Performance Evaluation of R134a/DMF-Based Vapor Absorption Refrigeration System

This article describes an experimental investigation to measure performances of a vapor absorption refrigeration system of 1 ton of refrigeration capacity employing tetrafluoro ethane (R134a)/dimethyl formamide (DMF). Plate heat exchangers are used as system components for evaporator, condenser, absorber, generator, and solution heat exchanger. The bubble absorption principle is employed in the absorber. Hot water is used as a heat source to supply heat to the generator. Effects of operating parameters such as generator, condenser, and evaporator temperatures on system performance are investigated. System performance was compared with theoretically simulated performance. It was found that circulation ratio is lower at high generator and evaporator temperatures, whereas it is higher at higher condenser temperatures. The coefficient of performance is higher at high generator and evaporator temperatures, whereas it is lower at higher condenser temperatures. Experimental results indicate that with addition of a rectifier as well as improvement of vapor separation in the generator storage tank, the R134a/DMF-based vapor absorption refrigeration system with plate heat exchangers could be very competitive for applications ranging from –10°C to 10°C, with heat source temperature in the range of 80°C to 90°C and with cooling water as coolant for the absorber and condenser in a temperature range of 20°C to 35°C.     

Computer modeling and parametric study of a double effect generation absorption refrigeration cycle

This paper presents as assessment based on steady-state thermodynamic analysis and computer modeling of a double effect generation absorption refrigeration cycle for solar air-conditioning. The system consists of a second effect generator between the generator and condenser of the single effect absorption cycle and two solution heat exchangers between the absorber and the two generators. A numerical computer modeling of a water LiBr system based on the solution of simultaneous heat, mass and material balance equations for various components of the system has been carried out. The influences of component temperatures and heat exchanger effectiveness on the cooling coefficients of performance and component heat transfer rates have been investigated to obtain optimum operating conditions for the proposed air-conditioning system. Further, the single and double effect absorption cycles are compared with each other as well as with an ideal absorption cycle operating over the same range of temperatures.     

Space-conditioning using triple-effect absorption heat pumps

A triple-effect cycle absorption heat pump was investigated in this study using OSU-ABSIM, a modular steady state simulation program. Ammonia-water solution was used as the working fluid for the upper, high pressure cycle, while ammonia-water and ammonia-sodium thiocyanate solutions were investigated for the lower pressure cycle. The overall system is so configured that the absorber, condenser, and rectifier heat duty from the high pressure cycle is rejected to the generator of the low pressure cycle. The complete absorption system was analyzed, including air-to-hydronic heat exchangers and the natural gas-fired generator. Cycle performance was modeled over a wide range of cooling and heating mode ambients to determine the overall benefits of using this cycle. The effect of high ambient temperatures on the rise in the highest cycle pressures and temperatures (to maintain coupling between the two cycles) was investigated over the range of expected ambients. Parametric studies were conducted on several significant variables that affect cycle performance, such as heat exchanger sizes and different control schemes. The results of this study can be used to determine the merits of this cycle versus other absorption heat pump alternatives, specifically in terms of potential COP benefits for additional system complexity.     

Performance of a second generation solar cooling unit

This paper describes the performance of a 1.5 ton solar-operated absorption refrigeration unit operating with a 14 m² flat-plate solar collector system and containing five heat exchangers: the generator, the absorber, the condenser, the solution heat exchanger (all of these being of shell-and-tube type) and finally the evaporator, which is of the fin-and-tube type. One circulation pump is used for solution flow and another for the hot water flow. The condenser and the absorber are both cooled by city mains water. This particular unit, called the second generation unit, is compared with an earlier, first-generation unit (FGU), i.e. a low-cost, locally manufactured unit of 0.5 ton capacity. The results are based on the observed operation of the unit during hours of sufficient solar irradiance in April and May, the beginning of the air-conditioning season in Jordan. The variation of both the generator and evaporator temperatures during the test period are reported. Also reported is the performance of the unit as measured by the actual and theoretical (ideal) coefficients of performance, both of these being functions of the temperatures and solar irradiance. The maximum values obtained for both actual and theoretical coefficients of performance were 0.85 and 2.7, respectively. These values are within the range of values published in literature, and higher than those obtained by the FGU.     

Computer-aided conceptual thermodynamic design of a two-stage dual fluid absorption cycle for solar refrigeration

This communication presents thermodynamic assessment of a two-stage dual fluid absorption refrigeration system using H₂O---LiBr and NH₃---H₂O as working fluids at the first and second stage, respectively. Both stages are assumed to be operated with hot water available from separate solar collectors. In the cascading of two-stage absorption systems, the evaporator of the first stage produces cooling water which is circulated in the absorber of the second stage. It is found that two-stage systems can be used for the production of very low temperatures using moderate generator temperatures at the first stage. The effects of generator temperature, absorber temperature and condenser temperature on the coefficient of performance, minimum evaporator temperature and effective refrigeration produced are also presented.     

Thermodynamic study of a two-stage vapour absorption refrigeration system using NH3 refrigerant with liquid/solid absorbents

A systematic investigation is made of the two-stage vapour absorption refrigeration system employing the refrigerant absorbent combinations of NH₃---H₂O and NH₃---LiNO₃. The system consists of coupling two conventional absorption cycles so that the first-stage evaporator produces cooling water to circulate in the absorber of the second stage. The effect of operating variables such as generator temperature, evaporator temperature, absorber temperature and condenser temperature on the coefficient of performance (COP), heat transfer rates and relative circulation have been studied for both single-stage and two-stage absorption refrigeration systems. It is found that the COP is higher for NH₃---LiNO₃ than for NH₃---H₂O, in both single-stage and two-stage absorption systems, especially at higher generator temperatures. Furthermore, the minimum evaporator temperature achieved is lower for NH₃---LiNO₃, and the system can be operated at lower generator temperatures.     

无分凝器的氨水吸收式制冷循环系统研究

在常规单级氨水吸收式制冷循环的基础上,本研究提出了一种无分凝器的氨水吸收式制冷循环系统。应用能量和质量守恒方程对循环中不同部件分别建立热力学模型,通过运用C++软件编程,对两种循环的循环特性进行了模拟计算。结果表明:在发生温度为150℃,冷却水进口温度32℃工况下,随蒸发温度的升高无分凝器循环的性能系数越来越接近常规循环,在空调工况下最为接近;反之,越来越偏离常规循环。     

Second law-based thermodynamic analysis of water-lithium bromide absorption refrigeration system

In this study, the first and the second law of thermodynamics are used to analyze the performance of a single-stage water-lithium bromide absorption refrigeration system (ARS) when some working parameters are varied. A mathematical model based on the exergy method is introduced to evaluate the system performance, exergy loss of each component and total exergy loss of all the system components. Parameters connected with performance of the cycle–circulation ratio (CR), coefficient of performance (COP), Carnot coefficient of performance (COP_c), exergetic efficiency (ξ) and efficiency ratio (τ)–are calculated from the thermodynamic properties of the working fluids at various operating conditions. Using the developed model, the effect of main system temperatures on the performance parameters of the system, irreversibilities in the thermal process and non-dimensional exergy loss of each component are analyzed in detail. The results show that the performance of the ARS increases with increasing generator and evaporator temperatures, but decreases with increasing condenser and absorber temperatures. Exergy losses in the expansion valves, pump and heat exchangers, especially refrigerant heat exchanger, are small compared to other components. The highest exergy loss occurs in the generator regardless of operating conditions, which therefore makes the generator the most important component of the cycle.     

Solar absorption air conditioning alternatives

The relative advantages of a single-stage, lithium bromide-water absorption air conditioner heated from a flat-plate solar collector are compared theoretically to those for an ammonia-water system, and the lithium bromide system is selected as the preferred one. Double-stage absorption systems with their improved performance are described and are shown theoretically to require generator temperatures that are too great to make them attractive for use with flat-plate collectors. Dual, series-connected systems which require no cooling tower for heat rejection are shown by analysis to have a low coefficient of performance. Systems utilizing refrigerant storage and a heat rejection buffer between a cooling tower and the absorber and condenser are discussed along with the computer simulation describing them. They are shown to require smaller cooling towers than conventional units. Operation with an air heat exchanger rather than the cooling tower in such a system is shown to yield acceptable system performance with a small reduction in the fraction of the cooling load which can be met with solar energy.     

Exergy analysis of double effect vapor absorption refrigeration system

Energy and exergy analyses previously performed by the authors for a single effect absorption refrigeration system have been extended to double effect vapor absorption refrigeration system with the expectation of reducing energy supply as well as an interest in the diversification of the motive power employed by HVAC technologies. The total exergy destruction in the system as a percentage of the exergy input from a generator heating water over a range of operating temperatures is examined for a system operating on LiBr–H₂O solution. The exergy destruction in each component, the coefficient of performance (COP) and the exergetic COP of the system are determined. It is shown that exergy destructions occur significantly in generators, absorbers, evaporator2 and heat exchangers while the exergy destructions in condenser1, evaporator1, throttling valves, and expansion valves are relatively smaller within the range of 1–5%. The results further indicate that with an increase in the generator1 temperature the COP and ECOP increase, but there is a significant reduction in total exergy destruction of the system for the same. On the other hand, the COP and ECOP decrease with an increase in the absorber1 temperature while the total exergy destruction of the system increases significantly with a small increase in the absorber1 temperature. The results show that the exergy method can be used as an effective criterion in designing an irreversible double effect absorption refrigeration system and may be a good tool for the determination of the optimum working conditions of such systems. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis of power and cooling cogeneration using ammonia-water mixture

Development of innovative thermodynamic cycles is important for the efficient utilization of low-temperature heat sources such as solar, geothermal and waste heat sources. This paper presents a parametric analysis of a combined power/cooling cycle, which combines the Rankine and absorption refrigeration cycles, uses ammonia-water mixture as the working fluid and produces power and cooling simultaneously. This cycle, also known as the Goswami Cycle, can be used as a bottoming cycle using waste heat from a conventional power cycle or as an independent cycle using solar or geothermal energy. A thermodynamic study of power and cooling cogeneration is presented. The performance of the cycle for a range of boiler pressures, ammonia concentrations and isentropic turbine efficiencies are studied to find out the sensitivities of net work, amount of cooling and effective efficiencies. The roles of rectifier and superheater on the cycle performance are investigated. The cycle heat source temperature is varied between 90-170 °C and the maximum effective first law and exergy efficiencies for an absorber temperature of 30 °C are calculated as 20% and 72%, respectively. The turbine exit quality of the cycle for different boiler exit scenarios shows that turbine exit quality decreases when the absorber temperature decreases.     

Computer simulation studies of A double effect generation absorption air-conditioning system using water-salt and alcohol-salt mixtures

This paper presents a computer-simulation based thermodynamic assessment of a double effect generation absorption air-conditioning system. The proposed system consists of a second effect generator between the first effect generator and the condenser, along with two solution heat exchangers between the generators and the absorber. Input variables to the computer simulation based on heat, mass and material balance equations are the input generator heat supply, the solution flow rate and the ambient conditions. A detailed parametric study using water-LiBr and Methanol-LiBr. ZnBr₂ as working fluids for the double effect generation cycle has been carried out for a wide range of ambient conditions under optimum design and off-design conditions. It is found that the COP of this cycle approaches twice that of the single effect cycle for all operating conditions. It is concluded that a double effect cycle is thermodynamically feasible for solar air-conditioning.     

Equilibrium low pressure generator temperatures for double-effect series flow absorption refrigeration systems

The equilibrium temperatures at the low pressure (LP) generator for double-effect series flow lithium bromide–water vapour absorption chiller are evaluated and the system performance is estimated at these temperatures. Influence of temperatures at high pressure (HP) generator, evaporator, condenser and absorber, and the effectiveness of heat exchangers on equilibrium temperature and internal heat transfer at LP generator, circulation ratio, and coefficient of performance are studied. Dual-heat mode of operation of the system is also investigated utilising low grade waste heat at the LP generator. Correlations are presented for equilibrium LP generator temperature, internal heat transfer at the low pressure generator, circulation ratio, coefficient of performance, optimum HP generator temperature and optimum circulation ratio for maximum coefficient of performance in terms of operating temperatures, which are useful in the design and control of absorption system even at the off-design conditions.     

A comparative study of the performance characteristics of double‐effect absorption refrigeration systems

Three classes of double‐effect lithium bromide–water absorption refrigeration systems (series, parallel and reverse parallel) with identical refrigeration capacities are studied and compared thermodynamically. In order to simulate the performances of the systems, a new set of computationally efficient formulations is used for thermodynamic properties of Li‐Br solutions at equilibrium. The simulation results are used to examine the influence of various operating parameters on the first and second law performance characteristics of the systems. In addition, the dependences are investigated of system performance on the effectivenesses of the solution heat exchangers, the pressure drops between the evaporator and the absorber and between the low‐pressure generator and the condenser, and the low‐grade heat externally supplied to the low‐pressure generator. The results reveal the advantages and disadvantages of different configurations of double‐effect lithium bromide–water absorption refrigeration systems, and are expected to be useful in the design and control of such systems. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Residential solar air conditioning: Energy and exergy analyses of an ammonia–water absorption cooling system

Large scale heat-driven absorption cooling systems are available in the marketplace for industrial applications but the concept of a solar driven absorption chiller for air-conditioning applications is relatively new. Absorption chillers have a lower efficiency than compression refrigeration systems, when used for small scale applications and this restrains the absorption cooling system from air conditioning applications in residential buildings. The potential of a solar driven ammonia–water absorption chiller for residential air conditioning application is discussed and analyzed in this paper. A thermodynamic model has been developed based on a 10 kW air cooled ammonia–water absorption chiller driven by solar thermal energy. Both energy and exergy analyses have been conducted to evaluate the performance of this residential scale cooling system. The analyses uncovered that the absorber is where the most exergy loss occurs (63%) followed by the generator (13%) and the condenser (11%). Furthermore, the exergy loss of the condenser and absorber greatly increase with temperature, the generator less so, and the exergy loss in the evaporator is the least sensitive to increasing temperature.     

Effect of component pressure drops in two-fluid pumpless continuous vapour absorption refrigerator

Miniaturisation of the vapour absorption refrigerator requires replacement of the solution pump by a heat operated bubble pump and air cooled condenser and absorber. The replacement necessitates the selection of working media restricted to vacuum operation, and the air cooling poses the problem of high pressure drops in the refrigerator. Thermodynamic analysis of the absorption refrigerator with such a suitable working medium is performed considering the pressure drops in the system as parameters. The analysis shows that the effect of the evaporator to absorber pressure drop on the system performance is more significant than that of the generator to condenser pressure drop, and it becomes more predominant at the low generator temperature normally encountered in solar operated systems.     

新型太阳能双喷射制冷系统的理论研究

提出了一个用气—液喷射器代替机械泵的新型双喷射制冷系统。双喷射制冷系统中没有机械泵,从而循环本身不需要消耗电能。研究了气—液喷射器的运行特性和喷射系数与工作参数的关系。分析了双喷射制冷系统COP与发生器温度、冷凝器温度的关系。比较了以R123和R134a为制冷剂的太阳能双喷射制冷系统运行性能。模拟了太阳能双喷射制冷系统的运行性能,COP可达0.2-0.3。     

Experimental investigation of a vapor compression heat pump used for cooling and heating applications

The present work aims at evaluating the performance characteristics of a vapor compression heat pump (VCHP) for simultaneous space cooling (summer air conditioning) and hot water supply. In order to achieve this objective, a test facility was developed and experiments were performed over a wide range of evaporator water inlet temperature (14:26 °C) and condenser water inlet temperature (22:34 °C). R134a was used as a primary working fluid whereas water was adopted as a secondary heat transfer fluid at both heat source (evaporator) and heat sink (condenser) of the heat pump. Performance characteristics of the considered heat pump were characterized by outlet water temperatures, water side capacities and coefficient of performance (COP) for various operating modes namely: cooling, heating and simultaneous cooling and heating. Results showed that COP increases with the evaporator water inlet temperature while decreases as the condenser water inlet temperature increases. However, the evaporator water inlet temperature has more effect on the performance characteristics of the heat pump than that of condenser water inlet temperature. Actual COP of cooling mode between 1.9 to 3.1 and that of heating mode from 2.9 to 3.3 were obtained. Actual simultaneous COP between 3.7 and 4.9 was achieved.     

Optimal performance of double-effect series flow vapour absorption refrigeration systems with new working fluids

In a double-effect series flow vapour absorption refrigeration system (VARS), an optimum value of the low-pressure generator temperature exists at which all the vapour generated at the high-pressure generator is condensed. At these conditions, a comparative study of the performance of VARS using environment friendly refrigerants such as, R32, R134a, and R124 with N,N′-dimethyl acetamide (DMAC) as the absorbent is made. It is found that the system with R32-DMAC gives the best performance at high evaporator temperatures. R124-DMAC may be preferred at extreme operating conditions like low evaporator and high heat rejection temperatures. Influence of operating temperatures (high-pressure generator, evaporator, condenser and absorber) and the effectiveness of heat exchangers on the optimum low-pressure generator temperature, cut-off temperature, circulation ratio and coefficient of performance are studied. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermodynamic analysis of monomethylamine–water solutions in a single-stage solar absorption refrigeration cycle at low generator temperatures

A theoretical analysis of the coefficient of performance COP was undertaken to examine the efficiency characteristics of the monomethylamine–water solutions for a single-stage absorption refrigeration machine, using low generator temperatures (60–80°C), which allows the use of flat plate solar collectors. The thermodynamic analysis considers both, basic and refined cycles. The refined absorption cycle included a sensible heat recover exchanger (that is a solution heat exchanger). The thermal coefficients of performance COP_h for the basis cycle and COP_SHE for the refined cycle were calculated using the enthalpies at various combinations, at the operating temperatures and concentrations. The flow ratio F_R has been calculated as additional optimization parameter. Due to the relative low pressure and the high coefficients of performance, the monomethylamine–water solutions present interesting properties for their application in solar absorption cycles at moderate condenser and absorber temperatures (25–35°C), with temperatures in the evaporator from −10°C to 10°C which are highly usable for food product preservation and for air conditioning in rural areas.