Exercise B - Varying the Water Flow Rate in the

Condenser
Objective
To investigate the effect on the refrigeration system of the flow of water through the
condenser and to determine the optimum flow rate for a given load.

Method
Running the RA1-MKII at nominal settings then varying the flow of water through the
condenser, whilst logging the results to observe the effect on the remainder of the
system.

Equipment Required
RA1-MKII Refrigeration Unit

Compatible PC with Armfield RA1-MKII software

Theory
The hot vapour from the compressor passes through the condenser where it is
cooled and condensed into a liquid. Heat is removed from the refrigerant and carried
away by the cooling water. In RA1-MKII the condenser is a plate heat exchanger,
composed of multiple, thin, closely spaced plates that have a very large surface area
and fluid flow passages for heat transfer. The plates are brazed together to give a
permanent, leak free arrangement. The refrigerant and the cooling water streams are
separated by the thin plates allowing good heat transfer.

The First law of thermodynamics, about the conservation of energy states that the
change in the internal energy of a closed thermodynamic system is equal to the sum
of the amount of heat energy supplied to the system and the work done on the
system. Therefore the energy entering equals the energy leaving.

Equipment Set Up
Ensure that the equipment has been installed in accordance with the Installation
section.

Check that the USB connection is made between the RA1-MKII unit and the PC, and
that the RA1-MKII software is installed and running (‘IFD: vCOM (n) m’ displayed in
bottom right hand corner where n is the number of the virtual COM port on the PC).

Check that the combined circuit breaker / RCD on the electrical console is in the ‘On’
(up) position. Turn the unit on by pressing the ON/OFF switch on the console.

Check that sensible ambient values for temperatures, pressures etc are displayed on
the mimic diagram of the software. Do not click ‘Compressor On’ in the software until
instructed.

Procedure
Set the condenser water pump (Pump 1 speed) to 100% and the evaporator water
pump (Pump 2 speed) to 60%.

Check that there is a flow of water through both the condenser and evaporator
indicated by F1 (typically 3.0 l/min) and F2 (typically 5.5 l/min) on the mimic diagram.

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Armfield Instruction Manual

Set the compressor motor speed to 50% (typically 3200 RPM) then click
‘Compressor On’ (1). The compressor will run at 3000 RPM for 30 seconds then
change to the set speed. Check that refrigerant flows around the system indicated by
the variable area flowmeter F3 on the RA1-MKII.

Configure the sample options as ‘Automatic / 10 seconds intervals’ and click the
“GO” button to log the readings from the sensors. View the graphs of T1, T3 & T7 on
the primary Y axis and P1 & P2 on the secondary Y axis.

Let the system run until the temperatures and pressures are reasonably stable then
reduce the speed of the condenser water pump by 10%, wait for the system to
stabilise.

Repeat the procedure reducing the condenser water pump speed in steps of 10%
until temperature T4 reaches 65oC. (Note: if any warnings are indicated on the
computer then the flow should be increased again or appropriate steps taken to avoid
the compressor being switched off).

Return the condenser water pump speed to 50% and allow the system to settle.

If time permits change the flow of water through the evaporator then optimise the flow
of water through the condenser to suit.

Results
View the table of results and compare the changes in the system as the flow through
the condenser is reduced.

Using a spreadsheet or plotting graphs independently using data obtained when

conditions have stabilised at each setting of compressor speed:

Plot the graph of Coefficient of Performance against condenser water flowrate (F1).

Conclusion
Discuss what happens to the system when the water flow rate in the condenser is
changed.

Comment on the effect of the increase in temperature at T5 as the flow of water

through the condenser is reduced.

Is there an optimum flow rate for greatest performance in the condenser?

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