Refrigeration

Refrigeration: The term refrigeration in a board sense is used for the process of
removing heat (i.e. cooling) from a substance. In other word, refrigeration means a
continued extraction of heat from a body, whose temperature is already below the
temperature of its surrounding.

Refrigerant: A refrigerant is a substance or mixture, usually fluid, used in

refrigeration system to transfer heat from lower temperature to higher temperature
by phase transfer.
Types of refrigeration:
1. Non-cyclic refrigeration: In this type of system, Ice or Subliming Dry
Ice (Frozen Carbon Dioxide) is used to absorb the heat from a substance one wants
cooled.
2. Cyclic refrigeration: This consists of a refrigeration cycle, where heat
is removed from a low-temperature space or source and rejected to a high-
temperature sink with the help of external work.

Cyclic refrigeration can be classified as:

a. Vapor cycle: Refrigerant change phase during heat transfer from

lower temperature to higher temperature.
b. Gas cycle: Refrigerant remain same phase during heat transfer
from lower temperature to higher temperature.

Vapor cycle refrigeration can further be classified as:

i. Vapor-compression refrigeration
ii. Vapor-absorption refrigeration
Units of Refrigeration:
The practical unit of refrigeration is expressed in term of ‘Tonne of refrigeration’
(briefly written as TR). A Tonne of refrigeration is defined as the amount of
refrigeration effect produced by the uniform melting of one Tonne (1000 kg) of ice
from and at 00C in 24 hours. Since the latent heat of ice is 335 kj/kg, therefore one
Tonne of refrigeration,

I TR = 1000*335 kj in 24 hours
= 1000*335/(24*60) = 232.6 kj/min
In actual practice, one Tonne of refrigeration is taken equivalent to 210 kj/min or 3.5
KW.

Coefficient of performance of a refrigerator (C.O.P)

The coefficient of performance (briefly written as C.O.P) is the ratio of heat
extracted in the refrigerator to the work done on the refrigerant.

C.O.P = Q/W

Where Q= Amount of heat extracted in the refrigerator and

W = Amount of work done
 3
3 2
2

4 1
4
1
Fig: P-V diagram

Vapor compression refrigeration system have

four component
1. Compressor
2. Condenser Fig: P-h diagram
3. Expansion valve 1-2: Isentropic compression
4. Evaporator 2-3: Isobaric heat rejection
3 -4: Isenthalpic expansion
4-1: Isobaric heat addition
Vapor compression refrigeration
The vapor-compression uses a circulating liquid refrigerant as the medium
which absorbs and removes heat from the space to be cooled and
subsequently rejects that heat elsewhere. Figure depicts a typical, single-
stage vapor-compression system. All such systems have four components:
a compressor, a condenser, a thermal expansion valve (also called a
throttle valve or metering device), and an evaporator. Circulating
refrigerant enters the compressor in the thermodynamic state known as
a saturated vapor and is compressed to a higher pressure, resulting in a
higher temperature as well. The hot, compressed vapor is then in the
thermodynamic state known as a superheated vapor and it is at a
temperature and pressure at which it can be condensed with either cooling
water or cooling air flowing across the coil or tubes. This is where the
circulating refrigerant rejects heat from the system and the rejected heat is
carried away by either the water or the air (whichever may be the case).

The condensed liquid refrigerant, in the thermodynamic state known as

a saturated liquid, is next routed through an expansion valve where it
undergoes an abrupt reduction in pressure. That pressure reduction results
in the adiabatic flash (partial) evaporation of a part of the liquid
refrigerant. The auto-refrigeration effect of the adiabatic flash evaporation
lowers the temperature of the liquid and vapor refrigerant mixture to where
it is colder than the temperature of the enclosed space to be refrigerated.
The cold mixture is then routed through the coil or tubes in the evaporator.
A fan circulates the warm air in the enclosed space across the coil or tubes
carrying the cold refrigerant liquid and vapor mixture. That warm
air evaporates the liquid part of the cold refrigerant mixture. At the same
time, the circulating air is cooled and thus lowers the temperature of the
enclosed space to the desired temperature. The evaporator is where the
circulating refrigerant absorbs and removes heat which is subsequently
rejected in the condenser and transferred elsewhere by the water or air used
in the condenser.
To complete the refrigeration cycle, the refrigerant vapor from the
evaporator is again a saturated vapor and is routed back into the
compressor.
! Refrigeration cooling Capacity:
Refrigeration heating Capacity:
Compressor work:
$!"# = %! !"# ! &!
! !

= !! ( "! ! "" )

! !
#!" = $! !" ! %! "! = #!! ! $!
= !! ( "! ! "" )
!! = ! "

"

= !! ( "! ! "" )
 Difference between refrigerator and heat pump

A refrigerator is either cool or maintain

(Atmosphere) the temperature of a body (T2) lower
than the atmospheric temperature (Ta).

A heat pump extract heat from a cold

body and delivers it to a hot body.

There is no difference between the

cycle of operation of heat pump and
refrigerator. The main difference
between the two is in their operating
temperatures. A refrigerator works
(Atmosphere) between cold body temperature (T2)
and atmospheric temperature (Ta)
whereas heat pump operates between
the hot body temperature (T1) and
atmospheric temperature (Ta).
!

$!"# = %! !"# ! &!

! !

! !
#!" = $! !" ! %! "! = #!! ! $! Since h4 = h3 .

"
Advantages of vapor compression refrigeration system:
1. It has smaller size for the given capacity of refrigeration.
2. It has less running cost.
3. It can be employed over a large range of temperatures.
4. The coefficient of performance is quite high.

Disadvantages:
1. The initial cost is high.
2. The prevention of leakage of the refrigerant is the major problem in vapor
compression system.
 Vapour Absorption Refrigeration System

Working of simple vapour absorption system:

The evaporator and absorber are situated at low-

pressure side while the condenser and generator
are located on the high pressure side of the system. In
this system high pressure refrigerant (Amonia)
vapour from the generator gets condensed into low
pressure liquid refrigerant in the condenser and
passed into the evaporator through the expansion
valve. The liquid refrigerant gets vaporized in the
evaporator into low pressure vapour refrigerant and
enters into the absorber. The existence of absorbent
Define: A simple vapour absorption in the absorber, it changes into a strong hot solution.
system consists of an absorber, pump, This strong solution of low pressure is again pumped
generator and a pressure reducing valve to into the generator which is at high pressure. The
replace the compressor of vapour strong solution in the generator is heated up
compression system. Another components separating solution and vapour. This weak absorbent
of simple vapour absorption system are solution left in the generator is returned to the
condenser, receiver, expansion valve and absorber and the high pressure vapour refrigerant is
passed into the condenser thus completing the cycle.
evaporator in the vapour compression
system.
 Basic difference between absorption and compression refrigerator

Both absorption and compressor refrigerators use a refrigerant with a very low boiling point (less than
0 °F (−18 °C)). In both types, high pressure liquid refrigerant from condenser is expand through the
expansion valve before entering the evaporator. This refrigerant evaporates (boils) into the evaporator
, where some heat takes away with it and providing the cooling effect.

The main difference between the two systems is the way the refrigerant is changed from a gas back
into a liquid so that the cycle can repeat. An absorption refrigerator changes the gas back into a liquid
using a method that needs only heat and a pump.

In comparison, a compressor refrigerator uses an electrically powered compressor to increase the

pressure on the gaseous refrigerant, the resulting hot high-pressure gas is condensed to a liquid form
by cooling in a heat exchanger with the external environment (usually air in the room).

Another difference between the two types is the refrigerant used. Compressor refrigerators typically
use an HCFC or HFC, while absorption refrigerators typically use ammonia or water.
 Comparison of Vapor Absorption System with Vapor Compression System

S.no Aspect Vapor Absorption System Vapor Compression System

Vapor absorption system takes in low grade Vapor compression system takes in high grade
1 Energy Input energy such as waste heat from furnace, such as electrical or mechanical energy for its
exhaust heat or solar heat for its operations. operation of compressor used in the cycle.
It uses a small pump as moving part, which is It uses a compressor driven by an electric
2 Moving part
run by a small motor. motor or engine.
It can operate with reduced evaporator
The refrigerant capacity decreases with
3 Evaporator pressure pressure, with little decrease in refrigerant
lowered evaporator pressure.
capacity.
The performance of vapor absorption system The performance of vapor compressing
4 Load variation
does not change with load variation system is very poor at partial load.
In vapor absorption system, the In a vapor compression system, it is desirable
liquid refrigerant leaving the evaporator does to superheat vapor before leaving the
5 Evaporator exit
not put any bad effect on the system except to evaporator, so no liquid can enter the
reduce the refrigerant effect. compressor.
With cascading, the temperature can be
Since water is used as refrigerant, thus the
6 Lowest temperature lowered upto -150°C or even less
lowest temperature attained is above 0°C.
temperature.
Coefficient of
7 The COP of the system is poor. The COP of the system is excellent.
Performance
For a single compression system, it is not
8 Capacity It can built in capacities well above 1000 TR. possible to have a system with more than
1000 TR capacity.
Chloroflourocarbon, hydroflorocarbon and
9 Refrigerant Water or ammonia is used as refrigerant. hydrochloro-fluorocarbon are used in most of
the systems.
 Desirable Properties of a Good Refrigerant

1) Thermodynamic Properties :-
a) Boiling Point :- It should have Low Boiling Point.
b) Freezing Point :- It should be below the Evaporator temperature.
c) Evaporative Pressure :- It should be above Atmospheric pressure.
d) Latent Heat of Vapourisation :- It should have HIGH Latent heat of Vaporisation.
e) Critical Temperature & Pressure :- In order to have large range of isothermal energy transfer, the refrigerant should have
critical temperature above the condensing temperature.

2) Chemical Properties :-
a) Toxicity :- It should not be Poisonous or injurious . It should not be non-irritating to eyes.
b) Corrosiveness :- It should not be corrosive & should not have any effect on materials used in equipment.
c) Leak Detection :- It should have less tendency to leak & if it is leaking it should be easily detectable.
d) Flammability :- It should not be Inflammable.
e) Miscibility with Oil :- It should be immiscible with oil & should not have any effect on the properties of Oil used for
Lubrication.
f) Effect on Foodstuff :- It should not affect on food articles Or make them poisonous .
g) Stability :- It should be capable of withstanding high pressure & temperature.

3) Physical Properties :-
a) Specific Volume :- It should be low in Vapour state.
b) Viscosity :- It should have LOW viscosity.
c) Thermal Conductivity :- It should have HIGH Thermal Conductivity.
d) Di-Electric Strength :- It should have High strength.

4) Other Properties :-
a) Handling & Maintenance :- It should be easy & safe to handle.
b) Cost & Availability :- It should be readily available at LOW cost.
c) Performance of the System :- It should have high COP & LOW power requirement.
Properties of Commonly Used Refrigerants:

1. Carbon dioxide: Carbon dioxide is widely as refrigerant in mechanical systems refrigerant,

marine services, hospitals etc. due to its excellent safety properties. It is odourless, non-toxic, non-
flammable, non-explosive and non-corrosive.
2. Sulphur dioxide: Sulphur dioxide was widely used as refrigerant during early 20th century.
However its use has been restricted now-a-days because of its many inherent disadvantages. It is
highly toxic, non-flammable, non-explosive, non-corrosive and works at low pressures
3. Ammonia: Ammonia is one of the earliest type of refrigerants which is still widely used in
many applications due to its inheritance excellent thermal properties, It is toxic in nature,
flammable explosive under certain conditions, it has low specific volume¸ high refrigerating effect,
low piston displacement in case of reciprocating compressors make it an ideal refrigerant for cold
storage’s, ice plants, packing plants, skating rinks breweries etc.
4. Freon-11: Freon-11 (Trichloro fluoromethane) is used under low operating pressures; it is non-
toxic, non-corrosive and non-flammable. Due to low operating pressure and high displacement, it
is used in systems employing centrifugal compressors. It is used for air-conditioning applications.
5. Freon-12: Freon-12 (Dichloro difluoromethane) is non-flammable, non-toxic and non-
explosive. It is highly chemically stable. If it is brought in contact with open flame or heater
elements, it decomposes into highly toxic constituents. It has not only excellent safe properties but
also condenses at moderate pressure under normal atmospheric conditions.
6. Cryogenic refrigerants: Cryogenic refrigerants are those refrigerants which produce minus
temperature in between range -157°C to -273°C in the refrigerated space. The cryogenic
refrigerants have exceptionally low boiling point at atmospheric pressure. Some of the widely used
cryogenic refrigerants are Helium, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Hydrogen.