keeps the refrigerant from becoming contaminated and controls its flow, for
it is a liquid in some parts of the cycle and a gas or vapor in other phases.

Let's look at what happens in a simple refrigeration cycle, and to the major components involved.
Two different pressures exist in the cycle - the evaporating or low pressure in the "low side," and
the condensing, or high pressure, in the "high side."  These pressure areas are separated by two
dividing points: one is the metering device where the refrigerant flow is controlled, and the other
is at the compressor, where vapor is compressed.

The metering device is a point where we will start the trip through the cycle. This may be a
thermal expansion valve, a capillary tube, or any other device to control the flow of refrigerant
into the evaporator, or cooling coil, as a low-pressure, low-temperature refrigerant. The
expanding refrigerant evaporates (changes state) as it goes through the evaporator, where it
removes the heat from the substance or space in which the evaporator is located.

Heat will travel from the warmer substance to the evaporator cooled by the evaporation of the
refrigerant within the system, causing the refrigerant to "boil" and evaporate, changing it to a
vapor. This is similar to the change that occurs when a pail of water is boiled on the stove and
the water changes to steam, except that the refrigerant boils at a much lower temperature.

Now this low-pressure, low-temperature vapor is drawn to the compressor where it is

compressed into a high-temperature, high-pressure vapor. The compressor discharges it to the
condenser, so that it can give up the heat that it picked up in the evaporator. The refrigerant
vapor is at a higher temperature than the air passing across the condenser (air-cooled type); or
water passing through the condenser (water-cooled type); therefore that is transferred from the
warmer refrigerant vapor to the cooler air or water.

In this process, as heat is removed from the vapor, a change of state takes place and the vapor is
condensed back into a liquid, at a high-pressure and high-temperature.

The liquid refrigerant travels now to the metering device where it passes through a small opening
or orifice where a drop in pressure and temperature occurs, and then it enters into the evaporator
or cooling coil. As the refrigerant makes its way into the large opening of the evaporator tubing
or coil, it vaporizes, ready to start another cycle through the system.

The refrigeration system requires some means of connecting the basic major components -
evaporator, compressor, condenser, and metering device - just as roads connect communities.
Tubing or "lines" make the system complete so that the refrigerant will not leak out into the
atmosphere. The suction line connects the evaporator or cooling coil to the compressor, the hot
gas or discharge line connects the compressor to the condenser, and the liquid line is the
connecting tubing between the condenser and the metering device (Thermal expansion valve).
Some systems will have a receiver immediately after the condenser and before the metering
device, where the refrigerant is stored until it is needed for heat removal in the evaporator.

There are many different kinds and variations of the refrigeration cycle components. For
example, there are at least a half dozen different types of compressor, from the reciprocating,
piston through a screw, scroll and centrifugal impeller design, but the function is the same in all
cases - that of compressing the heat laden vapor into a high-temperature vapor.

The same can be said of the condenser and evaporator surfaces. They can be bare pipes, or they
can be finned condensers and evaporators with electrically driven fans to pass the air through
tem, or with a condenser pump to pump the water through a water-cooled condenser.

There are a number of different types of metering devices to regulate the liquid refrigerant into
the evaporator, depending on size of equipment, refrigerant used, and its application.

The mechanical refrigeration system described above is essentially the same whether the system
be a domestic refrigerator, a low-temperature freezer, comfort air conditioning system, industrial
chiller, or commercial cooling equipment. Refrigerants will be different and size of the
equipment will vary greatly, but the principle of operation and the refrigeration cycle remains the
same. Thus, once you understand the simple actions that are taking place within the refrigeration
mechanical cycle you should have a good understanding how a refrigeration system works.

Source: Super Radiator Coils on Feb 19, 2021 https://www.superradiatorcoils.com/industries

 Fig. 1-1: Simple Refrigeration System.

© 2021 Berg Chilling Systems Inc. All rights reserved. Powered by New Design Group Inc.

Marine refrigeration systems are essential for keeping food and other perishables fresh while at
sea. They work by using a combination of mechanical, electrical, and chemical processes to cool
the air inside the vessel. The working principles of a marine refrigeration system involve the use
of compressors, condensers, evaporators, and expansion valves to transfer heat from one area to
another. Additionally, regular maintenance is necessary to ensure that the system is running
efficiently and safely. In this article, we will discuss the working principles and maintenance of a
marine refrigeration system in detail.
Maintenance

Taking care of your refrigerator at home is important, but it doesn’t come remotely close to the
importance of looking after a marine refrigerator aboard a superyacht. Not only is it much more
complex and specialized, but a failing marine refrigerator can prove genuinely catastrophic if the
yacht is positioned hundreds of miles away from land

There are a number of reasons why a fridge or freezer could fail or under perform. Improper
maintenance and age are two of the most common, while an unrealistic user expectation of an
appliance’s cooling capabilities is also a surprisingly prevalent issue.

Mark Critchley, of MTSea, surmised, “Often, it is just high expectations of what a unit on a
yacht is actually capable of. A freezer that is only capable of getting down to -15 degrees is
never going to reach -22 degrees. Likewise filling a 200l freezer with 100kg of fresh meat and
expecting it to cool to -20 degrees overnight is just never going to happen.”

Ensure regular maintenance of the on-board refrigerator

HVACR systems historically clock up higher running hours than any other system on board, and
thus a proper maintenance schedule needs to be formulated to ensure the refrigerator is operating
correctly.

“All manufacturers supply a basic service and maintenance schedule in system manuals,” Kevin
Wiebusch noted. “However, depending on the vessel’s location, conditions may require a more
frequent inspection and cleaning regiment for the condensing coils. Some warm nutrient-rich
waters will foster accelerated marine growth and quickly require attention.”

Wiebusch added, “Also be aware that the raw water circuit is not limited to only the condensing
coils but includes the entire run of plumbing from the thru-hull, strainer, pipes and hoses to the
HVAC unit as well the discharge side of the pipe run. Any restriction will affect water flow and
performance of the equipment.”

Always keep your marine refrigerator clean

Cleaning a refrigeration system, inside and out, is also highly important in preserving its
optimum level of performance. It helps to prevent pests, bacterial contamination and the growth
of mould.

HVACR expert Eric van Dijk, of Heinen & Hopman, said, “Preventing mould growth is
achieved by controlling condensation, moisture and removing materials contributing to mould
growth. Regular cleaning schedules for cold rooms prevent mould or contamination issues. Good
housekeeping should help to discourage pest and vermin, but routine inspections should be
carried out.”
Five expert refrigeration tips

With the help of our experts we have compiled a pocket-sized list of five tips that all crew should
consider if they are responsible for maintaining the on-board refrigeration system:
 Keep sea water and air filters clean
 Look after door seals and replace when they start to fail
 Acid flushing and an annual health check of the system for a single-season boat and bi-
annually for a double-season yacht
 Use a reputable refrigeration company to maintain equipment
 If you have not been trained in the use of refrigerants, do not add refrigerant to a system
that you think is low on gas – the gas will be low for a reason and this needs to be
remedied

How often should a marine refrigerator be serviced?

As previously mentioned, all manufacturers publish a recommended service and maintenance

schedule, but it’s the responsibility of the operator, crew or engineer to undertake frequent
inspections when there are any signs of performance issues.

Crews should plan to have a licensed marine HVACR professional perform a service on all
refrigeration units during the yacht’s seasonal maintenance, or in the event of any equipment
failure.

How often should refrigeration systems last before needing to be replaced?

There is no ‘one size fits all’ answer to this question. It can vary depending on a host of factors,
including how the system is maintained, who manufactured it, where it’s located on board and
whether it’s seawater-cooled or air-cooled.

Kevin Wiebusch commented, “The life of any HVACR system is directly related to proper
maintenance and cleaning. Remember these systems are pumping raw water sometimes 24 hours
a day for months on end. There is no other piece of equipment on board that is subject to more
destructive wear and tear from seawater than an HVACR system.

“A properly maintained system, however, should offer many years of reliable service.”

Interestingly, Mark Critchley cited that the health of major components is something to keep an
eye on.

“We [MTSea] expect to see major components on systems start to need changing at around the
10-year stage, however if one component is failing due to use and age it is probable that other
components are also nearing the end of their life. It makes practical and financial sense to
consider replacing the whole unit and avoid years of regularly taking the system apart to address
different issues.

“Saying that we do see well maintained systems still happily working at 25 years – each system
needs to be individually assessed.”
Source : https://www.yachting-pages.com/articles/taking-care-of-your-marine-refrigeration-systems.html?
utm_source=yachting-pages.
PANES, STANLEY D. / CHAUVER JULES C./RICAPLAZA

Objectives:
 Discuss what is refrigeration cycle
 Describe the components of a marine refrigeration system
 Describe the principles of refrigeration