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1.1.
Refrigeration and heat pumps are based on the Clausius Statement of the Second Low of thermodynamic (It is impossible to make a cyclic engine whose only effect is to transfer thermal energy from a colder body to a hotter body). Thermal power can be transferred spontaneously from hot reservoir to cold reservoir. However, it is impossible to reverse this process without any external power to support the process. Carnot Refrigeration/heat pump cycle represents the maximum possible performance, even though, the Carnot performance cannot be achieved in practice due to system irreversibility. Thus, any designer has to compare his system performance with Carnot cycle as the reference for Ideal Cycle.
1.2.
It is the idealized model for refrigeration and heat pump cycles. The cycle takes the reversed direction of the Carnot engine cycle (it will go anti-clock wise) and work is negative (input work). In Heat pump: useful heat is utilized at the hot reservoir for space heating purpose. In Refrigerator: useful heat is pulled-out from the cold reservoir for space cooling purpose. Since the coefficient of performance (COP) can only depend on the reservoir temperatures, the ratio of heats can only depend on those temperatures:
COP ( Rfr .)
QC QC W QH QC
QC QH QC QH
TC TH TC TH
TC TH TC TH TH TC
COP ( HP )
COP ( HP ) carnot
Carnot Ref. / H.P. cycle consists of four processes: 12: Isentropic compression 23: Isothermal / Isobaric heat rejection 34: Isentropic expansion 41: Isothermal / Isobaric heat gain
1.3.
The performance of the actual refrigeration systems are compared to the Ideal Carnot performance with compression refrigeration system has the highest COP followed by absorption systems then the Bell-Coleman air refrigeration. Actual cycles can be divided based on cooling principle to: Sensible heat (S.H.) cooling and Latent heat (L.H.) cooling.
Under the sensible heat cooling effect, the following two cooling methods are used: 1.3.1. Bell-Coleman cycle It is the reversed cycle of Brayton cycle of gas turbine power system. This cooling effect is based on gas expansion and the cold gas transfers cooling effect through sensible heat. From the first low of thermodynamic for closed system: Q = WdU, and for adiabatic expander (turbine) with Q = 0 W = dU , that presents the temperature drop (as internal energy drop) as the result of gas expansion. The Ideal Bell-Coleman Cycle contains: 12: Isentropic compression (compressor) 23: Isobaric heat rejection (Gas cooler) 34: Isentropic expansion (Turbine) 41: Isobaric heat gain (Refrigerator)
1 2 3 = 1( )( )[ 1] 1 1 4
For Ideal Bell-Coleman (compared to Carnot) with perfect inter-cooling (T1 = T3), COP is: =
1 < 1 2
Actual Bell-Coleman system: The actual system works efficiently as refrigerator/freezer system at high altitudes were atmospheric temperature can be low or negative. However, for on-ground application, this system is not used for refrigeration application but for air conditioning. Bell-Coleman system advantages and disadvantages compared to compression system: 1. Lower weight for each Ton of refrigeration. 2. Lower volume for each Ton of refrigeration. 3. Main jet compressor of the aircraft is used, thus, it does not require separate compressor. 4. Air is the refrigerant, thus, no toxicity, flammability hazards. 5. Refrigerant (air) leakage does not arise serious problems. 6. Less maintenance requirement. 7. Low COP. Basic Aircraft Air conditioning system: In aircraft at high altitudes, ambient temperature and pressure (point 1) are much lower than normal conditions. The aircraft ram (R) increases air pressure to point 2 where air at this point is used as cooling medium at the shell-side of the heat exchanger. Aircraft main jet compressor compresses air from point 2 to 3. A small amount of compressed air (pint 3) is bled-out to be used in the air-conditioning system. Hot air (point 3) is cooled down via heat exchanger to point 4 and then expanded through a small air turbine down to comfort conditions (i.e. 1 bar and 300K) at point 5 to be introduced to the passengers pressurized cabin.
Different temperature levels can be set for different type of foods by adjusting water flow rate in the valves (a, b, etc.). This system has the advantage of :(i) Lower temperature. (ii) Better load and temperature control. (iii) No contamination between food and non-pure ice. Dry Ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide (CO2) at 78C and it transfers from solid state directly to gaseous state.
Also, pressure drop and heat losses causes a deviation in all the straight line processes.
1.4.
Cooling capacity
One of the main factors in the design of the refrigeration system is the cooling capacity and load. The common standard to describe system capacity is Ton Refrigeration that is equivalent to the thermal power to be removed from one ton of ice (as Latent heat only) within 24 hours. 1Ton Refrigeration 3.5 kW