REFRIGERATION UNIT

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The SOLTEQ Mechanical Heat Pump (Model: HE165) has been designed to provide
students with a practical and quantitative demonstration of a vapour compression cycle,
and is suitable for all course levels (intermediate and undergraduate). Refrigerators and
heat pumps both apply the vapour compression cycle, although the applications of these
machines differ, the components are essentially the same.

The Mechanical Heat Pump is capable of demonstrating the heat pump application where
a large freely available energy source, such as the atmosphere is to be upgraded for water
heating. The unit will be of particular interest to those studying Mechanical Engineering,
Energy Conservation, Thermodynamics, Building Services, Chemical Engineering, Plant
and Process Engineering, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning.

2.0 GENERAL DESCRIPTION

2.1 Unit Construction

6
1

2
3 7

8
4
9
5

Figure 1: Unit construction for Mechanical Heat Pump (Model: HE165)

1. Pressure Switch 6. Control Panel

2. Receiver Tank 7. Evaporator
3. Compressor 8. Refrigerant Flow Meter
4. Condenser 9. Water Flow Meter
5. Pressure Transmitter

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 REFRIGERATION UNIT

3.0 SUMMARY OF THEORY

A heat pump is a mechanism that absorbs heat from waste source or surrounding to
produce valuable heat on a higher temperature level than that of the heat source. The
fundamental idea of all heat pumps is that heat is absorbed by a medium, which releases
the heat at a required temperature which is higher after a physical or chemical
transformation.

Heat pump technology has attracted increasing attention as one of the most promising
technologies to save energy. Areas of interest include heating of buildings, recovery of
industrial waste heat for steam production and heating of process water for e.g. cleaning,
sanitation.

Generally, there are three types of heat pump systems:

i. Closed cycle vapour compression heat pumps (electric and engine driven)
ii. Heat transformers (a type of absorption heat pump) and
iii. Mechanical vapour recompression heat pumps operating at about at 200C

The Coefficient of Performance, (COPH) of a heat pump cycle is an expression of the cycle
efficiency and is stated as the ratio of the heat removed in the heated space to the heat
energy equivalent of the energy supplied to the Compressor.

COPH = Heat removed from heated space / Heat energy equivalent of the
Energy supplied to the Compressor

Thus, for the Theoretical Simple Cycle, this may be written as:

COPH =

Note: The cooling water and refrigerant flow rate display is in percentage (%). Below are the
formula to convert cooling water and refrigerant flow rate to LPM.

1. Cooling water flow rate (LPM) = Cooling water flow rate (%) 5 LPM
100%
2. Refrigerant flow rate (LPM) = Refrigerant flow rate (%) 1.26 LPM
100%

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4.0 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES

4.1 General Start-up Procedures

1. Check that the unit and all instruments are in proper condition.
2. Check that the both water source and drain are connected then open the water
supply and set the cooling water flowrate at 1.0 LPM.
3. Check that the drain hose at the condensate collector is connected.
4. Connect the power supply and switch on the main power follows by main
switch at the control panel.
5. Switch on the refrigerant compressor. The unit is now ready for experiment as
soon as temperature and pressures are constant.

4.2 General Shut-down Procedures

1. Switch off the compressor, follows by main switch and power supply.
2. Close the water supply and ensure that water is not left running.

4.3 Experiment 1: Determination of power input, heat output and coefficient of

performance

Objective:
To determine the power input, heat output and coefficient of performance of a
vapour compression heat pump system

Procedures:

1. Perform the general start-up procedures.

2. Adjust the cooling water flow rate to 40%.
3. Allow the system to run for 15 minutes.
4. Record all necessary readings into the experimental data sheet.

Data Sheet:

Cooling Water Flow

%
Rate, FT1
Cooling Water Inlet
C
Temperature, TT5
Cooling Water Outlet
C
Temperature, TT6
Compressor Power
W
Input

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4.4 Experiment 2: Production of heat pump performance curves over a range of

source and delivery temperatures

Objective:
To produce the performance of heat pump over a range of source and delivery
temperatures

Procedures:

1. Perform the general start-up procedures.

2. Adjust the cooling water flow rate to 80%.
3. Allow the system to run for 15 minutes.
4. Record all necessary readings into the experimental data sheet.
5. Repeat the experiment with reducing water flowrate so that the cooling water
outlet temperature increases by about 3C.
6. Repeat similar steps until the compressor delivery pressure reaches around
14.0 bars.
7. The experiment may be repeated at different ambient temperature.

Assignments:

i. Plot the performance curves for Heat Pump (Coefficient of performance, Heat
Delivered, Compressor Power Input) versus Temperature of Water Delivered

Note: The Data sheet same as Experiment 1

4.5 Experiment 3: Production of vapour compression cycle on p-h diagram and

energy balance study

Objective:
i. To plot the vapour compression cycle on the p-h diagram and compare with the
ideal cycle.
ii. To perform energy balances for the condenser and compressor

Procedures:

1. Perform the general start-up procedures.

2. Adjust the cooling water flow rate to 40% and allow the system to run for 15
minutes.
3. Record all necessary readings into the experimental data sheet.

Assignments:

i. Plot the experimental vapour compression cycle on the p-h diagram of R-134a
and compare with the ideal cycle
ii. Perform energy balance on the condenser
iii. Perform energy balance on the compressor

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Data Sheet:

Refrigerant Flow Rate,

%
FT2
Refrigerant Pressure
Bar(abs)
(Low), P1
Refrigerant Pressure
Bar(abs)
(High), P2
Refrigerant
C
Temperature, TT1
Refrigerant
C
Temperature, TT2
Refrigerant
C
Temperature, TT3
Refrigerant
C
Temperature, TT4
Cooling Water Flow
%
Rate, FT1
Cooling Water Inlet
C
Temperature, TT5
Cooling Water Inlet
C
Temperature, TT6
Compressor Power
W
Input

4.6 Experiment 4: Estimation of the effect of compressor pressure ratio on

volumetric efficiency

Objective:
To determine the compression ratio and volumetric efficiency

Procedures:

1. Perform the general start-up procedures.

2. Adjust the cooling water flow rate to 40%.
3. Allow the system to run for 15 minutes.
4. Record all necessary readings into the experimental data sheet.
5. The experiment may be repeated at different compressor delivery pressure.

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Assignments:

i. Calculate the followings:

a. Compressor pressure ratio
b. volumetric efficiency

Data Sheet:

Refrigerant Flow Rate, FT2 %

Refrigerant Pressure (Low), P1 Bar(abs)

Refrigerant Pressure (High), P2 Bar(abs)

Refrigerant Temperature, TT1 C