Mechanical Vapour Compression Cycles

After studying this chapter the student should be able to:

1. Classify the methods of refrigeration.

2. Explain the basic difference between the mechanical vapour compression refrigeration
system and the absorption refrigeration system.

3. Explain the meaning of the terms : refrigeration capacity and coefficient of performance.

4. Explain the concept of reversible heat engine and reversible refrigeration system.

5. Analyse the operation of Reversed Carnot cycle and Reversed Brayton cycle, and saturated
Reversed Carnot cycle.

6. Analyse the operation of standard vapour compression refrigeration cycle, i.e. single stage
saturation (SSS) cycle.

7. Explain the performance of standard refrigeration cycle vis-a-vis Reversed Carnot cycle using
the T–s diagram.

8. Perform thermodynamic cyclic calculations for the standard vapour compression refrigeration
system.

9. Evaluate the performance of the standard vapour compression system with subcooling from
given inputs and known refrigerant property data.

10. Discuss and evaluate the performance of the standard vapour compression system with
subcooling and superheating.

11. Evaluate the performance aspects of single stage saturation (SSS) cycle and the effects of
evaporator and condensing temperatures on system performance.

12. Discuss the performance of an actual vapour compression refrigeration system with
reference to T–s and p–h diagrams and explain the effects of various irreversibilities due to
pressure drops, heat transfer and non-ideal compression.
Compressors
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After studying this chapter the student should be able to:
1. Describe the types of compressors used in refrigeration systems.
2. Understand the thermodynamics of compression.
3. Describe the working principle of the reciprocating compressor.
4. Calculate the volumetric efficiency of an ideal reciprocating compressor with clearance.
5. Discuss the effects of pressure drop, heat transfer, superheating, and leakage on the volumetric efficiency
of a reciprocating compressor with clearance.
6. Calculate the power input of an ideal reciprocating compressor and the actual compressor with clearance.
7. Discuss the effects of blowby, kinetic energy, heat transfer, superheat, leakages, speed, etc. on the
performance of a real reciprocating compressor.
8. Understand the working principle of hermetic compressors.
9. Describe the types of rotary compressors used in refrigeration systems and discuss their respective working
principles.
10. Describe the working principle and characteristics of screw compressors.
11. Explain the working principle of the centrifugal compressor.
12. Analyse the performance of centrifugal compressors using velocity diagrams.
13. Explain the phenomenon of surging in centrifugal compressors.
14. Explain the methods of capacity control of centrifugal compressor.
15. Compare the performance aspects of centrifugal and reciprocating compressors.
Performance of Single Stage
Saturation Cycle with
Reciprocating Compressor
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After studying this chapter the student should be able to:
1. Derive expressions for the work requirement of the reciprocating compressor in a refrigeration system using
single stage saturation (SSS) cycle.
2. Explain how the volumetric efficiency and mass flow rate of the reciprocating compressor vary with the
evaporator temperature for a fixed condenser temperature.
3. Explain the effect of evaporator temperature on the work requirement of the reciprocating compressor for a
fixed value of condenser temperature.
4. Analyze the effect of suction pressure on the horsepower per TR of the reciprocating compressor for a fixed
value of condenser temperature.
5. Discuss the effect of evaporator temperature on refrigeration effect and refrigeration capacity of the SSS
cycle with reciprocating compressor.
6. Explain the effect of evaporator temperature on the capacity of the reciprocating compressor.
7. Explain how the compressor discharge temperature varies with the pressure ratio for different refrigerants
keeping the condenser temperature fixed.
8. Show why the SSS cycle with reciprocating compressor is not suitable for low evaporator temperatures.
9. Show how reduction in isentropic compressor work and increase in refrigeration effect can be achieved by
multistage compression.
10. Explain the factors governing the choice of intermediate pressure in a two-stage SSS cycle.
11. Derive the expression for optimum intermediate pressure for ideal gas reciprocating compressor with ideal
intercooling.
Multistage Refrigeration Systems
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After studying this chapter the student should be able to:
1. Understand the disadvantages of the single-stage refrigeration cycle for operation at low evaporator
temperatures.
2. Explain as to how the disadvantages of the single-stage refrigeration system can be overcome by using the
multistage system.
3. Discuss the concepts of intercooling and flash gas removal in multistage vapour compression refrigeration
systems.
4. Determine the intermediate pressure that a two-stage vapour compression refrigeration system would seek,
given the condenser and evaporator temperatures and swept volume flow rates of LP and HP compressors.
5. Describe the practical disadvantages of flash chamber and how they are overcome by subcooling the
refrigerant before feeding to the evaporator.
6. Explain the differences between a two-stage NH3 cycle and a two-stage R12 cycle.
7. Explain the temperature ranges for multistage systems.
8. Understand the necessity of multi-evaporator systems and evalute the performance of twoevaporator,
single-compressor system with individual expansion valves and a pressure reduction valve.
9. Evalute the performance of multi-evaporator systems with multi-compression, intercooling, flash gas
removal and subcooling.
10. Understand the limitations of the multistage system. Describe the working principle of the cascade system.
11. Derive the expression for optimum intermediate temperature of the cascade system.
12. Evalute the performance of the cascade systems. Describe the measures needed to undertake the
performance improvements to cascade refrigeration systems.
13. Explain the process of dry ice manufacture with the help of a schematic diagram.
14. Describe the working principle of the auto-cascade system.