HEATING, VENTILATION & AIR CONDITIONING LABORATORY SHEET (HVAC)

TITLE : Variation In Refrigeration Coefficient Of Performance At Various Operating

Conditions.

1. OBJECTIVE
To investigate the variation of Coefficient of Performance (COPR) of a vapor compression
refrigeration system at different cooling load.

2. INTRODUCTION
A major application area of thermodynamics is refrigeration, which is the transfer of heat
from a lower temperature medium to a higher temperature medium. The devices that produce
refrigeration are caller refrigerators, and the cycles on that operate is called refrigeration cycles.
It is known that the purpose of refrigeration is to lower the temperature of a region and also
maintaining the region.
The first use of refrigeration system is in 1756 by William Cullen at the University of
Glasgow in Scotland, and widespread use in commercial from 1870 till present. Refrigeration is
used widely in various applications from industrial to domestic situations, mainly for the storage
and transport of perishable foodstuffs and chemical substances. It has the prime function to
remove heat from low temperature region and it can also be applied as a heat pump for supplying
heat to a region of high temperature.
Probably the most widely used current applications of refrigeration are for the airconditioning of private homes and public buildings, and the refrigeration of foodstuffs in homes,
restaurants and large storage warehouses. The use of refrigerators in kitchens for the storage of
fruits and vegetables has permitted the addition of fresh salads to the modern diet year round,
and to store fish and meats safely for long periods.
In commerce and manufacturing, there are many uses for refrigeration. Refrigeration is
used to liquify gases like oxygen, nitrogen, propane and methane for example. In compressed air

purification, it is used to condense water vapor from compressed air to reduce its moisture
content. In oil refineries, chemical plants, and petrochemical plants, refrigeration is used to
maintain certain processes at their required low temperatures (for example, in the alkylation of
butenes and butane to produce a high octane gasoline component). Metalworkers use
refrigeration to temper steel and cutlery. In transporting temperature-sensitive foodstuffs and
other materials by trucks, trains, airplanes and sea-going vessels, refrigeration is a necessity.

3. THEORY
A refrigeration cycle works to lower and maintain the temperature of a controlled space by heat
transfer from a low to a high temperature region.

Refrigeration duty is another term for the cooling effect of the refrigeration system, which is the
rate of heat being removed from the low temperature region with specified evaporation and
condensation temperatures. The unit for duty measurements is in Watts (for 1 ton of
refrigeration = 3517W).

3.1 The Vapor Compression Cycle

Ideal refrigeration systems follows the theoretical Reversed Carnot Cycle process. In practical
refrigerators, compression and expansion of a gas and vapor mixture presents practical problems
in the compressor and expander. Therefore, in practical refrigeration, compression usually takes
place in the superheated condition and a throttling process is substituted for the isentropic
expansion.

The cycle :

1 2 Condensation of the high pressure vapour during which heat is transferred to the high
temperature region.
2 3 Adiabatic throttling of the condensed vapour from the condensing to the evaporating
pressure.
3 4 Evaporation of the low pressure liquid during which heat is absorbed from the low
temperature source.
4 1 Isentropic compression of the vapour, from the evaporating to the condensing pressures.

Energy Transfers Analysis

Compressor
q4-1 = h4 h1 + w4-1
If compression is adiabatic, q4-1 = 0, and w4-1 = h1 h4 = wcomp
Power requirement, P = (h1 h4), where is the flow rate of working fluid per unit time.

Condenser
q1-2 = h2 h1 + w
w = 0, therefore q1-2 = h2 h1 and rate of heat rejection Q1-2 = ( h2 h1 )

Expansion Valve
q2-3 = h3 h2 + w
w = 0, therefore q2-3 = h2 h3 and process is assumed adiabatic (q = 0)
therefore h2 = h3

Evaporator
q34 = h4 h3 + w
w = 0 therefore q34 = h4 h3 and rate of heat absorbed Q34 = ( h4 h3 )

Coefficient of Perfomance, COPref:

5. EQUIPMENT
TH Series Computer Linked Refrigeration Unit (Edibon).

6. PROCEDURES
6a) Condenser-water and evaporator-water
a. Select water as a heat source by opening valves AVS-4 and AVS-5.Then click
START
b. Adjust the water flow rate at the condenser to 5 L/m and 3 L/m at the evaporator
(evaporator load).
c. Then click COMPRESSOR
d. When the system is stabilized, start recording the data by click START SAVING
e. Set the sampling rate at 120 second per sample.
f. Record the data for six minutes (3 samples @ 360 second). STOP SAVING
g. Then increase evaporator load to 5 L/m and repeat step (c) to step (f).

6b) Condenser-water and evaporator-air

a. Select air as a heat source by opening valves AVS-3 and AVS-5.Then click START
b. Adjust the water flow rate at the condenser to 5 L/m and adjust the air flow of the
evaporator until 50% of the maximal flow (evaporator load).
c. Then click COMPRESSOR
d. When the system is stabilized, start recording the data by click START SAVING
e. Set the sampling rate at 120 second per sample.
f. Record the data for six minutes (3 samples @ 360 second). STOP SAVING
g. Then increase evaporator load to 100% and repeat step (c) to step (f).

6c) Condenser-air and evaporator-air

a. Select air as a heat source by opening valves AVS-3 and AVS-6. Then click START
b. Adjust the air flow of the condenser to maximum flow (100%) and 50% of the
maximal flow at the evaporator (evaporator load).
c. Then click COMPRESSOR
d. When the system is stabilized, start recording the data by click START SAVING
e. Set the sampling rate at 120 second per sample.
f. Record the data for six minutes (3 samples @ 360 second). STOP SAVING
g. Then increase evaporator load to 100% and repeat step (c) to step (f).

6d) Condenser-air and evaporator-water

a. Select water as a heat source by opening valves AVS-4 and AVS-6.Then click
START
b. Adjust the air flow of the condenser to maximum flow (100%) and adjust the water
flow rate at the evaporator to 3 L/m (evaporator load).
c. Then click COMPRESSOR
d. When the system is stabilized, start recording the data by click START SAVING
e. Set the sampling rate at 120 second per sample.
f. Record the data for six minutes (3 samples @ 360 second). STOP SAVING
g. Then increase evaporator load to 5 L/m and repeat step (c) to step (f).

7. DATA AND RESULTS

Time (s)

Evaporator

heat load

SC-3 = 3 L/m
SC-3 = 5 L/m

SC-2 = 5 L/m

Fan power at

evap. = 50%

Fan power at

evap. = 100%

SC-2 = 5 L/m

Cond Water

Evap - Air

Fan power at

evap. = 50%

Cond Air

Evap Air

Fan power

Fan power at condenser = 100 %

Condenser

cooling load

Cond Water

Evap - Water

Working fluid

Exp#
a

120
240
360
120
240
360
120
240
360
120
240
360
120
240
360
120
240

ST-2

ST-3

ST-4

SP-1

SP-2

SC-1

SW-1

(0C)

(0C)

(0C)

(bar)

(bar)

(L/h)

(W)

3.938

9.236

6.846

1.980

8.211

1.830

6.692

0.047

9.105

2.009

9.083

1.949

9.157

1.957

9.352

2.184

9.476

2.202

9.549

2.222

9.585

2.298

9.707

2.346

9.793

2.395

9.902

2.220

35.01
6
35.38
9
33.67
7
38.98
1
39.08
6
39.32
3
39.73

5.598
11.363
7.519
6.720
6.866

15.66
0
16.40
9
12.03
8
12.67
4
12.97

15.49

2
21.47

1
40.06

0
15.65

3
21.82

6
40.29

1
22.00

0
40.10

15.811
16.42

7
23.32

6
40.49

0
17.07

5
23.69

0
40.77

9
17.38

7
23.71

9
42.75

9
16.19

2
21.89

8
43.31

0
16.45

8
21.73

6
43.62

8
16.46

4
42.66

1
15.78

2
44.09

1
17.55

3
24.02

21.711
23.09

10.08
8
10.15
7

2.242
2.247

22.76
7
28.72
5
10.33
0
29.60
8
29.03
6
28.75
8
30.77
9
30.60
4
31.16
6
31.26
0
32.00
4
31.77
1
30.24
4
30.46
4
30.53
2

465.251
467.154
361.803
468.179
464.848
463.615
468.134
472.706
471.103
471.507
480.451
483.648
479.649
480.759
481.695

9.997

2.237

31.114

482.735

10.48

2.418

32.90

492.046

360

SC-3 = 3 L/m
SC-3 = 5 L/m

Fan power at condenser = 100 %

240
360
120
240
360

18.13

24.12

10.50

8
43.73

9
10.66

2
12.88

7
10.14

8
42.50

4
14.06

7
42.36
1
43.15
3
43.24
7
43.85

9.066
8.767
10.411

3
14.08
1
15.39

10.50

1
16.42

4
10.98

1
16.66

2.468
2.177

9.751

2.052

9.690

2.021

9.907

2.188

9.961

2.222

10.14

2451
.0
2470
.1
2470
.1

`29.3
03
29.3

2470
.1
2470

12106.
353
12106.

0
03
4.96
29.3
0
03
Average COP

.1
2470
.1

353
12106.
353

0.07
225.
5
94
0.07
225.
5
94
0.07
225.
5
94
Average COP

2345
.5
2357
.5
2357
.5

158.96
7
159.86
7
159.86
7

0.34

251.
42
251.

2354
.5
2345

317.56
5
363.83

0.67

3
0.017
3

3
42
0.17
251.
3
42
Average COP

.5
2345
.5

2
363.83
2

0.00
15
0.00
15
0.00
15

0.019
9
0.019
9
0.017
3

0.07
251.
5
42
0.07
251.
5
42
0.08
251.
5
42
Average COP

2345
.5
2357
.5
2357
.5

157.05
6
157.95
6
179.01
7

0.33

0.00
3

0.019
9

2354
.5

317.56
5

0.66

v2
(table
)
(m3/k
g)
1.006
*10-3
1.008
*10-3
1.008
*10-3

Vref
(m3/
s)

1
2
2
4
3
6

0.00
3
0.00
3
0.00
3

1
22

0.00
5
0.00

4
3
6

5
0.00
5

1.008
*10-3
1.008
*10-3
1.008
*10-3

1
2
2
4
3
6

0.00
15
0.00
15
0.00
15

0.019
9
0.019
9
0.019
9

1
22

0.00
3
0.00

0.019
9
0.017

4
3
6

3
0.00
3

1
2
2
4
3
6
1
2

mref
(kg/s
h3
)=
(kJ/k
Vref/
g)
v2
2.98
54.6
2
88
2.97
29.3
6
03
2.97
29.3
6
03
Average COP
4.96
0
4.96

0.15
1
0.17

0.15
1

251.
42

h4
(kJ/k
g)

2.273

5
Qevap
(kW)
= mref
(h4 h3)
7145.8
02
7263.8
12
7263.8
12

Time (s)

Exp #
a

Cond Air

Evap - Water

120

44.28

33.54
5
29.62
4
29.81
9
29.19
4
29.73
3
29.82
9
30.84
9

COP = Qevap/ (SW-1/1000)

15.36
15.55
20.08
16.99
25.86
26.04
26.11
26.01

0.34
0.34
0.34
0.76
0.75
0.73
0.33
0.37
0.34

495.361
478.871
473.470
469.814
476.110
476.803
480.231

2
4
3
6

0.00
3
0.00
3

0.017
3
0.017
3

0.17
251.
3
42
0.17
251.
3
42
Average COP

2345
.5
2345
.5

363.83
3
363.83
3

0.74

1
2
2
4
3
6

0.00
3
0.00
3
0.00
3

1.008
*10-3
1.010
*10-3
1.010
*10-3

2.97
54.6
6
88
2.97
54.6
0
88
2.97
54.6
0
88
Average COP

2459
.5
2459
.5
2459
.5

7156.7
21
7156.7
21
7156.7
21

14.95

1
22

0.00
5
0.00

54.6
88
54.6

2459
.5
2459

7156.7
21
7156.7

15.03

4
3
6

5
0.00
5

1.008
*10-3
1.010
*10-3
1.010
*10-3

0
88
4.95
54.6
0
88
Average COP

.5
2459
.5

21
7156.7
21

4.96
0
4.95

0.73
0.71
15.12
15.23
15.10
15.01
14.90
14.98

Sample Calculations
a

Refrigerant mass flow rate,

From the experiment we can get the Volume flow rate, which is 3L/s and converted to
0.003 m/s. From the table, we can indicate the v2 which is 1/density. At 40oC v2 is equal to
1.006x10-3.
Mref = Vref / v2
= 0.003/1.006x10-3 = 2.982 kg/s

Evaporator cooling load

By using the table, we can find h3= 54.688 KJ/kg and from evaporated table, h4= 2451.0
KJ/kg.
Qevap = Mref (H4-H3)
= 2.982 (2451.0 54.688) = 7145.802 KW

Coefficient of performance
Referring to the data obtain, SW = 465.251
COPref = Qevap/ SW(1-1000)
= 7145.802 / 465.251 - (1/1000) = 15.36

Average COPref
To get the average COPref, we need use COP from 120, 240,360s for accuracy
Average COPref = (15.36 + 15.55 + 20.08) / 3 = 16.99

REFERENCES

1) Cengel, Ghajar., Heat and Mass Transfer : Fundamentals and Applications, 4 th edition in SI
Units.
2) Cengel, Boles .,Thermodynamics : An Engineering Approach, 7th edition in SI units
3) UiTM, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering., MEC551 Thermal Engineering, 2013.
4) Welty, James R., et al. Fundamentals of momentum, heat, and mass transfer. John Wiley &

sons, 2009.