What is the formula for calculating the refrigerant flow rate?

The formula for calculating the refrigerant flow rate is based on the relationship between the cooling load of the system and the enthalpy change of the refrigerant. The cooling load represents the amount of heat that needs to be removed from a space to maintain a desired temperature, while the enthalpy change refers to the energy transfer per unit mass of the refrigerant as it circulates through the system.

When calculating the refrigerant flow rate, we use the formula:

Flow Rate = Cooling Load / (Enthalpy change).

This means that to find the flow rate, you divide the total cooling load by the change in enthalpy—the energy required to change the state of the refrigerant. This allows you to determine how much refrigerant must flow through the system to achieve the necessary cooling effect. It effectively gives you the mass flow rate of the refrigerant needed to absorb the specified heat.

Understanding this relationship is crucial for designing and optimizing HVAC systems, ensuring they operate efficiently and effectively in maintaining thermal comfort. The other options do not align with this consistent relationship, as they either suggest incorrect operations (like multiplication or addition) that wouldn't yield the desired flow rate.