Description of the experimental setup
The refrigeration troubleshooting experimental setup
(Bulgurcu, 2010) consists of a hermetic reciprocating
compressor, a finned type air cooled condenser, an automatic
expansion valve and a unit type evaporator, as shown in Fig. 2.
The system was charged with 600 g of R134a.
The compressor has a swept volume of 7.95 cm3
rev
1
and
it has an average speed of 2800 rpm. The air-cooled condenser
has a heat transfer area of 0.075 m2
. The evaporator was made
from copper tube with finned aluminum. The refrigeration
load was provided to the evaporator by the heat transferred
from surrounding air.
The constant pressure expansion valve is operated by
evaporator or valve-outlet pressure. It regulates the mass flow
of the liquid refrigerant entering the evaporator and maintains this pressure at a constant value (ASHRAE, 2006).
As shown in Fig. 2, the refrigeration experimental setup
has a compressor delivering the refrigerant to the condenser.
A fan blows air over the condenser. The refrigerant passes