VAPOR COMPRESSION REFRIGERATION

SYSTEMS

J.ILANGUMARAN
What is Refrigeration?

Refrigeration is defined as the branch of

science that deals with the process reducing
or maintaining the temperature of a space or
material below the temperature of the
surrounding.
 Types of refrigeration

Vapor compression refrigeration (VCR) system.

Vapor absorption refrigeration system.

Pulse tube refrigeration system.

Magnetic refrigeration system.

Electric refrigeration system.

Air refrigeration system.

Acoustic refrigeration system.
Who invent Refrigeration?
In 1805,
Oliver Evens of US proposed a system in his book,
which states the system where ice would be made
using a volatile fluid (ether).

But he never went beyond proposing such a

system.
The first inventor
JACOB PERKINS BRITISH LIVING
AMERICAN

The man who designed the first working VCR.

British Patent :6662 in 1835.

Refrigerant : Ethyl ether.

The design was executed into a working model by

JOHN HAQUE
 First vapor compression
refrigerator



JOHN MIDGLEY JR of General
motors research lab developed the first CFC
for Frigadaire corporation of dayton ohio.

Year:1930 and 1931.

Ref. name: K-21, K-11,K-12. (After are called
Freon,R).
 CFC in transition.

In 1987 the environmental protection
activists are delivered the Montreal
Protocol.

Which is amended from 1990,1992 to
suppress the CFC ,ccl4 ,Halons(2000) and
methyl chloraform(2005) for the reason of
ozone depletion.
Ozone depletion and Global
warming of CFC
 Alternate refrigerants

HCFC(R-22),HFC(134-a) and azeotropic
mixtures of DME are consider for
alternatives.

R-22,R-23,R-142b and R-152 are
mentioned in the Montreal protocol
 Applications.

Food preservation.

Medicine preservation.

Electronics industries.

Space research.

Cold treatment of metals.

Surgical anesthesia.

Sports (skaters, hockey).

Construction industry (concrete cooling).

Chemical industries.
A simple vapor-
vapor-compression refrigeration cycle is shown
. schematically
 VCR cycle(ideal)


1-2 Compression.

Reversible adiabatic process.

May be dry or wet compression.
2-3 Cooling and Condensing.

Reversible const. pressure process.

Initially desuperheated and
condensed.

Ending with saturated liquid.
3-4 Expansion.

Adiabatic throttling process but not
isentrophic.

Enthalpy constant.
4-1 Evaporation.

Const pressure reversible process.

The saturation temp. at this pr. Being
below the temp of the surrounding.
Actual vapor compression
cycle.
Components of VCR

Compressors.

Condensers.

Expansion Devices.

Evaporators.
 Types of compressors

Reciprocating compressors.

Centrifugal compressor.

Rotary compressor.

Screw compressor.

Scroll compressor.
Reciprocating compressors
TYPES

Hermatic compressors.

Semi hermatic
compressors.

Open type compressors.
 Hermatic compressor

All small units used in house hold refrigeration are
hermatic.

Fully sealed so that no leakage in the compressor.

Motor is cooled with refrigerant vapor.

Repairing not possible.

Moisture should be dehydrated before charging.

Range (MAX to 7.5 TR)
Semi – hermatic compressors.

Larger herm. sealed units have the
removable cylinder head so that the valve
and pistons can be serviced.

Range(5 to 25 TR).
 Open type compressor.

Motor and compressor unit are separated.

Leakage is more.

Range(20 to 75 TR)
 CENTRIFUGAL
COMPRESSORS
 Used in large capacity plants (beyond 150 TR).

 Normally used Refrigerants R-11,R-113.(Only low

density refrigerants).

 Vibration less.

 High Density require high tip speed.

 Scroll
compressor

The spirals are rotating
in opposite direction
i.e one is stationary
another is arbitrary.

Range (Min to 70 TR).
 Rotary compressors

VANE TYPE ROLLER TYPE

Range (min to 7.5 TR).

It require high degree of manufacturing precision.
Screw compressor.

The profiles of two
opposite screws are
used for compression.

Range(50 to 200 TR)
 Condensers.
Water-cooled condensers.
Shell-and-tube condenser.
vertical-shell-and-tube condensers.
Shell and coil condenser.
Double-pipe condenser.
Evaporative condensor.
Shell--and-
Shell and-tube condenser

Horizontal type.

The most commonly used type

Receiver may provide after condenser.

Heads may be removable.
Vertical type.

Found primarily on Large plants NH3
as refrigerant.

Less floor space.

Easy cleaning
Shell-and-coil condenser.

Uses a helical water coil in the shell instead of tubes.
Double – pipe condenser.

Heat transfer rate low.

Consists of two concentric tubes (water- inner
refrigerant- annular) .
evaporative condenser.

The discharge gas from the compressor condenses inside a bank of
tubes over which water is sprayed.

WBT of air is used for heat transfer.
 Air cooled condensers

All low capacity units used ACC because of
their simplicity.

A finned coil over which air blown and
refrigerant condensed in the tubes.

Require no water.

No corrosion.

DBT controls the condensing temperature.
 Expansion devices

Capillary tube.

Constant pressure expansion valve.

Thermostatic expansion valve.

Float valve.

Thermal electric expansion valve.
 Capillary tube.

A Capillary tube ia a tube 2 to 20 ft long with
inside dia. 0.025 to 0.090 inches.

It serves at lower TR.

The pressure drop because of friction and
acceleration in the coil.

No moving parts and inexpensive.

Susceptive to clogging by foreign matter.

Designed only one operating condition causes
starving and flooding.
Thermostatic expansion valve

Superheat in the
evaporator controls the
valve.

Both metering and
throttling are done.

Power fluid actuates
the valve seat.

Too large results
hunting and flood out.
Cont. pr.expansion valve
(automatic)

Operates with senses the
evaporator pressure.

Evaporator pr increase
results the wide valve
opening ie. Allows
flooding.

Evaporator Pr lower
results partial valve
opening. Ie. allows
starving.
Thermal electric expansion
valve.
 Evaporators.

An evaporator in a refrigeration system is a heat

exchanger which transfer heat from the substance
being cooled to a boiling refrigerant.
 Types

Natural convection.

Forced convection.
* Fan forces.
* Pump forces.

Flooded evaporator.

Liquid chiller.

Direct expansion coil.
Flooded--Tube Evaporator.
Flooded
Direct expansion coil
evaporator

Accessories
 Capacity control methods.
Sl.no Method Application Remarks

1 On-off control. Small capacity units. Hunting

(Too frequent).

2 Back pressure regulation. Energy inefficient. Less costly precise

Control possible.

3. Hot gas by- pass Energy inefficient. Less costly precise control possible.
Not favor due to discharge temp.
increase

4 Condenser pressure Energy inefficient. Less costly non precise not favor for the
same reason

5 Speed (varying the speed of comp.) All types Energy efficient costly.

6 Cylinder/unit unloading. More than one Combination of 5,6 gives advantages.

unit/cylinder used
 Leak testing methods

Leak detection in the system either inward or outward.

For all refrigerants soap bubble detection method
used.(particularly for HC.

For ammonia sulfur candle test used. (held near white
smoke is formed.

Dampened phenophthalein paper turns red with contact
NH3 vapor.

A halide torch used to detect the halocorbon refrigerant
leakage.
 Defrosting.
Formation of frost on the evaporator coil due to
low outer surface temp cause ,

• Excessive frost blocks the passages.

• Loss in effectiveness (Heat Transfer.).
 Defrosting
Three major methods for defrosting the coils.
• Done by warm air.
• Done by hot gas.
Multi pressure system.
Multi pressure system.
Cascade system
END