School of Engineering

(Quarter 1, 2016)

ECE 421 REFRIGERATION ENGINEERING

(Selective)
Catalog 2016-2017:
This course introduce to the basic knowledges of refrigeration system including the refrigerating cycles,
the classification and thermodynamic characteristics of refrigerant, the operational principle and fabrication
of the components in refrigeration system. It also provides calculating method for sizing and selecting
several components in refrigeration system as well as operating and evaluating method via experiments in
refrigeration system.

Instructor/Coordinator: NGUYEN XUAN HUNG and PHAN XUAN DUNG

Credits: 3(1, 2)
Textbook(s)
1. Ibrahim Diner, Mehmet Kanoglu, Refrigeration systems and application, 2nd edition, John Wiley
& Sons Publication, 2010.
2. Bill Whitman, John Tomcxyk, Bill Johnson, Eugene Sillberstein, Refrigeration and Air
Conditioning Technology, 7th edition, Delmar Cengage Learning, 2013.
3. Rex Miller, Mark R. Miller, Air conditioning and refrigeration, McGraw-Hill, 2006.

References(s):
4. IIT Kharagpur, Refrigeration and air conditioning, Lecture note.
5. A. R. Trott, T. Welch, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning, 3rd edition, Butterworth-Heinemann,
2000.
6. Refrigeration experimental modules, Series of manual, Gunt.
7. Nguyen Xuan Hung, Introduction to refrigeration engineering, Lecture note, 2016.
Supplemental Materials: None
Prerequisites: Electrical machine and apparatus, Electrical Circuit.
Co-requisites: Thermodynamics
Grading: Quizzes and Attendance: 20%; Lab: 40%, Final examination: 40%.
Grading Scale:

B+ 80-84.9 C+ 65-69.9 D+ 53-54.9

A 90-100 B 75-79.9 C 60-64.9 D 52-52.9 F 0-49.9
A- 85-89.9 B- 70-74.9 C- 55-59.9 D- 50-51.9

Course Outcomes:

After successful completion of this course, students are able to:

LO1. Explain operational principle of refrigeration system including refrigeration cycle and state
parameters.

1
LO2. Understand role, classification, characteristics and international standards for using method of
refrigerant in refrigeration system.
LO3. Identify and explain role, operational principle and configuration of the main components in
refrigeration system including compressor, condenser, expansion device, evaporator as well as other
auxiliary devices such as accumulator, receiver, oil separator, strainer, drier, check valve, solenoid valve,
and defrost controller.
LO4. Calculate the operational parameters in refrigration cycle and size several devices in the refrigeration
system.
LO5. Identify and explain the operational principle of electrical circuits, electrical devices and auto-control
system in the refrigeration system.
LO6. Carry out experiment in the refrigeration system and analyze the state parameters.
LO7. Reinforce technical writing, oral communication and team-working skills via the experimental
project reports.

Course Outcomes Mapped to ABET Student Outcomes:

Student Outcomes
a b c d e f g h i j k
LO1 X X
LO2 X X
Outcomes

X X
Course

LO3
LO4 X X X
LO5 X X X
LO6 X X X X
LO7 X

Topics covered in this course:

Lesson Topic Learning outcome Notes
No. (Week)
Lecture
Introduction to refrigeration system &
refrigerant
Refrigerating principle and refrigeration
system
1 Reviews of thermodynamic state LO1, LO2, LO4 1
parameters of fluid
Refrigerant: classification and
characteristics
Coolant: classification and characteristics
Compressor in refrigeration system
Function of compressor
General theory of compressor
2 Classification of compressor LO1, LO3, LO4 1
Operational principle and fabrication of
compressor
Calculating and sizing compressor
3 Condenser in refrigeration system LO1, LO3, LO4 1
2
 Position and role of condenser
Classification of condenser
Operational principle of condenser
Theoretical analysis of condenser
Calculating and sizing condenser
Evaporator in refrigeration system
Position and role of evaporator
Classification of evaporator
4 Operational principle of evaporator LO1, LO3, LO4 2
Theoretical analysis of evaporator
Calculating and sizing evaporator
Throttling valve
Role, position and theoretical analysis of
throttling valve
Classification of throttling valve
5 Operational principle and characteristics LO1, LO3, LO4 2
of throttling valve
Application of throttling valve
Estimate size of throttling valve
Vapour compression refrigeration cycle and
system
Single stage vapour compression - ideal
cycle and system
6 LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4 2
Actual cycle and system: superheating
and subcooling cycle.
Regenerative heat using heat exchanger.
Domestic (Household) and industrial
refrigeration system
Household refrigerator: fabrication,
operational principle and characteristics;
maintenance.
7 Household air conditioner: fabrication, LO1, LO3, LO5 3
operational principle and characteristics;
maintenance.
Center air conditioner for industrial
application: fabrication, operational
principle and characteristics.
Electrical devices and auxiliary devices in
refrigeration system
Pressure switch
8 Thermostat LO3, LO5 3
Overcurrent protective relay
Reverse phase relay
3
 Accumulator
Receiver
Oil separator
Strainer
Drier
Check valve
Solenoid valve
Defrost controller
Auto-control system in refrigeration system
Overview of auto-control system in
refrigeration system
9 Compressor control
Condenser and evaporator control LO5 3
Automatic control for protection of
refrigeration system

Lesson Laboratory Note

No. (Week)
Basic module of refrigeration circuit
Key components: compressor, condenser,
expansion valve and evaporator.
Connect and disconnect refrigeration
circuit
Evacuate and charge refrigerant
1 Operate refrigeration system, record LO1, LO3, LO6, LO7 3, 4
measurement values and evaluate
performance.
Basic understanding of thermodynamic
cycle
Simple energy balance
Electronic installation in refrigeration system
Introduce to electrical component
Read, understand electrical diagram for
2 refrigeration LO1, LO3, LO6, LO7 5
Practice wire-connection
Test and evaluate
Refrigeration system with cooling stage and
freezing stage
Introduce to the components in the two
3 LO1, LO3, LO6, LO7 6
evaporators refrigeration system
Operate series and parallel connection of
two evaporators refrigerator

4
 Operate the system with expansion valve
and capillary tube
Domestic air conditioner
Introduce to the components in the
domestic air conditioner
Operate and adjust parameters in the
system
4 Heating and cooling in psychrometric LO1, LO3, LO6, LO7 7
chart
Humidifying and dehumidifying in
psychrometric chart
Outer air and recirculating operation
Fault simulation
Vehicle air conditioner
Operational principle of air conditioning
system in vehicle
Main components in vehicle air
5 conditioner LO1, LO3, LO6, LO7 8
Simulate 8 typical faults in vehicle air
conditioner
Determine coefficient of performance and
compressor pressure ratio
Industrial refrigeration system
Practice-oriented principle of
refrigeration system with two evaporators
6 Explain components and their functions LO1, LO3, LO6, LO7 9, 10
Thermodynamics of refrigeration cycle
Detect faults