VI.

MULTIPLE EVAPORATOR SYSTEM

LEARNING OUTCOME
1. Analyze, explain, and draw the schematic diagram with the corresponding
PV and HS diagram of evaporators operating at the same temperatures.
2. Analyze, explain, and draw the schematic diagram with the corresponding
PV and HS diagram of evaporators operating at different temperatures.
3. Analyze, explain, and draw the schematic diagram with the corresponding
PV and HS diagram of multi-evaporator system with flash intercooling.
4. Evaluate and interpret the performance of items 1, 2 and 3.

Multiple evaporator system is necessary when refrigerating different

products. Different products may have different refrigerating
temperatures.

A. SINGLE COMPRESSOR SYSTEM

1. All evaporators operating at the same temperature

- Used to refrigerate different products with the same storage
temperatures.
- If the evaporators have the same operating temperature, the
cooling loads are added and are to be considered as one
evaporator.
Problem 1:
Determine the theoretical power and COP of a refrigerating system
with single compressor that serves the products shown below. It has a
condenser temperature of 40OC and uses R-12.
Products Refrigerating Load Storage Temperature
Lamb 10 Tons -5OC
Beef 30 Tons -5OC
Hogs 20 Tons -5OC

40OC
3 2
• Condenser •

-5OC 10 TOR
4•
Evaporator 1

-5OC 30 TOR
1
Evaporator 2 •
QT = 10 + 30 + 20

-5OC 20 TOR QT = 60 TOR

Evaporator 3

1
 3•
•2

t2 = tsat at P2

1
4
• •
t1 = tsat at P1

Note: This type will be solved as if it were a simple vapor compressor refrigerating
system.

2. Evaporators of different temperatures

a) Individual expansion valves with back pressure valves

(Parallel valve arrangement)

Problem 2:
Determine the theoretical power and COP of the refrigerating cycle
shown below using R-12

40OC
3 2
• Condenser •

5OC 10 TOR
4 5 6
• Evaporator 1 • •

0OC 30 TOR
7 8 9 1
• Evaporator 2 • • •

-5OC 20 TOR
10 11
• Evaporator 3 •

2
 3 2
P2 = P 3 • •
t2 = tsat at P2
4 5
• •
7 8
• •
11
10
• •1• •9 •6

h5 = h6 = hg at t5
h8 = h9 = hg at t8

h1

h11 = hg at t11

h3 = hg at t2 = h4 = h7 = h10

For Evaporator 1:

Q1 = m1(h5 – h4)
Q1
m1 =
h5 – h4

For Evaporator 2:

Q2 = m2(h8 – h7)
Q2
m2 =
h8 – h7

3
For Evaporator 3:

Q3 = m3(h11 – h10)
Q3
m3 =
h11 – h10

m = m1 + m2 + m3

Energy Balance at the mixing section:

6
m1 , h 6 ●
m2 , h 9 9 1
● ● m , h1

m3 , h11 11
●

∑Ein = ∑Eout

m1h6 + m2h9 + m3h11 = mh1

m1h6 + m2h9 + m3h11

h1 =
m
b) Multiple expansion
P2 valves with back pressure valves
h2 = h] (Series valve arrangement)
S =S 1 2

40OC
3 2
• Condenser •

5OC 10 TOR
4• 5 6
Evaporator 1 • •
7•

0OC 30 TOR
8• 9 10 1
Evaporator 2 • • •
11 •

-5OC 20 TOR
• Evaporator 3 •
13
12

4
 3 2
• • P2 = P 3
t2 = tsat at P2
7 4 5
• • •
11 9
• 8• •
13
12• •1• •10 •6

h5 = h6 = hg at t5
h9 = h10 = hg at t9

h1

h13 = hg at t13

h3 = hf at t2 = h4

h7 = hf at t5 = h8

h11 = hf at t9 = h12

For Evaporator 3:

Q3 = m3(h13 – h12)
Q3
m3 =
h13 – h12

5
For Evaporator 2:

Q2 = mr2(h9 – h8)
Q2 Weight of vapor refrigerant
mr2 = to take charge of the load of
h9 – h8 evaporator 2.

7●
mr2
(m3 + mv2) 7
● (m + m )
3 v2
8●

11 m3 8 mv2 9
Flash m2 = mr2 + mv2 ● ● ●
Tank
x8 y8 = 1 – x 8
11 ●

m3
The weight of vapor formed when m3
x8 expanded from P7 to P8.
mv2 = (m3) It passes through evaporator 2 but it
1 – x8
does no cooling effect.

Quality or vapor content

x8 = of refrigerant at point 8

h8 = hf8 + x8hfg8

h8 = hf8 + x8(hg8 – hf8)

h8 = h11 + x8(h9 – h11)

h8 – h11
x8 =
h9 – h11

m2 = mr2 + mv2

For Evaporator 1:

Q1 = mr1(h5 – h4)
Q1 Weight of vapor refrigerant
mr1 = to take charge of the load of
h5 – h4 evaporator 1.

x4 Additional vapor passing

mv1 = (m2 + m3) through evaporator 1
1 – x4 without cooling effect.

6
 Quality or vapor content
x4 =
of refrigerant at point 4

h4 = hf4 + x4hfg4

h4 = hf4 + x4(hg4 – hf4)

h4 = h7 + x4(h5 – h7)

h4 – h7
x4 =
h5 – h7

m1 = mr1 + mv1

m = m1 + m2 + m3

Energy Balance at the mixing section:

6
m1 , h 6 ●
m2 , h10 10 1
● ● m , h1

m3 , h13 13
●

∑Ein = ∑Eout

m1h6 + m2h10 + m3h13 =

mh1
m1h6 + m2h10 + m3h13
h1 =
m

P2
h2 = h]
S1 = S2

7
B. DUAL COMPRESSION SYSTEM

1. Individual Expansion valves (Parallel valve arrangement)

40OC
3 2
• Condenser •
Comp. 1
•7
5OC 10 TOR
4 1
• Evaporator 1 •
0OC 30 TOR
5 6
• Evaporator 2 • Dual
O Compressor
-5 C 20 TOR
8 9
• Evaporator 3 •

3 2 7
• • • P2 = P 3 = P 7
t2 = tsat at P2
4 1
• •
5 6
• •
9
8
• •

h1 = hg at t1

h6 = hg at t6

h9 = hg at t9

h3 = h4 = h5 = h8 = hf at t2

P2
h2 = h]
S1 = S2

P7 = P2
h7 = h]
S6 = S7

8
 For Evaporator 1:

Q1 = m1(h1 – h4)
Q1
m1 =
h1 – h4

For Evaporator 2:

Q2 = m2(h6 – h5)
Q2
m2 =
h6 – h5

For Evaporator 3:

Q3 = m3(h9 – h8)
Q3
m3 =
h9 – h8

Wc1 = Work of compressor 1

Wc1 = m1(h2 – h1)

WDc = Work of dual compressor

WDC = (m2 + m3)h7 - m2h6 - m3h9

9
2. Multiple expansion valves (Series valve arrangement)

40OC
3 2
• Condenser •
Comp 1
•8
4•
5OC 10 TOR
1
1
5•
Evaporator 1 •
0OC 30 TOR
6• 7
9•
Evaporator 2 •
Dual
O Compressor
-5 C 20 TOR
• Evaporator 3 •
10 11

3 2 8
• • • P2 = P 3 = P 8
t2 = tsat at P2
4 1
5
• • •
9 7
• 6• •
11
•
10
•

h1 = hg at t1

h7 = hg at t7

h11 = hg at t11

h3 = h4 = hf at t2

h5 = h6 = hf at t1

h9 = h10 = hf at t7

P2
h2 = h]
S1 = S2

P8 = P2
h8 = h]
S7 = S8

10
For Evaporator 3:

Q3 = m3(h11 – h10)
Q3
m3 =
h11 – h10

For Evaporator 2:

Q2 = mr2(h7 – h6)

Q2 Weight of vapor refrigerant

mr2 = to take charge of the load of
h7 – h6 evaporator 2.

x6 Additional vapor passing

mv2 = (m3) through evaporator 2
1 – x6 without cooling effect.

Quality or vapor content

x6 =
of refrigerant at point 6

h6 = hf6 + x6hfg6

h6 = hf6 + x6(hg6 – hf6)

h6 = h9 + x6(h7 – h9)

h6 – h9
x6 =
h7 – h9

m2 = mr2 + mv2

11
For Evaporator 1:

Q1 = mr1(h5 – h4)
Q1 Weight of vapor refrigerant
mr1 = to take charge of the load of
h5 – h4 evaporator 1.

x4 Additional vapor passing

mv1 = (m2 + m3) through evaporator 1
1 – x4 without cooling effect.

Quality or vapor content

x4 =
of refrigerant at point 4

h4 = hf4 + x4hfg4

h4 = hf4 + x4(hg4 – hf4)

h4 = h5 + x4(h1 – h5)

h4 – h5
x4 =
h1 – h5

m1 = mr1 + mv1

m = m1 + m2 + m3

Wc1 = Work of compressor 1

Wc1 = m1(h2 – h1)

WDc = Work of dual compressor

WDC = (m2 + m3)h8 - m2h7 - m3h11

12
C. COMPOUND COMPRESSION WITH FLASH INTERCOOLER
(DESUPERHEATER)

1. Individual Expansion valves

(Parallel valve arrangement)

40OC
3 2
● Condenser ●

5OC 10 TOR
4 1
● Evaporator 1 ●
C1
7
Intercooler 1 ●

0OC 30 TOR
5 6
● Evaporator 2 ●
C2
10
Intercooler 2 ●

-5OC 20 TOR
8 9
● Evaporator 3 ●
C3

3 2
• • P2 = P 3
t2 = tsat at P2
4 1 7
• • • P1 = P 4 = P 7
5 6 10
• • • P5 = P6 = P10
9
8
• • P8 = P 9

h1 = hg at t1

h6 = hg at t6

h9 = hg at t9

h3 = h4 = h5 = h8 = hf at t2

13
For Evaporator 3:
P2 P7 P10
h2 = h] h7 = h] h10 = h]
S1 = S2 S6 = S7 S9 = S10

Q3 = m3(h9 – h8)
Q3
m3 =
h9 – h8

Wc3 = Work of compressor 3

Wc3 = m3(h10 – h9)

For Intercooler 2:

6 ● (m3 + mInt2), h6

5 10
mInt2, h5 ● Intercooler 2 ● m3, h10

∑Ein = ∑Eout

mInt2h5 + m3h10 = (m3 + mInt2)h6

m3(h10 - h6)
mInt2 =
(h6 – h5)

For Evaporator 2:

Q2 = m2(h6 – h5)
Q2
m2 =
h6 – h5

Wc2 = Work of compressor 2

Wc2 = (m2 + m3 + mInt2)(h7 – h6)

14
For Intercooler 1:

1 ● (m2 + m3 + mInt1 + mInt2), h1

4 7
mInt1, h4 ●5 Intercooler 1 ● (m2 + m3 + mInt2), h7

∑Ein = ∑Eout

mInt1h4 + (m2 + m3 + mInt2)h7 = (m2 + m3 + mInt1 + mInt2)h1

(m2 + m3 + mInt2)(h7 – h1)

mInt1 =
(h1 – h4)

For Evaporator 1:

Q1 = m1(h1 – h4)
Q1
m1 =
h1 – h4

m = Total refrigerant flow

m = m1 + m2 + m3 + mInt1 + mInt2

Wc1 = Work of compressor 1

Wc2 = m(h2 – h1)

WT = Total compressor work

WT = Wc1 + Wc2 + Wc3

15
2. Multiple expansion valves
(Series valve arrangement)

40OC
3 2
● Condenser ●

4● 5OC 10 TOR
1
Evaporator 1 ●
5● C1

Intercooler 1
●8
6● 0OC 30 TOR
7
Evaporator 2 ●
9● C2

Intercooler 2
● 12
-5OC 20 TOR
10 11
● Evaporator 3 ●
C3

3 2
• • P2 = P 3
t2 = tsat at P2
5 4 1 8
• • • • P1 = P 4 = P 5 = P 8
9 6 7 12
• • • • P6 = P7 = P9 = P12
11
10• • P10 = P11

h1 = hg at t1
P2
h7 = hg at t7 h2 = h]
S1 = S2

h11 = hg at t11
P8
h3 = h4 = hf at t2 h8 = h]
S7 = S8
h5 = h6 = hf at t1
P12
h9 = h10 = hf at t11 h12 = h]
S11 = S12

16
For Evaporator 3:

Q3 = m3(h11 – h10)
Q3
m3 =
h11 – h10

Wc3 = Work of compressor 3

Wc3 = m3(h12 – h11)

For Intercooler 2:

7 ● (m3 + mInt2), h7

6 12
mInt2, h6 ● Intercooler 2 ● m3, h12

∑Ein = ∑Eout

mInt2h6 + m3h12 = (m3 + mInt2)h7

m3(h12 – h7)
mInt2 =
(h7 – h6)

For Evaporator 2:

Q2 = mr2(h7 – h6)
Q2 Weight of vapor refrigerant
mr2 = to take charge of the load of
h7 – h6 evaporator 2.

x6 Additional vapor passing

mv2 = (m3) through evaporator 2
1 – x6 without cooling effect.

17
 Quality or vapor content
x6 = of refrigerant at point 6

h6 = hf6 + x6hfg6

h6 = hf6 + x6(hg6 – hf6)

h6 = h9 + x6(h7 – h9)

h6 – h9
x6 =
h7 – h9

m2 = mr2 + mv2

Wc2 = Work of compressor 2

Wc2 = (m2 + m3 + mInt2)(h8 – h7)

For Intercooler 1:

1 ● (m2 + m3 + mInt1 + mInt2), h1

4 8
mInt1, h4 ● Intercooler 1 ● (m2 + m3 + mInt2), h8

∑Ein = ∑Eout

mInt1h4 + (m2 + m3 + mInt2)h8 = (m2 + m3 + mInt1 + mInt2)h1

(m2 + m3 + mInt2)(h8 – h1)

mInt1 =
(h1 – h4)

18
For Evaporator 1:

Q1 = mr1(h1 – h4)
Q1 Weight of vapor refrigerant
mr1 = to take charge of the load of
h1 – h4 evaporator 1.

x4 Additional vapor passing

mv1 = (m2 + m3) through evaporator 1
1 – x4 without cooling effect.

Quality or vapor content

x4 =
of refrigerant at point 4

h4 = hf4 + x4hfg4

h4 = hf4 + x4(hg4 – hf4)

h4 = h5 + x4(h1 – h5)

h4 – h5
x4 =
h1 – h5

m1 = mr1 + mv1

m = Total refrigerant flow

m = m1 + m2 + m3 + mInt1 + mInt2

Wc1 = Work of compressor 1

Wc2 = m(h2 – h1)

WT = Total compressor work

WT = Wc1 + Wc2 + Wc3

19