College of Engineering

Department of Mechanical Engineering

ME 495 – Mechanical and Thermal Systems
Refrigeration System
Group E
Robert Hammett
William Jensen
Jeremiah Jeffries
Connor Higgins
Phong Huynh
Jesse Javier
Matt Inderbitzen
Conor Haley
Brandon Haschke

Project Manager: Oscar Jaime

Dr. Kassegne, S.
October 15, 2014
 Table of Contents: Jesse Javier

Objective of the Experiment: Jeremiah Jeffries

Equipment: William Jensen

Experiment Procedures: Robert Hammett

Experimental Results: Conor Haley

Discussion of Results: Brandon Haschke

Lab Guide Questions: Connor Higgins

Conclusion: Phong Huynh

References: Matthew Inderbitzen

List of Tables

Table 1 Technical Specifications Armfield RA1 Refrigeration Unit

Table 2 Critical Data

Table of Figures and Graphs

Figure 1 Armfield RA1 Refrigeration / Forces on expansion valve

Figure 2 View of Computer screen using PC Software

Figure 3 Flat blade screw driver

Graph 1 Coefficient of Performance over Time

Graph 2 Coefficient of Performance vs. Compressor Work

Graph 3 Coefficient of Performance for Compressor Speed

Graph 4 Efficiency Results 65% Run
Graph 5 Efficiency Results 75% Run
Graph 6 Efficiency Results 85% Run

Objective of the Experiment: Jeremiah Jeffries

 An Armfield RA1 Refrigeration Unit will be used to show how a vapor-compression

refrigeration cycle operates, most importantly the role an expansion valve plays in determining

the Qin and efficiency of the cycle. The RA1 allows the measurement of various states within the

cycle through Thermistor sensors placed at different stages. These results could then be recorded

and displayed though the corresponding program to be later analyzed. Different compressor

speeds can be set that show different mass flow rates within the system with an increase in Win.

Through the 3 compressor speeds 65%, 75% and 85% the expansion valve can be adjusted over a

period of time which demonstrates the effect of the systems current properties vs the opening of

the valve. The main purpose of the Refrigeration System lab is to demonstrate the trends seen

through these changes on the refrigerant system’s total output and efficiency.

The refrigerant cycle is a staple in modern engineering applications especially HVAC

systems making this experiment an important process to understand. Working between a

compressor, condenser, evaporator and expansion valve a refrigerant fluid is flowed through the

system with the intent to pull Qin from the resultant space. As the fluid moves through the system

it changes states from liquid, to saturated liquid, to superheated vapor and back to liquid.

The temperatures after each section of the cycle are recorded along with the refrigerant

flow rate, motor torque and water flow rate during the time frame. These experimental

parameters are used for the equations below to calculation the major parameters efficiency and

Qin.

The expansion valve is an important part of all refrigeration cycles and it regulates the

flow between a higher pressure and lower pressure by means of a simple mechanical force F1,

F2 and F3. The valve is used to control the flow of liquid refrigerant entering the evaporator at a
rate that matches the amount of refrigerant being boiled off in the evaporator, This is its main

purpose but like all the other metering devices it also provides a pressure drop in the system,

separating the high pressure side of the system from the low pressure side.

The following derivations, equations, and figures are from the document “Refrigeration

System – Experiment 9” written by Dr. Kassegne for the ME495 Laboratory. This derivation will

be used to calculate the required values for the lab. [2]

The expansion valve is modeled as shown below:

Figure 1. Forces on Expansion Valve

The following equations are used for experimental calculations:

𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻 = 𝐻̇ ∗ (𝐻1 − 𝐻4 ) ∗ 1000 (1)

𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻 = Heat absorbed by the refrigerant (Watts)

𝐻̇ = Mass flow rate of the refrigerant (Kg/s)

*Enthalpies can be found by taking T1 and T4 to search through property tables*

h1 = Enthalpy of refrigerant at outlet of evaporator (KJ/Kg)

h4 = Enthalpy of refrigerant at inlet of evaporator (KJ/Kg)

𝐻2
𝐻𝐻𝐻 = ∗ 4200 ∗ (𝐻9 − 𝐻8 ) (2)
60
Qin = Energy absorbed by the evaporator (Watts)

𝐻2 = Water flow rate through evaporator (l/min)

𝐻8 = Temperature of water at inlet of evaporator (K)

𝐻9 = Temperature of water at outlet of evaporator (K)

𝐻𝐻𝐻
𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻 = ∗ 100 (3)
𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻

Equipment: William Jensen

● RA1 Refrigeration Unit
● Compatible PC with Armfield Software
● Flat blade type Screwdriver
RA1 Refrigeration Unit

The vapor-compression refrigeration system is the most common refrigeration system

used today. RA1-MKII is a computer controlled vapor-compression refrigeration system with

automatic recording of all important process variables using an integral USB interface device.

The hermetically sealed refrigerant compressor incorporates a brushless three phase DC electric

motor that is driven by a variable speed controller. Compressor speed and power supplied is

displayed on the PC. [1]

 Figure 1: Armfield RA1 Refrigeration Unit [1]

Table 1: Technical Specifications Armfield RA1 Refrigeration Unit. [1]

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Refrigeration system Vapour-compression type

Refrigerant R134a

Compressor speed range 2000 to 4400 RPM

Compressor supply 4V DC to speed controller of brushless 3 phase DC motor

Compressor rating .11 cm3 (0.434 cu in) for high evaporator temperature with 7.2°C rating point

Condenser Brazed plate heat exchanger using water as heat transfer medium

Evaporator Brazed plate heat exchanger using water as heat transfer medium

Water reservoir Working capacity 400 litres

Temperature sensors NTC Thermistor

Refrigerant flowmeter Variable area flowmeter

PC Software
 The software used with the RA1 refrigeration unit has the functions and capabilities

designed to make the operation of the equipment and processing of the results more

straightforward, and also to enhance student understanding of the subjects being covered.

The software is used for a Diagrammatic representation of the equipment, complete with

continuous real time display of the various sensor outputs and instantaneous Coefficient of

Performance (COP). It also automatically logs the data from the sensors and puts them in a

usable spreadsheet. [1]

Full control of the refrigeration units compressor, and pump speed is done by the

software as well.

Figure 2: View of Computer screen using PC Software. [1]

Flat Blade Screw

Driver

Figure 3: Screw Driver

 The flat blade screwdriver is used to adjust the flow through the expansion valve during

the experimental collection of data.

Experimental Procedure: Robert Hammett

The refrigeration system experiment was conducted in the ME 495 Laboratory Facility at

San Diego State University on October 1st, 2014 at 10:00 AM by lab group E. Experimental

procedures outlined in the ME 495 Lab Manual prepared by Sam Kassegne were executed.

Setup-

The initial setup requires preparing and configuring the settings on the refrigeration

module. The USB connection between the RA1 and PC was confirmed first. Next, power was

initiated to the RCD Device, circuit breakers, RA1 refrigeration unit and to the RA1 software.

Water pump speeds feeding to the condenser and to the evaporator were set to 90% and the RA1

software was used to confirm flow was established.

Experiment-

After removing the cap on the expansion valve, a screwdriver was used to rotate the valve

¼ turn. The compressor was then initiated and set at 65 % speed. The value given at FM3 by the

variable area flow meter was input into the RA1 software and the system was given time to

become steady. Upon stability of temperature and pressure, data samples were taken at 5 second

intervals for 1 minute. The expansion valve was then rotated ¼ turn counter clockwise and data

samples were taken again for the same rate and time. This process was repeated until the
Coefficient of Performance was constant. Additionally, these steps were repeated with

compressor speeds of 75% and 85% and all data samples were saved to a flash drive.

It was important that at the end of the experiment, the expansion valve was configured for

normal operation. This was done by setting the compressor, condenser, and evaporator to speeds

of 80%, 50%, and 70% respectively allowing the system to stabilize with a differential

temperature across the evaporator of 4 to 6oC. The system was then turned off.

Experimental Results: Conor Haley

Table 1 below consists of the critical raw data from each run of the experiment at 65%,

75%, and 85% compressor speed. This data is further reduced into three graphs. Graph 1

represents the Coefficient of Performance (CP) over time. The trend to be noted here despite

imprecise equipment is that as the expansion valve was opened the CP increased. Graph 2 shows

the CP as it relates to compressor work. The importance of this graph is to note that as the

compressor work increased the CP decreased. Similarly the CP as it relates to compressor speed

is shown in Graph 3. It is important to note that as the compressor speed increased the CP

dropped and was therefore less efficient. Also interesting is the range of CP values were

significantly closer together as the compressor speed was increased showing that it ran more

consistently although less efficient.

Table 2: Critical Data

Graph 1:
Graph 2:

Graph 3:
Discussion of results: Brandon Haschke

Table 1 above consists of the critical raw data from each run of the experiment at 65%,

75%, and 85% compressor speed. This data is further reduced in to three graphs. Graph 1

represents the Coefficient of Performance (CP) over time. The trend to be noted here despite

imprecise equipment is that as the expansion valve was opened the CP increased. Graph 2 shows

the CP as it relates to compressor work. The importance of this graph is to note that as the

compressor work increased the CP decreased. Similarly, the CP as it relates to compressor speed

shown in Graph 3 shows compressor speed increased while CP dropped and was therefore less

efficient. Also interesting is the range of CP values were significantly closer together as the

compressor speed was increased showing that it ran more consistently although less efficient.

Sources of Error:
 It should be noted that the values of motor torque, work in and coefficient of performance

fluctuated between lower and higher values. This may be caused by imprecise or faulty

measuring gauges on the Armfield RA1 Refrigeration Unit or unsteady power being delivered to

the motor. Other sources of error may be a faulty expansion valve, human error when adjusting

the expansion valve or leaks in the system which could have caused these fluctuations.

Theoretical Comparison:

The expansion valve regulates the amount of refrigerant entering the evaporator. The

optimum setting for an expansion valve is when the amount of refrigerant entering the evaporator

equals the amount of refrigerant being boiled off in the evaporator [1]. This optimum setting

should result in the highest possible COP for the given system. The optimum setting for the

expansion valve would be just before the COP begins to drop (due to the valve being open too

much). This cannot be determined from our data because the average of our COP did not drop. It

increased throughout the experiment. It is possible that the expansion valve was not opened

enough. This would have prevented the amount of refrigerant entering the expansion valve to

exceed the amount of refrigerant being boiled off, which would have prevented an average drop

in the COP.

Lab Questions: Connor Higgins

1) How does the temperature change as the expansion valve is adjusted? Explain
 The thermal expansion valve in the refrigeration system is used to control the amount of

refrigerant flowing into the evaporator. As the expansion valve is opened, the flow of the

refrigerant is increased causing the temperature to decrease.

2) How does the pressure vary across the expansion valve? Explain

There is a release of refrigerant across the valve, causing there to be a drop in

temperature while simultaneously resulting in a drop in pressure as well.

3) Provide graphs for the efficiencies of each of the compressor speed runs.

Graph 4:

Graph 5:
Graph 6:

4) What happens to the system when the expansion valve is adjusted? Explain

As the expansion valve is adjusted, the refrigerant levels either increase causing a

decrease in temperature and pressure or they decrease causing an increase in temperature

and pressure.
 5) Why does the expansion valve need to be adjusted?

The valve is adjusted in the experiment so that the working fluids to cool. This process

allows the pressure to drop along with a phase change to occur.

6) Is there an optimum expansion valve position for greatest performance?

This is not entirely calculable as the mass flow rate is still uncertain. However, the

optimum expansion valve can be observed experimentally from the graphs as the point at

the peak of the slope before the phase change.

7) What happens to the system when the compressor speed is changed? Why?

The system is allowed to cool at a faster rate, as more refrigerant is being pumped

through the system in the given time and more contact is made.

8) Is there an optimum compressor speed for greatest performance?

The highest compressor speed was the speed shown experimentally to be the optimum

compressor speed.

9) What was the average range of values at each compressor speed?

The average range of efficiencies for the 65% run was between 25-28, 75% had

efficiency between 27-30, while the 85% run was averaging between 29-33.The highest

speeds was clearly the most efficient and best of the compressor speeds.

Conclusion: Phong Huynh

As can be seen from the analysis of the data acquired from this lab, there was and

obvious correlation between the adjustment of the expansion of the valve and the amount of

refrigerant that was allowed to enter the evaporator, which then boiled, and performed the goal

of refrigeration cycle, absorbing heat. It can also be seen immediately apparent that the more
valves were opened, the greater the performance became. However this was performed and

tested at intermediate steps at 90 degree rotations, along the way to find the performance at each

steps of valuable information that required, such as efficiency and performance at each of those

points. All of this information is very important and valuable as the amount of heat absorption

varies from application to application, and it may be suitable in some circumstances to operate

the refrigeration cycle at maximum efficiency, whereas others may need more or less heat

absorption. As a group we concluded that this lab is helpful and useful and allowed the students

to experience the collection of range of performances and efficiencies from a very practical and

widely used lab.

References: Matt Inderbitzen

[1] Kassegne, S. ME-495 Laboratory Exercise – Number 9 – Refrigeration System. Tech. ME

Dept, SDSU. Wed. 1 Oct. 2014

[2] "Armfield." RA1MKII : Vapour-Compression Refrigeration Unit. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct.
2014.

[3] "The Ideal Vapor-Compression Refrigeration Cycle." Ch10, Lesson B, Page 2 -. N.p., n.d.
Web. 14 Oct. 2014.