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ME 2121-2

Air Conditioning Performance

1 Objective
The aim of this experiment is to study the performance characteristics of a typical airconditioner. Specifically, this assay will enable us to examine the refrigeration cycle of the
machine, and also to evaluate the cooling capacity (Coefficient of Performance) and power
consumption under different operating conditions.

2 Results
2.1 Readings
2.1.1 The experiment was carried out at two different fan speeds, extra cool and night
cool. Each speed corresponds to a specific supply air flow rate.
First supply air flow rate : 9.92m3/min (extra cool)
Condenser Pressure (Psi)
190 2.5
Evaporator Pressure (Psi)
62 1
Condensing Temperature (F)
98 1
Evaporating Temperature (F)
35 1
16 1
Refrigerant Temperature entering Compressor (oC)
77 1
Refrigerant Temperature leaving Compressor (oC)
64 1
Refrigerant Temperature entering Condenser (oC)
31 1
Refrigerant Temperature leaving Condenser (oC)
Power consumed (W)
860 5
Second supply air flow rate : 7.08m3/min (night cool)
Condenser Pressure (Psi)
200 2.5
Evaporator Pressure (Psi)
64 1
Condensing Temperature (F)
100 1
Evaporating Temperature (F)
37 1
11 1
Refrigerant Temperature entering Compressor (oC)
80 1
Refrigerant Temperature leaving Compressor (oC)
69 1
Refrigerant Temperature entering Condenser (oC)
33 1
Refrigerant Temperature leaving Condenser (oC)
Power consumed (W)
900 5

2.1.2 Dry bulb and Wet bulb temperatures of air before and after the evaporator coil are
noted. These data are fed into the computer to find the dew point, relative
humidity, humidity ratio and air enthalpy. The following tables tabulate the
readings.
First supply air flow rate : 9.92m3/min (extra cool)
Before evaporator coil After evaporator coil
17 0.25
12 0.25
Wet Bulb Temperature (oC)
22.5 0.25
14.5 0.25
Dry Bulb Temperature (oC)
13.849
10.175
Dew point (oC)
Relative humidity (%)
57.953
75.086
Humidity ratio (kgW/kga)
9.853
7.705
Air enthalpy (J/kga)
47700
34074
Second supply air flow rate : 7.08m3/min (night cool)
Before evaporator coil After evaporator coil
22.5 0.25
10 0.25
Wet Bulb Temperature (oC)
17 0.25
12.5 0.25
Dry Bulb Temperature (oC)
13.849
7.925
Dew point (oC)
Relative humidity (%)
57.953
73.499
Humidity ratio (kgW/kga)
9.853
6.609
Air enthalpy (J/kga)
47700
29266

2.2 Computation
Note : 1 Psi = 6.894757 kPa
1 oC = (F-32) x 5/9
Specific Heat of Air, Cpa = 1.02 kJ/kg dry air K
Latent heat of water = 2465 kJ/kg
At high fan speed (extra cool) :
2.2.1 From the Psychometric chart (Fig 3), at a wet bulb temperature of 12oC and a dry
bulb temperature of 14.5oC, specific volume of air is 0.825 m3/kg.
2.2.2 Capacity of the air conditioner is given by
QT mair (hairin hair out)
where m and h refers to mass and enthalpy respectively.

9.92
1

)(47700 34074
)
60 0.825
2731
J /s

QT (

Hence,

2.2.3 Coefficient of Performance

= capacity/power consumed
= 2731/860
= 3.175

2.2.4 Energy Efficient Ratio

= 3600 x C.O.P/1005
= 11.38

(since 1 btu = 1005 J)

2.2.5 Uncertainty in the value of the capacity is given by ...


QT mair hairin hairout

QT
mair
hairin hair out

hairin hair out


hairin hair out

(since

mair
0)
mair

2.2.6 Assuming that air is an ideal gas, and since h = CpaT h = CpaT. Hence, the
equation in 2.2.5 is rewritten as ...
QT ( Tairin Tair out)

QT
Tairin Tair out
Substituting T to be 0.25, we get ...
0.5
QT
2731
17 12
= 273.1 W
Thus error in the capacity of the air-conditioner is 273.1 W or 10% of the
measured value.
2.2.7 Also, the uncertainty in the measured C.O.P is given by ...
C.O. P QT power

C.O. P
QT
power
Substituting the appropriate values,
C.O. P
25
(0.1
)
C.O. P
860
0.129
Thus error in the Coefficient of Performance is 12.9% of the calculated value.
2.2.8 The error in calculating the Energy Efficient Ratio is the same as that of the C.O.P,
which was 12.9%.
At low fan speed (night cool) :

2.2.9 The calculations are similar to those for high fan speed. The various results are ...
Capacity of air-conditioner = 2660 J/s
Coefficient of Performance = 2.955
Energy Efficient Ratio = 10.59
Error in capacity = 11.1% of measured value
Error in C.O.P = 12.7% of calculated value
Error in E.E.R = 12.7% of calculated value
2.2.10 The fraction of latent capacity (QL/QT) for high fan speed is calculated as follows
Q
Q
Given L 1 S
QT
QT
and QS mC
a pa(Tair in Tair out)

QL
1
QT

maC pa(Tair in Tair out)

= 1

QT
.92
( 960

)(1020
)(225
. 145
. )
2731

1
0.825

= 0.599
Similar calculation for low fan speed gives a value of QL/QT = 0.751

3 Discussion and Analysis of Results


3.1

A Schematic Diagram of the refrigeration cycle is drawn below ...

3.2

Temperature 1 is that of the R-22 before it enters the compressor. At this point on
the P-h diagram, the refrigerant is superheated. After passing through the
compressor, it is raised to a higher pressure, at a higher temperature, but it is still
superheated.
Temperature 3 is that of the R-22 before it enters the condenser. The drop in
temperature as it travels from the exit of the compressor to the inlet of the
condenser might be due to heat lost to the ambience. The refrigerant is then
undergoes a change in state in the condenser, becoming a subcooled liquid at
temperature 4. This subcooled liquid, as it travels via the capillary tubes to the
evaporator, undergoes a drop in pressure and temperature due to friction and
acceleration. The saturated mixture which resulted is passed into the evaporator,
where the refrigerant is vapourised. This superheated R-22 is delivered to the
compressor, and the whole cycle is repeated.

3.3 Calculation of total heat rejection by air conditioner


3.3.1 At low fan speed ...
Total heat rejected to the atmosphere = heat absorbed by evaporator
+ work supplied to compressor
Rate of heat rejected to atmosphere = Capacity + work supplied to compressor
= 2731 + 860
= 3591 W
If the air conditioner is run for 12 hrs a day for 30 days,

total heat rejection = 3591 x 3600 x 12 x 30


= 1.293 MWh
3.3.2 At high fan speed ...
Rate of heat rejected to atmosphere = Capacity + work supplied to compressor
= 2660 + 900
= 3560 W
If the air conditioner is run for 12 hrs a day for 30 days,
total heat rejection = 3560 x 3600 x 12 x 30
= 1.282 MWh
3.3.3 From the calculations, a very large amount of heat is rejected into the atmosphere.
However, it is possible to recover part of this energy so that useful work is done.
The rejected heat can be used to warm water, which is subsequently stored in a
tank. In this way, no extra electrical energy would be needed to heat cold water.
If very hot water is needed, the heat dissipated at the condenser may not be
sufficient. Nonetheless, the rejected heat can be used to pre-heat the water coming
from the mains. This partially-warmed water is then sent into the actual heater to
bring the water temperature to the desired value.
Possible places of application for such heating systems would be large airconditioned buildings like hotels and office blocks. A schematic diagram is given
below.

3.4 Possible errors


3.4.1 Most readings were obtained from analog dials. This means that parallax error
might be incurred when taking readings.
3.4.2 The experiment was started 15 minutes after turning on the air-conditioners in the
room. Thermal equilibrium might not have been attained within this time interval.
3.4.3 Fluctuations of heat levels generated by human activity might have affected the
accuracy of thermometer readings.

4 Conclusion
6

The air conditioner is basically a reversible heat engine. It draws heat at a lower
temperature and rejects heat to a higher temperature surrounding. The refrigeration cycle
can be divided into four stages.
Firstly, high pressure liquid refrigerant flows from the condenser to the evaporator through
the capillary tubes. The pressure of the refrigerant reduces as it flows through the capillary
tubes due to friction and acceleration. Secondly, the low pressure R-22 then evaporates in
the evaporator providing the required cooling effect. Thirdly, the vapour refrigerant
generated is received by the compressor where the vapour pressure is raised and
superheated vapour is delivered to the condenser. Lastly, the vapour is air-cooled at the
condenser and liquefied for the beginning of the next cycle.
From the experiment, we conclude that the air-conditioner removes heat at a faster rate
when operated at higher fan speed when compared to low fan speed (2731J/s against
2660J/s). Coefficient of performance, which gives a measure of the capacity of the
machine per unit power, is also higher at the higher fan speed (3.175 against 2.955).
Consequently, the Energy Efficient Ratio, which is another form of expression of the
C.O.P, is higher for the higher fan speed (11.38 against 10.59).
Nonetheless, when considering the validity of these results, we must take into
consideration the error incurred in the course of the experiment.

-- End --

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