Refrigerator

A refrigerator is a common household appliance or machine that operates in a manner opposite

to that of a heat engine. It is designed to maintain a low temperature inside a confined space,
typically a compartment for storing food.
In a refrigerator, the working substances absorb a certain amount of heat (say Q 2) from a low-
temperature reservoir in the presence of external work done (say W) and then transfer it to the
high-temperature reservoir i.e., Source or surrounding. The working of the refrigerator is
shown in the schematic diagram below:
The net amount of heat delivered to the source is Source, T1

Q1= Q2+W
Q1
Or W = Q1- Q2
Working Mechanism of a Refrigerator W
Refrigerators operate on a cyclic process involving the
compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation of a refrigerant gas. This Q2
cycle continuously removes heat from the interior of the refrigerator and
releases it to the external environment. Sink, T2

Key Components:
Compressor: Compresses the refrigerant gas, increasing its temperature and pressure.
Condenser Coils: The high-pressure, high-temperature gas releases heat to the surroundings,
causing it to condense into a liquid.
Expansion Valve: The liquid refrigerant passes through an expansion valve, rapidly reducing
its pressure and temperature.
Evaporator Coils: The low-pressure, low-temperature gas absorbs heat from the interior of the
refrigerator, causing it to evaporate back into a gas.

Coefficient of Performance (COP):

The Coefficient of Performance (𝛽) is a crucial parameter used to evaluate the efficiency of a
refrigerator. It is defined as the ratio of the heat removed from the sink or refrigerated space to
the work input required in running the refrigerator. i.e.
𝑄 𝑄2
Coefficient of performance (𝛽) = 𝑊2 = 𝑄 ……………… (1)
1 −𝑄2
 1
= 𝑄1 (∵ 𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑏𝑦 𝑄2 )
−1
𝑄2

1 𝑄 𝑇 𝑇
= 𝑇1 (∵ 𝑄1 = 𝑇1 ) Therefore, 𝛽
2
= 𝑇 −𝑇 ……………... (2)
−1 2 2 1 2
𝑇2

Hence, Equation (2) shows that a smaller temperature difference between the source
(surrounding) and sink results in a larger coefficient of performance of the refrigerator. This
means that the refrigerator works more efficiently and consumes less power during the winter
season.
Significance of coefficient of performance: A higher COP indicates a more efficient refrigerator
because more heat is removed per unit of energy input. Energy efficiency is crucial for
minimizing electricity consumption and reducing environmental impact.
Factors Influencing COP:
Design and Insulation: Well-designed refrigerators with effective insulation reduce the
workload on the compressor, improving COP.
Choice of Refrigerant: The type of refrigerant used affects the efficiency of the refrigeration
cycle and, consequently, the COP. Commonly used refrigerants are liquid ammonia, methane,
CFCs, HCFCs, etc.
Temperature Difference: Larger temperature differences between the interior and exterior of
the refrigerator can impact COP.
Conclusion: Understanding the Coefficient of Performance helps consumers make informed
decisions about the energy efficiency of refrigerators. By choosing appliances with higher COP
values, individuals can contribute to energy conservation and reduce electricity consumption in
their homes.
Short Questions:
1. Why does a refrigerator consume more power in summer than in winter to cool the
same quantity of food by the same degree?
Ans. We know that the coefficient of performance of a refrigerator depends upon the
temperature difference between the surroundings and the sink (confined space in the
refrigerator). In the summer season, the temperature of the surroundings is high relative
to cold bodies(sink) in the refrigerator which reduces the coefficient of performance.
Hence more electrical energy is consumed by the working substance to withdraw the same
amount of heat from the cold reservoir. Hence more power is wasted.
2. What happens to the temperature of a closed room when a refrigerator placed in
that room is left operated with its door open?

Ans. When the doors of a refrigerator are opened in a closed room, the temperature of the
room will be increased. This is because, when the hot air molecules enter the refrigerator,
more work is to be done by it in order to cool the items kept inside the refrigerator along
with the air molecules. The heat so absorbed would be dissipated out of the door in the
room which would further raise the temperature of the room.

Numerical Problems (Do yourself and show to your teacher)

1. A refrigerator has a coefficient of performance of 2.10. In each cycle, it absorbs

3.4x104J of heat from the cold reservoir.
a) How much mechanical energy is required for each cycle to operate the refrigerator?
Ans. 1.62x104J
b) During each cycle how much heat is discarded to the high-temperature reservoir?
Ans. 5.02x104 J
2. Assuming the domestic refrigerator is a reversible engine working between the
melting point of ice and the room temperature of 270C, calculate the energy in
joule that must be supplied to freeze one kg of water. Given the temperature of
water is 00C and L= 80 calg-1. Ans. 33230.8J

3. How much energy in watt hour may be required to convert 2 kg of water into ice
at 00C assuming that the refrigerator is ideal? Given temperature of freezer is -
150C, room temperature is 250C and initial temperature of water is 250C.
Ans. 36.96Wh

Entropy
Entropy is a quantitative measurement of randomness/disorderliness in a
thermodynamics system. It was first introduced by Clausius in 1854 A.D. while
formulating the second law of thermodynamics. The second law of thermodynamics
states that the entropy of an isolated system tends to increase over time.
Let us consider an isothermal expansion of an ideal gas in a system. If dQ is the small
amount of heat supplied, then,
From the first law of thermodynamics, dQ = dU+dW
 Or, dQ = dW (∵ 𝑑𝑈 = 0 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 )
Or, dQ = pdV
𝑛𝑅𝑇
Or, dQ = dV (∵ 𝑝𝑣 = 𝑛𝑅𝑇, 𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑔𝑎𝑠 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 )
𝑣
𝑑𝑉 𝑑𝑄
Therefore, 𝑛𝑅 =
𝑣 𝑇
𝑑𝑉 𝑑𝑄
Since, n and R are constant quantities, which is equivalent to can be used to
𝑣 𝑇
measure the entropy of a system.
𝒅𝑸 𝒅𝑽
Hence, Small change in Entropy (dS) = 𝑻
= 𝒏𝑹 𝒗
………………………… (1)

From this we can generalize,

dS = 0 (For any reversible process)
dS > 0 (For every irreversible process)
If Q is the total amount of heat added to the isothermal system at constant temperature
T, then
𝑄
Net change in entropy would be, S = . The unit of entropy is JK-1 .
𝑇

In any thermodynamic process, the change in process from one state to another can be
represented as a series of infinitesimal small processes, then the total change in entropy
is the sum or integration of the ratio through the entire process which can be
represented as,
S= ∫ 𝑑𝑆
𝑑𝑄 𝑑𝑉
Since, (dS) = = 𝑛𝑅 (∵ 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 1 )
𝑇 𝑣
𝑑𝑄 𝑑𝑣
We have, S = ∫ =∫
𝑇 𝑣
𝑻 𝒅𝑸
If temperature of a system changes from T1 to T2 then, S=∫𝑻 𝟐 …………. (2)
𝟏 𝑻

For a given change in volume between the initial and final state of a thermodynamic
system, the total change in entropy can be calculated as,
𝑽 𝒅𝑽
S = ∫𝑽 𝟐 𝒏𝑹
𝟏 𝑽
𝑽
Or, S= nR ln𝑽𝟐 ………………... (3)
𝟏
Do Following numerical yourself (show to your teacher)
1. What is the net change in entropy when 1 kg of water at 100 degrees Celsius is placed in
thermal contact with 1 kg of water at 0 degree Celsius? Ans. 102 J/K
2. A container initially contains 2 moles of an ideal gas at a temperature of 300K. The gas
undergoes an isothermal expansion to double its volume. Calculate the entropy change of
the gas during the process. Ans. 11.551J/K
0
3. Compute the change in entropy when 20 gm of ice at 0 C is converted into water at the same
temperature. Given that the latent heat of fusion of ice is 80cal/g . Ans. 5.83J/K