Refrigeration & Equipment Engineering

2.5.1.Principal parts of the system

Unit 2 - Refrigeration Systems

2.5.1.Parts of the vapour compression refrigeration system

1.Receiver:
This is a storage tank for the refrigerant which is fixed below the condenser, and is filled with refrigerant. The refrigerant inside the receiver is under high pressure. The receiver has inlet valve, outlet valve, safety valve etc. The receiver is fitted in the evaporation type condenser or water cooled condenser. There is no receiver in domestic refrigerators. The refrigerants are to be accumulated in the condenser of the domestic refrigerator.

2. Refrigerant flow controls or throttling devices:
The function of the controlling devices is to reduce high pressure liquid refrigerant from the receiver to low pressure in the correct quantities and to feed the liquid refrigerant to the evaporator coils,so as to operate a system at maximum efficiency without overloading the compressor.

3. Evaporator:
Evaporator is that part in a refrigeration system where the refrigerant boils and changes to vapour, when liquid refrigerant inside the evaporator absorbs heat from warm place /material placed in it.

4. Suction line:
The line through which refrigerant flows from evaporator to the compressor is called suction line. These suction lines are made of pure steel material. In case of domestic these are made of copper material. f

5. Compressor:
The compressor is referred to as the heart of mechanical refrigeration system. The compressor pumps the refrigerant through the system.

6. Discharge line:
The line between compressor and the condenser is called discharge line, this is towards high pressure side of the system. This is made of steel material in case of domestic this is made of copper material.

7. Condenser:
When high superheated refrigerant vapor comes in condenser from compressor, its temperature is brought down by air or water or both. The heat goes from vapor to condensing medium and gets transformed into liquid.