Basic Refrigeration Cycle

P h Chart (Pressure Enthalpy) is useful to understand Refrigeration Cycle.

Refrigeration Cycle Diagram is Shown in Fig. 1

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Two laws are significant to understand basic refrigeration Cycle and air conditioning.

Thermodynamics first law explains that energy can not be neither created nor destroyed
but can be changed from one form to another.

Thermodynamics second law is useful to understand how basic refrigeration cycle works.
The law states that heat always flows from a material at high temperature to a material at
low temperature.

Air conditioning ( the refrigeration cycle ) is the process that removes the heat from an
area where it is not required and transfers that heat to area that makes no difference.
The Air Conditioner dose not create heat , it just transfers heat.

For heat to transfer there has to be a pressure and temperature difference. In the
refrigeration process there are two sections which produce a pressure difference a high
pressure ,high temperature section ( Condenser) and a low temperature section
(Evaporator)

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A vapour compression refrigeration cycle or system are the most commonly used among all
refrigeration & air-conditioning systems.
As the name implies, these systems belong to the general class of vapour cycles, where in
the working fluid (refrigerant) undergoes phase change at least during one process. In a
vapour compression refrigeration system, refrigeration is obtained as the refrigerant
evaporates at low temperatures.
The input to the system is in the form of mechanical energy required to run the
compressor. Hence these systems are also called as mechanical refrigeration systems.

Vapour compression refrigeration systems are available to suit almost all applications with
the refrigeration capacities ranging from few tons to few megatons. A wide variety of
refrigerants can be used in these systems to suit different applications, capacities etc.

In any vapour compression refrigeration system, there are two different pressure
conditions. One is called the lowside and the other side is called the high side.
The evaporator is in the low side. Heat is absorbed in the low side.
The Expansion device & suction line are also on the low side.

The receiver or dryer, condensers in the high side. This is where the heat is released from
the refrigerant. The compressor is on the high side.

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Generally the process of vapour compression refrigeration cycle is carried in four
stages as listed below:-
1. Compression
2. Condensation
3. Expansion
4. Evaporation

Compression:-
Under atmospheric temperature & pressure the refrigerant is in gaseous form. As
we know from the law of refrigeration that cooling takes place when liquids
evaporates to become gas. Therefore we must first transform the refrigerant gas
into liquid form. Most gaseous can be made into liquids by raising its pressure &
then cooling it. The equipment that increases the pressure of the gas by
compressing it is called the Compressor. The compressor compresses the
refrigerant in the gaseous state.

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Condensation:-
During the process of compression however the refrigerant becomes hot. This is because
of the heat gain from the compressor due to work done. This heat has to be removed to
enable the gas to condense into a liquid easily. The equipment that removes the heat
called the condenser.

Expansion:-
Subsequently, the refrigerant in liquid form at high pressure flows through the expansion
valve, they are bundle of tubes (expansion or control device). The expansion valve is a
component fitted between the condenser and evaporator with the function of creating a
significant drop in pressure. This valve performs two functions: first of all, it ensures the
correct quantity of liquid refrigerant is sent to the evaporator, and in addition it creates a
pressure differential that is essential for the completion of the cycle.

The pressure differential is very important in a refrigerant circuit, as it changes the

boiling point of the fluid. Without this pressure change, no cooling would take place and
the system would simply be a container of liquid refrigerant.

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Evaporation:-
Evaporation process is carried out in evaporator which is generally known as
cooling coil. Inside the cooling coil the pressure is low, because of the expansion
device on one side and the compressor suction on other side. In the low pressure,
the liquid refrigerant starts evaporating rapidly. While evaporating it needs
sensible heat to transform itself from the liquid to the gaseous state. So it soaks
up heat from the surrounding tubes, and from the air, with which the tubes are in
contact. This causes the cooling.

This is end of the cycle & beginning of the next cycle, after the evaporation
process is done, the refrigerant is back in gaseous form. It is sucked into the
compressor where it will be compressed again for the next refrigeration cycle.

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BASIC COMPENENTS OF AIRCONDITIONING & REFRIGERATION SYSTEM
.COMPRESSORS
Types of Compressors:-
Based on working principle they are categorized into two types:

Positive Displacement Type

In positive displacement type compressors, compression is achieved by trapping a
refrigerant vapour into an enclosed space and then reducing its volume. Since a
fixed amount of refrigerant is trapped each time, its pressure rises as its volume is
reduced. When the pressure rises to a level that is slightly higher than the
condensing pressure, then it is expelled from the enclosed space and a fresh
charge of low-pressure refrigerant is drawn in and the cycle continues.
Roto Dynamic Type
Depending upon the construction, positive displacement type compressors used
in refrigeration and air conditioning can be classified into:
i. Reciprocating type
ii. Rotary type with sliding vanes
iii. Rotary screw type
iv. Rotary Scroll type

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CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSORS

Centrifugal compressors also known as turbo-compressors, they belong to the

roto-dynamic type of compressors.

They are designed to use with large-capacity systems ranging in size from 50 to
5,000 Tons. In these compressors the required pressure rise takes place due to
the continuous conversion of angular momentum imparted to the refrigerant
vapour by a high-speed impeller into static pressure.

Unlike reciprocating compressors, centrifugal compressors are steady-flow

devices hence they are subjected to less vibration and noise.

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CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSORS

Centrifugal compressors also known as turbo-compressors, they belong to the

roto-dynamic type of compressors.

They are designed to use with large-capacity systems ranging in size from 50 to
5,000 Tons. In these compressors the required pressure rise takes place due to
the continuous conversion of angular momentum imparted to the refrigerant
vapour by a high-speed impeller into static pressure.

Unlike reciprocating compressors, centrifugal compressors are steady-flow

devices hence they are subjected to less vibration and noise.

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 CONDENSERS

The purpose of the condenser in a vapour compression cycle is to accept the hot,
high-pressure gas from the compressor and cool it to remove first the superheat
and then the latent heat, so that the refrigerant will condense back to a liquid.
In addition, the liquid is usually slightly sub cooled. In nearly all cases, the cooling
medium will be air or water.

Types of condensers:-
Based on the external fluid, condensers are classified into three types as
mentioned below :-
i. Air cooled condensers
ii. Water cooled condensers
iii. Evaporative condensers
Air cooled condensers:-
As the name implies, in air-cooled condensers
air is the external fluid, i.e., the refrigerant
rejects heat to air flowing over the condenser.
Air-cooled condensers can be further classified
into two types as listed below:-
a) Natural convection type
b) Forced convection HVAC
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Air cooled condensers:-
As the name implies, in air-cooled condensers air is the external fluid, i.e., the
refrigerant rejects heat to air flowing over the condenser.
Air-cooled condensers can be further classified into two types as listed below:-
a) Natural convection type
b) Forced convection type

Natural convection type:-

In natural convection type condensers, heat transfer from the condenser is by buoyancy
induced natural convection and radiation. Since the flow rate of air is small and the
radiation heat transfer is also not very high, the combined heat transfer coefficient in
these condensers is small. As a result a relatively large condensing surface is required to
reject a given amount of heat. Hence these condensers are used for small capacity
refrigeration systems like household refrigerators and freezers. The natural convection
type condensers are either plate surface type or finned tube type. In plate surface type
condensers used in small refrigerators and freezers, the refrigerant carrying tubes are
attached to the outer walls of the refrigerator. The whole body of the refrigerator
(except the door) acts like a fin. Insulation is provided between the outer cover that acts
like fin and the inner plastic cover of the refrigerator. It is for this reason that outer body
of the refrigerator is always warm. Since the surface is warm, the problem of moisture
condensation on the walls of the refrigerator does not arise in these systems. These
condensers are sometimes called as flat back condensers.

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Force convection type
In forced convection type condensers, the circulation of air over the condenser surface
is maintained by using a fan or a blower. These condensers normally use fins on air-side
for good heat transfer. The fins can be either plate type or annular type. Forced
convection type condensers are commonly used in window air conditioners, split air
conditioners, Packaged air conditioners and air cooled chillers plants. These are either
chassis mounted or remote mounted.

Water cooled condensers

In water cooled condensers water is the external fluid. Many large commercial
refrigerating units use a water-cooled condenser. This condenser are classified into
three types as per there construction, as listed below:-
a) Shell & tube condensers
b) Shell & coil condensers
c) Coil in coil condensers

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SHELL AND TUBE TYPE HEAT EXCHANGER

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Shell & coil condensers:-
The shell & coil type condensers are used in systems up to 50 TR capacities. The
water flows through multiple coils, which may have fins to increase the heat transfer
coefficient. The refrigerant flows through the shell. In smaller capacity condensers,
refrigerant flows through coils while water flows through the shell.

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Coil in coil condensers:-
Double pipe condensers are normally used up to 10 TR capacities
Coil in coil type condenser. As shown in the figure, in these condensers the cold
water flows through the inner tube, while the refrigerant flows through the annulus
in counter flow. Headers are used at both the ends to make the length of the
condenser small and reduce pressure drop.

The refrigerant in the annulus rejects a part of its heat to the surroundings by free
convection and radiation. The heat transfer coefficient is usually low because of poor
liquid refrigerant drainage if the tubes are long.

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Evaporative condensers:-
The evaporative condenser system carries the refrigerant into a condenser. The
evaporative condenser system is in an enclosure much like a cooling tower. The
evaporative condenser uses both air & water to cool the refrigerant. In this system
as evaporative indicates, water is sprayed or drips over the condenser. This cools it.
The water cycle is in the condenser cabinet only.

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Expansion Device
An expansion device is another basic component of a refrigeration
system. The basic functions of an expansion device used in refrigeration
systems are to:
1. Reduce pressure from condenser pressure to evaporator pressure
2. Regulate the refrigerant flow from the high-pressure liquid line into
the evaporator at a rate equal to the evaporation rate in the evaporator

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An evaporator, like condenser which also acts as a heat exchanger. The purpose of
the evaporator is to receive low-pressure, low-temperature fluid from the expansion
valve and to bring it in close thermal contact with the load. The refrigerant takes up
its latent heat from the load and leaves the evaporator as a dry gas. The name
evaporator refers to the evaporation process occurring in the heat exchanger.
The evaporators are generally called as cooling coils
The evaporators are classified in several types, but only two types of evaporators are
majorly used in air-conditioning field, as listed below:-

1. The evaporators used for cooling air, by blowing air upon the cooling coil or
evaporator to keep the space conditioned. These are also called direct expansion
system.

2. The evaporators those are submerged in a liquid or liquid passed over the cooling
coil, such as water or brine solutions. These systems are also called chilled water
system.

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