CHAPTER 10 - THE VAPOR-COMPRESSION CYCLE

10-1.

A Carnot refrigeration cycle absorbs heat at -12 C and rejects it at 40 C.

(a)
Calculate the coefficient of performance of this refrigeration cycle.
(b)
If the cycle is absorbing 15 kW at the -12 C temperature, how much power is required?
(c)
If a Carnot heat pump operates between the same temperatures as the above refrigeration cycle,
what is the performance factor?
(d)
What is the rate of heat rejection at the 40 C temperature if the heat pump absorbs 15 kW at the 12 C temperature?

Solution:
(a)

(b)

(c)
(d)

Coefficient of performance = T1 / (T2 - T1)

T1 = -12 C + 273 = 261 K
T2 = 40 C + 273 = 313 K
Coefficient of performance = 261 / (261 + 313)
Coefficient of performance = 5.02 - - - Ans.
Coefficient of performance = useful refrigeration / net work
5.02 = 15 kw / net work
net work = 2.988 kW - - - Ans.
Performance factor = coefficient of performance + 1
Performance factor = 6.01 - - - Ans.
Performance factor=heat rejected from cycle/work required.

Performance factor =

heat rejected
heat rejected 15kw

heat rejected
heat rejected 15kw
Heat rejected = 17.988 kw - - - Ans.
6.02 =

10-2.

If in a standard vapor-compression cycle using refrigerant 22 the evaporating temperature is -5 C and the
condensing temperature is 30 C, sketch the cycle on pressure-enthalpy coordinates and calculate (a) the
work of compression, (b) the refrigerating effect, and (c) the heat rejected in the condenser, all in kilojoules
per kilograms , and (d) the coefficient of performance.

Solution.

At pont 1, Table A-6, -5 C,

h1 = 403.496 kJ/kg
s1 = 1.75928 kJ/kg.K
At point 2, 30 C condensing temperature, constant entropy, Table A-7.
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CHAPTER 10 - THE VAPOR-COMPRESSION CYCLE

h2 = 429.438 kJ/kg
At point 3, Table A-6, 30 C
h3 = 236.664 kJ/kg
h4 = h3 = 236.664 kJ/kg
(a)

Work of compression = h2 - h1
= 429.438 - 403.496
= 25.942 kJ/kg - - - Ans.

(b)

Refrigerating effect = h1 - h4
= 403.496 - 236.664
= 166.832 kJ/kg - - - Ans.

(c)

Heat rejected = h2 - h3
= 429.438 - 236.664
= 192.774 kJ/kg - - - Ans.

(d)

Coefficient of performance
Coefficient of performance =

h1 h 4
h 2 h1

403.496 236.664
429.438 403.496
Coefficient of performance = 6.43 - - - Ans.
Coefficient of performance =

10-3.

A refrigeration system using refrigerant 22 is to have a refrigerating capacity of 80 kw. The cycle is a
standard vapor-compression cycle in which the evaporating temperature is -8 C and the condensing
temperature is 42 C.
(a)
Determine the volume flow of refrigerant measured in cubic meter per second at the inlet to the
compressor.
(b)
Calculate the power required by the compressor.
(c)
At the entrance to the evaporator what is the fraction of vapor in the mixture expressed both on a
mass basis and a volume basis?

Solution:

At 1, Table A-6, -8 C.
h1 = hg1 = 402.341 kJ/kg
hf1 = 190.718 kJ/kg
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CHAPTER 10 - THE VAPOR-COMPRESSION CYCLE

g1 = 61.0958 L/kg
f1 = 0.76253 L/kg
s1 = 1.76394 kJ/kg.K

At 2, 42 C condensing temperature, constant entropy, Table A-7.

h2 = 438.790 kJ/kg
At 3, Table A-6, 42 C
h3 = 252.352 kJ/kg
h4 = h3 = 252.352 kJ/kg
(a)

Volume flow of refrigerant = wg

w(h1 - h4) = 80 kw
w (402.341 - 252.352) = 80
w = 0.5334 kg/s
Volume flow of refrigerant
= (0.5334 kg/s)(61.0958 L/kg)
= 32.59 L/s
3
= 0.03259 m /s - - - Ans.

(b)

Power required by compressor

= w(h2 - h1)
= (0.5334)(438.790 - 402.341)
= 19.442 kw - - - Ans.

(c)

Let xm = fraction of vapor by mass basis and

xv = fraction of vapor by volume basis.
Mass Basis:
h h f1 252.352 190.718
xm = 4
=
h g1 h f1 402.341 190.718
xm = 0.292 - - - Ans.

Volume Basis:
Total volume = (1 - 0.292)(0.76253) + 0.292(61.0958) = 18.38 L/s
0.292(61.0958)
xv =
18.38
xv = 0.971 - - - Ans.
10-4.

Compare the coefficient of performance of a refrigeration cycle which uses wet compression with that of one
which uses dry compression. In both cases use ammonia as the refrigerant, a condensing temperature of 30
C, and an evaporating temperature of -20 C; assume that the compressors are isentropic and that the liquid
leaving the condenser is saturated. In the wet-compression cycle the refrigerant enters the compressor in
such a condition that it is saturated vapor upon leaving the compressor.

Solution:

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CHAPTER 10 - THE VAPOR-COMPRESSION CYCLE

For Dry Compression:

At 1, -20 C, Table A-3.

h1 = hg = 1437.23 kJ/kg
hf = 108.599 kJ/kg
s1 = sg = 5.9025 kJ/kg.K
sf = 0.65436 kJ/kg.K
At 2, 30 C Condensing Temperature, constant entropy, Fig. A-1.
h2 = 1704 kJ/kg
At 3, 30 C, Table A-3.
h3 = 341.769 kJ/kg
s3 = 1.48762 kJ/kg.K
At 4, s4 = s3,
x=

s 4 s f 1.48762 0.65436
=
= 0.1588
sg sf
5.9025 0.65436

h4 = hf + x(hg - hf)
h4 = 108.599 + (0.1588)(1437.23 - 108.599) = 319.586 kJ/kg
h1 h 4 1437.23 319.586
=
h 2 h1
1704 1437.23
Coefficient of performance = 4.19
Coefficient of performance =

For Wet Compression:

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CHAPTER 10 - THE VAPOR-COMPRESSION CYCLE

At 2, 30 C condensing temperature, saturated, Table A-3.

h2 = 1486.14 kJ/kg
s2 = 5.2624 kJ/kg.K
At 1, s1 = s2.
x=

s 1 s f 5.2624 0.65436
=
= 0.878
s g s f 5.9025 0.65436

h1 = hf + x (hg - hf)
h1 = 108.599 + (0.878)(1437.23 - 108.599)
h1 = 1275.14 kJ/kg
h3 = 341.769 kJ/kg
h4 = 319.586 kJ/kg
Coefficient of performance =

h1 h 4 1275.14 319.586
=
h 2 h1 1486.14 - 1275.14

Coefficient of performance = 4.53

Ans. 4.53 wet versus 4.19 dry.

10-5.

In the vapor-compression cycle a throttling device is used almost universally to reduce the pressure of the
liquid refrigerant.
(a)
Determine the percent saving in net work of the cycle per kilograms of refrigerant if an expansion
engine would be used to expand saturated liquid refrigerant 22 isentropically from 35 C to the
evaporator temperature of 0 C. Assume that compression is isentropic from saturated vapor at 0 C
to a condenser pressure corresponding yo 35 C.
(b)
Calculate the increase in refrigerating effect in kilojoules per kilograms resulting from use of
expansion engine.

Solution:

Vapor-Compression Cycle:

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CHAPTER 10 - THE VAPOR-COMPRESSION CYCLE

At 1, 0 C, Table A-6.
h1 = 405.361 kJ/kg
s1 = sg1 = 1.75279 kJ/kg.K
At 2, 35 C, constant entropy, Table A-7.
h2 = 430.504 kJ/kg
At 3, Table A-6
h3 = 243.114 kJ/kg
h4 = h3 = 243.114 kJ/kg
Net Work = h2 - h1 = 430.504 - 405.361 = 25.143 kJ/kg
Refrigerating Effect = h1 - h4 = 405.361 - 243.114 = 162.247 kJ/kg

For expansion engine:

At a, 0 C, Table A-6.
ha = hga = 405.361 kJ.kg
hfa = 200 kJ/kg
sa = sga = 1.75279 kJ/kg.K
sfa = 1.00000 kJ/kg.k
At b, constant entropy, Table A-2
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CHAPTER 10 - THE VAPOR-COMPRESSION CYCLE

hb = 430.504 kJ/kg
At c, Table A-6.
hc = 243.114 kJ/kg
sc = 1.14594 kJ/kg
At d, constant entropy.
s s fa
1.14594 1.00000
x= d
=
= 0.193866
s ga s fa 1.75279 1.00000
hd = hfa + x(hga - hfa)
hd = 200 + (0.193866)(405.361 - 200)
hd = 239.813 kJ/kg
Net Work = (hb - ha) - (hc - hd)
Net Work = (430.5 - 405.361) - (243.114 - 239.813)
Net Work = 21.838 kJ/kg
Refrigerating Effect = ha - hd = 405.361 - 239.813 = 165.548 kJ/kg
(a)

(b)

10-6.

Percent Saving
25.143 21.838
=
(100% )
25.143
= 13.1 % - - - Ans.
Increase in refrigerating effect.
= 165.548 kJ/kg - 162.247 kJ/kg
= 3.301 kJ/kg - - - Ans.

Since a refrigeration system operates more efficiently when the condensing temperature is low, evaluate the
possibility of cooling the condenser cooling water of the refrigeration system in question with another
refrigeration system. Will the compressor performance of the two systems be better, the same, or worse than
one individual system? Explain why.

Solution:

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CHAPTER 10 - THE VAPOR-COMPRESSION CYCLE

Coefficient of performance of two system:

w (h h ) + w a (h a h d )
COPc = 1 1 4
w 1 (h 2 h1 ) + w a (h b h a )
Coefficient of performance of each system
w (h h )
COP1 = 1 1 4
w 1 (h 2 h1 )
w a (h a h d )
w a (h b h a )
Substituting:
COP2 =

COPc =

w 1 (h1 h 4 ) + w a (h a h d )
w 1 (h1 h 4 ) w a (h a h d )
+
COP1
COP2

if COP1 = COP2 then:

COPc = COP1 = COP2
Therefore it is the same COP as for individual system having equal COP and in between if COP is not
the same..Ans.

10-7.

A refrigerant 22 vapor compression system includes a liquid-to-suction heat exchanger in the system. The
heat exchanger warms saturated vapor coming from the evaporator from -10 to 5 C with liquid which comes
from the condenser at 30 C. The compressions are isentropic in both cases listed below.
(a)
Calculate the coefficient of performance of the system without the heat exchanger but with the
condensing temperature at 30 C and an evaporating temperature of -10 C.
(b)
Calculate the coefficient of performance of the system with the heat exchanger?
(c)
If the compressor is capable of pumping 12.0 L/s measured at the compressor suction, what is the
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CHAPTER 10 - THE VAPOR-COMPRESSION CYCLE

(d)

refrigeration capacity of the system without the heat exchanger?

With the same compressor capacity as in (c), what is the refrigerating capacity of the system with
the heat exchanger?

Solution:

(a)

Without heat exchanger

At 1,6, -10 C, Table A-6.
h1 = 401.555 kJ/kg
s1 = 1.76713 kJ/kg.K
At 2, 30 C, constant entropy, Table A-7
h2 = 431.787 kJ/kg
At 3,4 , 30 C, Table A-6.
h3 = 236.664 kJ/kg
At 5, h5 = h3 = 236.664 kJ/kg

h1 h 5 401.555 236.664
=
h 2 h1 431.787 401.555
coefficient of performance = 5.46 . . . Ans.
coefficient of performance =

(b)

With heat exchanger

At 6, -10 C , Table A-6
h6 = 401.555 kJ/kg
At 1, -10 C evaporator temperature, 5 C, Table A-7
h1 = 411.845 kJ/kg
At 2, 30 C, constant entropy, Table A-7
h2 = 444.407 kJ/kg
At 3, 30 C, table A-6
h3 = 236.664 kJ/kg.
Since no mention of subcooling.
h5 = h4 = h3 = 236.664 kJ/kg

h1 h 5 411.845 236.664
=
h 2 h1 444.407 411.845
coefficient of performance = 5.38 . . . Ans.
coefficient of performance =

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CHAPTER 10 - THE VAPOR-COMPRESSION CYCLE

(c)

Refrigerating capacity without heat exchanger

At 1, = 65.3399 L/kg

Refrigerating Capacity
12.0 L/s
(h1 h 5 )
=
65.3399 L/kg
12.0 L/s
(401.555 236.664)
=
65.3399 L/kg
= 30.3 kW - - - - Ans.

(d)

Refrigerating capacity with heat exchanger

At 1, = 70.2751 L/kg

Refrigerating Capacity
12.0 L/s
(h1 h 5 )
=
70.2751 L/kg
12.0 L/s
(411.845 236.664)
=
70.2751 L/kg
= 29.9 kW - - - - Ans.

-000-

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