Virtual test bench as a complement to study thermal area: application in vapor compression systems.

This paper describes an educational simulator developed in the software Engineering Equation Solver to simulate the behavior of a vapor compression system. The application is focused on educational purposes, specifically for handling skills in refrigeration facilities by students in engineering careers. Using this simulator, the students are able to analyze easily the influence of the measured parameters (such as the compressor rotation speed, volumetric flow rates and temperature of the secondary fluids) on the energy performance of the facility and its components. The virtual test bench consists of a primary screen showing a general scheme of the vapor compression facility with input and output parameters. From this primary screen, the performance of the main components can be analyzed. Finally, this virtual test bench was tested by engineering students, concluding that the simulator is an interesting tool as improvement and support for learning in different subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]