Efficient Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Systems

This chapter discusses the vapour compression-based refrigeration systems and describes the operation principle and theoretical thermodynamic cycle of them, the types of refrigeration compressors, the ecological refrigerants and some recovery possibilities of the thermal energy produced by refrigeration systems. Additionally, a computational model for optimal design of refrigeration insulations on flat and cylindrical surfaces and another for refrigeration columns for soil freezing operating with gaseous refrigerant, as well as an experimental study on the frost self-protection of cooling towers on an air-conditioned stand using a vapour compression-based refrigeration system are presented. Finally, an investigation of the energy efficiency of conventional air-conditioning systems in office buildings is included. For this application, an air–water mist cooled system for the air-cooled chiller is proposed. The results of the experiments showed that the most efficient ventilation and air-conditioning system for office buildings consist of an air handling unit and fan coil units with an air–water mist cooled chiller and a cooled water temperature of 8 °C.