Chapter 11

Refrigeration Cycles

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 Objectives
• Introduce the concepts of refrigerators and heat pumps and the measure of
their performance.
• Analyze the ideal vapor-compression refrigeration cycle.
• Analyze the actual vapor-compression refrigeration cycle.
• Perform second-law analysis of vapor-compression refrigeration cycle.
• Discuss the operation of refrigeration and heat pump systems.

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 11–1 Refrigerators And Heat Pumps
Figure 11–1
The objective of a refrigerator is to remove
The transfer of heat from a low-temperature
heat (QL) from the cold medium; the objective region to a high-temperature one requires
of a heat pump is to supply heat (QH) to a special devices called refrigerators.
warm medium.
Another device that transfers heat from a low-
temperature medium to a high-temperature one
is the heat pump.
Refrigerators and heat pumps are essentially
the same devices; they differ in their objectives
only.
Desired output cooling effect Q
COPR = =  L
Required input Workinput Wnet,in
Desired output Heating effect Q
COPHP = =  H
Required input Workinput Wnet,in

COPHP = COPR +1 for fixed values of

QL and QH
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 11–2 The Reversed Carnot Cycle 1

Figure 11–2
Schematic of a Carnot refrigerator
and T-s diagram of the reversed
Carnot cycle.

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1 1
COPR,Carnot = COPHP,Carnot =
TH TL
1 1
TL TH
Both COPs increase as the difference between the two
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temperatures decreases, that is, as TL rises or TH falls.
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 11–2 The Reversed Carnot Cycle 2

Figure 11–2
Schematic of a Carnot refrigerator The reversed Carnot cycle is the most
and T-s diagram of the reversed efficient refrigeration cycle operating
Carnot cycle. between TL and TH.

It is not a suitable model for refrigeration

cycles since processes 2-3 and 4-1 are not
practical.
• Process 2-3 involves the compression
of a liquid–vapor mixture, which
requires a compressor that will handle
two phases.

• Process 4-1 involves the expansion of

high-moisture-content refrigerant in a
turbine.
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 11–3 The Ideal Vapor-compression Refrigeration Cycle 1

Figure 11–3
Schematic and T-s diagram for the ideal The vapor-compression refrigeration cycle is the
vapor-compression refrigeration cycle. ideal model for refrigeration systems. Unlike the
reversed Carnot cycle, the refrigerant is vaporized
completely before it is compressed and the turbine is
replaced with a throttling device.
1-2 Isentropic compression in a compressor
2-3 Constant-pressure heat rejection in a
condenser
3-4 Throttling in an expansive device
4-1 Constant-pressure heat absorption in an
evaporator This is the most
widely used cycle
for refrigerators,
A-C systems, and
heat pumps.

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 11–3 The Ideal Vapor-compression Refrigeration Cycle 2

Figure 11–3
Schematic and T-s diagram for the ideal
Steady-flow energy balance
vapor-compression refrigeration cycle.
(qin  qout )  ( win  wout ) he  hi
qL h1  h4
COPR  
wnet,in h2  h1
qH h2  h3
COPHP  
wnet,in h2  h1
h1 hg @ P1

h3 h f @ P3

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The ideal vapor-compression refrigeration cycle involves an irreversible (throttling) process

to make it a more realistic model for the actual systems.
Replacing the expansion valve by a turbine is not practical since the added benefits cannot
justify the added cost and complexity.
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 11–3 The Ideal Vapor-compression Refrigeration Cycle 3

Figure 11–4 Figure 11–5

An ordinary household refrigerator. The P-h diagram of an ideal vapor-
compression refrigeration cycle.

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 11–4 Actual Vapor-compression Refrigeration Cycle
Figure 11–7 An actual vapor-compression refrigeration cycle
Schematic and T-s diagram for differs from the ideal one owing mostly to the
the actual vapor-compression irreversibilities that occur in various components,
refrigeration cycle. mainly due to fluid friction (causes pressure drops)
and heat transfer to or from the surroundings.

DIFFERENCES
Non-isentropic compression
Superheated vapor at evaporator exit
Subcooled liquid at condenser exit
Pressure drops in condenser and evaporator

The COP decreases

as a result of
irreversibilities.

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 11–8 Innovative Vapor-compression Refrigeration Systems 1

The simple vapor-compression refrigeration cycle is the most widely used

refrigeration cycle, and it is adequate for most refrigeration applications.
The ordinary vapor-compression refrigeration systems are simple, inexpensive,
reliable, and practically maintenance-free.
However, for large industrial applications efficiency, not simplicity, is the major
concern.
Also, for some applications the simple vapor-compression refrigeration cycle is
inadequate and needs to be modified.
For moderately and very low temperature applications some innovative refrigeration
systems are used. The following cycles will be discussed:
• Cascade refrigeration systems.
• Multistage compression refrigeration systems.
• Multipurpose refrigeration systems with a single compressor.
• Liquefaction of gases.

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 11–8 Innovative Vapor-compression Refrigeration Systems 2
Cascade Refrigeration Systems
Some industrial applications require moderately low temperatures, and the temperature range they
involve may be too large for a single vapor-compression refrigeration cycle to be practical. The
solution is cascading.
Figure 11–12
A two-stage cascade refrigeration system with the same refrigerant in both stages.

m A h2  h3
mA (h5  h8 ) mB (h2  h3 )  
m B h5  h8

Q L m B (h1  h4 )
COPR,cascade  
W net,in mA (h6  h5 )  mB (h2  h1 )

Cascading improves the COP of a

refrigeration system.
Some systems use three or four stages of
cascading.
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 11–8 Innovative Vapor-compression Refrigeration Systems 3
Multistage Compression Refrigeration Systems
When the fluid used throughout the cascade refrigeration system is the same, the heat exchanger
between the stages can be replaced by a mixing chamber (called a flash chamber) since it has better
heat transfer characteristics.

Figure 11–14
A two-stage compression refrigeration system with a flash chamber.

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 Summary
• Refrigerators and Heat Pumps.
• The Reversed Carnot Cycle.
• The Ideal Vapor-Compression Refrigeration Cycle.
• Actual Vapor-Compression Refrigeration Cycle.
• Second-law Analysis of Vapor-Compression Refrigeration Cycle.
• Selecting the Right Refrigerant.
• Heat Pump Systems.
• Innovative Vapor-Compression Refrigeration Systems.

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 End of Chapter 11

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