How does an increase in water percentage in ammonia affect the refrigeration cycle?

An increase in water percentage in ammonia can create higher saturation temperatures because the presence of water affects the thermodynamic properties of the refrigerant mixture. In refrigeration systems, the saturation temperature is the temperature at which a refrigerant changes state from liquid to vapor (or vice versa) at a given pressure.

When water is present in the ammonia, it changes the mixture's physical properties, often leading to a scenario where higher pressures or temperatures are needed to achieve the same cooling effect. As more water is mixed with ammonia, the effective boiling point (saturation temperature) of the mixture increases. This can lead to operational challenges, such as higher energy consumption to maintain the necessary pressures within the system, ultimately impacting the efficiency and cooling capacity of the refrigeration cycle.

Understanding this behavior is crucial for refrigeration operators, as it emphasizes the importance of maintaining the proper refrigerant purity and composition to ensure optimal performance of the cooling system.