Pe a eC Refrigeration Education and Training Program Basic Ammonia Refrigeration IY elo Ua Cute Refrigeration Systems PoaBasic Ammonia » Refrigeration Module 2 - Ammonia Refrigeration Systems Lesson 1 In Module 1, we began the examination of the heat transfer process. In this ‘module, we look at the heat transfer process more closely. In addition, this module cxamines the four steps of refrigeration: 1) expansion 2) evaporation 3) compression 4) condensation. ‘This module will also explore cwo types of refigeration systems: 1) the direct expansion system In many ways, a teftigeration system is very similar o 2 subway system. A subway train craves through a tunnel, picking up passengers along the way. Ar the end of »passcngets get off the train, The ttain repeats the trip ove: and over again, uup new passengers and discharging them ar the end of the line. In an ammonia refrigeration system, the piping sysem is similar toa subway tunnel, The ammonia functions in a similar manner to the subway ai ammonia travels through the pipes picks up heat in one lo the hea to another location where sis discharged. ‘As we learned in Module 1, heat is constantly on the move. It craves in only one direction (Fig, 1). That is, it always moves from hot towards cold. The amount of hae flow vasis direct!y with the difference berween two temperatures. In other words, che greater the difference in temperacize between evo things, the greater the amount of heat that travels from cone thing to anoth For example, assume che temperature ofthe air surrounding Beaker “A” and Beaker “B” is about 70°F. (Fig. 2) Beaker “A°contains water the measures about 50°F. Beaker “B" also contains waters however, it measures only 35°. Fig. 1 The difference between the air temperaruse and the water temperature in Beaker “A” is about 20°F, However, the difference between the ait temperature and the water in Beaker “B” is about 35°F. Because there isa greater difference berween the temperature of its contents and the air around it, the wacer in Beaker ‘B” will Module 2= absorb more heat than the ead ‘water contained in Beaker “A’ bled Heat moves in one of three, mehods Radiaion isthe ED projection of hea, for example, by the sun or by an ope flame, Conduction s the ‘ansfer of heat through a material or substance. Convection i the movement 4 Pog or circulation of 2 uid or Fig. 2 vapor ata non-uniform temperature due to one part being hoteer than another part. Of che three, conduction and coavection are the thods of heat transfer that are used most frequently when discussing refrigeration. We cam identify each method of heat movement as it occurs when a po of water is brought to a boil (Fig. 3). The flame on a stove radiates heat. When a pot is placed over the flame, the pot absorbs heat and passes it on to the water contained in the pot. The movement of heat through the pot to the water isan example of conduction. As the water heats up, some water molecules begin to circulate because they have absorbed more heat than the other molecules, This is an example of convection. When the water reaches its boiling point, or saturation temperature, vaporization occurs. Perec eed AAs we mentioned carlie, hea is constantly on the move. The water in the por will continue to absorb beat until itis temoved from the burnet. When the pot is ‘emoved from the heat souree, he heat held by the water is released into the ai in ‘occurs becanse there is a difference between the colder air ‘temperature of the por of the hot water The speed of the heat flow from the hot water ino the colder ar can be celerated by increasing the spoed of the air pascing over and around the pot. This can be achieved by the use of 3 fan (Fig, 4). The movement of heat from the lot water ean be accelerated even more by pouring colder wats ver the outside of the pot. The and che water will eontinue to absorb feat untithe tempernrures ofthe warer in dhe pan and che tap warer ae Fig. 4 Module 2To Review: WB. © Refigsration isthe prooss of picking up heat in one location and transporting ito another @ Hse is constantly in motion, The movement of heat i determined by temperature, moving only from hot to cold. @ The amount of the heat fow fiom one thing to another is determined by the difference between the temperatures of the two items. @ Heat moves in three methous: radiation, conduction and convection Module 2 3Module 2 Fig. 5 orn ch cee lesson 2 =m Refrigeration isthe proces of picking up heat in one location and transporting i to another through the use of mechanical refrigeration systems. This is achicred through the use of cthec a Direct Expansion System or an Indirect Cooling System, We will examine four different direct expansion systems inthis module: simple dreet expansion syster, large industrial direce cxpansion system, pumped recirculation system and the flooded recirculation sytem. In addition, we will brielly explore a oe simple industrial indirect cooling “Whatever the sytem design, there ate four basic steps in the mechanical refrigeration process: 1) expansion 2) evapor 3) compression 4) condensation Expansion, which is the process of reducing pressure, occurs asthe refigerant pisces through a pressure reduction device (Fig. 5). Evaporation, which is a ‘Change of state from a liquid to a vapor, takes place in the evaporator. ‘Compression, which is the process of increasing pressure, happens in che compressor. Condensation, which is a charge of state from a vapor to 2 liquid, ‘occuts in the condeaser. These components are connected by a series of pipe. Collectively its knovra as a Dicect Expansion Refrigeration System. All refrigeration system are divided into ewo sides: 1) ahigh side 2) alow side. “The high side (Fig, 6) inchides all of the components located berween a point inside the compressor to the pressure reduction device inet. Iti described as che high side because the ‘ammonia is under high pressure. ‘The low side includes all of the ‘components between the pressure reduction device ourler to point inside the compresso. It is called the low side because the ammonia is under low pressure in this part of che system. Pred eet) Let’ examine the refiigeration process a i¢ occurs in a direct expansion system, similar w sgstem in most home air conditioning units and r "9There are several diferent types of pressure reduction devices used in industrial refigeration, For the purposes of this example, we will assume the system is using what is commonly referred to as an expansion valve (Fig. 7) ‘An expansion valve is similar to a hose nozzle. As the nozile is opened, the pressure behind ie forces che liquid through a tiny opening, The more the nozale is opened, the greater che amount of liquid that flows through it ‘As the ammonia passes through the pressure reduction devices change of state begins to occur because of the change in pressure, This change in pressure is a deliberate sep in the refrigeration process. We will explain more about why this oceurs in a later lesson, Fig. 7 ‘As explained previously, whem pressure is lowered, the saturation point or boiling point of liquid aximonia also drops. Ava result, the cold liquid begins to boil and ‘convert €0 2 vapor as it begins to pick up heat. In the refiigeration indusery, thar heat which comes from the product of area ro be cooled is refered to asthe load. ‘The combination of ammonia liquid and vapor is drawn into the evaporator (Fig. 8) where the evaporation process continues. In the evaporstor, absorbs heat, converting the remaining liqu ‘The vapor is pulled into the comprestor (Fig. 9) where Fig. 8 another deliberare change in pressure takes place. As this ‘occurs, the ammonia vapor absorbs more heat. This adcitional heat isthe product of the increase in pressure and the actual physical work of the compressor. This superheated ammonia vapor is pushed ou of the compressor into the condenser (Fig. 10) where another change of state occurs, The ammonia vapor is cooled by air of water, causing it to condense and convert from a vapor to a liquid. The reftiges wousl flows through the sytem tunil che temperature in the area to be cooled is lowered to the desired temperature, Fig. 9 Larges direct expansion, industrial refigeration systems are mote complicated than this simple direct expansion system, Larget; more complex systems employ more and different components which will be covered in the next lesson. Fig. 10 Module 2