Cooling technology

Refrigerator and cooling storage

operation principles

1
 A household refrigerator

Compressor (1) ”pumps” the refrigerant vapour to the condenser (2) (made of pipe
and plates connected to the pipe) behind the refrigerator (2), and the condensing
power is rejected to the room air. After the condenser the refrigerant flows to the
dryer filter and then through a capillary tube (4) to the evaporator (5) (made of
pipe and metal plate). The capillary tube reduces the pressure and the temperature
of the refrigerant (no expansion valve).

The operation of the compressor is controlled with a thermostat (6) connected with
a bulb to the evaporator.

The switch on temperature of the thermostat must be enough high (for instance
+4°C), so that the condensed and frozen water (water vapour from air) has enough
time to melt during the time when the compressor is off. The regulation of the
inner temperature of the refrigerator is set with the setting of the knob (for instance
-14°C). The melted water flows out from the refrigerator to a tray which is placed
over the compressor. The water is vaporized to the room air with the heat from the
compressor.

The diameter of the capillary tube is 0,5 – 2,0 mm and its length is determined by
the cooling power, inner diameter and the pressure difference between the
evaporator and the condenser.

(Figure: Rosenlew)
(Figures Kaappola 2011)
Aki Valkeapää 2
 A cold storage (volume ca. 1 m3)

A cold storage is bigger than a usual refrigerator. The operation principle is the
same as in a ordinary refrigerator. The compressor (1) operation is controlled with
the temperature of the surface temperature of the evaporator (5) a thermostat (6).

The evaporator used in the cold storage is made of copper pipes and aluminium
fins. The heat transfer area of the evaporator is much bigger than in an ordinary
refrigerator. The temperature difference between the evaporator surface and the air
in the cold storage can be kept smaller and thus the drying effect of the evaporator
is smaller and the food products do not dry so much.
Because of the low price of refrigerators and cold storages the compressor is not
protected of too high or for too low pressures.

(Figure Kaappola 2011) 3

(Figure Festivo)
 A cold storage room (volume 1 -10 m3)
The operation of the compressor (1) is controlled with an
electronic thermostat (10) which is connected to a sensor (9)
inside the cold storage room. The electronic thermostat
controls also the defrosting / melting of ice on the evaporator
(8) periodically.

The compressor is protected with a low / high pressure switch

(11) to avoid the compressor damage (too low or too high
pressure). The fan of the air cooled condenser (2) is running
always when the compressor is running. The thermostatic
expansion valve (7) controls the flow of the refrigerant to the
evaporator. The sight glass (6) is used for monitoring the state
of the refrigerant. The shut off valves (4) are for maintenance
of the system.

(Figure: Kaappola 2011 )

(Figure: Huurre ) 4
(Phot: Bitzer )
 A cold storage room +4°C ( volume 10 - 100 m3)

The operation of the compressor (1) is controlled with a double pressure switch (13). The pressure switch stops the
compressor when the suction pressure is lower than the set point of the pressure. When the pressure has changed enough
(the setting of the pressure difference) the compressor starts again.

The cold storage room temperature is controlled with an electronic thermostat (11) connected to a temperature sensor
(12). The electronic thermostat controls also the melting of ice in the evaporator (9) by keeping the solenoid valve (7)
closed during the melting of ice.
When the temperature of the room rises the thermostat opens the solenoid valve in the liquid line and so the refrigerant
starts to flow to the evaporator through the expansion valve. The suction line pressure starts to increase and the low
pressure switch starts the compressor above the setting of the differential pressure. When the room temperature has
decreased enough ( the differential temperature setting of the thermostat), the thermostat closes the solenoid valve. The
compressor is still running until the low pressure switch turns it off. This control system is called “pump down”
operation.
The condensing pressure is controlled by controlling the fan operation (2) a pressure switch (14) after the condenser
either with an on-off mode or with a continuous round speed mode.