Although I would not put Volume 3 in my first set of professional books, it would be in the second tier. This volume offers detailed design information necessary for selecting technology for compressors and heating and cooling. It is well beyond what is available from classroom textbooks so be prepared for the initial shock. This is not a quick-reference book! You will have to spend some time to extract the information from Ludwig's series, i.e., volumes 1-3. I find Coulson and Richardson an easier text to use everyday. If you want details on refrigeration cycles, this is the place to look after you've had a go at Coulson or Hicks (Standard Handbook of Engineering Calculations).
Although some of the information may be available on-line. You would need to spend days and weeks collecting it. Then, there are the worked out examples of calculations, just like Hicks (missing from Coulson), that are invaluable. The photos of equipment, the tables and charts are invaluable. You won't find complete step-by-step calculations, like Hicks, but you will find more challenging ones worked out in sufficient detail to write a spreadsheet for future use.
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