Overview
The Water Cooler Test Rig uses a compact vapour compression refrigeration system to cool a water storage tank (drinking water cooler) from ambient temperature to approximately 5 to 10 degrees C. Temperature sensors and a power meter allow measurement of cooling capacity, power input, and COP. Students track the pull-down of water temperature over time, determine steady-state cooling capacity, and analyse the refrigeration cycle on a P-h diagram. The water cooler represents one of the simplest and most familiar refrigeration applications, making it an accessible entry point to refrigeration engineering.
Specifications
| Tank capacity | 20 to 50 litres |
| Cooling target | 5 to 10 degrees C |
| Refrigerant | R134a |
| Compressor | hermetic, fractional HP |
| Condenser | air-cooled |
| Thermostat | adjustable cutout |
| Power measurement | wattmeter |
| Power supply | 220V AC, 50 Hz |