Student CD for

Commercial Refrigeration for A/C Technicians

Chapter 1
Refrigeration Principles

Chapter 1 Overview

Temperature ranges of refrigeration

Refrigeration cycle
Relate refrigeration to air conditioning
Relationship between a refrigerants pressure
and its temperature
Newer refrigerants used in commercial
refrigeration systems
Relationship between the 4 basic
components of a refrigeration system
Copyright 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning

Common Space & Product Temperatures

Air Conditioning = 24 C
High temperature refrigeration = 12C
Medium temperature refrigeration = 2C
Low temperature refrigeration = -23C
Extra low temperature refrigeration = -32C

Copyright 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning

Simple A/C System

A compressor + two tanks + metering device

is used to illustrate a simple A/C system:
High pressure stays the same, but . . .

Refrigerant:
1. Temperatures drop as discharge gas cools
2. Condenses as heat is rejected
3. Sub-cools before entering the TEV

Low pressure stays the same, but . . .

Refrigerant:
1. Temperatures rise as liquid vaporizes and absorbs heat in the
evaporator
2. Then the vapor superheats after all refrigerant has evaporated

Copyright 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning

Simple A/C System

AMBIENT AIR 95o

165o

278
psig

175o

69
psig

60o

RETURN AIR 75o

50o
40o

125o

125o
115o

40o
105o

Copyright 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning

40o

Simple Medium Temperature

Refrigeration System
Compare the previous A/C system illustration
to the following refrigeration system:
Are the high side pressures and temperatures of
both systems different? Why or why not?
Are the low side pressures and temperatures of
the two systems different? Why or why not?

Copyright 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning

Simple Medium Temperature Refrigeration System

AMBIENT AIR 95o

165o

278
psig

175o

49
psig

45o

RETURN AIR 35o

35o
25o

125o

125o
115o

25o
105o

Copyright 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning

25o

Standard A/C System

with fixed metering device
The following slide is an example of what
happens to refrigerant in an A/C system:
Compressor discharges hot gas
Gas condenses to liquid, releasing heat
Metering device lowers pressure
Refrigerant vaporizes, absorbing heat
Returns to the compressor
Copyright 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning

Standard A/C System R-22

69
psig

278
psig

175

60

40

125
CONDENSER

125

EVAPORATOR

115

40
50

AMBIENT AIR 95o

Copyright 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning

RETURN AIR 75o

9

Standard A/C System R-22

Total Superheat 20
69
psig

278
psig

Super Heated Vapor

175

60

40

125

Evaporation Starts

CONDENSER

Condensing Starts
EVAPORATOR

125
Fully Evaporated
Fully Condensed Liquid
Sub-Cooled Liquid

115
Coil Superheat 10

AMBIENT AIR 95o

Copyright 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning

40
50

RETURN AIR 75o

10

Commercial Refrigeration System

with a TEV metering device
Comparing A/C to Refrigeration systems:
Same ambient, same high side pressures
and temperatures
Lower space temperature, low side
pressures and temperatures are lower
than those on the A/C system

Copyright 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning

11

Typical Walk-In Refrigerator (R22)

50
psig

280
psig

175

45

125

25

TEV

CONDENSER

125

EVAPORATOR

115

25
35

AMBIENT AIR 95o

Copyright 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning

BOX TEMPERATURE 35
12

Total Superheat 20
50
psig

Typical Walk-In Refrigerator (R22)

280
psig

Super Heated Vapor

175

45

25

125

TEV

Evaporation Starts

CONDENSER

Condensing Starts
EVAPORATOR

125
Fully Evaporated
Fully Condensed Liquid
Sub-Cooled Liquid

115

25

Coil Superheat 10

AMBIENT AIR 95o

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35

BOX TEMPERATURE 35
13

Current refrigerants used in most new

refrigeration systems

Walk-in refrigerators R22 and R404A

Walk- in freezers R404A
Reach-in refrigerators R22, R404A, 134a
Reach-in freezers R404A
Note: after 2010, manufacturers will not be
allowed to produce equipment with R22
Note: R404A must be charged in a liquid
state
Copyright 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning

14

The Four Basic Components of a

Refrigeration System
1. Metering device
Lowers the refrigerant temperature below the space
temperature

2. Evaporator
Absorbs heat as refrigerant evaporates

3. Compressor
Increases the refrigerant temperature above the
ambient temperature

4. Condenser
Rejects heat from the refrigerant as vapor condenses
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15

Basic Components and Piping

Discharge Line

Compressor
Suction
Line

Condenser
Metering
Device

Liquid
Line

Evaporator
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16

Refrigeration System
Baseball Diamond
The 4 components can be illustrated in
the shape of a baseball diamond
Half the system is high pressure
Half the system is low pressure

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17

Basic Components
Metering
Device

Baseball Diamond

Li
qu
i

Lo
Evaporator

Su
ct
io
n

Si igh
deH

Li
n

e
d
i
S

Li
ne

h
c
is
D

ge
r
a

ne
i
L

Condenser

Compressor
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18

Copyright 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning

19