UNIVERSITI KUALA LUMPUR

MALAYSIAN INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

TECHNOLOGY
EXPERIMENT 1 : REFRIGERATION CYCLE

GROUP MEMBERS NAME ID

NURUL NAQIBAH BINTI PAMBI 55218114089

TENGKU SOFIAH BINTI T. BADARUDIN 55218114269

NURUL IFFAH IZZATI BINTI ZAKARIA 55218114162

NURUL ATIQAH BINTI ROSELLY 55218114124

LAB SECTION : P02

DATE OF EXPERIMENT : 13TH NOVEMBER 2015
ABSTRACT

The purposes of the experiment were to determine the Coefficient of Performance of a

refrigeration unit as well as to determine the overall heat transfer coefficient between R141b and
water in the evaporator and condenser. Refrigeration is accomplished by continuously
circulating, evaporating, and condensing a fixed supply of refrigerant in a closed system.
Evaporation occurs at a low temperature and low pressure while condensation occurs at a high
temperature and high pressure. Thus, it is possible to transfer heat from an area of low
temperature to an area of high temperature since energy cannot be destroyed. The common
components of a vapor refrigeration system are compressor, condenser, expansion device and
evaporator. The experiment was started by adjusting Water Flow Meter Control Valve for
condenser for five different flow rates which were 50g/s, 40 g/s, 30 g/s, 20g/s and 10 g/s in order
to determine the coefficient of performance of a refrigeration unit. All the parameters were
recorded in data sheet. In order to determine the overall heat transfer, the flow rate of condenser
was set to 25 g/s. All data were recorded too. Based on the results obtained, the value of
Coefficient Of Performance (COP) was 8.077. In evaporator, the overall heat transfer coefficient
values were increasing and almost constant while in condenser, the overall rate heat transfer
coefficient differs to each other. Different flows of water gave different rate of heat transfer.
When flow rate is increased, the rate of heat transfer will gradually decrease. Overall, the
objective of this experiment is achieved as it follows the theory of refrigeration.
OBJECTIVES
To determine the Coefficient of Performance (COP) of a refrigeration unit.
To determine the overall heat transfer coefficient between R141b and water in the
evaporator and condenser.
 DATA SHEET

TEST NO 1 2 3 4 5 6

Gauge Evaporator Pressure Pe (KN/m2) -70 -70 -70 -72 -68 -65

Absolute Evaporator Pressure Pe

31.325 31.325 31.325 29.325 33.325 36.325
(KN/m2)

Evaporator Temperature T5 ( C) 11 12 12 13 13 13

Evaporator Water Flow Rate ms (g/s) 25 25 25 25 25 25

Evaporator Water Inlet Temp T1 ( C) 30 30 29 29 29 29

Evaporator Water Outlet Temp T2 ( C) 27 27 26 27 27 27

Condensed Liquid Temp T8 ( C) 32 31 32 32 33 34

Gauge Condenser Pressure Pc (KN/m2) 80 85 90 92 98 110

Absolute Condenser Pressure Pc

181.325 186.325 191.325 193.325 199.325 211.325
(KN/m2)

Condenser Temp T6 ( C) 36 37 38 38 42 47

Condenser Water Flow Rate mc (g/s) 50 40 30 25 20 10

Condenser Water Inlet Temp T4 ( C) 27 27 27 26 29 31

Condenser Water Outlet Temp T3 ( C) 29 29 29 29 33 35

Compressor Discharge Temp T7 (C) 47 54 62 67 71 74

Compressor Power Input W (watts) 235 235 235 235 235 235

Compressor Pressure Ratio (Pc/Pe) 5.7877 5.9473 6.1069 6.5915 5.9805 5.8170

Heat Transfer in Evaporator (Qc) 1985.5 1881.0 1776.5 1672.0 1672.0 1672.0

Heat Transfer in Condenser (Qc) 209 209 209 313.5 418 418

Coefficient of Performance (COP) 8.077 6.500 5.333 5.098 4.500 4.383

CALCULATION
For the Evaporator

Rate of Heat Transfer to water in Evaporator:

Qc = mc cp t , Qc = Heat Transfer Rate(W)

mc = Mass Flow Rate(kg/s)
cp = Specific Heat at constant pressure(kJ/kg.K)
t = the different temperature between at bulk and solid surface
(K)

Qc = mc cp (t1-t5)
Qc = 25.0 x 10-3 x 4.18 x 103 x (30-11) K
.
Qc = 1985.5 W

Logarithmic mean temperature difference (LMTD):

T T
TLMTD = Ti e
T e

Tinlet = 30 11
= 19 K

Toutlet = 27 11
= 16 K

TLMTD = 9

= 17.457 K

Heat Transfer Rate:

Qc = UATLMTD Qc = Heat Transfer Rate (W)

U = Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient (W m-2 K-1)
A = The Surface Area (m2)
TLMTD= The Temperature between at Inlet and Outlet (K)
U=
A T T

. W
= . .

= 3554.269 W m-2 K-1

For the Condenser

Rate of Heat Transfer to water in Condensor:

Qc = mc cp t , Qc = Heat Transfer Rate(W)

mc = Mass Flow Rate(kg/s)
cp = Specific Heat at constant pressure(kJ/kg.K)
t = the different temperature between at bulk and solid surface
(K)

Qc = mc cp (t3-t4)
Qc = 25.0 x 10-3 x 4.18 x 103 x (29-27) K
.
Qc = 209 W

Logarithmic mean temperature difference (LMTD):

T T
TLMTD = Ti e
T e

Tinlet = 36 27
=9K

Toutlet = 36 29
=7K

TLMTD = 9

= 7.958 K

Heat Transfer Rate:

Qc = UATLMTD Qc = Heat Transfer Rate (W)

U = Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient (W m-2 K-1)
A = The Surface Area (m2)
TLMTD= The Temperature between at Inlet and Outlet (K)

U=
A T T

W
=
. .

= 820.715 W m-2 K-1

For the Coefficient of Performance (COP)

Evaporator Gauge Pressure:

Pe = -70

P absolute = P gauge + P atmospheric

= -70 + 101.325

= 31.325

1 bar = 100

P absolute = 31.325

N
.
=

= 0.3133 bar

Condenser Gauge Pressure:

Pc = 80

P absolute = P gauge + P atmospheric

= 80 + 101.325

= 181.325

1 bar = 100

P absolute = 181.325

N
.
=

= 1.8133 bar
Compressor Pressure Ratio:

.
= .

=5.7877

* For the find the value of enthalpy (h), refer to FORANE 141b graph [Absolute pressure (bar)
vs Enthalpy ( )]

At Pe,Pabsolute = 0.3133 bar ;

Evaporator Temperature:

T5 (C) = 11C , h1 = 448 kJ/kg

At Pc,P absolute = 1.8133 bar ;

Compressor Discharge Temperature:

T7 (C) = 47 C, h2 = 474 kJ/kg

Condenser Liquid Temperature:

T8( C) = 32 C , h3 = h4 = 238 kJ/kg

COP = w

= 8.077
DISCUSSION

The experiments of Refrigeration Cycle was running due to observe the process occur
inside the refrigeration cycle unit as well as understanding the principle of operation to
determine value of parameters for flow rate, temperature, pressure and another several values
that shown in Table 1. The experiment was running for 5 different set of test due to different
set of absolute condenser pressure by adjusting the control valve of condenser to vary the flow
rate. The flow rate required were 50 g/s, 30 g/s, 25 g/s, 20g/s and 10 g/s and the readings was
recorded at every 10 minutes.

Based on the result that obtained through operating this equipment can see that the
temperature of condenser of water inlet temperature is differing from the temperature of the
condenser water outlet. In the meantime, the evaporator water inlet temperature is higher
compared to the outlet of the evaporator water. Therefore, we can determine that the condenser
water outlet temperature is increase because heat transfers occur between the water inside the
evaporator and the condenser.

From the result obtained, that the test No.1 give the highest coefficient of performance
(COP) value than others. The value is 8.077 at condenser water flow rate 50 g/s. The higher
value of COP means more efficient the performance. The test No.1 until No.5 used different
condenser water flow rate but same evaporator water flow rate. So, by changing the condenser
water flow rate it will affect the others parameter values. With this increasing condenser water
flow rate, the values of the coefficient of performance COP will decrease. With small value of
water flow rate, it absorbs less heat that has been rejected at constant pressure in the condenser
part.

From the data, it also can see that by let the evaporator water flow rate flow at constant
value, the temperature inlet higher than the outlet. This is because of the heat enter the
evaporator part to be cooled. The temperature different between the inlet and the outlet, were
used to calculate the total heat transfer that occur in the evaporator part.
 At different condenser water flow rate value, the values of the inlet temperature lower
than the outlet temperature. This is because of the heat rejected at constant pressure and the
water absorbs the heat rejected.

All these temperature values affect the refrigeration rate and the condenser heat output.
The heat that entering the evaporator part then go to the expansion valve where the temperature
decrease due to the expansion conduct heat. Then the heat entering the condenser part where the
pressure drops caused by the expansion that brings the refrigerant into vapour of liquid mixture
region. The heat then cooled and these affect the condenser heat output.

The compressor pressure ratio for the test No.4 is higher than others. This is because
value of the absolute condenser pressure higher and the absolute evaporator pressure lower.
When plot the p-h diagram, all these value are used to determine the enthalpy and then calculate
the coefficient of performance (COP) value. The higher compressor pressure ratio give more
pressure different between the condensers than the evaporator parts.

The overall heat transfer coefficient between R141b and water in the evaporator and
condenser is determined by using the inlet and the outlet temperature value for both parts with
the given area and the calculated heat transfer. So, overall heat transfer coefficient can be
determined.

For the evaporator part, the overall heat transfer coefficient values were increasing and
almost constant for the entire test because using the water flow rate constant when running this
experiment. Meanwhile for the condenser part, the overall heat transfer coefficient different each
others because of the condenser water flow rate values didnt constant. Different flows of water
give different heat transfer value. The more water flow in the condenser, the more heat will
absorb
CONCLUSION

The objective of this experiment have been achieved as Coefficient of Performance

(COP) of refrigeration unit, the overall heat transfer coefficient between R141b and water in the
evaporator and condenser have been determined. In addition, all of the experiment eventually
had been done according to the procedures given systematically and appropriately. Based on the
result for this experiment, the increasing of condenser water flow rate, will decrease the COP
value.
RECOMMENDATION

The recommendation for this experiment are allowing the system to run with another
percent value of flow rate of water, set the cooling water flow rate at more than 1.0 LPM and
allowing the system to run more than 15 minutes as to obtain more accurate reading. For the
evaporator part, the overall heat transfer coefficient values were increasing and almost constant
for the entire test because using the water flow rate constant when running this experiment.
Meanwhile for the condenser part, the overall heat transfer coefficient different each others
because of the condenser water flow rate values didnt constant. Different flows of water give
different heat transfer value. Thus, the more water flow in the condenser, the more heat will be
absorbed.

The refrigeration cycle demonstration unit not involve direct sunlight for long periods
because the high chamber pressure can be loss of the refrigerant. For avoid this problem, reuse
the insulation for the surface refrigerant. When the condenser and evaporator pressure gauge at
the danger level, to prevent this problem use to PIA (pressure indicator alarm) for the signal.

The construction of thick walled of the condenser and evaporator is higher strength glass
cylinder. Provided the thick wall properly to avoid the leakage with the replace glass cylinder to
stainless steel cylinder.

The bubble cap damage at the condenser base plate cause the refrigerant radiator.The
function of bubble cap is pump liqued vapor to evaporator.To prevent this cause,replace the
bubble cap with another material required.
REFERENCES

1) Compressor refrigeration system. Retrieved from :

http://web.mit.edu/2.972/reports/compression_refrigeration_system/compression_
refrigeration_systrem.html

2) Thermodynamics of Refrigeration Cycle. Retrived from:

http://www.gunt.de/download/thermodynamics%20of%20refrigerstion_english.pdf

3) The Basic Refrigeration Cycle. Retrieved from :

http://www.achrnews.com/articles/91018-the-basic-refrigeration-cycle

4) Haile, J. M. (2002). Lectures in Thermodynamics: Macatea Productions.

5) Stephens R. Turns.(2000 ).Thermodynamics : Concepts and Applications, Volume 1 :

Cambridge University Press.