REFRIGERATION

Refrigeration cycles transfer heat from a lower temperature region to a higher temperature
one, at the expense of work input to the system.
Practical refrigeration cycles include:
Vapour-Compression Cycle: Refrigerant is vaporised and condensed alternatively at
different pressure levels.
Vapour-Absorption Cycle: The refrigerant is dissolved in a liquid before it is compressed.
Gas (air) refrigeration cycle: The refrigerant is in gaseous form throughout the cycle.
Other systems: Thermo-electric Refrigeration, Vortex-Tube Refrigeration etc.

Both may operate on the same

thermodynamic cycle, but at different
reference w.r.t environmental temperature.
The objective of a refrigerator is to remove
heat from a cold space/medium.
The objective of a heat pump is to supply
heat to a warm space/medium.
Same machine can run as a refrigerator or
a heat pump.
COP = Co-efficient of performance
COP refrigerator = Cooling effect/ Work input
COP heat pump = Heating effect/ Work input
COP heat pump = COP refrigerator +1
EER = Energy Efficiency Rating, It shows
the BTU of heat removed per W-h electricity
EER = 3.412 COP
Typical COPref = 2.5-3.5, EER = 8-12

Refrigeration Capacity
Ton of Refrigeration: It is the cooling capacity that can freeze 1 ton (2000 Ib) of liquid water
at 0C into ice at 0C in 24 hours.
1 ton Refrigeration = 200 BTU/min = 12000 BTU/h = 211kJ/min = 3024 Kcal/h = 3.516 kW

Refrigeration Performance:
EER = Energy Efficiency Rating
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

Co-efficient of Performance (COP)

COPref = Cooling effect / Work Input

Ranging 3-6

EER = 3.412 COP

Ranging 8-12

APPLICATIONS OF REFRIGERATION
Ice production

Water Cooling

Air Conditioning

Liquefaction of Gases

Cold Storage

Fridges

PROPERTIES OF A REFRIGERANT

Latent heat of Vaporization should be high

Specific heat should be low

Critical Temperature and pressure should be above the operating range

COP should be high, ie. Less power requirement for cooling in desirable

Evaporator pressure must be above atmospheric (easier detection), Condenser

pressure should not be too high (higher equipment cost)

Thermal conductivity should be high

Freezing point should be below the lowest operating temperature

Refrigerant must be chemically stable, non-corrosive

Refrigerant must be non-toxic, non-explosive

It should have appropriate dielectric properties

The cost of the refrigerant is a significant criteria, specially for large units

RIGERGERANT TYPES
CFC Refrigerants : R-11, R-12 (CF2CL2, Di-chloro Di-floro Methane), Chlorine of ChloroFloro-Carbon (Freon) breaks up the atmospheric Ozone, causing depletion of Ozone
layer.
HCFC Refrigerants : Hydrogenated CFCs, eg. R-22, Structure contains H atoms which
react with Chlorine first as they breakup, saving the O3.
HFC Refrigerants : Hydrogenated Floro-Carbons, R-134a, does not contain any Chlorine
atom, so much more environment friendly.
The problem was detected in early 70s ; Montreal Protocol was signed in 1992 ; Hopefully
the depletion level will go back to pre-70 condition by 2025.
Other Refrigerants : NH3 (R-717), CO2 (R-744), Water (R-718), Air (R-729) etc.
AZEOTROPES : It is a mixture of two or more substances that behave like as if they are a
compound. They can not be separated by distillation and evaporates and condenses like a

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

single substance. However the properties of an Azeotrope are different from those of the
constituents. Example R 502 (48.8% R22, 51.2% R115 by mass).

Practical Vapour Compression Cycle with super heating and sub cooling.
Both measures enhance the cooling effect in the evaporator.

Components of Typical Air Conditioning System (Vapour-Compression)

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

Schematic Diagram of a NH3-H20 Absorption System

It takes much less power to pressurize the gas once it is dissolved in a liquid.
However additional heat is necessary to release the high pressure gas.

Refrigerant : NH3

Absorbent : H2O

Some applications use the exhaust heat of a power plant to drive an absorption
chillier.
Such combined heat and power applications are examples of
Cogeneration.
The absorption refrigerator is a refrigerator that uses a heat source (e.g. exhaust
heat, solar, kerosene-fueled flame) to provide the energy needed to drive the
cooling system. Absorption refrigerators are a popular alternative to regular
compressor refrigerators where electricity is unreliable, costly, or unavailable,
where noise from the compressor is problematic, or where surplus heat is available
(e.g. from turbine exhausts or industrial processes). An absorption refrigerator
changes the gas back into a liquid using a different method that needs only heat, and has
no moving parts. An absorption refrigerator changes the gas back into a liquid using a
different method that needs only heat, and has no moving parts. An absorption refrigerator
dissolves the regrigerant vapour into a liquid solution allowing it to be pressurised using a
pump and changes the gas back into a liquid using a different method that needs only
heat, and has no moving parts.

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

CASCADE REFRIGERATION
In some industrial applications moderately low (eg. -75C) temperatures are required,
which involve a temperature range too large for a single vapour compression refrigeration
cycle to be practical. A large temperature range also means a large pressure range in the
cycle and poor performance of a reciprocating compressor. This is achieved by operating
two or more suitable refrigeration cycles in series, where the condenser of one acts as the
evaporator of the cycle above. Such systems are known as cascade refrigeration cycle.
Same or different refrigerants may be used in cycles that work in series. Such refrigeration
applications at very low temperature is termed as Cryogenics.

2-stage cascade refrigeration systems with R-22 and R-13

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

AIR CONDITIONING
Broadly Air conditioning is the process of a combination of control of
Temperature,

Humidity,

Cleanliness,

Noise - aimed for human comfort.

Air conditioning is the automatic control of temperature and humidity to values which
provide a sense of comfort for human beings.
This is achieved by

Regulation of Temperature and Humidity

Supply and control of Fresh Air
Filtration of removal of dust particles
Proper distribution of conditioned air
Noise control (indirect control)

CLASIFICATIONS
Based on type of Application :
Comfort Air Conditioning : Purpose is to create atmosphere conducive to human beings
- eg. Residential/Commercial buildings, Auditorium, Community centres, Hotels.
Industrial air conditioning : Purpose is to create atmospheric conditions suitable for
conducting certain manufacturing, production, physical and chemical processing eg.
Textile, Pharmaceuticals and Electronic industry.
Special Air conditioning : Purpose is to create a special environment where the
temperature, relative humidity, air purity etc needs to be modulated for a certain task eg.
space training, military training, amusement/sports resorts etc.

Based on type of configuration :

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

Unitary Systems (Direct Expansion Systems)

These are air conditioning units which are mass produced, which are installed within or
near the conditioned space. Here the air comes in to direct contact of the cooling coils in
which the refrigerant evaporates extracting heat. They are manufactured to limited
capacity (much less than 50 tons) and the system layout can not be changed very much.
This type of air conditioners are packaged as self-contained Window type and divided
Split type packages.
Window Air conditioner (Room Air Conditioner) :

These are self contained units

mainly used for residential or
office air conditioning. Typical unit
capacity varies 0.5 ton 3 tons.
These may be window mounted or
through
the
wall
mounted.
Components
consist
of
hermetically sealed compressor,
direct expansion coil, condenser,
filters and fans. Manual and
remote control of cooling and
ventilation are generally provided.

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

Portable Air Conditioning Systems

These system can be used inside any room of a building. The trolley mounted unit is self
containing, but fitted with a thermally insulated duct to remove the heat as a hot air blast.
The construction is very similar to window type air conditioning.

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

Split Air Conditioning System

Here the evaporator coil with a fan is installed in the conditioned space, while the remote
unit contains the compressor, condenser and the expansion device. This system allows
keeping noise, vibration and maintenance away from the conditioned space. Typical units
are made from 1.5 tons 25 tons capacity. However ventilation arrangement may be
needed to circulate fresh air in the conditioned space.

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

The Domestic Fridge

Domestic refrigerator contains - a hermetically sealed compressor pressurising the

refrigerant, a condensing unit located at the back an expansion device(capillary tube) and
a evaporator. The evaporator is located at the ice chamber, which really cools the system.
Depending on the load requirement the compressor may be kept on and off intermittently.
The storage space with sub-zero temperature is called freezer and remaining cold space
is termed as refrigerator. Often gross/net storage space is expresses in m3 or cft.

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

ALL AIR SYSTEM

In all air system meets all the cooling required by cold air supplied by a central air handling
unit (AHU), which is distributed to various parts of a building as per requirement. The air
from the room is returned back to the AHU, mixed with some fresh ventilation, cooled and
sent to the rooms again. This system is more expensive but makes good humidity control.
ALL WATER SYSTEM

In all water system meets all the cooling required by chilled water supplied by a central
refrigeration system, which is distributed to various parts of a building as per requirement.
In each room Fan-Coil Units (FCU) are used to cool the room air. In the FCU a fan draws

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

in a mixture of room air with some fresh air and blows it across the cooling colid of chilled
water. This system is less costly but can not achieve good humidity control.

Typical Fan Coil Unit (FCU)

WATER-AIR SYSTEM

This system employs a combination of both air and water circulation to control the room air
condition. This may require less air to be circulated through AHU as part of the heat is
taken away by smaller FCU. Make the system more cost effective in large or high rise
buildings.

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

COOLING LOAD

Cooling load in a room can be estimated by summing the possible heat gains through
various ways. These may include -

Standard calculation procedures are used for the cooling load calculation, eg. using
ASHRAE code.
ASHRAE : American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers.

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning