CHAPTER 1
1.1. HISTORY OF REFRIGERATOR
A refrigerator is a popular
household appliance that consists of a thermally insulated compartment
and a heat pump (mechanical, electronic or chemical) that transfer heat
from the inside of the fridge to its environment, so that the inside of
the fridge is cooled to a temperature below the ambient temperature of
the room.
Refrigeration is an
essential food storage technique in developed countries, of which the
lower temperature lowers the reproduction rate of bacteria. So
therefore, the refrigerator reduces the rate of spoilage.
Refrigerator maintains a
temperature of few degrees above the freezing point of water, and also
the optimum temperature range for perishable food storage is 3 to 5ºC
(37 to 47ºF). Another common device that maintains a temperature below
the freezing point of water is known as the FREEZER.
The refrigerator replaces
the ICEBOX which had been a common household appliance for century and
half, for these reasons the refrigerator in American usage is sometimes
referred to as the ICEBOX.
The first artificial
refrigeration system began in the mid-1750s and developed in the early
1800s. In 1834, the first working vapor-compression refrigeration system
was built. And also, the first commercial ice-making machine was
invented in 1854 and in 1913 refrigerator for home use was invented. In
1923, Frigidaire introduced the first self-contained unit, and the
introduction of Freon in 1920s expanded the refrigerator market.
Newer refrigerators may include
automatic defrosting chilled water and ice from a dispenser in the door.
Domestic refrigerators and freezers for food storage are made in a
range of sizes, among the sizes; the smallest is a 4l Peltier
refrigerator which can hold about 6 cans of beer while the largest size
is as tall as a person and about 1m wide with a capacity of 600l.
1.2. HISTORY OF REFRIGERATION TECHNOLOGY
The history of artificial
refrigeration began when a Scottish professor William Cullen design a
small refrigerating machine in 1755. Cullen used a pump to create a
partial vacuum over a container of diethyl ether, which then boiled
absorbing heat from the surrounding air. This experiment by Cullen
created even a small amount of ice but had no practical application at
that time.
In 1805, American inventor
Oliver Evans described a closed vapor-compression refrigerator cycle for
production of ice by ether under vacuum. In 1820, the British scientist
Michael faraday liquefied ammonia and other gases by using high
pressures and low temperatures.
Also, in 1834 an American
expatriate to Great Britain Jacob Perkins built the first working
vapor-compression refrigeration system and it was a closed-cycle device
that could operates continuously. In 1842, a similar attempt was made by
American physicist john Gorrie who built a working prototype but it was
a commercial disaster.
The first practical
vapor-compression refrigeration system was built by James Harrison, a
British journal who had immigrated to Australia. His 1856 patent was for
a vapor-compression system using ether, alcohol or ammonia. He built a
mechanical ice-making machine in 1851 on the banks of the Barwon River
at rocky point in Geelong, Victoria and his first commercial ice-making
machine followed in 1854.
Harrison also introduced
commercial refrigeration system using vapor-compression to breweries and
meat packing houses and by 1861 a dozen of his system were in
operation.
The first gas absorption
refrigeration system using gaseous ammonia dissolved in water (referred
as “aqua ammonia”) was developed by Ferdinand carrě of France in 1859
and patented in 1860. Carl von Linde, an engineering professor at the
technology university Munich in Germany, patented an improve method of
liquefying gases in 1876. His new process made possible the use of gases
such as ammonia sulfur dioxide (SO2) and methyl chloride (CH3Cl) as
refrigerants and they were used for that purpose until the late 1920s.
1.2.1. DOMESTIC REFRIGERATION SYSTEM
In 1913, refrigerators for
home and domestic use were invented by Fred w. wolf of Fort Wayne,
Indiana with models consisting of a unit that was mounted on top of an
icebox.
In 1914, engineer Nathaniel B. wales of
Detroit, Michigan, introduced an ideal for a practical electrical
refrigeration unit which later became the basis for the kelvinator.
A self-contained refrigerator with a
compressor on the bottom of the cabinet was invented by Alfred Mellowes
in 1916. Mellowes produced this refrigerator commercially but was
brought out by William C, Durrant in 1918, Durrant started the
Frigidaire Company to mass-produce refrigerator. Also in that same year,
1918 Kelvinator Company introduced the first refrigerator with any type
of automatic control.
The absorption refrigerator
was invented by Baltzar Von Platen and Carl Munters from Sweden in 1922,
while they were still student at Royal institute of technology in
Stockholm. It became a worldwide success and was commercialized by
Electrolux. Other pioneers include Charles Teller, David Boyle, and
Raoul Picket.
Carl Von Linde was the first to patent and make a practical and compact refrigerator in the whole world
1.2.2. HISTORY OF REFRIGERANT
Commercial refrigerator and domestic
refrigerators uses gases such as ammonia (R-717) or sulfur dioxide
(R-764), which occasionally leaked, making them unsafe for home use.
In 1930s, a non-flammable
refrigerant such as Freon-12( R-12) were introduced but however the R-12
causes damages to the ozone layer which makes the USA government to
issue a ban on its use in new refrigerators and air conditioning system
in 1994.
In 1990, a less harmful
refrigerant R-134a (tetrafluoroethane) was use for perfect replacement
to R-12 in 1990, but still found in many old systems.
Figure: 1.1: p-h diagram of refrigeration cycle for R-134a
1.2.3. HISTORY OF STYLES OF REFRIGERATORS
In the 1950s most refrigerators were
white, but from mid-1950s through present day designers and
manufacturers put colours into refrigerators. In late 1950s/early 1960s,
pastel colours like turquoise and pink became popular, brushed
chrome-plating (similar to stainless finish) was available in some model
from different brands. In late 1960s and throughout 1970s, earth tone
colours were popular including Harvest Gold, Avocado Gold and Almond. In
1980s, black became fashionable. In 1990s, stainless steel came into
vogue, and in 2009, one manufacturer introduced a multi-colour design.
1.3. GENERAL TECHNICAL EXPLANATION OF REFRIGERATING SYSTEM
A vapor-compression cycle is
used in most household refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers and
freezers. In this cycle, a circulating refrigerant such as R-134a enters
a compressor as low-pressure vapor at or slightly below the temperature
of the refrigerator interior. The vapor is compressed and exit the
compressor at a very high-pressure superheated vapor, the superheated
vapor travels under pressure through coils or tubes that makes up the
condenser, the coil or tube are passively cooled by exposure to air in
the room. The condenser cools the vapor which liquefies.
As the refrigerant leaves
the condenser, it is still under pressure but it is slightly above the
room temperature of the system. The liquid refrigerant is forced through
a metering or throttling device, also known as the expansion valve
(essentially a pin-hole sized construction in the tubing) to an area of
much lower pressure. The sudden decrease in pressure result in
explosive-liked flash evaporation of a portion (typically about half) of
the liquid. The latent heat absorbed by the flash evaporation is drawn
mostly from adjacent still-fluid refrigerant, a phenomenon known as
auto-refrigeration. This cold and partially vaporized refrigerant
continues through the coil or tubes of the evaporator unit, a fan blows
air from the refrigerator or freezer compartment (box air) across these
coils or tubes and the refrigerant completely vaporizes, drawing further
heat from the box air.
The cooled air is returned
to the refrigerator or freezer compartment, and so keeps the box air
cold. But the cooled air in the refrigerator or freezer compartment is
still warmer than the refrigerant in the evaporator. The refrigerant
leaves the evaporator, now fully vaporized and slightly heated, and
returns to the compressor inlet to continue the cycle.
1.4. PURPOSE OF CONSTRUCTION
The aim and purpose of which this project is designed is to achieve the followings:
- To construct a portable lightweight cooling and freezing equipment.
- To construct a movable cooling or freezing equipment, this can
easily be transferred from one corner of the apartment to the other.
- To construct a mobile refrigerator with good performance and high percentage of local technology.
- To construct a cooling and freezing equipment that will be mobile, economical and cost effective.
- To construct a cooling or freezing equipment that is efficient and with little or no complication in maintenance.
1.5. IMPORTANCE AND SPECIFICATION OF THE PROJECT
The importance attached to this design
accomplishment of a fast cooling and freezing system without adverse
effect on the food tissue, flavours, fleshiness, and natural nutrients
of the food materials. The design intentions are based on reduced cost,
longer life spans, fast freezing and cooling techniques, compactness,
probability, easy of mobility and more of improving on the existing
design taking into consideration the Nigeria factor and possibility of
expending and marketability.
The specifications were obtained
considering the items, which are to be cooled or preserved. Also the
dimensions of the framework and the covering sheets were also considered
immensely.
The component part for the design of the middle cooling system includes:
- The Compressors or the Engine
- The Condenser
- The Capillary tube
- The Evaporator
- Refrigerant
- Relay
- Drier Strainer or Drier
- Thermostat
- Lubricating Oil
- Rubber seal
- Fibre of lagging material
- Mild steel-square pipe
- Metal sheets of mild steel / galvanized – sheet
- Rollers
- Filler
- Metal
- Coal Materials
- Plastic guilders
- Metal screw nails
1.6. SCOPE AND LIMITATION
Refrigeration consist of three main categories which include –
- Domestic refrigeration
- Industrial refrigeration
- Commercial refrigeration
The design scope of the cooling and
freezing systems or mobile refrigerator is mainly for commercial
domestic reasons due to the movable nature and freezing capacity.
The limitations, is the specification in
terms of the size, area and capacity that determines the limitation of
the design of the machine. In an industrial situation or uses or purpose
where bigger refrigeration units are needed or required, the
specification of this equipment may not be ideal (i.e. it might not be
suitable).
1.6.1 LIMITATIONS ENCOUNTERED
- Inaccessibility of a 12 volts DC compressor.
- Inaccessibility of a poly-foam for insulation.
- Lack of sophisticated workshop tools for machining.
1.7. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The most common uses of this mechanized
refrigeration are the preservation of perishable goods more especially
food stuffs, cooling of drinks etc. In serving both functions and
considering the area and situations of need such as resort centers,
student hostels, single room apartment etc. Hence the need arises more
than ever to design mobile cooling and freezing system of acceptable
standard that will meet certain essential requirements such as cost
effectiveness and portability.