Industrial Applications of Refrigeration

• Food and beverage processing: Refrigeration is used to preserve food and beverages by slowing down
the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms. This helps to extend the shelf life of products and
reduce food waste. Refrigeration is also used to control the temperature of food and beverages during
processing, which is important for maintaining quality and safety.
• Chemical and petrochemical processing: Refrigeration is used to cool chemicals and petrochemical
products during processing, which is important for safety and efficiency. For example, refrigeration is
used to cool reactors, distillation columns, and pipelines.
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing: Refrigeration is used to store and transport pharmaceuticals, as many
drugs are sensitive to temperature and humidity. Refrigeration is also used in the manufacturing process
of some drugs, such as vaccines.
• Data centres: Data centers generate a lot of heat, which can damage computer equipment. Refrigeration
is used to cool data centers and maintain a safe operating temperature.
Medical Applications of Refrigeration
Refrigeration is also essential for many medical applications, including:
• Storage of blood and vaccines: Blood and vaccines must be stored at specific temperatures to maintain
their effectiveness and safety. Refrigeration is used to store blood and vaccines in hospitals, clinics, and
blood banks.
• Organ and tissue preservation: Refrigeration is used to preserve organs and tissues for transplantation.
This allows organs and tissues to be transported from one location to another and stored until they are
needed for a transplant.
• Medical procedures: Refrigeration is used in a variety of medical procedures, such as cryotherapy, laser
surgery, and cataract surgery.

Other Applications of Refrigeration

• Transportation: Refrigeration is used to transport perishable food and beverages, as well as

pharmaceuticals and other temperature-sensitive products.
• Agriculture: Refrigeration is used to store and transport agricultural products, such as fruits, vegetables,
and dairy products.
• Construction: Refrigeration is used to cool concrete during curing, which helps to improve the strength
and durability of concrete.
• Sports and recreation: Refrigeration is used to cool ice rinks, swimming pools, and other sports and
recreation facilities.

**Magnetic cooling** is a type of refrigeration that uses the magnetocaloric effect to cool materials. The
magnetocaloric effect is a phenomenon in which a material changes temperature when it is subjected to a
magnetic field. When a magnetic field is applied to a material, the magnetic moments of the atoms align with the
field. This alignment process releases heat, which causes the material to cool down.
Magnetic cooling has several advantages over traditional vapor compression refrigeration systems. Magnetic
cooling systems are more environmentally friendly because they do not use ozone-depleting chemicals or
greenhouse gases. They are also more energy-efficient than traditional vapor compression systems.
However, magnetic cooling systems are still in their early stages of development. One of the main challenges is
finding materials with a large enough magnetocaloric effect to be practical for refrigeration applications. Another
challenge is developing efficient and cost-effective magnetic cooling systems.
**Potential applications of magnetic cooling:**
* Magnetic cooling could be used to develop more efficient and environmentally friendly refrigerators and air
conditioners.
* Magnetic cooling could also be used to develop new types of cryogenic refrigerators, which are used to cool
materials to very low temperatures.
* Magnetic cooling could also have applications in the medical field, such as cooling tumors during cancer
treatment or cooling organs during organ transplantation.
Cooling by change of phase is a type of refrigeration that uses the absorption or release of latent heat to
cool materials. Latent heat is the heat that is absorbed or released when a material changes phase, such
as from a solid to a liquid or from a liquid to a gas.

Merits of cooling by change of phase:

• Efficient cooling: Cooling by change of phase is a very efficient way to cool materials. For example,
when water evaporates, it absorbs a lot of heat from the surrounding environment. This is why sweating is
an effective way to cool down on a hot day.
• Wide range of operating temperatures: Cooling by change of phase can be used to cool materials over a
wide range of temperatures. This makes it a versatile refrigeration technology.
• Does not require the use of compressors: Cooling by change of phase does not require the use of
compressors, which can be expensive and noisy.
Demerits of cooling by change of phase:
• May require the use of hazardous materials: Some cooling by change of phase systems use hazardous
materials, such as ammonia or flammable refrigerants.
• Can be complex and expensive to implement: Complex cooling by change of phase systems can be
expensive to implement and maintain.
Example:

One example of cooling by change of phase is the use of ice cubes to cool a drink. When the ice cubes
melt, they absorb heat from the drink, causing it to cool down. Another example is the use of dry ice to
ship perishable food. The dry ice sublimates (changes from a solid to a gas without passing through the
liquid phase) as it absorbs heat from the surrounding environment, keeping the food cool.

**Steam Jet Refrigeration**

Steam jet refrigeration is a type of refrigeration that uses steam to create a vacuum, which causes the refrigerant
to evaporate and cool down. Steam jet refrigeration systems are simple and reliable, and they can be used to
generate very low temperatures.
The main components of a steam jet refrigeration system are:
* **Evaporator:** The evaporator is a chamber where the refrigerant evaporates.
* **Ejector:** The ejector is a device that uses steam to create a vacuum in the evaporator.
* **Condenser:** The condenser is a chamber where the refrigerant vapor is condensed and returned to a liquid
state.
The system works as follows:
1. Warm water is sprayed into the evaporator.
2. Steam is injected into the ejector, which creates a vacuum in the evaporator.
3. The low pressure in the evaporator causes the water to evaporate.
4. The evaporated water vapor is drawn into the ejector by the vacuum.
5. The steam and evaporated water vapor mix in the ejector and are discharged to the condenser.
6. In the condenser, the steam and evaporated water vapor are condensed back to a liquid state.
7. The condensed refrigerant is then pumped back to the evaporator.
Steam jet refrigeration systems are often used in industrial applications, such as food processing and chemical
processing. They are also used in some medical applications, such as organ and tissue preservation.
*Advantages of steam jet refrigeration:**
* Simple and reliable design
* Can be used to generate very low temperatures
* Does not require the use of moving parts
**Disadvantages of steam jet refrigeration:**
* Less energy-efficient than other types of refrigeration systems
* Requires a source of steam
* Can be noisy
Unit of Refrigeration capacity.
The unit of refrigeration capacity is the ton of refrigeration (TR). It is defined as the amount of heat that must be
removed from a space to melt 1 short ton (2,000 pounds) of pure ice at 0 °C (32 °F) in 24 hours. This is
equivalent to 12,000 British thermal units per hour (BTU/h).
The TR is a common unit of refrigeration capacity used in the United States and Canada. In other countries, the
watt (W) or kilowatt (kW) is the most common unit of refrigeration capacity.
Here are some conversion factors for refrigeration capacity units:
1 TR = 12,000 BTU/h
1 TR = 3.516853 kW
1 kW = 0.284345 TR
The TR is a useful unit of refrigeration capacity because it allows the cooling capacity of different refrigeration
systems to be easily compared. For example, a 2-ton refrigeration system can remove twice as much heat as a 1-
ton system.
The TR is also a useful unit for sizing refrigeration systems for specific applications. For example, a 1-ton
refrigeration system would be sufficient for cooling a small home, while a larger system would be needed for a
commercial building.
A reversible adiabatic expansion of a perfect gas is a process in which the gas expands without heat transfer to
or from the surroundings. This process is reversible, which means that it can be carried out in the opposite
direction and return the system to its original state.
The reversible adiabatic expansion of a perfect gas can be described by the following equation:
PV^{γ} = constant
Where P is the pressure, V is the volume, and γ is the ratio of specific heats (Cp/Cv).
This equation can be derived from the first law of thermodynamics and the adiabatic equation. The first law of
thermodynamics states that the change in internal energy of a system is equal to the heat transferred to the system
plus the work done on the system. The adiabatic equation states that there is no heat transfer to or from the system
during an adiabatic process.
Since there is no heat transfer during a reversible adiabatic expansion, the change in internal energy of the gas is
equal to the work done on the gas. The work done on the gas is negative, since the gas is expanding. This means
that the internal energy of the gas decreases during a reversible adiabatic expansion.
The reversible adiabatic expansion of a perfect gas has several important applications. One application is in the
design of refrigeration systems. In a refrigeration system, the gas is compressed and then expanded to produce a
cooling effect. The reversible adiabatic expansion of a perfect gas is the ideal process for this application, since it
maximizes the cooling effect.
Another application of the reversible adiabatic expansion of a perfect gas is in the design of internal combustion
engines. In an internal combustion engine, the gas is compressed and then ignited to produce a power stroke. The
reversible adiabatic expansion of the gas during the power stroke helps to maximize the efficiency of the engine.
(i) Expansion of liquids

When a liquid is expanded, it absorbs heat from the surroundings. This is known as the Joule-Thomson
effect. The Joule-Thomson effect is used in a variety of refrigeration systems, including air conditioners
and refrigerators.

In a typical air conditioner, the refrigerant is compressed by a compressor. This causes the refrigerant to
heat up. The hot refrigerant then passes through a condenser, where it cools down and condenses to a
liquid. The liquid refrigerant then passes through an expansion valve, where it expands and absorbs heat
from the surrounding air. The cold refrigerant then passes through an evaporator, where it evaporates
and cools the air.

Used in practice:
• Air conditioners
• Refrigerators
• Cryogenics
(ii) Emptying process

When a vacuum is created in a space, the liquid in the space will evaporate. This is known as the
evaporative cooling process. The evaporative cooling process is used in a variety of applications,
including cooling towers and humidifiers.

In a typical cooling tower, water is sprayed into the air. The air then flows past the water droplets,
causing them to evaporate. The evaporation process absorbs heat from the air, which causes the air to
cool down. The cooled air is then used to cool buildings or industrial processes.
Used in practice:
• Cooling towers
• Humidifiers
• Vacuum pumps
(iii) Dissolution of salts in water
When a salt is dissolved in water, the water temperature decreases. This is known as the endothermic
dissolution process. The endothermic dissolution process is used in a variety of applications, such as ice
packs and cold packs.
In a typical ice pack, ammonium nitrate is dissolved in water. The dissolution process absorbs heat from
the surroundings, which causes the water to cool down and freeze. The ice pack is then used to cool
injuries or to keep food cold.
Used in practice:
• Ice packs
• Cold packs
• Some medical procedures
It is important to note that all of these cooling methods are limited in their ability to cool materials
below the ambient temperature. For example, an air conditioner cannot cool a room below the outdoor
temperature. To cool materials below the ambient temperature, a more efficient cooling method, such as
vapor compression refrigeration, is required.
Establish a relation between COP of a refrigerator and a heat pump. For heating a
Space, which would be a better option- a heat pump or an electric heater? Why?
The following relation can be established between the COP of a refrigerator and a heat pump:
COP_HP = COP_R + 1
Where:
COP_HP is the coefficient of performance of the heat pump
COP_R is the coefficient of performance of the refrigerator
This relationship can be derived by considering the first law of thermodynamics and the fact that the heat pump
and refrigerator are essentially the same device, but running in opposite directions.
A heat pump is generally a better option for heating a space than an electric heater because it is more efficient.
Heat pumps can move more heat energy into a space than electric heaters for the same amount of electrical energy
input. This is because heat pumps do not generate heat directly, but instead extract heat from the environment
The COP of a heat pump is typically between 2 and 4, while the COP of an electric heater is always 1. This means
that a heat pump can move 2 to 4 times more heat energy into a space than an electric heater for the same amount
of electrical energy input
**(a) Effect of evaporator pressure**
Increasing the evaporator pressure will increase the refrigeration effect and decrease the compressor work. This
will result in an increase in the COP of the vapor compression cycle. However, increasing the evaporator pressure
will also increase the temperature of the refrigerant at the evaporator outlet. This can lead to problems if the
refrigerant temperature is too high, such as compressor failure or oil breakdown.

**(b) Effect of condenser pressure**

Increasing the condenser pressure will increase the compressor work and decrease the refrigeration effect. This
will result in a decrease in the COP of the vapor compression cycle. However, increasing the condenser pressure
will also increase the temperature of the refrigerant at the condenser outlet. This can be beneficial if the
refrigerant heat is being used for other purposes, such as space heating or water heating.
**© Effect of suction vapour superheat**
Superheating the suction vapor is the process of increasing its temperature above its saturation temperature.
Superheating the suction vapor can increase the compressor capacity and decrease the compressor work. This can
result in an increase in the COP of the vapor compression cycle. However, superheating the suction vapor can also
lead to problems if the superheat is too high, such as compressor failure or oil breakdown.
**(d) Effect of liquid subcooling**
Subcooling the liquid is the process of decreasing its temperature below its saturation temperature. Subcooling the
liquid can increase the refrigeration effect and decrease the compressor work. This can result in an increase in the
COP of the vapor compression cycle. However, subcooling the liquid can also lead to problems if the subcooling
is too high, such as cavitation in the expansion valve or reduction in the evaporator capacity.
**Overall, the effects of the operating conditions on the vapor compression cycle are complex and depend on a
number of factors.** It is important to carefully consider all of the factors involved when designing and operating
a vapor compression system to ensure that it is operating at its optimal efficiency.