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[[Image:refrigerator.jpg|right|frame|A simple diagram of a refrigeration system.]]
'''Refrigeration''' is a process in which work is done to move heat from a low temperature to a high temperature and typically also from one location to another. The work of heat transport is traditionally driven by mechanical work, but can also be driven by heat, magnetism, electricity, laser, or other means.
'''Refrigeration''' is a process in which work is done to move heat from a low temperature to a high temperature and typically also from one location to another. The work of heat transport is traditionally driven by mechanical work, but can also be driven by heat, magnetism, electricity, laser, or other means.
[[File:Thermodynamics refrigeration.gif|thumb|upright=2.0|right|Simple vapor compression refrigeration diagram]]


Refrigeration can be used for a variety of purposes:
Refrigeration can be used for a variety of purposes:

Revision as of 08:20, 3 December 2013

Refrigeration is a process in which work is done to move heat from a low temperature to a high temperature and typically also from one location to another. The work of heat transport is traditionally driven by mechanical work, but can also be driven by heat, magnetism, electricity, laser, or other means.

Simple vapor compression refrigeration diagram

Refrigeration can be used for a variety of purposes:

A refrigeration system undergoes four different steps during the refrigeration process and is comprised of four parts. These include the evaporator, the compressor, the condenser, and the expansion valve. Before the compressor and after the evaporator the working fluid is at a low temperature and is isoentropic. After the compressor but before the condenser the working fluid is at high temperature and is still isoentropic. Going through the condenser the working fluid is entirely isobaric. Before reaching the expansion valve the working fluid is all liquid and is isoenthalpic. After the expansion valve but prior to the evaporator the working valve is some mixture of fluid and gas and is still isoenthaplic. Finally when the working fluid is going through the evaporator it is both isobaric and isothermic.

Different variations of refrigeration systems that exist include an actual vapor-compression refrigeration system, a heat pump, cascade refrigeration systems, multistage compression refrigeration systems, and absorption refrigeration systems, among various others (this is not an exhaustive list).


Technical

Terms associated with refrigeration:

COP for refrigeration is calculated as: Cooling effect/Work input, or COPR= QL/Wnet,in where QL is the desired energy into the low temperature environment and Wnet,in is the required work input into the refrigerator itself.

Carnot efficiency is a theoretical maximum efficiency that can be achieved by running a carnot cycle. The theoretical carnot, or nth=Wnet/QH, where Wnet equals the work input into the refrigerator and QH equals the energy in the high temperature reservoir. nth can also be equated as QH-QL/QH, where QH is the energy in the high temperature reservoir and QL is the energy in the low temperature reservoir.

Flow rate (massrate or m dot) can be equated as: Qdot/h1-h4, where Qdot equals the rate of energy used and the different h values signify enthalpy and can be found or interpolated from a thermodynamic table.

Conversely, Qdot=mdot(uout-uin), where the different u values signify internal energy and can be found or interpolated from a thermodynamic table.
Tons of refrigeration, known as the cooling load or the refrigeration effect, can be equated as: QL,dot= mdot(h1-h4.

Conversions

Refrigeration systems are generally labelled in terms of tons of refrigeration. One ton of refrigeration is equal to 12,000 Btu/hour or 211 kJ/min.

1 BTU = 778 ft-lbf of work
1 Watt = 3.4122 Btu/hour
3,412 Btu= 1 kwh
1 kWh = 3.6 MJ
1 tonne = 1000 kg
1 BTU/sec= 1.414 hp

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