Electrolux Refrigeration System – Components, Working, Advantages, Disadvantages, and Applications

Electrolux Refrigeration is also known as Domestic Electrolux refrigeration or sometimes known as Three fluid Refrigeration as it uses three fluids for the cooling process which are ammonia, water and hydrogen.

Ammonia works as a coolant in this refrigeration system.
Water is used as a solvent. Ammonia is dissolved in the water.
Hydrogen gas is used to increase the rate of evaporation and hence the rate of cooling. Hydrogen increases the evaporation rate as it is a very lightweight gas and is not soluble in water.

Components of Eloctolux Refrigeratio System:-

Different components of the Eloctolux Refrigerator are:-

1) Generator
Solution of Ammonia (NH3) and water is present inside this generator.

2) Gas Burner
It heats the generator. Ammonia and Water inside the generator is heated and the ammonia dissolved in water changes to vapour.

3) Rectifier
The vapour from the generator produced by heating a solution of Ammonia and water reaches the rectifier after leaving the generator. This vapour contains ammonia vapour and some particles of Water (H2O) .
The rectifier will keep the water particles and will only allow Ammonia vapour to pass through it. After passing the rectifier, the ammonia vapour will go to the condenser. Water particles will be sent to the generator again.

4) Condenser
The condenser will convert ammonia vapour into liquid ammonia. After this, liquid ammonia will be sent to the evaporator.

5) Evaporator
Liquid ammonia from the condenser will come here and will extract heat from the evaporator. Hydrogen gas coming from the absorber will be added to the evaporator and will mix with ammonia. This hydrogen gas will increase the evaporation rate and cooling rate. After that, the heated mixture of ammonia vapour and hydrogen will go back to the absorber. In this absorber, water is already there, which will dissolve ammonia in it and as hydrogen is insoluble, it will not get dissolved. Hydrogen will rise and will again go to the evaporator.

6) Absorber
In the absorber, water and hydrogen are present. Water is present at the bottom, and hydrogen gas is present above that. As the hydrogen is very light and insoluble in water, so it will go to the evaporator. For being heated in the evaporator mixture of ammonia and hydrogen in gaseous form will come back to the absorber.

7) Heat Exchanger
After mixing in the absorber, the solution of water and ammonia will go to the Heat Exchanger, and then it will be sent back to the generator. Heat Exchange will recieve heat from the hot weak ammonia and water solution coming from the generator, and this will be received by the ammonia and water solution coming from the absorber and after being heated, this solution goes back to the generator. The weak solution of ammonia and water, which releases heat in the exchanger, goes to the absorber.

After passing through the heat exchanger, the solution of water and ammonia will be sent back to the generator, where the cycle starts over again.

Role of Hydrogen in Electrolux Refrigeration System:-

Here are the reasons why hydrogen is used Electrolux Refrigeration System:-

1) As hydrogen is the lightest gas, it is used to increase the evaporation rate of liquid ammonia refrigerant passing through the evaporator.
2) Hydrogen is used to improve COP (Coefficient of Performance).
3) It is used to maintain uniform total pressure throughout the system.
4) It reduces the partial pressure of the refrigerant in the evaporator.
5) It is used to provide a vapour seal.
6) To circulate the refrigerant.
7) Hydrogen allows the refrigerant to evaporate at a low temperature in the evaporator, corresponding to its partial pressure.
8) Because of the presence of Hydrogen, the condenser and evaporator pressures of the refrigerant are maintained in the following way:-
i) In the condenser, only ammonia is present, and the total pressure is the condensing pressure.
ii) In the evaporator, both hydrogen and ammonia are present. Their relative masses are adjusted in such a way that the partial pressure of ammonia is equal to the required evaporator pressure.
Hence, these conditions of pressure are achieved without the use of pumps or valves.

Advantages of the Electrolux Refrigeration System:-

1) No pump isneeded in this refrigeration system.
2) The hydrogen gas used is much cheaper.
3) This system is leak-proof.
4) As there are no moving parts, the operation is noise-free.
5) There is no chance of pressure unbalancing.
6) No need ofvalves.
7) There is no lubrication problem.
8) Very low maintenance cost due to the absence of moving parts.

Disadvantages of Electrolux Refrigeration System:-

1) It has a low COP (Coefficient of Performance).
2) Once this system is spoiled, it cannot be repaired, therefore the system has to be replaced completely.
3) The construction and working of this system are very complicated.
4) This system cannot be used for industrial purposes or applications due toits low COP (Coefficient of Performance).

Applications of Electrolux Refrigeration System:-

1) Electrolux Refrigeration Systems are designed to be energy efficient and environmentally friendly, making them a popular choice for residential use and used in household refrigerators and freezers.
2) These refrigeration sytems are also commonly used in commercial and industrial applications, where larger cooling capacities are required.