Applied

Thermodynamics 3
REFRIGERATION AND HEAT PUMPS

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Purpose of Refrigeration
Maintain a cold region at a temperature below the temperature of its surroundings - commonly
achieved using the vapour refrigeration systems

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Second law of Thermodynamics

“When a system undergoes a thermodynamic cycle then the net heat supplied to the system
from its surroundings plus the net work input to the system from its surroundings is equal to
zero”

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Reversed Heat Engine Cycles

effect – transfer Q1 from cold source at T1
applying 1st Law
T11
∑𝑑𝑄 + ∑𝑑𝑊 = 0 𝑜𝑟
𝑄2
𝑄1 + 𝑄2 + 𝑊 = 0
𝑊 𝑊 + 𝑄1 = −𝑄2
Reverse
Heat Engine

𝑄1 𝑄1=+ve
𝑄2= − 𝑣𝑒
T2 W= +ve

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Refrigerator and Heat pump
performance
For refrigeration, the significant quantity is the
amount of heat removed from the cold
T11 reservoir (supplied to the system) (Q1)

𝑄2
For heat pumps, the significant quantity is the
𝑊 amount of heat rejected from the system (-Q2)
Reverse
Heat Engine the coefficient of performance (COP) is used
for defining the performances of both heat
pumps and refrigerators.
𝑄1 𝑄1=+ve
𝑄2= − 𝑣𝑒 𝑄1 −𝑄
W= +ve 𝐶𝑂𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑓 = and 𝐶𝑂𝑃ℎ𝑝 = 2
T2 ∑𝑊 ∑𝑊

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Coefficient of Performance.
Best Coefficient of performance is obtained by a cycle operating between given temperature conditions.

Heat supply and rejection are made at constant temperatures.

NB: using a superheat will lead to deviation from the Carnot cycle.

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Refrigeration cycle
4-1 refrigerant enters evaporator as 2-phase L-V
mixture - some refrigerant changes phase (L→V)
– heat for evaporation Q1 supplied from cold
source
1-2 refrigerant compressed isentropically - from
2-phase L-V mixture, to saturated vapor. Work
input for compression W1-2
2-3 refrigerant passes from compressor into
condenser, changes phase from saturated vapor
to saturated liquid heat rejected by refrigerant is
–Q2
3-4 refrigerant returns to state at inlet of
evaporator by expanding isentropically behind
the piston of an engine doing –W3-4 of work.

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Work and efficiency

Σ𝑄 + Σ𝑊 = 0; Σ𝑊 = −ΣQ; 𝑊1−2 + 𝑊3−4 = −𝑄2 − 𝑄1
𝑄1 𝑄1 −𝑄2 −𝑄2
𝐶𝑂𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑓 = = and 𝐶𝑂𝑃ℎ𝑝 = =
∑𝑊 −𝑄2 −𝑄1 ∑𝑊 −𝑄2 −𝑄1

also 𝑄1 = 𝑇1 𝑠1 −𝑠4 𝑎𝑛𝑑 − 𝑄2 = 𝑇2 𝑠2 −𝑠3 = 𝑇2 𝑠1 −𝑠4

𝑇1 𝑇𝐿 𝑇2
𝐶𝑂𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑓 = = and 𝐶𝑂𝑃ℎ𝑝 =
𝑇2 −𝑇1 𝑇𝐻 −𝑇𝐿 𝑇2 −𝑇1

for steady flow operation

mass flow rate is 𝑚 ,
power input 𝑊 = 𝑚𝑊𝑖 and
rates of heat transfer 𝑄1 = 𝑚𝑄1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑄2 = 𝑚𝑄2

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Class Example
The inside of a refrigerator is held at TL = 3oC. The surroundings are at TH = 27oC. We must
remove 1.25 kW of thermal energy from the inside of the refrigerator to balance the thermal
energy entering from the environment. Find the best possible COP and the minimum power
requirement

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Refrigeration Load
refrigeration capacity is the amount of heat which must be transferred per unit mass from the
cold chamber
American unit 1 ton = 200 Btu/min (cooling rate required to produce 2000 lb of ice in 24 hrs
from water at 32oF) =3.516 kW

𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚
𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒕, 𝒎 =
𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔

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Class Example
Consider a Carnot-cycle refrigerator with R-134A as the working fluid. Heat is rejected from the
R-134A at 36°C, during which process the R-134A changes from saturated vapor to saturated
liquid. The heat is transferred to the R-134A at -30°C. given that 𝑚 of working fluid is 20kg/min
a. Show the cycle on a T–s diagram.
b. Determine the net work input and the heat supplied
c. Determine the coefficient of performance for the cycle
d. the refrigerating capacity, in tons.

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Vapour Compression cycles

Uses liquefiable vapour as the refrigerant
Practical considerations led to modification to the Carnot ideal cycle
Replacement of the expansion engine by a throttle valve
Condition at the compressor inlet
Undercooling of the condensed vapour

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Replacement of expansion engine by
throttle

Plant is simplified by this effect

What happens to refrigerating effect? 𝑄1 = 𝑇1 𝑠1 −𝑠4

Refrigerating effect decreases

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Class Example
An ideal vapor-compression refrigeration cycle operates at steady state with Refrigerant 134a as
the working fluid. Saturated vapor enters the compressor at -10oC, and saturated liquid leaves
the condenser at 28oC. The mass flow rate of refrigerant is 5 kg/min. Determine
(a) the compressor power, in kW.
(b) the refrigerating capacity, in tons.
(c) the coefficient of performance.

R134a - TetraFlouroEthane Saturation Properties - Temperature Table

volume energy enthalpy (kJ/kg) entropy (kJ/kg.K)
Temp Pressure (m^3/kg) (kJ/kg)
deg C kPa vf vg uf ug hf hfg hg sf sfg sg
-10 200.6 0.0007535 0.0996 38.40 224.54 38.55 205.97 244.52 0.1550 0.7827 0.9377
28 726.9 0.0008367 0.0283 90.09 245.15 90.70 175.00 265.69 0.3385 0.5811 0.9196

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Condition at compressor inlet
In evaporator, process is continued until
vapour is dry to extract max heat – prevent
liquid refrigerant in compressor
isentropic compression takes refrigerant into
superheat region - condenser now not at
constant T

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Home Task
Refrigerant 134a is the working fluid in an ideal vapor-compression refrigeration cycle that communicates
thermally with a cold region at 0oC and a warm region at 26oC. Saturated vapor enters the compressor at -
10oC and saturated liquid leaves the condenser at 9 bar. The mass flow rate of the refrigerant is 0.08 kg/s.
Determine (a) the compressor power, in kW, (b) the refrigeration capacity, in tons, (c) the coefficient of
performance.

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Undercooling of condensed vapour
cooled at constant Pressure to below
saturation temp
refrigeration effect increased

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Pressure Enthalpy diagrams p-h

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Compressor Types
Reciprocating Centrifugal
Used to a power input of Ranges of 300kW -15MW
about 600kW
For domestic plants and Screw type compressors used from 300kW-
small air conditioning 3MW
units, the vane types are
used.
Lower speeds 200 – 600 Suitable for high volume machines
rev/min Speed 3000rev/min-20000 rev/min

𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑤𝑛 𝑏𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑜𝑟 𝑉 = 𝑚𝑣; 𝑣 𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑎𝑡 𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑦
𝑉
Swept volume for single acting machine 𝑉𝑠 =
𝑛𝑁𝜂𝑣
𝑉
𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑑𝑜𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑉𝑠 = ; n is the number of cylinders and N is the rotational speed.
2𝑛𝑁𝜂𝑣

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Refrigerant selection
Refrigerant selection is based on three main factors
 Performance: ability to provide the required cooling/heating capacity reliably and in a cost efficient
manner
 Safety; ability to be used without being a hazard, toxic or flammable threat
 Environmental Impact: Ability to avoid any negative impact on the stratosphere ozone layer or
increase in green house gases

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