CHAPTER 5

1. A two-stage cascade refrigeration system uses ammonia as the working substance.

The evaporator is at 35 C and the high-pressure condenser is at 1514.2 kPa. The
cascade condenser is a direct contact type. The refrigeration load is 90 tons.
Determine (a) the mass flow rate in the lower pressure loop, (b) the mass flow rate
in the high-pressure loop, (c) the power required, (d) the COP, and (e) the quantity
of the fluid entering the evaporator.
Solution:

For cascade condenser pressure

p5 = p 6 p1
p6 = 1514.2 kPa
p1 = psat at 35 C = 93.5 kPa
p5 =

(1514.2)( 93.5) = 376.3 kPa

CHAPTER 5

Important properties
State points
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

p , kPa
93.5
376.3
376.3
93.5
376.3
1514.2
1514.2
93.5

h , kJ/kg
1415.2
1610
183.6
183.6
1457.8
1670
385.7
385.7

(a) m a = mass flow rate in the lower pressure loop.

m a =

( 90 )( 3.516 ) = 0.257 kg s
Q A
=
h1 h4 1415.2 183.6

(b) m b = mass flow rate in the high pressure loop.

m b ( h5 h8 ) = m a ( h2 h3 )
m b (1457.8 385 ) = 0.257 (1610 183.6 )
m a = 0.342 kg s
(c) W T = W1 + W 2 = m a ( h2 h1 ) + mb ( h6 h5 )
W T = 0.257 (1610 1415.2 ) + 0.342(1670 1457.8) = 122.6 kW

( 90 )( 3.516 ) = 2.58
Q
(d) COP = A =
WT
122.6
(e) at 4, p = 93.5 kPa , h = 183.6 kJ kg
t = 35 C
h f = 41.2 kJ kg , h fg = 1374.0 kJ kg
x=

h hf
h fg

183.6 41.2
(100% ) = 10.36%
1374.0

2. A two-stage cascade refrigeration system uses ammonia as the refrigerant. The

mass flow rate in the high-pressure loop is 0.10 kg/s. The condenser saturated

CHAPTER 5
temperature is 38 C and the evaporator temperature is 40 C. The cascade
condenser is a direct contact type. Determine (a) the refrigerating effect in tons, (b)
the power required, and (c) the COP.
Solution:
At 38 C, p = 1472.4 kPa
At 40 C, p = 72.0 kPa
Therefore, cascade condenser pressure =
t sat = 7.25 C

(1472.4)( 72.0) = 325.6 kPa

CHAPTER 5

Important properties
State points
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

t,C
-40
-7.25
-40
-7.25
38
-7.25

h , kJ/kg
1407.3
1621
166.6
166.6
1453.5
1680
380.7
380.7

m b = 0.10 kg s
For m a ,
m a ( h2 h3 ) = m b ( h5 h8 )
m a (1621 166.6 ) = 0.10(1453.5 380.7 )
m a = 0.074 kg s
(a) Q A = refrigerating effect
Q A = m a ( h1 h4 ) = 0.074(1407.3 166.6 ) = 91.81 kW
In tons,
91.81
Q A =
= 26.11 tons
3.516
(b) W = m a ( h2 h1 ) + m b ( h6 h5 ) = 0.074(1621 1407.3) + 0.10(1680 1453.5) = 38.5 kW

CHAPTER 5

(c) COP =

Q A 91.81
=
= 2.38
W
38.5