Refrigeration & Air-Conditioning

Basic Principles and Safety

Start with how cooling works. This module explains the vapour-compression cycle for refrigeration, air-conditioning and chillers, basic calculations such as cooling load and refrigerant charge, and the safety and PPE standards (ASHRAE, ISO) for the tropical Nigerian climate.

Mechanical Components and Tools

Identify the components and the tools of the trade. You will identify compressors, condensers, evaporators and chiller-specific components, and use the basic and intermediate tools — manifold gauges, vacuum pumps and digital manifolds — under proper safety.

Refrigerant Management and Piping

Handle refrigerants and join the pipework. This module covers refrigerant handling and safety (R-410A and low-GWP R-32), piping layout and brazing, using gauges and leak detectors for charging, and applying the environmental standards for refrigerant management.

Installation and Maintenance

Install and service real units. You will install and maintain refrigerators and split ACs, then intermediate systems such as inverter ACs and small-scale chillers — coil cleaning, filter replacement, chiller tube cleaning and basic energy audits, all under ASHRAE safety.

Troubleshooting and Assessment

Diagnose and optimise cooling systems. This module covers identifying basic and intermediate faults, root-cause analysis for chillers, and completing a capstone that services and optimises a chiller or AC system.

Final Examination

Resources & Further Reading

Assignments