Refrigerating System

a set of equipment used to produce and maintain a temperature below the environmental temperature in spaces, objects, or substances to be cooled. A refrigerating system consists of one or more refrigerating machines and the auxiliary equipment required for the normal operation of the machines. The auxiliary equipment includes power-, water, and heat-supply systems, as well as regulating and control devices.

Refrigerating systems may be direct or indirect systems. A direct system provides a user with refrigeration by means of a liquefied or compressed refrigerant. An indirect system provides refrigeration by means of a secondary refrigerant.

According to their refrigerating capacities, refrigerating systems are classified as low-capacity (less than 30,000 kilocalories per hour [kcal/hr]), medium-capacity (30,000 to 500,000 kcal/hr), and high-capacity (more than 500,000 kcal/hr).

Refrigerating systems that use vapor-compression machines are located either in an enclosed space in the building where the user is situated or in a separate building called a refrigeration plant. Systems that use absorption or steam-jet machines are often installed outdoors.

Automation has been widely introduced in refrigerating systems. It is used primarily to maintain constant temperature conditions by varying the refrigerating capacity of a system.