Diseño y construcción de un sistema de refrigeración didáctico para enfriamiento de agua (Chiller)

Abstract

In the project, a didactic module of a cooling system for water cooling (chiller) was implemented for the use and handling by the students of the carrer of Electromechanical Technology of the ESFOT-EPN.

For the design of the chiller and the selection of the components of the cooling system, the thermal load of the system was calculated based on: heat transmission through walls, product load (water), service load and safety factor. It was determined that the thermal load was 0.854 [kW] and then, the thermodynamic cycle of refrigeration by vapor compression was analyzed using R134a. Based on the calculations, the compressor of 1/3 [HP] was to cool 13 liters of water in 30 minutes. The selection of the evaporator, condenser and expansion valve was done considering the size of the compressor.

The operation of the system was tested without water (without load) and with the calculated volume of water. The system took approximately 36 minutes to cool water from 25 [°C] to 5 [°C].

When the compressor was working, the condensation pressure of the system was 148 [psi] and the evaporation pressure was 29 [psi], which verifies that the system is working properly.