DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

SUBJECT: REFRIGERATION & AIR-CONDITIONING (ME-803)

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Experiment No.: 1
OBJECTIVE:
Study the Vapour Compression System (Test Rig).
INTRODUCTION:
The process of refrigeration is most commonly accomplished by the evaporation
of a liquid refrigerant, thereby extracting heat from the medium to be cooled. The
refrigeration cycle is then composed chiefly of four further steps, whose purpose
is to remove this heat from the evaporating refrigerant by again putting it in the
liquid state in order that it may be used repeatedly in a continuous process.
The standard vapour compression cycle consists of the following processes.
Process: 1-2
Reversible adiabatic compression from the saturated vapour to the condenser
pressure.
Process: 2-3
Reversible heat rejection at constant pressure de-superheating and condensation.
Process: 3-4
Irreversible constant enthalpy expansion from saturated liquid to evaporator
pressure.
Process: 4-1
Reversible heat addition at pressure (evaporation to saturated vapour.)
STANDARD VAPOUR COMPRESSION CYCLE:
Refrigerants such as R-12 / R-22 (commonly known as Freon) are used as the
working medium because of their properties, which are required as refrigeration
cycles.
Performance of Standard Vapour Compression Cycle:
Process 1-2 is the compression process wherein mechanical work is to be
supplied (usually in the form of electrical energy) to a compressor. This is the
quantity to be spent.
Process 4-1 represents the useful refrigeration effect.
The index of performance is defined as co-efficient of performance (not as
efficiency, as for heat engines).
C.O.P. is defined as follows:
C.O.P. =

Useful Refrigeration (output)

Net compressor work (input)

(The standard vapour compression can also be shown on a T- chart as shown

below).

A Carnot refrigeration cycle consists of all reversible process:

It will have the highest coefficient of performance when operating between any
temperature limits.
C.O.P. of A Carnot refrigeration is defined as follows:
T1
C.O.P. (CARNOT) = T2 T1
Note:
Carnot cycle C.O.P. depends only on condenser and evaporator temperature.
Carnot is an ideal cycle. It cannot be constructed in practice. However, it is used
as a guideline for comparison.
Difference between Carnot Cycle & Standard Vapour Compression Cycle.
1) Process 1-2 is a wt compression process on Carnot cycle whereas it is a dry
compression process in SVCC.
2) Process 3-4 is a reversible process in Carnot cycle whereas it is an irreversible
process in SVCC.
Actual Vapour Compression Cycle:
The actual vapour compression cycle when practically constructed will differ
from the standard vapour compression cycle.
(Note: This could be because of using an intercooler which actually sub cools the
condensate and slightly superheats the vapour before it enters the compressor).
Standard Vapour Compression Cycle (SVCC) and Actual Compression Cycle
(AVCC) are both drawn on the same p-h chart as shown below:
1234

: Standard Vapour Compression Cycle.

11 21 31 41 : Actual Compression Cycle.

TEST READING:
Duration of Test

= 30 minutes

P1- Suction pressure to the compressor

= 17 PSI

P2- Discharge pressure out from compressor

= 132 PSI

T1- Temp. of vapour refrigerant inlet to compressor

= -5 o C

T2- Temp. of vapour refrigerant outlet from condenser

= 49.3 o C

=33.3 o C

T3- Temp. of liquid refrigerant outlet from condenser

T4- Temp. of liquid refrigerant outlet from expansion device = -6.2 o C

Discharge of the Refrigerant

= 9.5 LPH

Energy meter constant

= 750 rev/Kwh

Time taken for 10 revolution

=123 sec

Mass of water taken in the chiller

= 12.5 kg

Initial water temperature

= 24.1o C

Final water temperature

= 9.9o C

Time taken for drop in initial to final temperature

= 30 min (1800 sec)

Drop in temperature

= 14.2o C

MODEL CALCULATIONS FOR REFERENCE:

1. Power input to compressor =
=
2. Refrigeration effect (Q)

No. of e/m rev 3600

Time taken for no. of e/m rev E/m Constant
10 3600
123 750

= 0.39 KW

Mw cp T = kW
Time taken fro drop in initial to final temp.

Mw = Mass of water in chiller

Cp = Specific heat of water (4.1868 Kj / kg o C)
T = Drop in water temperature
12.5 4.1868 14.2
=
1800
3. C.O.P. actual

Refrigeration effect
= Work done by the compressor
0.412
= 0.390

THEORETICAL C.O.P.

= 0.412 KW

= 1.056

Locate 1, 2, 3, and 4 on P.h Chart for R-12 / 143a using (P1 T1), (P2 T2) T3 & T4
read specific enthalpy values at 1, 2, 3 & 4
h1

= 190 kj / kg

h2

= 215 kj / kg

h3

h4 = 80 kj / kg

h1 - h4
Theoretical C.O.P. = h2 - h1

190 - 80
= 215 180

= 4.40

OPERATIONAL INSTRUCTIONS:
Before starting the unit please observe and not the following points:
a. All the hand shut valves should be opened except charging line valve which
should not be touched.
b. P1/P2 indicates suction and discharge pressure gauges.
c. Provide a single- phase 15 amp 3-pin socket power supply close to the unit.
d. Now put the main switch on.
e. Decide which system you are going to use first. For thermostatic expansion
valve (TEV) close any one capillary operated valve.
NOTE:
Only one system of expansion can be used at a time.
(Rotate thermostat in clockwise direction to start the compressor, in an anticlockwise direction to stop the compressor).