2.

THEORY
A refrigeration cycle works to lower and maintain the temperature of a controlled
space by heat transfer from a low to a high temperature region.

High temperature Reservoir,

TH

QH

Wnet

QL

Low Temperature Reservoir, TL

Refrigeration duty is another term for the cooling effect of the refrigeration system,
which is the rate of heat being removed from the low temperature region with
specified evaporation and condensation temperatures. The unit for duty
measurements is in Watts (for 1 ton of refrigeration = 3517W)

2.1 The Vapor Compression Cycle

Ideal refrigeration systems follow the theoretical Reserved Carnot Cycle process. In
practical refrigerators, compression and expansion of a gas and vapor mixture
presents practical problems in the compressor and expander. Therefore, in practical
refrigeration, compression usually takes place in the superheated condition and a
throttling process is substituted for the isentropic expansion.

The cycle:
12

Condensation of the high pressure vapour during which heat is transferred to

the high temperature region.

23

Adiabatic throttling of the condensed vapour from the condensing to the

evaporating pressure.

34

Evaporation of the low pressure liquid during which heat is absorbed from the
low temperature source.

41

Isentropic compression of the vapour, from the evaporating to the condensing

pressures.

Energy Transfers Analysis

Compressor
Q1-2 = h2 h1 + w1-2
If compression is adiabatic, q1-2 = 0, and w1-2 = h1 h2 = wamp
Power requirement, P = M( h1-h2), where M is the flow rate of working fluid per unit
time.
Condenser
Q2-3 = h3 - h2 + w
W=0, therefore q2-3 = h3 h2 and rate of heat rejection Q2-3 = M ( h3 h2)
Expansion Valve
Q3-4 = h4 h3 + w
W=0, therefore q4-1 = h1 h4 and process is assumed adiabatic ( q = 0 )
Therefore h4 = h3
Evaporator
Q4-1 = h1 h4 + W
W = 0 therefore q4-1 = h1 h4 and the rate of heat absorbed Q4-1 = M ( h1 h4 )
Coefficient of Performance (COP)
COPref = q4-1 = h1 _ h4
W

h2

h1