WASTE HEAT RECOVERY SYSTEM FOR REFRIGERATOR

WASTE HEAT

Waste heat is generally the energy associated with the waste streams of
air, gases and liquids that leaves the boundary of the system and enter
into environment.

Waste heat recovery and utilization is the process of capturing and

reusing waste heat for useful purposes.

Household refrigerator works continuously and rejects a low grade heat

to the atmosphere from condenser.

Waste heat recovered can be used for heating water.

INTRODUCTION

Waste heat is recovered from the conventional refrigerator by replacing

the air cooled condenser by a water cooled heat exchanger.

Heat rejected by the refrigerator is taken by the water through the heat
exchanger.

The high pressure high temperature refrigerant coming from the

compressor is made to pass through the heat exchanger.

The refrigerant is at saturated vapour state when its enters the HX and
leave as saturated liquid.

Latent heat of fusion is rejected by refrigerant in this process.

SCOPE

Energy crisis in the world are rising

We are in search of alternate sources of energy

Energy saved is energy generated

Heat energy recovered saves the primary fuel consumption

This system can be installed on refrigerators at low cost

Fuel usage for heating of water can be reduced as this system provides
preheated water

WORKING

The conventional refrigerator consists of four basic parts

Compressor

Condenser

Expansion valve

Evaporator

Heat exchanger replaces condenser part of refrigerator in this system

Schematic diagram of the water cooled refrigeration process

THERMOSIPHON EFFECT

Thermo siphon effect is used for the circulation of water through the
heat exchanger

Water tank placed is paced at the top of refrigerator. Water flows

downwards due to gravity to the HX via the hole at the bottom

As the hotter water is lighter than the colder water hotter water always
remains on the top of the storage tank

As thermosyphon system is used no external pump is required for

circulation of water

OBJECTIVES
The main objectives of our project are:

Recover waste heat from a refrigerator.

Provide water cooling system for refrigerator instead of conventional air

cooled condensers.

Increase the coefficient of performance (COP) of domestic refrigerator.

Introduce a system that provide hot water from refrigerator without any
external devices

To control the temperature of the room containing the refrigerator as no

heat is rejected into the atmosphere

EXPECTED OUTCOME
The expected outcomes of the project are;

Increase in coefficient of performance

Hot water with temperature range of about 400C 600C

Save primary fuel

No harmful effect to environment

ACTION PLAN
Various experiments has to be conducted on the system and the following
graphs has to be plotted

Temperature of hot water at outlet vs mass flow rate water.

Heat recovered vs mass flow rate of water.

COP of refrigerator vs mass flow rate of water.