DISCUSSION

The objective of the experiment was to determine the Coefficient of Performance (C.O.P.)
of a refrigeration unit and to determine the overall heat transfer coefficient between R141b and
water in the evaporator and condenser. Refrigeration cycle are used in variety of applications
such as refrigerator for the preservation of food. The components of refrigeration systems are
evaporator, expansion device, condenser and compressor. Basically, refrigeration process is the
removal of unwanted heat from one place or substance and transfer to another.

The experiment started by proceeding the start-up methods step by step. It is done to
make sure the equipment run smoothly and the data acquired accurately. In experiment to
determine the coefficient of Performance (C.O.P) of refrigeration, the water flow meter valve was
adjusted for condenser at 50g/s and for evaporator 25g/s. Repeat by reducing the condenser
flowrate by 10g/s for each run but maintain the evaporator flowrate. After that, continue
experimental procedures to determine overall heat transfer in evaporator and the condenser. The
Condenser Cooling Water flow was increased to 25 g/s and the Evaporator Water flow was also
set to 25 g/s. The unit was left about 10 minutes for each run to achieve stability. The data
recorded was then used to calculate the coefficients of performance (COP) and also the overall
heat transfer coefficient of evaporator and condenser. The data observed is recorded and then
calculated to obtain the coefficient of performance (COP) and the overall heat transfer coefficient.

Based on results obtained from the calculation, the coefficient of performance (COP) from
highest to lowest is test 4, test 2, test 5, test 3, test 1 at -0.2586, -0.2857, -0.2903, -0.3, -0.4375
respectively. This means that test 4 is the most efficient run. The efficiency depends on several
factors like the temperature difference between waste heat source and potential user but the most
important factor is the temperature difference between condensation and evaporation
temperature because the smaller the difference, the higher the COP or the efficiency (De Kleijn
Energy, 2018). The results are faulty as the approximated result of highest to the lowest COP is
test 1, test 2, test 3, test 4 and test 5 respectively but the result calculated from the data of the
experiment has shown a negative value of COP. The negative value of COP comes from the
abnormally low pressure gauge of condenser. The equipment may have suffered a damage on
its condenser pressure meter.
 The result also shows that the overall heat transfer coefficient of evaporator is higher than
the overall heat transfer coefficient of condenser which is at 5244.02 W/m2.oC for evaporator and
3025.98 W/m2.oC for condenser. This happens because the fin in the evaporator remove heat
from the air, thereby lowering the air temperature in the cooled space. The removed heat is then
conducted through the metal to the refrigerant where it is absorbed. As this happens, the
refrigerant gradually changes from liquid to gas thus it require a lot of heat energy. The condenser
did the opposite of the evaporator as it picks up the heat from the refrigerant. In the process, the
temperature of the high pressure refrigerant drops to a point where it condenses back into a
liquid. Thus, the refrigerant enters the condenser as a high-pressure, high-temperature gas, and
leaves in liquid form with a cool temperature but still under high pressure (SmartEnergyUser,
1997)

There were few possible errors that happened and may possibly happened during the experiment.
First, the equipment must have a regular maintenance to avoid some part of the equipment to be
damaged as it will affect the data and the result of the experiment. Next, the equipment must be
allowed to run for approximately 30 minutes after the main switch is on and for at least 10 minutes
for every run to make the reading of the equipment stable and to get the accurate reading. Lastly,
shut down process must be done patiently and slowly without haste as it will affect the
performance of the equipment in the future.
REFERENCES

Industrial Heat Pumps. (n.d.). Retrieved September 25, 2018, from

http://industrialheatpumps.nl/en/how_it_works/cop_heat_pump/

How Refrigeration Works. (1997). Energy and Minerals Section - P.E.I. Department of Economic
Development and Tourism, 3(5). Retrieved September 25, 2018, from
http://www.wisdompage.com/SEUhtmDOCS/3SE5.htm