Formulas for Refrigeration

1. P, V, and T relations;

P1V1n = P2V2n

T2
=¿
T1
where:

n is a polytropic exponent
n = 1.4, if isentropic compression
n = 1, if isothermal compression

2. Piston displacement is the volume displaced by the piston as it moves from top dead center to
bottom dead center.

πD 2
VD = ( )L N
4
where:
VD = volume displacement
D = bore, m
L = stoke, m
N = speed, rev/s

If given No. of cylinder and no. of Piston Action :

πD 2
VD = ( )L N x No. of cylinder x No. of piston action
4

3. Volumetric efficiency is the ratio of the actual gas drawn-in at aintake condition to the
displacement volume (piston displacement)

V 1'
ev = ( ) or ev = 1 + c – c ¿
VD
where:
VC
c = clearance =
VD

4. Capacity of compressor is the actual volume of gas delivered as measured at intake pressure and
temperature.

mR T 1
V1’ = ¿
P1

5. Actual Volumetric efficiency the actual volumetric efficiency is usually less than the clearance
volumetric efficiency because of the number of factors such as pressure drop at the valves, heat
 transfer between surrounding and device, and the presence of residual gas in the cylinder at the
end of the delivery stroke.
P1 P1 T atm
ev = [1 + c – c ( )¿ x x
P2 Patm P atm

6. Compressor work
a. Work for polytropic Compression

nP1 V 1 nmRT 1
W= ¿ – 1] or W = ¿
n−1 n−1
b. Work of isentropic compression(W)

kP1 V 1
W= ¿
k −1

c. Work for isothermal compression (W)

P2 P2
W = P1V1 ln ( ) or W = m R T1 ln ( )
P1 P1

7. Compressor efficiency (ec) is the ratio of the compressor power to the brake power
Compressorpower
ec =
Brakepower

8. Piston Speed (V) is the total distance a piston travels in a given time. It is dependent on the
length of stroke and the angular speed.
V=2LN
Where:
V = piston speed, m/s
L = length of stroke,m
N = angular speed, rev/sec

9. Ideal Indicated Power (P1) is the product of the indicated mean effective pressure and the
displacement volume.
P1 = Pm VD

10. Adiabatic Compressor efficiency is the ratio of the isentropic work to the actual fluid work.

Isentropic work
ec (adiabatic) =
Actual fluid work
 Sample Problems

Chapter 2- Compressor

1. Compute the volume of air drawn per minute in a single-stage compressor that takes in 0.90 kg
of air per minute at atmospheric pressure and 24 °C and compresses it to 1 atmospheric of
pressure, if the law of compression is PV 1.2 = C. Use the specific volume of air at 0°C = 0.7734
m3/kg.

Solution:

Volume of 0.90 kg of atmospheric pressure and 24°C :

0.7734( 0.90)(24 +273)

V=
( 1)(0+ 273)
V = 0.7571 m3

2. The mean effective pressure of an air compressor is 500 kPa. If the compressor work is 150 kW,
what is the volume displacement in m 3/min.

Solution:

W = PmVD

150 = 500 VD

VD = 0.30 m3/s

Thus;

VD = 18 m3/min

3. An air compressor takes air at 90 kPa and discharge is 700 kPa. If the volume flow of discharge is
1.3 m3/s, compute the capacity of the air compressor.

Solution:

P1V1n = P2V2n

9011.4 – 700 (1.3)1.4

V1 = 5.63 m3/s
 4. A two-stage air compressor has an intercooler pressure of 300kPa. If the suction pressure is 10
kPA, what is the discharge pressure?

Solution:

Px = √ P1P2

300 = √100(P2)

Ps = 900 kPa

5. The bore and stroke of an air compressor are 276 mm and 164 mm respectively. If the piston
displacement is 0.039 m3/s , what is the operating speed of the compressor.

Solution:

π D 2 ln
Vd =
4

π ( 0.276 )2 (0.164) N
0.0 .9=
4
N = 3.975 rev/s = 238.49

N = 238.49 rpm

6. An ideal single stage air compressor without clearance takes in air at 100 kPa with a
temperature of 16 °C and delivered it at 413 kPa after isentropic compression. What is the
discharge work done by the compressor in kJ/kg?

Solution:

−kmR T 1 P 2 k−1
W= [( ¿ k −1
k −1 P1

−(1.4)( 0.287)(16+273) 413 1.4−1

W/m = [( ¿ 1.4 −1
1.4−1 100
W/m = -145 kJ/kg

7. An air compress 8.5 m3/min from 98.56 kPa to 985 kPa. Assuming ideal conditions, and with n =
1.3 what will be the saving in work due to two staging?

Solution:

Work of single stage, W1:

 n P 1 V 1 P 2 n−1
W1 = [( ¿ n −1
n−1 P 1
8.5 1.3−1
1.30(98.56)(
60 [( 985.6 ¿ 1.3 −1
)
W1 =
98.56
n−1
W1 = 42.43 kW

Work of two stage, W2:

2n P1 V 1 P x n −1
W2 = [( ¿ n −1
n−1 P1

Where;

Px = √P1P2 = √(98.56)(985.6)

=311.67 kPa

8.5 1.3−1
n(1.30)(98.56)
W2 = 60 [( 311.67 ¿ 1.3 −1
98.56
n−1

W2 = 36.83

Thus;

Saving : W1 –W2

= 42.43 – 36.83

Saving = 5.60 kW

8. A rotary compressor receives 8 m3/min of a gas ( R = 0.410 kJ/kg-k,Cp = 1.03 kJ/kg-k) at 108
kPa,27 °C and delivers it at 650. kPa. Fine the work if compression is polytropic with PV 1.3 = C.

Solution:

−n P1 V 1 P 2 n−1
W1 = [( ¿ n −1
n−1 P1

−1.3(108)(8) 650 1.31.3−1

W1 = [( ¿ −1¿
1.3−1 108
= -1,921.24 kJ/min

Thus;
W1 = -32.02 kW

9. A 5 kW motor is used to drive an air compressor. Determine the compressor work if the
compressor efficiency is 72 %.

Solution:

ecompressor = Compressorpower/Brakepower

0.72 = W/5

W = 3.6 kW

10. An air compressor has a cylinder diameter of 140 mm and a piston stroke of 200 mm. Air is
taken In at 0.98 bar and delivered at 7 bar with a clearance volume of 10%. If the law of
compression is PV1.28 = C, Calculate the volume of air delivered per stroke.

Solution:

Stroke Volume = π/4 (14 cm)2 (20 cm)

=3078 cm3

Clearance Volume = 0.10( 3078)

= 307.8 cm3

V1 = stroke volume + clearance volume

=3078 + 307.8 = 3385.8 cm3

P1V11.28 = P2V21.28

(0.98)(3385.8)1.28 = 7V21.28

V2 = 728.74 cm3

Volume Delivered per stroke; Vdel:

Vdel = 728.74 – 307.8

Thus;

Vdel = 420.94 cm3

11. A single-stage compressor compresses 0.0424 m3 of air at a pressure of 1 bar. If the clearance
volume in the cylinder is 1230 cm3 and discharge pressure is 8 bars, calculate the volume of air
delivered per stroke considering that it is an isothermal compression.
Solution:

Volume of air delivered per stroke:

V = V2 – Clearance Volume

For isothermal Compression:

P1V1 = P2V2

(1)(0.0424 + 24) = 8 V2

Then;

V = 0.0053 – 0.001230 m3

V=0.00407 m3

Thus;

V1 = 4.07 liters m3

12. A compressor piston has a stroke of 380 mm and the clearance volume of 7% of the stroke
volume. At the beginning of compression stroke the pressure of air is 0.99 bar. When the piston
has traveled 260 mm from the beginning of the compression stroke the delivery valves open and
delivers air at 4 bar. Find the value of n, if the compression follows the law PV n = C.

Solution:

P1V1n = P2V2n

Solving for V1 and V2 :

Clearance length = 0.07(380)
=26.6 mm
V1 = 380 + 26.6 = 406.6 mm
V2 = 406.6 – 260 = 146.6
Then;
0.99(406.6)n = 4(146.6)n
Thus;
n = 1.37
 13. A single-stage single acting air compressor,running at 5 rev/s,has air intake of 22.8 liters at
atmospheric pressure and 25 °C. If it compresses 5.7 liters in accordance with the compression
law PV1.2 = C, calculate the temperature of the air at the end of compression.
Solution:
T2/T1 = (V1/V2)n-1
T2/25+273 = (22.8/5.7)1.2-1
T2 = 393.21 K
Thus; the temperature at the end of compression
=T2 – T1 = 393.21 – 298
= 393.1 K
t= 120.1°C
14. Air taken the atmospheric at 100 kPaa and 21 °C is delivered to the air receiver at 689 kPaa and
150°C by means of a water jacketed reciprocating compressor. The compressor has a rated
capacity of 360 m3/hr free air. Determine the power required to compress the air.

Solution:

n P 1 V 1 P 2 n−1
Power = [( ¿ n −1
n−1 P 1
Solving for n:

T2/T1 = (P2/P1) n-1/n

150 + 273/21 + 273 = (689/100)n-1/1

N=1.23

V1 = 360 m3/hr = 0.10 m3/hr

P = 1.23(100)(0.10) / 1.23 [(689/100) 1.223-1/1.23 – 1 ]

P = 23.24 kW

15. A single-acting,single-stage reciprocating compressor is required to deliver 50 kg per hour from

100 kPa and 35 °C conditions to 900 kPa delivery pressure. The compression is expected to
follow PV1.25 = C. Determine the required power of the compressor under ideal conditions.

Solution:

n P 1 V 1 P 2 n−1
Power = [( ¿ n −1
n−1 P 1
Solving for the capacity of the compressor,V 1’:
V1’ = m R T1/P1 = (50/3600)(0.287)(298) / 100

=0.1183 kg/s

Then;

Power = 1.25(100)(0.1188) / 1.25 – 1 [(900/100) 1.21-1/1.25 – 1

Power = 3.28 kW

16. If the power to drive shaft is 7 Hp and the mechanical efficiency is 74%, what is the actual
compressor power?

Solution:

em = CompressorPower/Powertodrivetheshaft

0.74 = compressorpower/7

Compressor Power = 5.18 Hp

17. A two-stage air compressor has a suction pressure of 101.325 kPa and a discharge pressure of
1,140 kPa. What is the intercooler pressure in kPa?

Solution:

Px = √P1P2 = √(101.325)(1,140)

Px = 339.37 kPa

18. A single stage air compressor handles 0.454 m 3/s of atmospheric pressure, 27°C air, and delivers
it to a receiver at 652.75 kPa. Its volumetric efficiency is 0.72, its compression efficiency on an
isothermal basis is 0.85 and its mechanical efficiency is 0.90. if tit rotates at 350 rpm,what power
in kW is required to drive it?

Solution:

Drive power = Isothermal/ec em

Where:

Isothermal Power = P1V1 ln(P2V2)

Isothermal power = 101.325(0.454)in(652.725/101.325)

Isothermal Power = 85.694 kW

ec = 0.85

em= 0.90

thus;
Drive Power = 85.694/(0.85)(0.90)

=112.02 kW

Drive power = 112.02 kW

19. A single cylinder, double-acting reciprocating compressor is designed to handle 3000 cm 3 of air
at 99 kPa per revolution. The air is to be compressed to 594 kPa according to the PV 1.32 = C. The
clearance factor is to be 6% and the stroke to bore ratio is unity. Assume that displacement of
crank end and head end are to be same and no pressure in valves. Calculate the cylinder
dimensions in mm.

Solution:

For double acting compressor

VD = πD4/4 LN(2)

Solving for VD:

ev = 1 + 0.06 – 0.06 (594/99)1/1.32

VD = V1’/ev

=3000/0.8268 = 3,628.285 cm3/rev

Then;

3,268.285 = (πD2/4) (D)(1)(2)

D = 13.22 cm

Thus;

D = 132. 20 mm or L = D = 132.20 mm stroke

20. The stroke of the piston of an air compressor is 250 mm and the clearance volume is equal to 6%
of the stroke volume. The pressure of the air at the beginning of compression of 0.98 bar and it
is discharge at 3.8 bar. Assuming compression to follow the law PV n = C,where n= 1.25, calculate
the distance moved by the piston from the beginning of its pressure stroke before the discharge
valves opens and express as a percentage of the stroke.

Solution:

V=V1 – V2

Where:

V1 = c + 250

= (0.06)(250) + 250

=265
Solving for V2 :

P1V1n = P2V2n

(0.98)(265)1.25 = (3.8)v21.25

V2 = 89.62

Then;

V = 265 – 89.62

= 175.38 mm

Solving for the percentage

% Stroke = 185.38/250

Thus;

%stroke = 70.15%