Refrigeration and air conditioning are two closely related processes that deal with

the transfer of heat from one location to another. Refrigeration is the process of
removing heat from a space or substance to lower its temperature. Air
conditioning involves both cooling and heating of air to maintain a comfortable
indoor environment. Refrigeration systems circulate cool liquids and gases
through a series of tubes and vents. Air conditioners, while also employing tubes
in the coolant system, have fans for the dispersal of air. The basic mechanical
components of an air conditioning system are the air and water distribution
systems, a refrigeration machine, and a heat rejection system.

Types of Refrigeration: Working, Parts, Advantages, Uses

What is Refrigeration?
Refrigeration is defined as the process of achieving and maintaining a temperature
below ambient, with the aim of cooling a product or space to the required temperature. It
is also defined as artificial cooling.
Generally, refrigeration is the action of cooling, and in practice, this requires the removal
of heat and discarding it at a higher temperature. Therefore, refrigeration is the device
of moving heat from a lower temperature to a higher temperature.
In addition to cooling applications, refrigeration is utilized in air conditioning and heat
pumps. The basic principles are those of physics and thermodynamics, and these
principles apply to all applications.
One of the most famous applications of refrigeration is the protection of perishable food
products by storing them at low temperatures. Refrigeration systems are also widely
used to provide thermal comfort to humans through air conditioning.
Overview
Air conditioning refers to the treatment of air in order to control its temperature, moisture
content, cleanliness, odor, and circulation, as required by the occupants of the space, a
process, or products simultaneously.
The name of refrigeration and air conditioning evolved from the human need for food
and comfort and has a centuries-old history. The history of refrigeration is very
interesting as its aspects, availability of refrigeration, developments in prime movers
and compressors, and the method of refrigeration are part of it.
How Refrigeration Works?
The refrigerator is the machine that is used to extract heat from a body low temperature
and then rejects this heat to a high-temperature body. If the main purpose of the
machine is to cool some object, the machine is named a refrigerator.
According to the second law of thermodynamics (Clausius statement), heat does not
flow from a low-temperature body to a high-temperature body without the aid of external
work. Hence external work is required to drive a refrigerator.
A heat engine can be operated in a reversible cycle with the aid of an external source.
In this cycle, heat is drawn from the cold body and rejected to a hot body. Hence the
engine is called a heat pump.
In the refrigerator also, heat is drawn from the cold body and rejected to the hot body.
Thus, the refrigerator operates on the reversed heat engine cycle.
Types of Refrigeration:
Following are the types of refrigeration are explained below:
1. Mechanical compression refrigeration
2. Evaporative cooling
3. Absorption refrigeration
4. Thermoelectric refrigeration
5. Vapour compression refrigeration
6. Vapour absorption refrigeration

#1 Mechanical Compression Refrigeration

Mechanical compression refrigeration systems are commonly used for commercial and
industrial refrigeration as well as air conditioning. In these types of refrigeration
systems, the refrigerant vapour is compressed by means of a centrifugal, screw, or
reciprocating compressor.
Mechanical refrigeration systems have high power consumption for the compressor and
pumps needed for the cooling water circuit. After compression, the vapour passes to
a condenser where it condenses, this vapour is then expanded in an expansion valve
and gives a cooling effect.

#2 Evaporative Cooling

Evaporative cooling systems use water to cool the air brought in from outside the home.
Water is pumped onto the pad through which air passes, and the air loses its heat from
the water, this process is known as evaporative cooling. Then electrical power is
supplied to the pumps and blower fans.
An evaporative cooling system is easier than an air conditioner-based refrigerant
because it takes less power to cool the air. It also has the benefit of bringing fresh air
and increasing humidity in dry conditions.
#3 Absorption Refrigeration
Absorption refrigeration is a system that uses a heat source (which may be solar power
or a fossil-fueled flame) to provide the energy needed to run the cooling process. It uses
two types of coolant, the first coolant performs evaporative cooling and is then absorbed
into the second coolant.
Now, heat is required to reset the two coolants to their primary state. This principle also
is used to air-condition buildings using waste heat from gas turbines or water heaters.
Absorption refrigeration systems are commonly used in recreational vehicles, campers,
and caravans.
#4 Thermoelectric Refrigeration

The thermoelectric refrigeration system normally works on the principle of the Peltier
effect. This effect makes a variation in temperature by transferring heat between the two
conductor junctions. A voltage is applied between the connected conductors to produce
an electric current.
When current passes through the junctions of two conductors, heat is eliminated at one
junction and cooling occurs. Now, heat is collected at the second junction. However,
practically the main application of the Peltier effect is cooling. It can also be used as a
temperature controller which can be either hot or cold.
11 Vapour Refrigeration
The working agents employed n these types are vapours like ammonia, carbon dioxide,
sulfur dioxide, Freons, etc.
The vapour refrigerations can be further classified as:
1. Vapour compression refrigerations
2. Vapour absorption refrigerations
1. Vapour Compression Refrigeration (VCR)
2. Vapour Absorption Refrigeration (VAR)

These types of refrigeration consist of evaporators, absorbers, generators, condensers,

expansion valves, pumps, and reducing valves. Vapour absorption refrigeration systems
(VARS) are primarily used where high power is not readily available.
VAR systems use water-lithium bromide sets are used extensively in large-capacity air
conditioning systems. In these systems, water is used as the refrigerant and a solution
of lithium bromide in water is used as the absorbent.
Vapour absorption refrigeration systems use heat energy for refrigeration which is less
expensive to produce than VCR systems. VAR systems are suitable for locations where
heat energy is available at a low cost. These are widely used in steam power plants.
Methods of Refrigeration
1. Ice refrigeration
2. Dry ice refrigeration
3. Steam jet refrigeration
4. Throttling refrigeration
5. Liquid refrigeration
 6. Air refrigeration
#1 Ice refrigeration
The ice is kept in the cabinet of refrigerators and this acts as the refrigerating means.
Ice was used to refrigerate and thus preserve food. For centuries, the seasonal
collection of snow and ice was a regular practice of most ancient cultures: the Chinese,
Greeks, Romans, and Persians.
Snow and ice were placed in caves with straw or other insulating material and the
Persians stored the ice in a pit. Ice rationing allowed the preservation of foods in
warmer periods.
Ice has its own effectiveness as a cooling agent to a melting point of 0 °C (32 °F) at sea
level. To melt, ice needs to absorb 333.55 KJ/kg of heat. The foods kept near this
temperature have an extended storage life.
#2 Dry Ice Refrigeration
In non-cyclic refrigeration, dry ice (frozen carbon dioxide) is cooled by melting it
upwards. The dry ice refrigeration system is used for small purpose applications such
as in laboratories, workshops, or portable coolers.
Solid carbon dioxide has no liquid state at normal atmospheric pressure and it directly
passes from solid to vapour state at temperatures of -78.5 °C (-109.3 °F). It is effective
for maintaining products at low temperatures during sublimation. Such systems where
the refrigerant evaporates and goes into the atmosphere are known as “total loss
refrigeration”.
In this system, steam is passed through a high-efficiency vacuum ejector to exhaust a
separate, closed vessel that forms part of a cooling water circuit. The partial vacuum in
the closed vessel evaporates the water, thus releasing the heat through evaporative
cooling.
The cooled water is now pumped through the circuit to the air cooler, while the
evaporated water from the ejector is collected in a separate condenser and then is
returned to the cooling circuit.
#4 Throttling refrigeration
The throttling effect is associated with the refrigeration system. It is simply the process
of reducing the pressure of the liquid refrigerant as it passes through the expansion
device. By reducing the pressure, which makes the liquid refrigerant flash into a vapour,
creating a cooling effect.
#5 Liquid Nitrogen Refrigeration

As liquid nitrogen boils at -196 °C, far below the freezing point of water, it is valuable as
an extreme coolant for the short overclocking session. Evaporation designs ranging
from cut-out heat sinks with pipes attached to copper containers are used to capture
nitrogen as well as prevent large temperature changes.
However, after the nitrogen has evaporated, it has to be replaced. In a typical
installation of liquid a nitrogen cooling. A copper or aluminum pipes are mounted on top
of the processor or graphics card. After being heavily insulated against condensation,
liquid nitrogen is discharged into the pipe, resulting in a temperature drop of 100 °C.
#6 Air refrigeration
The air refrigeration systems use air as their refrigerant, which compresses and
expands to create heating and cooling capacity.
Air cycle use is one of these, providing a good alternative to CFC refrigerants as well as
low energy consumption and capital cost for selected applications. These types of
refrigeration systems are commonly used for scientific, industrial, and commercial
purposes.
Application of Refrigeration
The following are the main application of refrigeration:
1. The refrigeration systems are commonly seen In chemical industries for
separating and liquefying gases and vapours.
2. These are well suitable for manufacturing ice.
3. The primary use of refrigeration is for the preservation of perishable foods in cold
storage.
4. If it is necessary to cool the water, a refrigeration system is used.
5. Used for controlling the humidity of air in the manufacture and heat treatment of
steels.
6. For chilling the oil to remove wax in oil refineries.
7. For the preservation of oof tablets and medicines in pharmaceutical industries.
8. They are also used for the preservation of blood, medical fields, tissues etc. in
medical fields.
9. For comfort air conditioning in hospitals, theatres etc.
Advantages of Refrigeration System
1. In most cases, the air is used as a refrigerant, which is readily available and
inexpensive.
2. The design and manufacture of refrigeration systems are simple, there are no
complicated parts, and the maintenance cost is low.
3. The refrigerant used is non-toxic, non-flammable, non-corrosive.
 4. There will be no significant change in the performance of the refrigeration system
if it is operated far beyond its design conditions.
5. They can cause a large temperature difference between hot and cold regions. So
the same system is used for both cooling and heating effect.
Disadvantages of Refrigeration System
1. The refrigeration system has a lower coefficient of performance than other
refrigeration cycles.
2. The Working cost of the refrigeration system is quite high.
3. The components of this system are heavy with large space.
4. The air contains pollutants, so clean the air filter regularly in open systems.
Wrapping It Up
As I said above, refrigeration systems have two components, one for frozen items and
another for items that need refrigeration but are not frozen. It can dissipate all the heat
from the load inside the containers and make them cooler and provide longer-lasting
life.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
Apart from providing so many advantages, refrigeration and air conditioning systems
also have some drawbacks. Let's explore the advantages and disadvantages of these
technologies:
Advantages
 Comfortable Indoor Environment: Comfortable temperatures and humidity
levels achieved using passive type of air conditioning systems are preferred
more by occupants in their homes, offices or business common areas.
 Preservation of Perishable Goods: Refrigeration systems keep perishable
foods, pharmaceuticals and biological samples fresh by keeping the
temperatures low reduce shelf life issues as well as curb spoilage of items.
 Temperature Control in Industrial Processes: Technologies associated with
refrigeration are critical in regulating temperature a variety of the industry
processes to ensure product quality, consistency and safety especially within
sectors such as food processing for instance; chemical manufacturing industries
and pharmaceutical.
 Energy Efficiency: The contemporary refrigeration systems and air conditioning
appliances employ energy-saving technologies that include variable speed
compressors, intelligent controls as well as a heat recovery mechanism since it
minimizes their consumption level together with operation costs.
 Data Center Cooling: Air conditioning systems are one of the essential aspects
in ensuring that data centers and server rooms stay cool enabling worker as well
as equipment to remain at a steady low temperature.
Disadvantages
 Environmental Impact: HCFCs and HFCs are known refrigerants which when
released into the atmosphere cause ozone depletion as well as global warming if
used in conventional air conditioning systems.
 Energy Consumption: As energy conversion, refrigeration and air conditioning
systems make great use of electricity which accelerates the greenhouse gas
emission that leads to environmental degradation especially in fossil fuels driven
regions.
 Maintenance Requirements: Refrigeration and air conditioning systems are
maintained for making filter replacement, coil cleaning procedure besides
 refrigerant recharges as a norm to get the best results. Lack of maintenance will
result to decreased efficiency and increased energy consumption hence
breakdowns.
 Initial Cost: However, relatively high upfront cost associated with buying and
setting up refrigeration or air-conditioning systems, more so when such include hi
spec models dealers; useful add on features could represent another inherent
deterrent if factored in the user’s budget.
 Noise and Aesthetic Considerations: Window units and some of he older
models can produce noise when in operation, which may be uncomfortable to
occupants. Moreover, in addition to the noise and other bothersome facts
condenser units on building façades or even along streets visually discredit
buildings as well as outdoor areas.
Conclusion
To conclude, refrigeration and air conditioning technologies are crucial in contemporary
civilization although they serve different roles. Air conditioning systems are needed
because they make indoor places more comfortable either at home or office as well
business premises across various industries since modernization sets down that cooling
air using these devices Though these two technologies vary in some aspects, they use
the same components and need regular maintenance to achieve maximum results.
Nevertheless, these systems also pose environmental risks because the refrigerants
used by them subject ozone depletion and greenhouse effect. Measures to implement
energy efficient technologies and work towards finding more environmentally sound
refrigerants are vital in coping with this type of impact. In conclusion, although
refrigeration and air conditioning systems provide many advantages in luxury life
comfortably conveniently conserved chemical substance preservations foodstuff saving
theirs environment economic social feet therefore it is necessary to study deep its
influences by around.