REFRIGERATION & AC

SYSTEMS
•Learning Objective: To describe the basic design
features and functions of various marine auxiliary
machinery

Machinery: Air Conditioning & Refrigerating

Systems

Specific Objectives:
Recognize the various names and locations of air
condition and refrigerating machineries on board the
ship.
Describe the basic operation of air condition and
refrigerating
Identify, sketch and label the main components of the
air condition and refrigerating system
Safety considerations
 Application
• Cooling of food stores and cargo
• Cooling of electronic spaces and
equipment
– CIC (computers and consoles)
– Radio (communications gear)
– Radars
– Sonar
• Cooling of magazines
• Air conditioning for crew comfort
 Basic principles
• Refrigeration is a process in which the temperature of
the spaces or it contents is reduced to below that of
their surroundings by a heat transfer process.

• Heat is form of energy and is indestructible and can be

dealt with only from its effect on substances.

• Heat transfer: involve two substances brought into

thermal contact, the heat starts to flow one into the
other until they are both at the same temperature, at
which no more heat can flow.

• At this point, where no more heat can be extracted

known as absolute zero.
 Refrigeration Principle
• In refrigerating systems, heat is collected
in a suitable fluid and this fluid is removed
from the space (with substance) being
cooled, carrying the heat with it. Such fluid
known as refrigerant.

• The heat is later dumped to another fluid

(system).
 Physical law: Refrigeration
• Refrigerant in evaporator takes in heat from its
surrounding. This is latent heat of evaporation (no
further change in temperature).

• The temperature at which a refrigerant evaporates

depends on the pressure existing at the inter-face
between the vapor and the liquid.

• Any vapor or gas can be condensed to a liquid by

suitably compressing and cooling at its latent heat of
condensation.
 Properties of a refrigerant

• High critical temperature : In which vapor cannot

be condensed by isothermal compression
(regardless of pressure)

• Moderate or low condensing pressure : To avoid

heavy machines, reduce scantlings also reduce
leakages.

• High specific enthalpy or high latent heat of

vaporization - To reduce the quantity of refrigerant
in circulation, lower machine speeds, sizes etc.,
• Low boiling point
• reasonable pressure
• Low specific volume in vapor state or low specific
compression displacement : Reduce size and
increase efficiency
• Non-corrosive, non-solvent (pure or mixed) and
good chemical stability under working conditions
with materials used in the system.
• Non-flammable and non-explosive (pure or mixed)
• Easy leak detection
• Non-toxic (non-poisonous and non-irritating)
• Cheap, easily stored and obtained easily
• No reaction with oils and immiscible
 REFRIGERATION SYSTEM
COMPONENTS
• COMPRESSOR
• OIL SEPARATOR
• DRIER
• THERMOSTATS
• REFRIGERANT CONTROLS
• EVAPORATOR
• CONDENSERS
• LIQUID RECEIVER
Vapour Compression Cycle
Hp / S Lp / S

Oil separator
Sensing bulb

Compressor
Evaporator

Condenser
T/S

Liquid
Expansion Solenoid receiver &
sight glass
valve regulator valve
Drier
 Types of refrigeration plants
• The two principle types of refrigeration plants found in industrial use
are:
• Vapour compression refrigeration (VCR) and vapor absorption
refrigeration (VAR).

• VCR uses mechanical energy as the driving force for refrigeration,

• while VAR uses thermal energy as the driving force for refrigeration.

• Most common: vapor compression

– Reverse of power cycle
– Heat absorbed in low temp region and released in high temp region
Type of Refrigeration

Vapor Compression Refrigeration

Refrigeration cycle
3
Condenser
High
4 Pressure
Side
Expansion
Device Compressor

1 2 Low
Pressure
Evaporator Side
 Type of Refrigeration
Low pressure liquid
refrigerant in evaporator
Vapour Compression Refrigeration
absorbs heat and
changes toRefrigeration
a gas cycle
3
Condenser
High
4 Pressure
Side
Expansion
Device Compressor

1 2 Low
Pressure
Evaporator Side
 Type of Refrigeration
The superheated vapour
enters the compressor
Vapour Compression Refrigeration
where its pressure is
raised Refrigeration cycle
3
Condenser
High
4 Pressure
Side
Expansion
Device Compressor

1 2 Low
Pressure
Evaporator Side
 Type of Refrigeration
The high pressure
superheated gas is
Vapour
cooled in several Compression
stages Refrigeration
in the condenser
Refrigeration cycle
3
Condenser
High
4 Pressure
Side
Expansion
Device Compressor

1 2 Low
Pressure
Evaporator Side
Type of Refrigeration
Liquid passes through expansion
device, which reduces its
Vapour Compression Refrigeration
pressure and controls the flow
into the evaporator
Refrigeration cycle
3
Condenser
High
4 Pressure
Side
Expansion
Device Compressor

1 2 Low
Pressure
Evaporator Side
 Summary of stages

1 – 2. Low-pressure liquid refrigerant in the evaporator absorbs heat from its surroundings, usually air,
water or some other process liquid. During this process it changes its state from a liquid to a gas, and at the
evaporator exit is slightly superheated.

2 – 3. The superheated vapour enters the compressor where its pressure is raised. The temperature will
also increase, because a proportion of the energy put into the compression process is transferred to the
refrigerant.

3 – 4. The high pressure superheated gas passes from the compressor into the condenser. The initial part
of the cooling process (3-3a) de-superheats the gas before it is then turned back into liquid (3a-3b). The
cooling for this process is usually achieved by using air or water. A further reduction in temperature
happens in the pipe work and liquid receiver (3b - 4), so that the refrigerant liquid is sub-cooled as it enters
the expansion device.

4 - 1 The high-pressure sub-cooled liquid passes through the expansion device, which both reduces its
pressure and controls the flow into the evaporator
 Components

• Refrigerant
• Evaporator/Chiller
• Compressor
• Condenser
• Receiver
• Thermostatic
expansion valve
(TXV)
 Thermodynamic Cycle
The dome-like curve represents saturated
conditions for the refrigerant. On the left half of
the dome, the refrigerant exists as a saturated
liquid and on the right as saturated vapor. Both
liquid and gaseous refrigerant coexist inside the
dome in saturation. To the left of the dome, the
refrigerant is a subcooled liquid and to the right
of the dome, it is a superheated vapor.
The numbers (1 through 4) represent significant
points in the flow of refrigerant as it makes its
circuit in the cycle. The refrigerant working fluid
undergoes thermodynamic changes between
these points.
Point 1-2 (Evaporation): Since this is inside the
dome, constant pressure (21.5 psia) and
temperature (-5°F) are maintained, i.e.,
saturation. When heat is transferred at
saturation, the result is a change in phase.
Point 2-3 (Compression): Compressing the
gaseous Freon from 21.5 to 141 psia (6.5 to 126
psig) produces increase in thermal energy
represented by a rise in temperature of the
Freon from 5° to 125°F. This is the heat of
compression resulting from the added energy to
the Freon vapor. Compression provides the
thermal driving head to sustain the flow of Freon
through the cycle.
Point 3-4 (Condensation): In passing through
the dome from the right side to the left, the
refrigerant cools from 125° to 105°F and
changes phase from a superheated vapor to a
slightly subcooled liquid.
Point 4-1 (Expansion): The refrigerant is
expanded by passing through an expansion
valve where its pressure is reduced from 141
psia to 21.5 psia. In the process of expanding,
the Freon cools from 105° to -5°F (cold of
expansion) and crosses into the dome where
both saturated liquid and gaseous Freon can
coexist. About 25% of the fluid vaporizes into a
gas during the process.
 Refrigerant
• Refrigerant determined by the required cooling temperature

• Desirable properties:
– High latent heat of vaporization - max cooling
– Non-toxicity (no health hazard)
– Desirable saturation temp (for operating pressure)
– Chemical stability (non-flammable/non-explosive)
– Ease of leak detection
– Low cost
– Readily available
• Commonly use FREON (R-12, R-114, etc.) Chlorinated
fluorocarbons (CFCs) or freons: R-21, R-22 and R-502
 Operation
• Evaporator : where the refrigerant absorbs the
heat directly from the space to be cooled and
vaporizes to a gas
• Compressor : where the refrigerant gas is
compressed and its temperature raised so that it
can gives up its heat
• Condenser : where the heat in the gas is given up
and carried away and the refrigerant thereby is
changed back to liquid state
• Expansion valve : where the refrigerant pressure
is reduced to the evaporator pressure of the
system by throttling, so that the refrigerant can
repeat its process of absorbing heat
 Evaporator/Chiller

• Located in space to be refrigerated

• Cooling coil acts as an indirect heat exchanger
• Absorbs heat from surroundings and vaporizes
– Latent Heat of Vaporization
– Sensible Heat of surroundings

• Slightly superheated (10°F)

- ensures no liquid carryover
into compressor
 Compressor
• Superheated Vapor:
– Enters as low press, low temp vapor
– Exits as high press, high temp vapor
• Temp: creates differential (∆ T) promotes
heat transfer
• Press: Tsat allows for condensation at
warmer temps
• Increase in energy provides the driving force to
circulate refrigerant through the system
 Condenser
• Refrigerant rejects latent heat to cooling
medium
• Latent heat of condensation (LHC)
• Indirect heat exchanger: seawater absorbs
the heat and discharges it overboard
 Receiver

• Temporary storage space & surge

volume for the sub-cooled refrigerant
• Serves as a vapor seal to prevent vapor
from entering the expansion valve
 Expansion Device
• Thermostatic Expansion Valve (TXV)
• Liquid Freon enters the expansion valve
at high pressure and leaves as a low
pressure wet vapor (vapor forms as
refrigerant enters saturation region)
• Controls:
– Pressure reduction
– Amount of refrigerant entering evaporator
controls capacity
 COOLING THE CARGO CHAMBERS

• Refrigeration is used principally in the

carriage is to prevent of spoilage
especially perishable foodstuffs.
• Dedicated hold Spaces or Containers are
employed
• The prime causes of food spoilage are as
follows:
 Causes of food spoilage
• Excess growth of micro-organisms, bacterial
and fungal
• Changes due to oxidation, giving off flavors and
poor appearance.
• Enzymatic or fermentative process, causing
rancidity.
• Drying out (desiccation)
• The metabolism of certain produce, e.g. fruit
and vegetables.
Principle methods - Cargo chambers

• Direct Expansion Grid Cooling

• Direct Expansion Battery Cooling
• Brine Grid Cooling
• Brine Battery Cooling
CONDENSER
DIRECT EXPANSION
GRID
COMPRESSOR

EXPANSION VALVE

DIRECT EXPANSION GRID COOLING

DIRECT EXOANSION
BATTERY COOLING
CONDENSER

COMPRESSOR FAN

EXPANSION VALVE

DIRECT EXPANSION BATTERY COOLING

 COMPRESSOR

CONDENSER EVAPORATOR
BRINE GRID

BRINE CIRCULATING
EXPANSION VALVE PUMP

BRINE GRID COOLING

COMPRESSOR BRINE COOLED BATTERY

CONDENSER EVAPORATOR

FAN

BRINE CIRCULATING
EXPANSION VALVE PUMP

BRINE BATTERY COOLING

Vapor absorption
Absorber: Absorption of
refrigerant vapour by a suitable
absorbent or adsorbent, forming
a strong or rich solution of the
refrigerant in the absorbent/
adsorbent
§ Pump: Pumping of the rich
solution and raising its pressure to
the pressure of the
condenser
§ Generator: Distillation of the
vapour from the rich solution
leaving the poor solution for
recycling
 HVAC Systems
• Shipboard Heating, Ventilation & Air-
conditioning Systems are typically arranged
• Air conditioning is the control of humidity,
temperature, cleanliness and air motion.
• Winter conditioning relates to increasing
temperature and humidity
• Summer conditioning relates to decreasing
temperature and increasing humidity
 Air Conditioning
• Purpose: maintain the atmosphere of an
enclosed space at a required temp, humidity
and purity
• Refrigeration system is at heart of AC
system
• Heaters in ventilation system
• Types Used:
• Self-contained
• Refrigerant circulating
• Chill water circulating
 AC System Types
• Self-Contained System
– Add-on to ships that originally did not have AC
plants
– Not located in ventilation system (window unit)
• Refrigerant circulating system
– Hot air passed over refrigerant cooling coils
directly
• Chilled water circulating system
– Refrigerant cools chill water
– Hot air passes over chill water cooling coils
Basic AC System
 Design consideration
• Choice of compressor, design of
condenser, evaporator determined by
– Refrigerant
– Required cooling
– Load
– Ease of maintenance
– Physical space requirements
– Availability of utilities (water, power)
 Safety Precautions
• Phosgene gas hazard
– Lethal
– Created when refrigerant is exposed to high
temperatures
• Handling procedures
– Wear goggles and gloves to avoid eye irritation and
frostbite
• Asphyxiation hazard in non-ventilated spaces
(bilges since heavier than air)
• Handling of compressed gas bottles
Questions?
 Summary
• Principle of refrigeration
• Refrigeration System Components
• Principle of Air Conditioning
• AC System Components