1.
List important components of a vapour compression refrigeration system
Compressors
-most important component and the most expensive
- continuously draws the refrigerant vapour from the evaporator so a low pressure and
temperature can be maintained in the evaporator so the boiler can boil the refrigerant while
extracting heat from the refrigerated space.
Condensers
- Heat exchanger wherein the working fluid experiences phase change.
- Desuperheats and condenses by rejecting heat.
expansion devices
- Reduces pressure from condenser pressure to evaporator pressure
- Regulates the flow of working fluid from high pressure to a lower pressure at the
evaporator
Evaporators
- Absorbs heat from the substance being refrigerated
2. Classify refrigerant compressors based on their working principle and
based on the arrangement of compressor motor/external drive?
a) Based on the working principle:
Positive displacement type
- Traps the working fluid in vapour form into a space which reduces its volume. It is
removed from the space when it is slightly higher than the condensing pressure.
Roto-dynamic type
- Pressure rise is obtained through kinetic energy to a steady flow of the working fluid by
rotating a mechanical piece and converting into pressure as it flows through a diverging
passage. It has less wear and vibration.
3. Draw the schematic of a reciprocating compressor and explain its working principle
4. Compare air-cooled condensers with water-cooled condensers
Air-cooled condensers rejects heat to the air around the condenser while in water-cooled
condensers the heat rejected to the water running through the system as the water absorbs the
heat.
5. Explain the basic functions of expansion devices in refrigeration systems
- It reduces the pressure of the working fluid and regulates the flow of the fluid into the
evaporator
6. Describe advantages, disadvantages and applications of different types of
expansion valves,
Thermodynamic Expansion Valve
Advantage
- Provides control of the capacity of the working fluid as the supply of fluid to the
evaporator matches its needs
Disadvantages
- Not suitable for a close approach because of small superheating is available
Capillary Tube
- Inexpensive
- Provides pressure equalization
- Cannot adjust to varying flow
- Susceptible to clogging
Automatic Expansion Valve
- Maintains constant pressure
- Simple
- Prone to flooding the evaporator
7. Classify refrigerant evaporators and discuss the salient features of different
types of evaporators
Natural Convection
- The working fluid flows due to natural convection caused by differences in temperature.
Forced convection
- A pump or a fan circulates the fluid then it is cooled by the evaporation of the working
fluid.
Inside tubes
- Confined to boil inside tubes
Outside tubes
- Kept in a shell and the fluid is carried inside it
Flooded
- Entire surface is covered with the refrigerant using an expansion valve
Dry
- Used for superheating the refrigerant
8. List important thermodynamic and environmental properties influencing
refrigerant selection?
Thermodynamic properties
- Latent heat, boiling point, critical temperature, pressure levels, specific volume, and
coefficient of performance (COP).
Environmental properties
- Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP), Global Warming Potential (GWP), flammability, and toxicity
9. What are the applications of refrigeration?
Domestic Use
- Refrigerators and air conditioners
Industrial Use
- Industrial cooling and process refrigeration
- food preservation, transportation, and storage
Medical Use
- Medical and pharmaceutical refrigeration
Ice Production Use
10. Write the desirable properties of the Refrigerents and Classification of Refrigerants?.
- Low boiling point
- High critical temperature
- High latent heat of vaporization
- low specific volume of vapour
- high coefficient of performance (COP)
- Non-toxic
- Non-flammable
- low viscosity in both liquid and vapour phases
- high thermal conductivity
Classification of Refrigerants
- Primary
- secondary
11. Explain with the neat sketch the working of vapour compression refrigeration
System?
Process 1-2: Isentropic compression of saturated vapour in compressor
Process 2-3: Isobaric heat rejection in condenser
Process 3-4: Isenthalpic expansion of saturated liquid in expansion device
Process 4-1: Isobaric heat extraction in the evaporator
The working fluid vapour is compressed isentropically by the compressor then the
high-pressure vapour is then condensed in the condenser. After this happens, it expands
isenthalpically in the expansion valve. It then absorbs heat in the evaporator, converting from
liquid to vapour, cooling the space around it
12. Explain different modes of heat transfer? explain latent heat and Sensible Heat?
Conduction
- Heat moves from one object to another through direct contact or transmitted through
collisions between
Convection
- Transferring heat through fluid motion instead of heat passing through collisions. Heat is
passed when molecules meet.
Radiation
- Heat transfer through waves or particles
- Energy emitted through photons or electromagnetic waves
Latent Heat
- Heat required to change the phase of a substance without changing its temperature.
Sensible Heat
- Heat needed to change the temperature of the substance without phase change.
