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Lecture # 7: Dr. Muzaffar Ali

The document discusses the components and functions of vapor compression refrigeration systems, focusing on expansion devices such as capillary tubes, thermostatic expansion valves, and electronic expansion valves. It highlights the importance of these devices in regulating refrigerant flow and maintaining pressure differences within the system. Additionally, it compares the advantages and disadvantages of various expansion valve types, emphasizing the efficiency and precision of electronic valves.

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11 views16 pages

Lecture # 7: Dr. Muzaffar Ali

The document discusses the components and functions of vapor compression refrigeration systems, focusing on expansion devices such as capillary tubes, thermostatic expansion valves, and electronic expansion valves. It highlights the importance of these devices in regulating refrigerant flow and maintaining pressure differences within the system. Additionally, it compares the advantages and disadvantages of various expansion valve types, emphasizing the efficiency and precision of electronic valves.

Uploaded by

hadiatasadduq32
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Lecture # 7 REFRIGERATION AND AIR

CONDITIONING

Dr. Muzaffar Ali


Components of Vapor Compression System

 Basic Components are:


 Compressor

 Condenser

 Evaporator

 Expansion devices

A household refrigerator
Expansion Devices : Key Element of Ref. Cycle

 Functions
 Maintains designed pressure difference between high & low pressure of Condenser
and evaporator by Reduces high pressure liquid refrigerant ( from Condenser ) to
low pressure liquid refrigerant (to evaporator)
 Allows the liquid refrigerant to vaporize at desired pressure in evaporator
 Controls the flow rate of refrigerant as per the load on the evaporator
 Types (Fixed opening type or Variable opening type)
 Hand (manual) expansion valves
 Capillary Tubes
 Constant pressure or Automatic Expansion Valve (AEV)
 Float type Expansion Valve
• High Side Float Valve
• Low Side Float Valve
 Thermostatic Expansion Valve (TEV)
 Electronic Expansion Valve
Capillary Tube

 Usage ; ( small capacity hermetic sealed refrigerating units)


 Domestic refrigerator, Water coolers, Room air conditioners, Freezers; can be
extended up to 10KW refrigeration capacity
 Outlook
 Mostly a copper tube, Small internal diameter (0.5 mm – 2.25 mm),
Varying length (0.5 m – 5 m)
 Advantages
 Inexpensive, no moving parts therefore no maintenance
 Pressure equalizes during off-cycle between condenser & evaporator, which
reduces starting torque requirement of the motor. Hence, a low cost motor
 Ideal for hermetic compressor based systems, which are critically charged and
factory assembled.
 No receiver as the refrigerant charge is critical
 Disadvantages
 Cannot adjust itself to changing flow conditions
 Susceptible to clogging because of narrow bore of the tube
Analysis of Expansion Valve

Mass flow is a function of pressure difference and the degree of liquid subcooling on
entry.
The analysis and designed of all expansion devices are governed by application of
basic equations to the expansion valves. For capillary tube expansion valves, these
can be written as ;
 Continuity Eqn ; m = ρAV = Constant
 Momentum Eqn ; ΣF = m a = Mass Flow rate x ∆V
 Energy Eqn ; q –w = ∆h +∆ KE +∆ PE  ∆ ho = Constant

For capillary tubing the above eqns can be modeled as:


o AV V1 V2
m = ρAV = ⇒ =
 Continuity Eqn ; ν ν1 ν2
 L Vm 2 
( p1 − p2 ) − f (V2 − V1 )
AVm
 Momentum Eqn ; A =
 D 2ν  ν
2 2
 Energy Eqn ; ∆h +∆ KE = 0 ⇒ h1 + V V
1
= h2 + 2
⇒ h02 = h01
2 2
Solving these equations, we get the incremental length of tubes to achieve desired ∆p
Constant pressure or Automatic Expansion Valve (AEV)
.
Float Valve

 The (low-side) float valve controls the liquid refrigerant feed to maintain a constant
liquid level in the evaporator. As the liquid level in the evaporator drops, the float
 ball moves downward and opens the float valve wider so that more liquid
refrigerant is fed to the evaporator. In small refrigeration systems, the float
chamber is often placed directly inside the evaporator or in an accumulator,
instead of a separate low-side float chamber. Operation of the low-side float
valve may be continuous or intermittent.
Thermostatic Expansion Valves (TXVs)

 TXVs are also called as Superheat controlled valve


and are most widely used expansion devices and
are also referred as Metering Device
 Regulates refrigerant flow rate to the evaporator
according to the degree of superheat of vapor
refrigerant leaving the evaporator.
 It consists of :
 A valve body, with high pressure refrigerant
inlet and low pressure outlet
 A valve spring and a diaphragm
 A sensing bulb at the outlet of the evaporator
 The thermostatic expansion valve have capillary
tube and thermal element (bulb) as sensors to
control the opening of pin attached to diaphram
and regulating the refrigerant. The capillary tube
connects the element to the top of TXV diaphragm
9
Thermostatic Expansion Valve

 The three forces which control the operation of the thermal expansion valve are:
 Pi – The vapor pressure of the thermostatic element (a reaction to the bulb temperature)
which acts to open the valve.
 Px – The evaporator pressure which acts in a closing direction below the diaphragm.
 Pb – The pressure equivalent of the superheat spring force which is also applied
underneath the diaphragm in a closing force.
 At any constant operating condition, these forces are balance. Therefore, Pi=Px+Pb
Operation : Thermostatic Expansion Valve
13

 When a change in temperature in the suction line occurs,


the pressure in the thermal bulb also changes similarly. Pi
With an increased heat load, the refrigerant in the
evaporator coil boils fast.
 This results in a rise in temperature at the thermal bulb
because of superheating. The higher temperature produces
an increase in pressure within the thermal bulb due to Pb
superheating.
 The higher temperature produces an increase in pressure
within the thermal bulb which increases the pressure at Pi. Px
The pressure in the evaporator at Px, and the spring
pressure in the TEV at Pb remains constant.
 Therefore, with the increased pressure at Pi, the bellows
(diaphragm) expands to force a wider valve opening. As a
result, more refrigerant is allowed to enter the evaporator
to compensate for the increased heat load.
 The increase in flow rate increases to evaporator pressure
Px, which establishes a balance control once again. With a
decreased load the reverse cycle takes place.
Thermal Electric Expansion Valve

The signal from a suitable thermistor placed at the evaporator


outlet will vary, depending on whether it senses dry refrigerant
gas or traces of liquid. This can be used directly to control the
current through a thermal element to modulate the expansion
valve. This device usually has no separate adjustable controller
and so cannot be incorrectly set.
Electric Expansion Valve

 Electric, or more truly electronic or microprocessor-controlled, expansion


valves can provide more sophisticated, effective, and energy-efficient
refrigerant flow controls than thermostatic expansion valves. Currently, three
types of electric expansion valves are widely available: step motor valves
(a), pulse-width-modulated valves (b), and analog valves (c).

(a) (b) (c)


Electric Expansion Valve

Advantages of Electric Expansion Valves


Compared to the thermostatic expansion valves, the advantages of electric
expansion valves are that they
Provide a more precise temperature control
Provide consistent superheat control under fluctuating head pressure
Are able to be operated at low head pressure during lower ambient air
temperature
Are more energy-efficient
Of the three types of electric expansion valves (step motor, pulse-width-
modulated, and analog valves), the performance of step motor valves has
proved superior to the two others.
Thanks
Any Questions…???

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