THE BASIC REFRIGERATION CYCLE

Object Required

COMPRESSOR, CONDENSER, METERING DEVICE & EVAPORTOR

Principle

The refrigerant gets inside the compressor and is in a vapor state. It enters the compressor as it gets sucked into it. The side of the compressor where refrigerant gets inside is known as the suction side. The compressor happens to compress the vapor as it pumps through it.

Theory

I. REFRIGERATION :-

Refrigeration defined as the process of removing heat from a substance under controlled conditions. It also includes the process of reducing and maintaining the temperature of a body below the general temperature of its surroundings.

 II. MAIN COMPONENTS OF SIMPLE VAPOUR COMPRESSION REFRIGERATION SYSTEM :-

A simple vapor compression refrigeration system. It consists of the following four essential.

Component 1:- Compressor

The low pressure and temperature vapor refrigerant from evaporator is drawn into the compressor through the inlet or suction valve, where it is compressed to a high pressure and temperature. This high pressure and temperature vapor refrigerant is discharged into the condenser through the delivery or discharge valve 

Component 2 :- The Condenser

The high temperature refrigerant gets into the condenser coil. The vapor refrigerant moves through the coil, air from a fan passes over the coil to cool the vapor refrigerant. When the vapor cools it condenses and becomes a liquid this is a change of state.

The change of state from vapor to liquid is important. You will be familiar with a home system where the condensing unit is outside. You can put your hand on this unit and feel the warm air blown out. When in the condensing unit high temperature vapor refrigerant gets into it, the heat energy in the vapor is eradicated by blowing air. The air is blown through the condenser coil and the vapor changes to a liquid. The heat gets blown from the condensing unit and is the heat used in your home.

Component 3 :- The Metering Device

The metering device controls the flow of the liquid refrigerant to the next component which is the evaporator. This is a dividing point between the high pressure and low pressure sides of the system. When the high pressure liquid passes through the metering device and into the evaporator the pressure drops.

Component 4 :- The Evaporator

When the refrigerant leaves the metering device, it gets inside a coil known as the evaporator. This coil has got a fan which blows across it. When the refrigerant gets into the coil at a low pressure it starts to bubble and boil and alter state back to a vapor. In this process of altering state, energy in the form of heat is removed from the air passing on the coil and is absorbed by the refrigerant. The heat which was in the is transferred to the refrigerant. The heat was eliminated from the air blowing on the evaporator coil and the air leaving the evaporator coil is cold. An air conditioners makes cold air by having the heat that is in the air absorbed into the refrigerant.

Conclusion

Importance:- The heat from your computer room, office area etc is in the refrigerant. The heated refrigerant vapor gets into the compressor and gets pumped back to the condenser coil. In the condenser, the heat was absorbed by the refrigerant in the evaporator section from the space we are cooling is released. The process of refrigerant alters states from vapor to liquid and from liquid to vapor and this is how an air conditioner functions.

Published Date

05 Mar, 2018