Introduction to Refrigeration Systems: The Baseball Diamond

 

1. Compressor

   • Located at "home plate" in our baseball diamond analogy.
   • Increases refrigerant pressure from low to high.
   • High pressure, high temperature vapor refrigerant exits the compressor.

2. Condenser

   • Located at "first base."
   • Condenses high pressure vapor refrigerant into a high pressure liquid.
   • Connected to the compressor by the discharge line.
   • Liquid line carries refrigerant to the metering device.

3. Metering Device

   • Located at "second base."
   • Meters flow of refrigerant into the evaporator.
   • Changes high pressure liquid refrigerant into a low pressure liquid.

4. Evaporator

   • Located at "third base."
   • Evaporates low pressure liquid refrigerant into a low pressure vapor.
   • Connected back to the compressor by the suction line.

Refrigeration Cycle:

1. Discharge Line:

   • High pressure, high temperature vapor leaves the compressor and enters the condenser.

2. Liquid Line:

   • High pressure liquid leaves the condenser and travels to the metering device.

3. Evaporator Line:

   • Low pressure liquid leaves the metering device and enters the evaporator.

4. Suction Line:

   • Low pressure vapor leaves the evaporator and returns to the compressor.

Baseball Diamond Analogy:

• Home Plate: Compressor
• First Base: Condenser
• Second Base: Metering Device
• Third Base: Evaporator

System Balance and Function:

• Pressure Change:

  • Compressor (home plate) increases pressure.
  • Metering device (second base) decreases pressure.

• State Change:

  • Condenser (first base) changes vapor to liquid.
  • Evaporator (third base) changes liquid to vapor.

• High Pressure Side:

  • Right side of the field (compressor to metering device).

• Low Pressure Side:

  • Left side of the field (metering device to evaporator back to compressor).