PERFORMANCE TEST ON AIR-CONDITIONING TUTOR

Aim
To conduct “Cooling and Dehumidification” experiment on AC tutor to determine
its Theoretical and Actual Coefficient of Performance[COP] .

Requisites
Thermometers for measuring dry and wet bulb temperatures, stopwatch and
psychometric chart.

Description
The equipment consists of M.S. fabricated stand on which duct assembly is fitted.
A blower is provided at the end of the duct which forces air into the system. This
conditioning duct is provided with components like expansion valve, cooling coil, steam
humidifier connections. The airflow rate can be controlled by butterfly valve fitted on the
blower. The control panel fitted consists of energy meters for heater and compressor. A
digital temperature indicator is fitted for measurement of temperature of refrigerant at
various points. Necessary switches are fitted on the control panel. Below the duct
compressor, condenser, liquid receiver and steam generator are fitted.

Centrifugal blower blows air through square duct, which consists of different sections as
follows.
a) Initial conditioning section:
This section comprises of a cooling coil circuit, heater section and steam
humidification system .This section enables simulation of normal year round weather
condition to some extent in the confined space of the duct.

b) First observation section:

This section consists of stabilization zone and temperature measurement section. Here
condition of simulated air coming out of the first conditioning section is observed and
recorded.

c) Second conditioning Section:

This section incorporates cooling coil, heaters and humidification tubes as in
first conditioning section. The components incorporated in the section can be
operated suitably to bring final air-conditioning some where near comfort
conditioning zone.

d) Second observation section:

This section incorporates flow stabilization zone and measurement section
where final condition of air is observed and recorded.
Specifications
1. Compressor Initial conditioning Second conditioning
Section Section

Capacity ¾ ton ½ ton

2. Condenser: Air cooled type with cooling fan driven by motor – 2 nos

3. Liquid receiver and filter drier

4. Pressure gauges –2 nos

Range: 0-300 Psi and –30 of Hgo – 150 Psi. ”wika” make.

5. Blower with motor: 0.5 HP, 1440 Rpm, 3Phase, 440 Volts , 0.28 m/s flow rate.
6. Refrigerant used: R-22

Precautions
1. Switch ON the blower first and then switch ON the condenser fan
2. Do not switch on compressor without running the condenser fan.
3. Confirm that the blower suction valve is not closed.

Procedure
Switch “ON” the Power supply of the unit and start the Blower. Start the
Condenser fan in the first conditioning section of the tutor and wait for 1- 2 minutes and
then start the compressor in that section of the tutor. Note down the angle of flapper
opening at suction side of the duct. Observe the Temperature of air and refrigerant on
Dry/Wet Bulb Thermometer and temperature indicator respectively. Wait for achieving
steady state condition of condenser inlet temperature and note down the readings in the
observation table.

Tabular Column

SL.NO DESCRIPTION SYMBOL UNIT READINGS

1 Condensing Pressure (HP) Pci Bar
2 Evaporating Pressure (LP) Pei bar
o
3 Condenser Inlet Temperature Tci C
o
4 Condenser Outlet Temperature T co C
o
5 Evaporator Inlet Temperature T ei C
o
6 Evaporator Outlet Temperature T eo C
7 Compressor Energy-Time for 10 Rev Sec
8 Compressor Current A Amps
9 Compressor Voltage V Volt
o
10 Air Inlet Temperature- DBT & WBT t1 & t1 ’ C
 o
11 Air Outlet Temperature- DBT & WBT t2 & t2 ’ C
12 Air flow rate ( Flapper opening = ---- ) Q m3/sec

Add 1 atmospheric pressure to the gauge pressure to find out the values of enthalpies of
the refrigerant at absolute pressure.
Calculations
heo - hei
1. Theoretical coefficient of performance (COP) theo = -----------------
hci - heo
Where heo = Sp. Enthalpy of the refrigerant at evaporator outlet
hei = Sp. Enthalpy of the refrigerant at evaporator inlet
hci = Sp. Enthalpy of the refrigerant at condenser inlet.
These values are read from R22 chart.

2. Actual coefficient of performance (COP)actual =

Actual Refrigeration effect / Actual power input to the compressor

For air inlet condition DBT oC ( t1) =

WBT oC (t1’) =

From psychometric chart : Enthalpy( h1) = kJ

Specific Volume (v1) = m3/kg
For air outlet condition - DBT oC ( t2) =

WBT oC (t2’) =
Enthalpy (h2) = kJ

Air flow rate (Q) = --------- m3 / sec

Rate of Heat Removed from air = Q /v1 (h2 – h1) kW

N 3600
Actual Compressor power = ----- * -------------- (kW)
t EMC

where N = no. of rotations of energy meter disc chosen (generally10)

t = time for ‘N’ rotations (sec)

EMC = Energy meter constant. [900 rev/kWh]

COP actual = ( Heat removed from air ) / (compressor work )

Result