PROBLEM 4. (20 POINTS)
A cold storage plant is used to cool 9000 liters of milk per hour from 27°C to 4°C. The heat gain of the plant is estimated at 3600 kJ/min. The refrigerant is ammonia and the temperature required in the evaporator is -6°C. The compressor delivery pressure is 10.34 bar and the condenser liquid is undercooled to 24°C before throttling. The plant has a brine circulating system and the rise in temperature of the brine is to be limited to 3°C. The vapor is dry saturated at the evaporator outlet, and the compression process is isentropic.
a) Sketch the system.
b) Draw the refrigeration cycle on the p-h diagram provided.
c) Calculate:
- The power input required in kW, taking the mechanical efficiency of the compressor as 90%.
- The swept volume of each cylinder of the twin-cylinder, single-acting compressor, with a volumetric efficiency of 85% and a rotational speed of 200 rpm.
- The rate of brine circulation in liters/sec.
Milk: specific heat 3.77 kJ/kg·K
Brine: specific heat 2.93 kJ/kg·K
Density: 1030 kg/m³ (milk), 1190 kg/m³ (brine)