Department of Mechanical Engineering

ME 322 Mechanical Engineering

Thermodynamics

Lecture 29

The Vapor Compression Refrigeration

(VCR) Cycle
 Refrigerator used for Cooling

energy sought Qin

E COPC
energy that costs Wcycle
TH

Observation: E may be >1 E 100%

R
The concept of an efficiency being greater than 100%
makes people uneasy. Therefore, the conversion
TL efficiency for a refrigerator is called the Cooling
Coefficient of Performance (COPC). A refrigeration
system that is used for cooling is called a refrigerator.

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 Refrigerator used for Heating

energy sought Qout

E COPH
energy that costs Wcycle
TH

Observation: E may be >1 E 100%

R
The concept of an efficiency being greater than 100%
makes people uneasy. Therefore, the conversion
TL efficiency for a refrigerator is called the Heating
Coefficient of Performance (COPH). A refrigeration
system that is used for cooling is called a heat pump.

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 Analysis of the Carnot Refrigerator
For the Refrigeration cycle
Qin Qin 1
th COPR
Wcycle Qout Qin Qout / Qin 1
TH
1 1 TL
COPR,Carnot COPR,Carnot
Qout / Qin rev 1 TH / TL 1 TH TL

R For the Heat Pump cycle

Qout Qout 1
th COPH
TL Wcycle Qout Qin 1 Qin / Qout
1 1 TH
COPH,Carnot COPH,Carnot
1 Qin / Qout rev 1 TL / TH TH TL

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 Terminology
Refrigeration cycle
The cycle is operating in a refrigeration cycle
The goal is to keep the cold space cold
Transfer heat from a low-temperature source to the cycle

Heat pump cycle

The cycle is operating in a refrigeration cycle
The goal is to keep the hot space hot
Transfer heat to a high-temperature sink from the cycle

The words refrigeration or heat pump define the goal of the cycle.

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 The Vapor Compression Refrigeration Cycle

TH

R
TL

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 The Vapor Compression Refrigeration Cycle
Two phase changes
Working fluid = Refrigerant
Boiling (evaporator)
Condensing (condenser)
Low temperature boiling fluids

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 Refrigerants
Most refrigerants are halogenated hydrocarbons. The naming
convention adopted by ASHRAE is,

R(a-1)(b+1)d = CaHbClcFd c = 2(a 1) b d

Example: R22 (R022)

a 1 0 a 1 H
b 1 2 b 1
d 2 F C F chlorodifluoromethane
c 2 a 1 b d
c 2 1 1 1 2 1 Cl

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 The Pressure-Enthalpy Diagram

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 Vapor Compression Refrigeration Analysis

m& h 2 h 3
Performance
Q&in
COPC
W&c

m& h 2 h1
h3 h 4

m& h1 h 4

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 The Ideal VCR Cycle on the P-h Diagram
P
1-2: Isentropic compression
2-3: Isobaric heat rejection
3-4: Isenthalpic expansion
4-1: Isobaric heat addition
qout Q&out / m&
m& h 2 h3
3 2

4 m& h 2 h1
1 h3 h 4

qin Q&in / m& wc W&c / m&

m& h1 h 4
h

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 Refrigeration Effect and Capacity

Refrigeration Effect: qin h1 h 4

Refrigeration Capacity: Q&in m& h1 h 4

Refrigeration capacity is often expressed in tons of

refrigeration. Definition

1 ton of refrigeration is the steady state heat transfer rate

required to melt 1 ton of ice at 32F in 24 hours.

1 ton = 12,000 Btu/hr = 3.516 kW

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 VCR Cycle Irreversibilities
P

2s
Pressure drop through 2
the condenser 3
Isentropic efficiency
4
Pressure drop through of the compressor
the evaporator 1

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 Practical VCR Cycle
P T3 SCT SCT = Saturated Condensing Temperature
DSC = Degrees of Subcooling = SCT T3

Subcooling increases the

2s 2 refrigeration capacity
3

Superheating provides a dry

vapor at the compressor inlet
1
4

SET = Saturated Evaporating Temperature

T1
DSH = Degrees of Superheat = T1 SET
SET

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 Example
Given: A vapor compression refrigeration cycle is operating
with a saturated evaporating temperature of -20F and a
saturated condensing temperature of 80F. The refrigerant,
R22, leaves the condenser as a saturated liquid and enters
the compressor with 5 degrees of superheat. The pressure
drops through the evaporator and condenser can be
considered negligible. The compressor has an isentropic
efficiency of 85%. The cycle has a capacity of 15 tons.

Find: (a) the mass flow rate of the R22 (lbm/hr)

(b) the power requirement of the compressor (hp)
(c) the coefficient of performance of the cycle

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 Example
P

T3 80F

SCT 80F 2s
3 2

4
T1 SET 5F SET 20F
1

T4 20F
T1 SET 5F
15 tons

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 Example
T3 80F

T1 SET 5F

T4 20F

15 tons

SCT 80F 2s
3 2

4 1
SET 20F

T1 SET 5F

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 Example
T3 80F

Strategy: Build the property table

then do the thermodynamics!
T1 SET 5F

T4 20F
The high and low pressures in the cycle
15 tons can be found since the saturation
P
temperatures are given.

SCT 80F 2s
3 2

4 1
SET 20F

T1 SET 5F
The pressures at all four states are
known!
h

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 Example
T3 80F

T1 SET 5F

T4 20F

15 tons

SCT 80F 2s
3 2

4 1
SET 20F

T1 SET 5F

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 Example
T3 80F

The property table is complete!

T1 SET 5F

T4 20F

15 tons

SCT 80F 2s
3 2

4 1
SET 20F

T1 SET 5F

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 Example
T3 80F

EES Solution (Key Variables)

T1 SET 5F

T4 20F

15 tons

P
Comparison (same units)

12, 000 Btu Btu

Q&in 15 tons
SCT 80F 2s
3 2 180, 000
ton-hr hr
2545 Btu Btu
4
SET 20F
1
W&c 24.45 hp 62, 225
hp-hr hr
T1 SET 5F

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