Refrigeration COP - Carnot & Actual
Coefficient of Performance of a vapour-compression cycle given evaporator and condenser temperatures, with Carnot reference.
Carnot COP
6.07 -
Second-law efficiency
52.7%
Formula, assumptions, and limits
Marine AC chillers typically achieve η_II ≈ 40–55 % (COP 3.0–4.5). Reefer ships run COP 2–3 due to greater T lift. Higher condenser T (fouled heat exchanger) is the most common COP thief.
Symbol legend
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evaporator saturation temperature | K | RTD | |
| Condenser saturation temperature | K | RTD | |
| Heat removed / work input | - | plant data |