MM 321 Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

Student Name: Siddhant Vishal Chand

ID #: s11108833

Place of Visit:
Airtec Refrigeration

Location:

558 Ratu Mara rd, Nabua, Suva

Introduction:

As part of the MM321 Course, a field trip was organized to a refrigeration company. Airtec Refrigeration is
situated at 558 Ratu Mara rd, Nabua, Suva. This company specializes in Refrigeration maintenance and
installation which is an ideal place to getting a practical view of the refrigeration system taught in lectures.
An overview of an exploded car refrigeration system was laid out with each part being explained. Also
different types of refrigeration system was explained and demonstrations done by workers on how ducts
were made. This report mainly summarizes what was learnt through the field trip and discussions done.

Field Learnings:

Working principles of a Car Cooling System:

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Figure 1: The diagram shows the controls board of the refrigeration system. [2]

Remote Bulb

Capillary
Tube

TEV

Figure 2: Expansion Valve [2]

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TEV
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Figure 3: A Car evaporator display [2]

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Figure 4: Condenser [2]

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Figure 5: Semi- Hematic compressor [2]

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Figure 6: Inside a Semi- Hematic Compressor [2]

Figure 7: Valve Plate [2]

At the compression side of the compressor, the valve plate. It is mounted onto the head of the compressor.
This is in contact with the valves on the compressor.

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Figure 8: The Inside of a Hematic Compressor [2]

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Figure 9: Drier [2]

Other refrigeration Systems present at site:

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Core Drier
Suction Line

Discharge
Pipe

Compressor
Oil Seperator

Figure 10: Refrigeration system for large applications [2]

This system uses R22 as the refrigerant.

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Cool air out to space to be cooled

Pressure gages

Water in
Water Out

Chiller

Figure 11: Air Cool Chiller [2]

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Figure 12: Typical cooler [2]

The diagram shown above shows a typical cooler used in cooling soft drinks. These are very common in
supermarkets and stalls and utilize the same principle as any other cooling system. It has a condensing unit
at the base of the refrigerator and the evaporator. This system uses a hematic compressor.

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Refrigerants

Figure 13: The storage of refrigerants [2]

Handling of the above gases are by authorised people with proper licence in handling refrigerants as they are
ozone depleting if leaked. The disposal of gases are not done in Fiji therefore are sent for disposal to
countries which have proper disposal facilties.

Duct fabrication:

Duct

Insulation

Figure 14: Shows the fabrication of ducts for supplying air, return air and exhaust. [2]

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Air-conditioning system comparison:

Figure 15: Invertor Unit Air Condition[2]

The above figure ahsows an Invertor Unit Air Condition which is compared to the old version of Air
Condtion where there is no invertor used. The comparison was done and the following was noted:

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CONCLUSION

To sum up, the field trip was a useful step to applying the knowledge gained from lectures and practically
relating to actual applications. Not only did the field trip give an insight of how refrigeration systems work
and the different types of uses, but also it provided the opportunity to get a feel of the different components
in use and how they operate with respect to each other. Refrigerant storage as well as duct fabrication was
also learnt from the field trip. Another major learning was the comparison of the invertor unit AC with the
non-invertor unit AC. This comparison as gave us engineers the motive to improve on what was already
implemented for a more efficient refrigeration system. All in all, the Trip was a success.

REFERENCE

[1] "Vapor-Compression Refrigeration". Wikipedia. N.p., 2016. Web. 4 Oct. 2016.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vapor-compression_refrigeration

[2] Airtec Refrigeration , Nabua, Suva.

[3] "Inverter Vs Non-Inverter Air Conditioner Unit". Aircon-servicing.com.sg. N.p., 2016. Web. 4
Oct. 2016.

http://www.aircon-servicing.com.sg/articles/inverter-vs-non-inverter-air-conditioner-unit.html

[4] "Components Of Refrigeration System (Automobile)". What-when-how.com. N.p., 2016.

Web. 4 Oct. 2016.

http://what-when-how.com/automobile/components-of-refrigeration-system-automobile/

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