THERMODYNAMICS II

LECTURE 10-11

VAPOR COMPRESSION CYCLE (VCR)

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 Contents
Introduction

Heat pump and refrigeration cycle

Vapor compression cycle

Solved example and home work

Refrigerants
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 Introduction
Refrigeration : Transfer of heat from lower temperature to higher
temperature

Heat pump : Transfer of heat from lower temperature to higher

temperature!

Well known cycle is vapour compression cycle, in which the refrigerant

(working fluid) is vaporized and condensed alternatively, and is
compressed in vapor phase

Performance is measured using coefficient of performance (COP)

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 Introduction
Because, we are just transferring the energy from one place to
another, so we need less energy to accomplish the task of refrigeration
or heat pump.

Ideal vapor compression cycle dates back to 1834 by Jacob Perkins

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 Refrigerators and Heat Pumps
Heat flows from high temperature to lower
temperature, reverse is possible with the help
of external device
Working fluid is refrigerant
Heat pump and refrigerators are same devices,
only difference is objective
at worst heat pumps = resistance heaters

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 Refrigerators and Heat Pumps

R = Refrigeration
HP = Heat Pump

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 Refrigerators and Heat Pumps
Cooling capacity is measured in tons of refrigeration

1 ton = can freeze 1 ton of liquid water at 0 oC into ice at 0 oC in 24 h

1 ton = 211 KJ/min (3.5 kW) or 200 Btu/min (12000 Btu/h)

Cooling load of typical 200-m2 is 3 ton (~ 10 KW)

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Reversed Carnot Cycle

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Ideal Vapor Compression Cycle

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Ideal Vapor Compression Cycle
Non Ideal process,
enthalpy is constant

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 Ideal Vapor Compression Cycle
Steady flow energy equation (SFEE)

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Solved Example

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Solved Example

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Solved Example

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 Solved Example (Heat Pump)
Example: A vapor-compression heat pump cycle with R-134a as
the working fluid maintains a building at 20oC when the outside
temperature is 5oC. The refrigerant mass flow rate is 0.086 kg/s.
Additional steady state operating data are provided in the table.
Determine the
(a) compressor power, in kW,
TH = 293 K (20oC)
(b) heat transfer rate provided to the TC = 278 K (5oC)

building, in kW,
(c) coefficient of performance.
State 1 2 3
h (kJ/kg) 244.1 272.0 93.4

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 Solved Example (Heat Pump)
State 1 2 3
h (kJ/kg) 244.1 272.0 93.4 TH = 293 K (20oC) TC = 278 K (5oC)

(a) The compressor power is

Wc m
(h2 h1)

kg kJ 1 kW
Wc 0.086 (272 .0 244 .1) 2.4 kW
s kg 1 kJ/s
(b) The heat transfer rate provided to the building is

Q out m
(h2 h3 )

kg kJ 1 kW
Qout 0.086 (272 .0 93 .4) 15.4 kW
s kg 1 kJ/s
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 Solved Example (Heat Pump)
State 1 2 3
h (kJ/kg) 244.1 272.0 93.4 TH = 293 K (20oC) TC = 278 K (5oC)

(c) The coefficient of

performance is

Q out 15.4 kW
COP COP 6.4
Wc 2.4 kW

Comment: Applying Eq. 10.9, the maximum theoretical

coefficient of performance of any heat pump cycle
operating between cold and hot regions at TC and TH,
respectively is
293 K
COPmax 19.5
293 K 278 K
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Cascade Refrigeration System

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Home Work

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Home Work

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 Refrigerants
Most refrigerants are halogenated hydrocarbons. The naming convention
adopted by ASHRAE is,
R(a-1)(b+1)d = CaHbClcFd c = 2(a 1) b d

Example: R22 (R022)

a 1 0 a 1 H
b 1 2 b 1
d 2 F C F chlorodifluoromethane
c 2 a 1 b d
c 2 1 1 1 2 1 Cl

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 Refrigerants
Refrigerant selection is based on several factors:
Performance: provides adequate cooling capacity cost-effectively.
Safety: avoids hazards (i.e., toxicity).
Environmental impact: minimizes harm to stratospheric ozone layer and
reduces negative impact to global climate change.

Global warning potential is based on Co2 (GWP = 1)

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 Refrigerant Types and Characteristics

Global Warming Potential (GWP) is a simplified index that estimates the potential
future influence on global warming associated with different gases when released
to the atmosphere. 23