Knowing about main components of refrigeration system helps you with better understanding of its function. Refrigeration systems in cold rooms are designed to store some products in a temperature lower than the ambient temperature. Refrigeration has turned into a large and important industry in recent years and cold rooms are so vital for businesses dealing with food, chemicals and even technology.
All refrigeration systems have 5 main parts:
- compressor
- condenser
- expansion valve
- evaporator
- fan
we are going to speak about all of these components of refrigeration system.
Compressor in refrigeration system
Let's start learning about refrigeration components with the heart of the refrigeration system which is the compressor. Compressor makes the refrigerant move in the whole refrigeration system, the same job heart does in our body with the blood. Compressor uses an electric motor to move the refrigerant. It actually increases the pressure of the refrigerant gas to condense.
Types of compressors in refrigeration system
Compressors have different classification methods. Here, we are assessing them according to their mechanical function and design.
Reciprocating compressors
They are also called piston compressors. These compressors are positive displacement machines that use a piston to compress the refrigerant gas and deliver it at high pressure.
Rotary compressors
These compressors are so small with little noise. They use two asymmetrical rotors to compress the refrigerant gas.
Centrifugal compressors
This kind of compressors also known as turbo or radial, pressurize the refrigerant by forcing the refrigerant through a rotating impeller.
Screw compressors
These compressors have two meshed male and female rotors which rotates in opposite directions. The refrigerant is pressurized by getting trapped between the two rotors.
Scroll compressors
These compressors have two intermeshing scrolls. One is fixed and the other orbits around it. Refrigeration moves towards the center of this structure and is pressurized.
Condenser in refrigeration system
Condensers remove heat from the hot refrigerant gas to change it into a saturated liquid state.
Different kinds of condensers in refrigeration system
Condensers are divided into three groups according to the way they remove heat from the refrigerant.
Air-cooled condensers
They use air as the external fluid to remove heat from the refrigeration system.
Water-cooled condensers
They use water to reject the heat from the refrigeration system and are used when there is an adequate supply of water.
Evaporative condensers
They are a mix of air-cooled and water-cooled condensers. They use air and water as the condensing medium.
Expansion valve in refrigeration system
Expansion valve seems to be a very simple component but it's one of the most important parts of refrigeration system. It does two key functions in the refrigeration system:
- Controlling the amount of refrigerant entering the evaporator.
- Maintaining the pressure difference between compressor (high pressure) and evaporator (low pressure).
There are different kinds of expansion valves in refrigeration system. We just name five main types here:
- Thermal expansion valves
- Capillary tubes
- Manual valves
- Automatic valves
- Electronic expansion valves
- Float valves
Evaporator in refrigeration system
The main function of refrigeration is done in evaporator. Some consider evaporator as the main component of refrigeration system. Evaporator does the heat exchange mission in refrigeration system. In this component, heat is transferred to the refrigerant from the products in the cold room.
Different kinds of evaporators in refrigeration system
Evaporators are available in various shapes, sizes and designs in refrigeration system. Here there are three kinds of evaporators according to their structure:
Bare tube evaporators
These evaporators are made of copper tubing or steel pipes. They have several turns of the tubing most common the flat zigzag and oval trombone. They are usually used for liquid chilling.
Plate type evaporators
In these evaporators, the copper or aluminium coil is embedded in a plate to form a flat looking surface.
Finned evaporators
they are bare tube evaporators covered with the fins.
Fan in refrigeration system
Cold room fan or fans are in charge of providing the airflow around the evaporator coils so that the refrigeration system works properly.
What you studied was the 5 main components of refrigeration system. This complicated system consists of various parts and components. Watching the refrigeration system training course in HelloTechnic website helps you to have more precise information about cold room and chillers. Then you will be one of the professionals in this field.
