CHAPTER - 3

REFRIGERATION
3.1 Definition and applications of refrigeration

 3.1.1 Definition

 Refrigeration is the science of the producing and maintaining

temperatures of specified region below that of the
surrounding atmosphere.

 This means the removing of heat from a substance to be

cooled.

 Heat always transfer downhill, from a warm body to a cooler

 Before the development of mechanical refrigeration water
was kept cool by storing it in semi porous jugs so that the
water could seep through and evaporate.

 The evaporation carried away heat and cooled the water.

The system was used by the Egyptians and by Indians in
the Southwest.

 The Romans carried snow from Alps to Rome for cooling the
Emperor's drinks.
 In simple, refrigeration means the cooling or removal of heat
from a system.

 The equipment used to maintain the system at a low

temperature is termed as refrigeration system
Refrigeration is generally produced by one on the following 3
ways:

i) By melting of a solid,

ii) By sublimation of a solid,

iii) By evaporation of a liquid

 Most of the commercial refrigeration is produced by the
evaporation of a liquid called refrigerant.

 Mechanical refrigeration depends upon the evaporation of

liquid refrigerant

 Its circuit includes compressor, condenser and expansion

valve, evaporator.
3.1.2 Applications of Refrigeration

 Ice making
 Storage and Transportation of foods above and below
freezing
 Industrial air-conditioning
 Comfort air-conditioning
 Chemical and related industries
 Medical and surgical aids
 Processing food products and beverages
 Oil refining and synthetic rubber manufacturing

 Manufacturing and treatment of metals

 Freezing food products

Special Applications:
i) Extremely low temperatures (Cryogenics)

ii) Plumbing

iii) Tunnel and Building construction

3.1.3 Elements of Refrigeration System

All refrigeration systems must include at least four basic

components:
i) A low temperature thermal “sink” to which heat will flow
from the space to be cooled.
ii) Means of extracting energy from the sink, raising the
temperature level of this energy, and delivering it to a heat
receiver.
iii) A receiver to which heat will be transferred from the high
temperature high pressure refrigerant.
iv)Means of reducing pressure and temperature of the
refrigerant as it returns from the receiver to the ''sink''.
3.1.4 Refrigeration System
Various refrigeration systems:
 Ice refrigeration
 Air-refrigeration system
 Vapour compression refrigeration system
 Vapour absorption refrigeration system
Special refrigeration systems:

• i) Cascade refrigeration system

• iii) Mixed refrigeration system
• iv) Vortex tube refrigeration system
• v) Thermoelectric refrigeration
• vi) Steam jet refrigeration system.
3.2 Simple and Modified Vapour Compression
Refrigeration System
Vapour compression system: one of the most important
and widely used refrigeration
system

In this system the working fluid evaporates and condenses

alternately between the vapour and liquid phases within
refrigerating system.

During evaporation, it absorbs heat from the cold body.

This heat is used as its latent heat for converting it from
the liquid to vapour. During condensation, it rejects heat to
surroundings.
Compressor increases the sucks the vapour refrigerant from
evaporator and compresses it at high T & high P to Condenser.

Expansion (throttling) valve reduces the pressure of

refrigerant from condenser and passes to evaporator.
3.2.1 Simple Vapour Compression System

In a simple vapour compression system 4 fundamental

processes are completed in one cycle.

1. Compression
2. Condensation
3. Expansion
4. Evaporation
Basic Refrigeration Systems Review
3.2.4 Work done and coefficient of performance

QE
C.O.P 
W
Process 2 – 3: Adiabatic compression (Pressure and
Temperature increases,
entropy remains constant)

Process 3 – 4: Condensation (Isobaric Heat Rejection,

Pressure remains constant)

Process 4 – 1: Throttling (Pressure reduces, Volume

increases and Entropy remains constant)

Process 1 – 2: Evaporation (Isobaric Heat addition,

Pressure remains constant)
3.2.1.2 Functions of Parts of A Simple Vapour Compression
System

 Compressor. The function of a compressor is to remove the

vapour from the evaporator and to raise its temperature and
pressure to a point such that it (vapour) can be condensed
with available condensing media.
 Discharge lines (hot-gas line). A hot gas or discharge line
delivers the high-pressure, high temperature vapour from the
discharge of the compressor to the condenser.
 Condenser. The function of a condenser is to provide a heat
transfer surface through which heat passes from the hot
refrigerant vapour to the condensing medium.
 Receiver tank. A receiver tank is used to provide storage for a
condensed liquid so that a constant supply of liquid is
available to the evaporator as required.
 liquid line. A liquid line carries the liquid refrigerant from
the receiver tank to the refrigerant flow control.

 Expansion valve (refrigerant flow control). Its function is to

meter the proper amount of the refrigerant to the
evaporator and to reduce the pressure of liquid entering the
evaporator so that liquid will vaporize in the evaporator at
the desired low temperature and take out sufficient amount
of heat.

 Evaporator. An evaporator provides a heat transfer surface

through which heat can pass from the refrigerated space
into the vaporising refrigerant.

 Suction line. The suction line conveys low pressure vapour

from the evaporator to the suction inlet of the compressor.
Effect of various parameters on COP of refrigeration system
3.2.3 Actual Vapour Compression Cycle
Compression is not isentropic. cylinder walls are hotter than the
incoming gases from the evaporator and colder than the compressed
gases discharged to the condenser.
Further both the compressor suction and discharge valves are
actuated by pressure difference, and this process requires the actual
suction pressure inside the compressor to be slightly below that of
the evaporator and the discharge pressure to be above that of
condenser.

Heat Transfers in Condenser and Evaporator are not isobaric due to

Pressure drop along suction/discharge pipes, condenser and
evaporator
Further Liquid refrigerant is sub-cooled before it enters the
expansion valve and gas leaving the evaporator is superheated a few
degrees before it enters the compressor.
Process 1-2-3 represents passage of refrigerant through the
evaporator, with Process 1-2 indicating gain of latent heat of
vaporisation, and Process 2-3, the gain of superheat before
entrance to compressor

Process 3-4-5-6-7-8 represents the passage of the vapour

refrigerant from suction to the discharge of the compressor.
Process 3-4 represents the throttling action that occurs during
passage through the suction valves, and
process 7-8 represents the throttling during passage through
discharge valves. Both of these processes are accompanied by
an entropy increase and drop in temperature. & pressure
Compression of the refrigerant occurs along process 5-6,
which is non-isentropic.
The heat transfer indicated by processes 4-5 and 6-7 occurs
essentially at constant pressure.

Process 8-9-10-11 represents the passage of refrigerant

through the condenser with Process 8-9 indicating removal
of superheat, Process 9-10 the removal of latent heat,
Process 10-11 sub-cooling.

Process 11-1 represents passage of the refrigerant through

the expansion valve, it is throttling process.
3.3 Vapor absorption refrigeration system
3.3.1 Basic vapor absorption refrigeration system

Vapor absorption refrigeration system is a Heat Operated System.

Basic Differences Between VCRS & VARS are:

 Use of Multiple refrigerant

 Creation of Pressure difference between Condenser and
Evaporator
 Method of circulation of refrigerant in system
3.3 Vapor absorption refrigeration system
3.3.1 Basic vapor absorption refrigeration system,
practical vapor absorption refrigeration system

Although a simple VARS is capable of providing refrigeration

effect its efficiency if very low & financially not viable.

In order to improve the performance of VARS following

accessories are installed:

1) Analyzer
2) Rectifier
3) Heat exchangers (2 numbers)
practical vapor absorption refrigeration system
Electrolux vapor absorption refrigeration system

Three fluid Vapor Absorption (Domestic Electrolux)

Refrigerator

Special Features:

 Three fluid Refrigerant (Ammonia, Hydrogen &

Water)
 Absence of compressor/pump for circulation of
refrigerant
 Absence of moving part, Vibration and noise
free
 Virtually maintenance free
 Long equipment life
Ammonia is used as refrigerants because it posses
most of the desirable properties. Though it is toxic,
absence of moving parts ensure least chance of
leakage.

Hydrogen is used to increase the rate of

evaporation of liquid ammonia flowing through
evaporator. It is lightest gas, non corrosive and
insoluble in water.

Water is used as solvent because it has ability to

absorb ammonia.
3.3.2 Comparison between vapor compression and vapor
absorption type refrigeration system
3.4 Refrigerants

 A 'refrigerant' is defined as any substance that absorbs heat

through expansion or vaporisation and rejects heat through
condensation in a refrigeration system.

 The term 'refrigerant' in the broadest sense is also applied to

such secondary cooling mediums as chilled water or brine
solutions.

 These substances absorb heat at one place at low

temperature and pressure and reject the same at some other
place having higher temperature and pressure.
Thus refrigerant changes it phase from liquid to vapour and
vapour to liquid throughout the cycle.

In the early days only following four refrigerants were available:

a) Air
b) Ammonia (NH3)
c) Carbon dioxide (CO2)
d) Sulphur dioxide (SO2)
4.1 Classifications of Refrigerants
1. Primary refrigerants
2. Secondary refrigerants.

 Primary refrigerants are those working substances which

directly take part in the refrigeration system and cool the
substance by the absorption of latent heat
Ammonia, Carbon dioxide, Sulphur dioxide, Methyl chloride,
and Freon group etc.

 Secondary Refrigerants are those working substances which

are first cooled with the help of the primary refrigerants and
are then used for cooling substance by the absorption of
latent/sensible heat, e.g. ice, solid carbon dioxide, water &
brine solution etc.
4.1.1 Classification of Primary Refrigerants:

a) Halocarbon compounds
b) Azeotropes
c) Hydrocarbons
d) Inorganic compounds
e) Unsaturated organic compounds
a) Halocarbon compounds:

 contains one or more of three halogens, chlorine and

bromine.
 Sold under trade name as Freon, Genetron, Isotron and
Areton
 Poses outstanding features
 Popular and widely used in domestic, commercial and
industrial purpose

R -12 ( Dichlorodifluoromethane; CCl2F2)

R -22 ( Monochlorodifluoromethane; CHClF2)
R -100 ( Ethyl chloride; C2H5Cl)
b) Azeotropes :

 Contains mixtures of different substance

 Cannot be separated into components by distillation
 Poses fixed thermodynamic properties and do not undergo any
separation with changes in temperature and pressure

R -500 ( 73.8 R-12 & 26.2 R-152)

R -502 ( 48.8 R-22 & 51.2 R-115)
R -503 ( 40.1 R-23 & 59.9 R-13)
c) Hydrocarbons

 Most of them are organic compounds

 Poses satisfactory thermodynamic properties but are highly
flammable
 Successfully used in commercial and industrial purpose

R - 50 ( Methane; CH4)
R - 170 ( Ethane; C2H6)
R - 290 ( Propane; C2H8)
d) Inorganic compounds

 Widely used before introduction of hydrocarbon group for all

purposes

R - 717 ( Ammonia; NH3)

R - 729 ( Carbon dioxide; CO2)
R - 764 ( Sulphur dioxide; SO2)
d) Unsaturated organic compounds

 Posses ethylene or propylene as their constituents

R - 1120 ( Trichloroethylene; C3H4Cl3)

R - 1150 (Ethylene; C2H4)
R – 1270 ( Propylene; C3H6)
3.3.2 Desirable Properties of an ideal Refrigerant

A) Thermodynamic Properties

(i) Low boiling temperature

3.3.2 Desirable Properties of an ideal Refrigerant

A) Thermodynamic Properties

(i) Low freezing temperature

3.3.2 Desirable Properties of an ideal Refrigerant

A) Thermodynamic Properties

(i) Positive pressure in evaporator & condenser

(i) High Critical Temperature & Pressure
3.3.2 Desirable Properties of an ideal Refrigerant

A) Thermodynamic Properties

(i) High saturation temperature

(ii) High latent heat of vaporization

3.3.2 Desirable Properties of an ideal Refrigerant

A) Thermodynamic Properties

(i) High saturation temperature

B) Chemical Properties:

(i) Non-toxicity
(ii) Non-flammable & non-explosive
(iii) Non-corrosive

(iv) Chemical stability

(v) No effect on quality of stored product
(vi) Non-irritating and odourless
B) Chemical Properties:

(i) Non-toxicity
(ii) Non-flammable & non-explosive
(iii) Non-corrosive

(iv) Chemical stability

(v) No effect on quality of stored product
(vi) Non-irritating and odourless
C) Physical Properties

i. Low specific volume of vapour

ii. Low specific heat
iii. High thermal conductivity
iv. Low viscosity
v. High electric insulation
D) Other Properties:

(i) Availability
(ii) Low cost
(iii) Easy leak detection
(iv) Low Power consumption
(v) High COP