46 DEVIATIONS FROM THE SIMPLE COMPRESSION CYCLE The following are the assumptions made for a simple saturated cycle: 1, The pressure losses in the flow lines of evaporaior and condenser are neglected, 2. The compression process is an isentropic process. 3. No suction gas supetheating and liquid subcooling is involved. 4, Evaporation and condensation occur only at constant temperature etc Practically, these assumptions are not true and if all these deviations are introduced in a simple saturated cycle, it becomes more and more complex and also more realistic. The effect of superheating the suction vapour The suction gas superheat phenomenon is shown in Figure 4.11. Here the pressure drop in the pipeline from evaporator to the compressor is small and neglected. The reasons for the suction gas supetheating are as follows. Pifony a | SL Shetion gad superreaing 5 ha Figure 4.11 p-h diagram, 1-1a is sucton gas supemeating (eal cycle 1-2-3-4) Heating in the evaporator: The refrigerant vapour in the evaporator will be absorbing heat continuously and will continue t absor’y heat even after the evaporator Heating between the evaporator and compressor: ‘The tube connecting the evaporator and compressor is always exposed to atmosphere. Though the pipe is insulated, a certain heat transfer from surroundings to the vapour refrigerant occurs, Heating in the cylinder head: Since this vapour reaching the compressor has to pass through the flow passages in the cylinder head, which is at higher temperature, Further heating of vapour occurs in the eylinder bead. For hermetic compressors, the superheating is still more because of heat transfer from the ‘motor to the suction gas inside the sealed unit.132 Refrigeration and Air Conditioning In the following text, the effects of suction gas superheating on cycle performance are discussed: (i) The heat of compression per kilogram for the superheated cycle (la-2b-3-4) is slightly greater than that of the saturated cycle. This is because the isentropic lines, become more flat as they go away from the saturated vapour curve. (ii) For the same condensing temperature and pressure, the temperature of the discharge vapour leaving the head of the compressor is considerably higher (i.e. Ty, > 73) than that of the saturated cycle. iii) For the superheated cycle, the vapour contains more heat at the compressor discharge (yy > Ty). Therefore, a greater quantity of heat must be rejected at the condenser per kilogram than that in the saturated cycle. For the rejection of this sensible heat to the surroundings, condenser is required to desuperheat it (iv) The specific volume of superheated vapour is always greater than that of the saturated vapour. Therefore, the specific volume of suction vapour at point 1a is greater than that at point 1. It means that for each kilogram of the refrigerant circulated, the Compressor must compress a greater volume of vapour. Let us study these with the following numerical example. EXAMPLE 4.15 A teftigeration system operates on R22 refrigerant. The evaporator and condenser temperatures are at 10°C and 40°C, respectively. If the actual suction to the compressor is at 20°C, determine the following in compression of saturated cycle (a) Percentage increase in heat of compression, (b) Percentage increase in the rate of heat rejection in the condenser. Solution: (Refer to from the ph chart.) Point 1: hy = 401.7 kiikg Point 1a (superheat): hy, = 422.0 ki/kg 437.5 kiikg Point 2b: hy, = 462.0 KW/ke iy = 249.7 kik, (a) Heat of compression: For saturated cycle 4375 — 401.7) = 35.8 kik. igure 4.11 to understand the solution. The properties are obtained Heat of compression = (hy ~ hy For supetheated cycle: Heat of compression = (hy ~ fiy,) = (462 ~ 422) = 40 kivkg Percentage change in heat of compression = ((40—35.8)/ 35.8) x 100= 1.7% increase Ans,(b) Heat rejection in condenser For saturated cycle: Heat rejected in condenser hy ~ hy) = (437. ~ 249.7) = 1878 KIikg For superheated cycle: Heat rejected in condenser = (Jig ~ hs) = (462 ~ 249.7) = 213 Ki/kg Percentage increase in the rate of heat rejection = (213 ~ 187.8Y187.8] « 100 = 13.40% Ans. Simple Vapour Compression Refrigeration Systems 133 4.8.1 Suction Gas Superheating without Cooling Here it iy assumed that the superheating of suction vapour from evaporator temperature to the actual inlet temperature of the compressor occurs outside the evaporator. It is possible that refrigerant vapour after leaving the evaporator catches heat from atmosphere. AS such the refrigerating effect per unit mass of refrigerant circulated is same for both superheated and saturated eyeles operating at the same evaporating and condensing temperatures But the specific volume of refrigerant vapour at the suction to the compressor for superheated cycle is more (Le. v1, > v)). Therefore, for the same refrigerating effect the compressor of superheated cycle has to handle a greater volume of refrigerant requiring greater power. Moreover. the COP of the superheated cycle reduces in comparison to the saturated cycle. This is explained with the following example:EXAMPLE 4.16 A refrigeration system operates with R12 refrigerant. The evaporator and condenser temperatures are at ~5°C and 35°C, respectively. The actual suction to the compressor is at 15°C, If superheating of refrigerant vapour from -5°C to 15°C does not add any refrigerating effect, (i) determine the percentage increase in volume flow rate per ton of refrigeration compared with the saturation cyc! ) compare the COP for saturated and superheated cycles; and ) determine the power required per TR. « Solution: For solution, refer to Figure 4.11 Properties at Point 1a: piy = 2.61 bar, Ty, = 1S°C, v4q = 0.071 miVkg, hig = 362 ki/kg. Point 2b: pay = 9.61 bar , Try = 66.7°C, voy = 0.021 mg, gy = 387.4 kik Point 1: hy = 349.3 Kifkg, fy = 3724 Kivkg, v4 = 0.064 m°/kg (Volume flow rate: For saturated cycle The refrigerating effect = (hy ~ hy) 349.3 ~ 238.50) = 1108 ki/ke Mass flow rate, ri = 246 — 90317 kps Me 7” Tos = " ‘The mass flow rate of refrigerant is same for both the superheated and saturated cycles, But the specific volumes of refrigerant vapour at point 1 and 1a are different, Volume of vapour compressed per ton of refrigeration, = my, = (0.0317\0.064) 2.031 x 10 *mYTR ‘Therefore, the percentage increase in the volume flow rate of vapour for the superheated cycle is: — 21910 * = 2.03110) x 100 2.031 x10 = 9.25% Ans.134 __ Refrigeration and AirConditionino It means the compressor displacement must be higher by 9.25% for the superheated cycle, Gi) Coot For saturation cycle: jent of performance: sop = fats _ M9. _ COP = Fy 343493 = 4 Ans For supetheated cycle, - 3238.5 cop = Mats 3232585 4 36 Ans. yh, 3874 = 362 (iii) Power required per TR: For saturated cycle: Power required/TR = mh, ~ fi) = 0.0317(349.3 ~ 3724) 0.73 kW For superheated cycle: Power required/TR = mh, ~ hy.) 0.0317(387.4 ~ 362) = 0.8 kW Ans. 46.2 Suction Gas Superheating with Cooling Effect It is assumed that the amount of heat reesived by the suction vapour produces useful cooling and in total it enhances the refrigeration effect that has been explained through the following example. EXAMPLE 4.17 For the details given in Example 4.16 for the superheated cycle, calculate the refrigerating effect, (ii) the mass flow rate, (iii) the volume of vapour compressed per TR, the power required per TR, and (x) the COP. Solution: Refer to Figure 4.11, For the superheated cycle 1a-2b-3-4, (i) The refrigerating effect ta hy = (362 - 2385) = 124 kiikg Ans. This is higher compared to the saturated cycle which otherwise produces 110.8 ki/kg. (ii) Mass flow rate per TR vic = 25167 9.0988 kas Ans. ory ‘This value is less than 0.0317 kg/s of the saturated cycle. Gi) Volume flow rate of vapour per TR = hay = (0.0283)(0.071) = 2.013 x 10 mis Ans. This is also less than 2.219 x 10° m% of the saturated cycle,(iv) Power required per TR = rn(liny ~ hy.) = (0.0283)(387.4 ~ 362) x 10-9 = 0.718 kW Ans. The power required in superheated cycle is 0.718 KW which is less than 0.73 kW of saturated cycle, (v) Coefficient of performance Ing ~ hy _ 362-2385 hy hy, 387.4362 which is higher than that of the saturated cycle, Ans. Suction gas superheating without cooling effect and with cooling effect are the two extreme conditions, which are not practical. In actual eycles, the suction vapour superheating takes place in such a way that it gains heat partly from refrigerated space producing useful cooling and partly from outside of refrigerated space (after leaving the refrigerated space). In practical refrigerating units, it depends on the particular application: Suction vapour supesheating in many applications is unavoidable and also desirable. When suction vapour is directly drawn from the evaporator into the suction manifold of compressor, there is a possibility that small liguid droplets may enter into the cylinder. Compression of such vapour with small liquid droplets is called wer compression. As such, serious mechanical damage to the compressor may result. Since superheating the suction vapour eliminates the possibility of wet vapour entering the compressor, a certain amount of superheating is usually desirable,