Mechanism And Working Of A Vapour Compression Refrigeration System - With PV And TS Diagram
The above figure shows simple vapour compression refrigeration system. In this type of refrigerator, refrigerant undergoes phase changes. It consists of following components.
Components of vapour compression refrigeration cycle
CompressorThe low pressure saturated vapour refrigerant from evaporator drawn into the compressor through suction valve. The refrigerant then compressed to high pressure by the compressor and then delivered to the condenser through the delivery valve. The temperature of refrigerant also increases during the compression process. the compressor may be hermetic, semi-hermetic or open type.
Read: What is a compressor? Why do we need compression?
Condenser or Cooler
Condenser usually consists of coils of pipe through which refrigerant circulates. In the condenser, the high pressure and superheated temperature refrigerant from compressor get cooled and condensed. While refrigerant passes through the condenser coil, it gives up a large amount of latent heat to the surrounding condensing medium (typically air or water).
🔗What is Condenser? Classification of Condensers
🔗Difference between Air Cooled and Water Cooled Condenser
Receiver and expansion valve
The saturated liquid refrigerant from the condenser is then stored in a vessel known as the receiver. From receiver, the liquid refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator through the expansion valve.
The expansion valve (also known as a refrigerant control valve or throttle valve) allow the liquid refrigerant at high pressure to pass to the evaporator at a controlled rate after reducing the pressure and temperature. The output of expansion valve is the mixture of liquid and vapour refrigerant at low pressure and temperature (adiabatic flash evaporation).
- Open and Closed Type of Refrigeration System – Advantages and Application
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Vapour Compression Refrigeration Cycle over Air Refrigeration System
Evaporator
Evaporator consists of coils pipe in which the liquid-vapour from expansion valve is completely get evaporated. During the process of evaporation, the liquid refrigerant absorbs large quantity latent heat of vaporization from the medium which is to be cooled. The saturated vapour refrigerator again routed back to the compressor.
P-V and T-S diagram of vapour compression refrigeration
The process involved in ideal vapour compression refrigeration is shown in the following fig.
The above fig gives the general idea of the refrigeration cycle. Note that there are different vapour compression cycles. Which are listed below
1. Cycle with dry saturated vapour after compression
2. Cycle with wet vapour after compression
3. Cycle with superheated vapour after compression
4. Cycle with superheated vapour before compression
5. Cycle with sub-cooling of refrigerant
Read : COP of Air Refrigerator working on reversed Carnot cycle with PV and Ts Diagram