This textbook provides a concise, systematic treatment of essential theories and practical aspects of refrigeration and air-conditioning systems. It is designed for students pursuing courses in mechanical engineering both at diploma and degree level with a view to equipping them with a fundamental background necessary to understand the latest methodologies used for the design of refrigeration and air-conditioning systems.

After reviewing the physical principles, the text focuses on the refrigeration cycles commonly used in air-conditioning applications in tropical climates. The subject of psychrometry for analysing the various thermodynamic processes in air conditioning is particularly dealt with in considerable detail.

The practical design problems require comprehensive use of tables and charts prepared by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). This text incorporates such tables and charts so that the students are exposed to solving real-life design problems with the help of ASHRAE Tables.

Finally, the book highlights the features, characteristics and selection criteria of hardware including the control equipment. It also provides the readers with the big picture in respect of the latest developments such as thermal storage air conditioning, desiccant cooling, chilled ceiling cooling, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and thermal comfort.

Besides the students, the book would be immensely useful to practising engineers as a ready reference.

KET FEATURES

• SI units have been used throughout the text.

• A real-life design problem has been solved using the ASHRAE's Cooling Load Temperature Differential (CLTD) method.

• Comprehensive graphical illustrations and schematic diagrams help in conceptualizing the concepts, the systems, and the processes.

• Worked examples aided by graphics and charts provide a better understanding of the subject.

• Extensive review exercises help students absorb the text material.