Unit I

Definition:
What is Refrigeration?
According to ASRE (American Society of
Refrigeration Engineers): The science of
providing and maintaining temperature
below that of the surrounding
atmosphere.

ASHRAE
Now It is known as ASHRAE
American Society of Heating,
Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning
Engineers, Atlanta, Ga, USA.
Methods of Refrigeration
1. Ice Refrigeration
2. Evaporative Refrigeration
3. Refrigeration by Expansion of Air
4. Refrigeration by the Throttling of the gas
5. Vapor Compression Refrigeration
System
6. Vapor Absorption Refrigeration System
1. Ice Refrigeration
It is the oldest method. Natural ice was
stored and utilized for refrigeration
purposes. The temperature usually
between 5C to 10C was easily attainable
by this methods.
To achieve temperature below 0C ice +
salt mixture was used.
Direct Contact Method
In the direct contact method of
refrigeration cool air directly passes over
the ice and food storage area, but in,
indirect contact method, the ice is
isolated from the storage space and
cooling being carried out by means of a
medium known as brine.
Find out yourselves various types of brines
Fig.1: Indirect Refrigeration using
ice as refrigerant
2. Evaporative Refrigeration
Heat is absorbed when a liquid
evaporates. Evaporation of water is an
example. Evaporation of moisture from the
skin surface of a man helps to keep him
cool.
Another example is, Desert Bag used to
keep drinking water cool. It consists of a
tightly woven fabric. The bag is not water
proof.
2. Evaporative Refrigeration
(Continued)
Consequently, some water sweeps
through and surface of the bag remains
moist. Under desert conditions which are
usually both hot and dry, moisture on the
surface of the bag evaporates rapidly.
3. Refrigeration by Expansion
of Air
By first law of thermodynamics, for closed
systems, we have
Q = U + W
For a reversible adiabatic process, Q = 0,
Then, W
ad
= - U
This means that the temperature of a gas
can be reduced by the adiabatic
expansion of the gas. This principle was
used by Bell-Coleman in
3. Refrigeration by Expansion of
Air (Continued)
the air-refrigeration system. Numerically,
let us assume that T
atm

= 27C = 300 K,

And it is compressed to 5 times in the
compressor. Then, final temperature of air
leaving the compressor is given by
T
2
= T
1
(p
2
/p
1
)
(-1)/

= (300)(5)
0.286
= 475 K

3. Refrigeration by Expansion of
Air (Continued)
This high-temperature, high-pressure air is
cooled in the heat-exchanger, then final
temperature of the air (under effectiveness
of heat-exchanger = 1) will be 27C.

Now, if this air at 27C expands,
isentropically, then
T
3
= T
1
(p
1
/p
2
)
(-1)/

= (300)(1/5)
0.286
= 189.5 K

4. Refrigeration by Expansion of
Air (Continued)
Which is below atmospheric temperature!!!
4.Refrigeration by throttling
of the gas
It is known that when the gas passes
through porous plug, adiabatic throttling
process occurs, which is a constant-
enthalpy process. As enthalpy is a function
of temperature only for ideal gases,
temperature also remains constant. But
with actual gases temperature of the gas
can either be increase, decrease, or
remain constant.
Fig.3

4.Refrigeration by throttling
of the gas
It is known that Joule-
Thomson coefficient
is given by


h
JT
p
T
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
=
4.Refrigeration by throttling
of the gas
In the throttling process as pressure falls
from point a to b, we observe that
temperature rises. If the throttling occurs
from point b to c or from point a to c,
temperature drops.
5. Vapor Refrigeration Systems
In vapor refrigeration system, instead of
air, vapor like ammonia (NH
3
), carbon
dioxide (CO
2
), sulpher dioxide (SO
2
),
etc. are used as working fluid.
Vapor refrigeration system is further
divided in two parts: (a) Vapor
compression refrigeration system and (b)
Vapor absorption refrigeration system.
5(a).Vapor Compression
Refrigeration Systems(Fig.4)
5(a).Vapor Compression
Refrigeration Systems
The difference between vapor absorption
system and vapor compression system is
in the manner in which external heat is
added to the vaporized refrigerant to
increase its thermal level above
atmosphere which is necessary to reject
heat in the condenser. In case of vapor
compression system, the refrigerant vapor

5(a).Vapor Compression
Refrigeration Systems
is socked into the compressor and
compressed, adding the energy in the
form of work to increase its thermal level
above atmosphere.
In case of absorption refrigeration
system, working fluid (refrigerant) is taken
which has high affinity to dissolve in water.
The refrigerant which is commonly used in
5(a).Vapor Compression
Refrigeration Systems
absorption refrigeration system is
ammonia. The liquid strong in ammonia is
heated further by the application of
external heat to generate vapor and its
temperature is increased above
atmospheric temperature.

5(a).Vapor Compression
Refrigeration Systems
The distinct advantage of absorption
system over the compression system is
reduced noise due to absence of
compressor.