A numerical simulation of an existing vapor compression refrigeration experiment has been created. This simulation can be used prior to lab to familiarize students with both the equipment and the phenomena. The fidelity of the interface toward duplicating the actual controls is intended to give students a basic understanding of how to operate the equipment when they arrive at lab. The modeled equations are intended to represent actual system variables allowing students to explore various behaviors of the system without having to worry about safety issues or harm to the system. This paper will describe how the program has been created within the LabVIEW environment. The assumptions which are employed and those which are allowed to be violated will be detailed as well as the resulting governing equations. Current performance of the "virtual refrigerator" will be discussed as well as the challenges in creating such a program.
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