Refrigiration & Air Conditioning

REFRIGERATION – is the process of cooling by removing heat in an enclosed space and

maintaining the temperature lower than ambient temperature.

AIR-CONDITIONING – is one process of refrigeration. Aside from cooling and maintaining a low
temperature in an enclosed space, it also involves conditioning of the air such as; humidity, air
motion, cleaning, filtering, and even sanitizing the air

Refrigiration Technology - It refers to the method and system used to lower and maintain
temperatures below ambient level.

History of Refrigeration Technology

Ancient Civilizations (3000 BC – 500 AD)

• Ice harvesting:
Ancient civilizations in Egypt, Greece, and Rome harvested ice from lakes and rivers during
winter and stored it in insulated structures to keep food cool.

• Yakhchāl:
The ancient Persians built yakhchāls, or icehouses, to store ice and food. These structures used a
combination of insulation, shading, and evaporative cooling to keep the ice from melting.

• 1748-WILLIAM CULLEN:
- Invented the first process for creating an artificial cooling medium.

• 1805-OLIVER EVANS:
- Design the first refrigeration machine which used vapor-compression.
• 1834-JACOB PERKINS:
- Develop a practical vapor compression refrigeration system.

• 1856-JAMES HARRISON:
- Invented the first practical ice-making machine, which used vapor-compression to produce
ice.

• 1876- CARL VON LINDE:

- Develop an ice-making that used ammonia-based refrigeration system that is used a
compressor, condenser, and evaporator.

• 1889- FRED W. WOLF:

Develop the first commercial refrigerator unit.
 Principles of Refrigiration

The principles of refrigeration include heat transfer, compression, condensation, and

the use of the evaporator and condenser.

Heat transfer
Heat moves from a higher temperature source to a lower temperature source. The larger the
temperature difference, the more heat that moves. Refrigeration engineering is primarily
concerned with the transfer of heat.

Compression
The compressor increases the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant. The energy used to
compress the gas is absorbed by the gas as heat of compression.

Condensation
As the high-energy gas enters the condenser, it releases heat into the environment. This causes
the gas to condense into a high-pressure liquids.

Evaporator
The evaporator evaporates the liquid refrigerant into a vapor and then into a gas. The
refrigerant then returns to the compressor.

Condenser
The condenser removes heat from the hot refrigerant vapor gas. The condenser is one of two
types of heat exchangers used in a basic refrigeration loop.

Forms of Heat Energy

Heat energy refers to the energy that is transferred between objects or systems due to a
temperature difference. This energy transfer occurs from a higher temperature object to a lower
temperature one, following the second law of thermodynamics.

1. Convection: The transfer of heat through fluids (liquids or gases) caused by the movement of
the fluid itself. Warm fluid rises, and cooler fluid sinks, creating a convection current.

“In a refrigerator, convection plays a key role in cooling and distributing cold air. Convection, the
transfer of heat through the movement of fluids, is driven by temperature differences, causing
warmer air to rise and colder air to sink. This creates a continuous circulation of air, effectively
cooling the refrigerator's interior and keeping food fresh.”

2. Mechanical Heat: Heat generated from mechanical work or friction (e.g., rubbing hands
together creates warmth).

“In a refrigerator, electrical energy is converted to mechanical energy by a motor, which then
powers a compressor. The compressor compresses the refrigerant, raising its temperature and
converting mechanical energy into thermal energy. This process is part of a closed refrigeration
cycle that involves heat transfer between the inside of the refrigerator and the outside
environment.”

3. Chemical Heat: Heat released or absorbed during a chemical reaction. For example, when
fuels burn, chemical reactions release heat energy.

“In a refrigerator, chemical energy from the refrigerant is converted into thermal energy during
the cooling process, which is part of the refrigeration cycle. The refrigerant absorbs heat from
inside the refrigerator, changing from liquid to gas, and then releases that heat outside the
refrigerator, changing back to liquid. This process relies on the phase change of the refrigerant
and the principles of thermodynamics.”
4. Radiation: The transfer of heat in the form of electromagnetic waves (like infrared radiation).
This form of heat transfer doesn’t require a medium and can occur in a vacuum, such as how the
Sun heats the Earth.

“While a refrigerator does involve radiation, it's not the primary mechanism for heat transfer,
and its impact is relatively small. The dominant methods are convection and
conduction. Radiation plays a minor role in the overall heat transfer process within a
refrigerator, primarily between the evaporator and other internal surfaces, and between the
food items and the refrigerator's interior.”

5. Latent Heat: This is the energy absorbed or released during a phase change (such as melting,
freezing, boiling, or condensing) without changing temperature.

“In a refrigerator, latent heat plays a crucial role in the cooling process. Specifically, the latent
heat of vaporization is the energy absorbed by the refrigerant as it changes from a liquid to a gas
in the evaporator. This absorption of heat from the inside of the refrigerator lowers the
temperature, effectively cooling it.”

6. Thermal Energy: The internal energy of a system due to the kinetic energy of its molecules.
The more kinetic energy the particles in a substance have, the higher the thermal energy, which
is essentially the total heat energy of a system.

“A refrigerator transfers thermal energy from the cool air inside the refrigerator to the warm air
in the kitchen. Thermal energy normally moves from a warmer area to a cooler area, so a
refrigerator must do work to reverse the normal direction of heat flow.”

The Compression Cycle of Refrigiration & Refrigiration Units

The compression refrigeration cycle, a common method for transferring heat,
involves compressing a refrigerant to a higher pressure, then condensing it, expanding it to a
lower pressure, and finally evaporating it to absorb heat from the area to be cooled. This cycle
uses a closed system of four main components: a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve,
and an evaporator.

A refrigeration unit is a system that transfers heat from a space to be cooled to a space
with a lower temperature. Common examples include household refrigerators, freezers, and air
conditioners. These units use a closed-loop cycle involving compression, condensation,
expansion, and evaporation to achieve cooling.

Basic Refrigeration Cycle:

Compression: A refrigerant gas is compressed, increasing its temperature and pressure.
Condensation: The high-pressure, hot refrigerant is cooled, causing it to condense into a liquid,
releasing heat.
Expansion: The liquid refrigerant is expanded, causing it to drop in pressure and temperature.
Evaporation: The low-pressure, cold refrigerant absorbs heat from the space being cooled,
causing it to evaporate back into a gas.

Key Components:
Compressor: The heart of the system, compressing the refrigerant.
Condenser: Removes heat from the refrigerant, allowing it to condense.
Expansion Device: (e.g., capillary tube, expansion valve) Reduces the pressure and temperature
of the refrigerant.
Evaporator: Absorbs heat from the space to be cooled, causing the refrigerant to evaporate.

Examples of Refrigeration Units:

Household Refrigerators and Freezers: These use the refrigeration cycle to keep food cold.
Air Conditioners: These use the cycle to cool indoor air, drawing heat from the space and
releasing it outdoors.
Industrial Refrigeration: Used for applications like food processing, chemical manufacturing,
and cryogenics.
Cryogenics: Used for research, storage, and industrial processes that require very low
temperatures.
Heat Pumps:These units can be used for both heating and cooling, as they can transfer heat
either into or out of a space.

ADDITIONAL:
 Refrigeration units are the backbone of any refrigeration system. Whether for climate
control, food preservation, or industrial processing, these units are engineered to create and
maintain low-temperature environments across a wide range of applications.
From air conditioning in office buildings to deep-freeze storage in supermarkets and
logistics centers, refrigeration units are central to comfort, safety, and productivity in modern

Key Applications of Refrigeration Units

Air Conditioning: Cooling and dehumidifying indoor spaces in residential, commercial, and
industrial environments.

Medium-Temperature Cooling: Preserving perishable goods in supermarkets, cold rooms, and

refrigerated display equipment.

Low-Temperature Cooling: Enabling long-term storage of frozen foods and sensitive industrial
products in freezer compartments and deep-freeze warehouses.

Core Components of Refrigeration Units

Refrigeration units consist of several critical components that work together to achieve efficient
cooling:

1. Compressors: The Heart of the System

The operation of a refrigeration unit largely depends on its compressor. These devices circulate
refrigerant through the system, enabling heat transfer. Common types of compressors include:

 Reciprocating Compressors: Widely used for their efficiency and reliability.

 Scroll Compressors: Preferred for high-temperature applications due to their quiet and
reliable performance.
 Screw Compressors: Ideal for high-capacity systems, offering performance levels of
several megawatts.

2. Condensers

Condensers expel heat absorbed by the refrigerant. They are typically categorized as:

 Air-Cooled Condensers: Use ambient air for cooling, suitable for compact and medium-
sized systems.
 Water-Cooled Condensers: Employ water as a cooling medium, ideal for larger
installations requiring greater efficiency.

3. Evaporators

Evaporators absorb heat from the environment, lowering the temperature within the desired
area. They play a key role in both small-scale and industrial refrigeration systems.

4. Expansion Devices

These components control the refrigerant flow into the evaporator, optimizing cooling
performance while maintaining system efficiency.

TYPES OF REFRIGERATORS:

TOP- FREEZER REFRIGERATOR:

• Most common type of refrigerator.
• Freezer compartment is located at the top.
BOTTOM – FREEZER REFRIGERATOR
•Freezer compartment is located at the bottom.

SIDE-BY-SIDE REFRIGERATOR
• Freezer compartment are located side by side.

FRENCH DOOR REFRIGERATOR

• Two doors that open from the center, with a freezer compartment at the bottom.

COMPACT REFRIGERATOR
• Smaller than standard refrigerator, often used in small kitchen or dorm rooms.

COUNTER-DEPTH REFRIGERATOR
• Shallower than standard refrigerator, designed to fit flush with countertops.

BUILD-IN REFRIGERATOR
• Integrated into the surrounding cabinetry, providing a seamless look.

WINE REFRIGERATOR
• Specialized refrigerator designed specifically for story wine.

PORTABLE REFRIGERATOR
• Compact, portable refrigerators often used for camping, outdoor event, or small kitchen.

SMART REFRIGERATOR
• High-tech refrigerators with advanced features like touch screen, Wi-Fi connectivity, and
internal camera.

ADDITIONAL:
Three common types of refrigerators are walk-in, reach-in, and portable.
Walk-in refrigerators are large, room-sized units used for extensive bulk storage, like in
supermarkets or restaurants.
Reach-in refrigerators are upright, free-standing units with doors, designed for easier access
and storage in commercial settings.
Portable refrigerators are smaller, mobile units, ideal for camping or temporary refrigeration
needs.

Tools and Equipment

Refrigeration and air-conditioning tools are used in performing preventive

maintenance and repair on air conditioners, refrigerators, freezers, and automotive
air conditioner.

COMMON TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT:

Wrenches – are used to
loosen bolts and nuts.
They are open-end, box-
end, adjustable, socket,
and Allen wrench.
 Screw drivers – are used
to drive and loosen screws.
They are classified as flat
head, Philip’s head, and
socket head screw drivers.

Cold Chisels – are used for cutting metals in jobs such as breaking rivets and
splitting nuts.

Pliers – are tools used for holding objects by the grip of hand. They are classified as
mechanical pliers, long nose pliers, slide side cutting pliers, and vise grip

Tube cutters – are tools

used to cut tubings made
of copper, aluminum or
steel. As the tool is turned,
a sharp wheel cuts into
tubing. Pressure is
gradually increased until
the tube is cut-off clearly
and squarely

Tube flaring tools – are

tools used to flare the end
of the tube to hold the flare
nut.

Tube bending tools: a special kind of tool used to bend copper tubing in order not
to bring the angle or side of the tube.
 Tube swaging tools – are
tools used to expand the
end of the tubes of the
same diameter for the
purpose of making joints
by soldering or brazing.

Blow torch – a gasoline

torch used for heating
solder in soldering or
brazing process to join two
tubes together.

Oxy-acetylene welder – equipment used in welding, cutting, and brazing. It is able

to produce a very high intensity of heat from a combination of oxygen gas and
acetylene fuel.

Service tank – is a Freon

tank intended for servicing
and recharging
refrigerators and air-
conditioning units. It has a
limited capacity

Service hose – a flexible

hose attached to the
service tank and gauges
during the charging
process.

Compound gauge – a special kind of gauge intended to measure the pressure and
the amount of refrigerant (Freon) inside the system.

Multi-tester – an
instrument used to
measure voltage,
resistance and dc currents.
 Clamp meter – and
instrument used to
measure ac current.
Usually used in diagnosing
and monitoring the
current of refs and air-con
during troubleshooting
operation.

Leak detector – an instrument used to detect areas or parts in the tube system
where refrigerant is leaking