Refrigeration

Abstract This chapter focuses primarily on refrigeration applications, which cover such diverse uses as food processing and storage, supermarket display cases, skating rinks, ice manufacture, and biomedical applications such as blood and tissue storage or hypothermia used in surgery. Most refrigeration systems utilize the vapor compression cycle to produce the desired refrigeration effect. There are four basic components in every vapor compression refrigeration system: compressors, condenser, expansion device, and evaporator. Refrigeration can be accomplished in either closed‐cycle or open‐cycle systems. Ammonia is a popular refrigerant for many industrial and large warehouse applications. Absorption systems offer three distinct advantages over conventional vapor compression refrigeration. For indirect refrigeration, the process or refrigeration load is cooled by an intermediate liquid, which is itself cooled by refrigerant typically in a conventional vapor compression cycle. Several defrost methods are used with refrigeration systems: hot refrigerant gas, air, and water.