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Ii. Iii. Iv.: Cascade Systems
Ii. Iii. Iv.: Cascade Systems
where Te and
Tc are the
b
Where b1 and b2 are the constants in Clausius-Clayperon equation: P=a− T for low
and high temperature refrigerants, respectively.
Auto-cascade systems:
An auto-cascade system may be considered as a variation of cascade
system, in which a single compressor is used. The concept of auto-cascade system
was first proposed by Ruhemann in 1946. Figure 13.7(a) shows the schematic of a
two-stage auto-cascade cycle and Fig.137(b) shows the vapour pressure curves of
the two
Fig.2(a): Schematic
of a two-stage auto-cascade system
can condense by rejecting heat (Q c,out) to the external heat sink, if its partial
pressure in the mixture is such that the saturation temperature corresponding to the
partial pressure is higher than the external heat sink temperature. Since the
saturation temperature of the low temperature refrigerant is much lower than the
external heat sink temperature at its partial pressure, it cannot condense in the
partial condenser, hence, remains as vapour. Thus it is possible theoretically to
separate the high temperature refrigerant in liquid form from the partial condenser.
Next this high temperature, high pressure liquid is expanded through the expansion
valve into the condenser operating at a pressure Psuction. Due to the expansion of the
high temperature refrigerant liquid from Pdischarge to Psuction, its temperature drops to a
sufficiently low value (Te,h) so that when the low temperature, high pressure
refrigerant vapour comes in contact with the high temperature, low pressure
refrigerant in the condenser it can condense at a temperature T c,l. This condensed,
high pressure, low temperature refrigerant is then throttled to the suction pressure
and is then made to flow through the evaporator, where it can provide the required
refrigeration effect at a very low temperature Te. Both the high temperature
refrigerant from condenser and low temperature refrigerant vapour from evaporator
can be mixed as they are at the same pressure. This mixture is then compressed in
the compressor to complete the cycle. Thus using a single compressor, it is
possible to obtain refrigeration at very low temperatures using the auto-cascade
system. In practice, more than two stages with more than two refrigerants can be
used to achieve very high temperature lifts. However, in actual systems, it is not
possible to separate pure refrigerants in the partial condenser as some amount of
low temperature refrigerant condenses in the partial condenser and some amount of
high temperature refrigerant leaves the partial condenser in vapour form. Thus
everywhere in the system, one encounters refrigerant mixtures of varying
composition. These systems are widely used in the liquefaction of natural gas.