Name:Vrinda.V.

Nair
Roll no:51

Q: Explain vapour compression refrigeration system with a neat

sketch.
Ans : vapour compression refrigeration system is nowadays used almost
everywhere and is the most popular refrigeration system.From a household
refrigerator to a window air conditioner and from central air conditioning plant to a
large cold storage ,all use vapour compression refrigeration systems.Although the
equipment used for this is more expensive than other systems,its high COP tilts
the scale in its favour as far as usage is concerned.
Refer fig.A for a schematic diagram of simple vapour compression refrigeration
system.It consists of main components
1.Compressor
2.Condenser
3.Receiver
4.Throttle valve
5.Evaporator
In a vapour compression refrigeration system ,the working fluid is vapour,termed
as Refrigerant,Refrigerants are used as heat carrying medium in the system.
The refrigerant alternatively undergoes a change of phase from vapour to
liquid and liquid to vapour during the completion of a cycle.The latent heat of
vapourization is utilized for carrying heat from the refrigeration system.The
refrigerants used do not leave the refrigeration system but are circulated through
the system alternately after condensing and evaporating.In evaporating ,the
refrigerant absorbs its latent heat from the medium which is to be cooled,The
refrigerant undergoes a change of phase from liquid to vapour.In condensing ,it
gives out its latent heat to the circulating water of the cooler.Thus refrigeration
system acts as a latent heat pump since it pumps its latent heat from the medium
which is to be cooled and it delivers to the cooling medium of condenser.

Principle of operation :The low pressure and low temperature vapour refrigerant
from the evaporator is drawn into the compressor.The state of the vapour is
denoted by 1 .This vapour is then compressed to high pressure and temperature
and discharged into the condenser .This state of vapour is then denoted by 2 .

Fig:A
The condenser cool down the refrigerant vapour . The condenser consists of coils
of pipe in which the high pressure and temperature vapour refrigerant is cooled
and condensed.The refrigerant while passing through the condenser gives up its
latent heat to the surrounding condensing medium which is normally air or water.
During condensation the vapour refrigerant undergoes a change of phase from
vapour to liquid refrigerant.The condensed liquid refrigerant is stored in a receiver
which acts as a storage vessel.The refrigerant is then supplied from the receiver
at stage 3 to the expansion valve .The expansion valve is also called throttle
valve or refrigerant control vavlve,The function of the expansion valve is to allow
the liquid refrigerant under high pressure and temperature to pass at a controlled
rate,after reducing its pressure and temperature.This state of the liquid refrigerant

is denoted by 4.Finally the liquid refrigerant under low pressure and temperature
enters the evaporator. The evaporator cosists of coils of pipe in which the liquid
refrigerant at low pressure and temperature is evaporated and changed into
vapour refrigerant at low pressure and temperature.In evaporating .the liquid
refrigerant absorbs its latent heat of vapourization from the medium which is to be
cooled .From the evaporator this vapour refrigerant then goes back to the
compresser ,completing the cycle.The suction line is the term used for the pipe
lines connecting the evaporator to the compresser and condenser.This is a high
pressure circuit.Liquid line is the term used for pipe lines connecting the
condenser to expansion valve to evaporator.This is a low-pressure circuit.

A simple vapour compression refrigeration cycle on P-h and T-S

Diagrams.
A vapour compression refrigeration cycle is shown in T-S and P-h diagrams in
fig(B) and fig(C) respectively.
The assumption of the standard vapour compression refrigeration cycle are as
follows
1,compression is isentropic
2.Heat rejection(condensation) is at constant pressure
3.Expansion is by throttling process with constant enthalpy
4.Heat absorption(evaporation) is at constant pressure

Fig:B

fig:C

The four processes of the vapour compression refrigeration cycle are as follows:
1.Compression process:The vapour refrigerant at low pressure(P1) and
temperature(T1)is compressed isentrpopically to dry saturated vapour as shown
by the vertical line 1-2 on P-h diagram.The pressure and temperature rises from
P1 to P2 and T1 to T2 respectively.
2.Condensing process:The high pressure and temperature vapour refrigerant from
the compressor is passed through the condenser where it is completely
condensed at constant pressure P2 and temperature T2 as shown by the
horizontal line 2-3 on T-s diagram and P-h diagram also.The vapour refrigerant is
changed into liquid refrigerant . The refrigerant ,while passing through the
condenser ,rejects its atent heat to the surrounding condensing medium which is
normally air or water.
3.Expansion process:The liquid refrigerant at pressure P3=P2 and temperature
T3=T2 is expanded by throttling process through the expansion valve to a low
pressure P4=P1 and temperature T4=T1 as shown by the curve 3-4 on T-S
diagram and by the vertical line 3-4 on the P-h diagram.During the throttling
process ,no heat is absorbed or rejected by the liquid refrigerant.That is during
expansion process,the enthalpy remains constant.
4,vapourising process:The liquid-vapour mixture of the refrigerant at pressure
P4=P1 and temperature T4=T1 is evaporated and changed into vapour

refrigerant at constant pressure and temperature as shown by the horizontal line

4-1 on T-S diagram and P-h diagram also.During evaporation the liquid vapour
refrigerant absorbs its latent heat of vapourisation from the medium which is to be
cooled.This heat which is absorbed by the refrigerant is called refrigerating
effect.The process of vapourisation continues upto point 1 which is the starting
point ,inlet of the compressor and the cycle is completed.

Mathematical Analysis
Refrigerating effect:Refrigerating effect is the amount of heat absorbed by the
refrigerant in its travel through the evaporator. Refrigerating effect is represented
by the expression
Q1 = h1 h4 kJ/kg
Where h1=Enthalpy of vapour refrigerant leaving the evaporator
h4=Enthalpy of liquid refrigerant entering the evaporator

Work input to the compressor: Work done to the compressor for compressing
vapour refrigerant ,during isentropic compression per kg of refrigerant
W= h2 h1 kJ/kg
h2=Enthalpy of vapour refrigerant leaving the compressor
COP: Coefficient of performance(COP) of the refrigeration system is given by
COP =refrigeration effect / work input
COP=(h1-h4) / (h2-h1)
Relative efficiency=actual COP/theoretical COP

Mass of refrigerant: Mass of refrigerant circulated in the refrigeration plant is given

by the expression
m=Ton of refrigeration(capacity of the refrigeration system)/Refrigerating effect
m=Ton of refrigeration/Q1
1 ton of refrigeration =3.52 kJ/s
m=(3.52*ton of refrigeration)/(h1-h4)

Power required to run the compressor: Power required to run the compressor is
given by the expression
Power required=m*(h2 h1) kW
m=mass flow rate of refrigerant in kg/s

Mass of cooling air or water required: The quantity of cooling air or water
circulated in the condenser is given by the expression
Q2 = mccpT
Where mc =mass of cooling air or water circulated in the condenser in kg/s
cp=specific heat of cooling air or water
T=rise in the temperature of cooling air or water in the condenser
The amount of heat rejected in the condenser by the vapour refrigerant while passing
through the condenser
Q2=(h2 h3) kJ/kg
Where h2=Enthalpy of vapour refrigerant entering the condenser
h3=Enthalpy of liquid refrigerant leaving the condenser
The amount of heat rejected in the condenser by m kg of vapour refrigerant while
passing through the condenser,
Q2=m*(h2 h3) kJ/s

{ Heat rejected by the refrigerant

{Heat absorbed by the cooling air or water

=

in the condenser}

in the condenser}

ie. mccpT=m*(h2 - h3)