Refrigeration Cycle
The cycle has 4 basic processes: compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation. The cycle is illustrated in the diagram below.
Vapor-Compression Refrigeration Cycle
- Compression process – It is like the engine of the cycle. The compressor draws the superheated refrigerant vapor through the suction pipe and begins compressing it. The pressure, temperature, and energy of compressed vapor rapidly rise. In contrast, the specific volume was greatly reduced. At this stage, the temperature and energy of refrigerant vapor are the highest in the whole cycle. It produces very hot and high pressure vapor during this process.
- Condensation process – Now here condenser job comes into play, it turns gas into liquid or we can say it condense the refrigerant. It is done whenever the outdoor air flows through the condenser’s coil which is filled with hot, gaseous refrigerant. It leads to the transfer of the heats from the refrigerant to the cooled outdoor air where the diffusion of excessive heat to the atmosphere takes place. The condenser coils run through the condenser, increasing the surface area of the pipework and heat transmission to the air. Because of the high pressure and temperature decrease, the refrigerant converts from a vapour to a hot liquid.
- Expansion process – The refrigerant then reaches the expansion mechanism in a heated, high-pressure state. The expansion device functions as a catalyst, rapidly reducing the refrigerant pressure and enabling it to boil more easily in the evaporator. The expansion device’s main purpose is to lower refrigerant pressure. Because the pressure decreases so quickly at the expansion mechanism, the refrigerant transforms into a mixture of cold liquid and vapor.
- Evaporation process – When the refrigerant becomes a cold mixture of liquid and gas (vapor), it starts moving through the evaporator. When the refrigerant has chilled to a cold combination of liquid and gas it starts moving through the evaporator. The evaporator cools the ambient air by boiling (or evaporating) the refrigerant that flows through it. This occurs when warm air passes over the evaporator coil while cold refrigerant flows through it.
Heat flows through the air to the refrigerant, which immediately cools the air before venting it into space. The evaporator coil, like the condenser coil, wraps around the evaporator to optimize heat transmission from the refrigerant to the ambient air. The heated air aimed to the evaporator quickly boils the low-pressure fluid refrigerant, which flows to the compressor as a cold gas or vapour.
Types of Air Conditioning
In this world, we all are aware that the environment is not the same for all. There are countries with extremely hot weather, and some have the coldest weather. Citizens who live in hot weather countries with extremely high temperatures suffer from various problems like skin irritation, burning, discomfort in living, and also causes tanning. To prevent this severe situation, they use an air conditioning system. But have you ever thought about how these system works and how many varieties are there in the market? This article will explain Air Conditioning, its principles, the Refrigeration cycle, and ventilation in depth.
Air Conditioning (AC) is a technology that increases room comfort by changing the temperature and humidity of the room environment. This technology is used in various places, including offices, homes, vehicles, and many other things, to make a favorable environment. The main goal of AC is to maintain and control the hot air that is present in the environment.
Table of Content
- Working Principle
- Components
- Window Air Conditioners
- Central Air Conditioners
- Portable Air Conditioners
- Hybrid Air Conditioners
- Geothermal Heat Pumps
- Package Terminal Air Conditioners (PTAC)
- Ductless Mini-Split Systems
- Floor-Mounted Air Conditioner
- Smart Air Conditioner
- Evaporator Cooler