Experimental investigation of a vapor absorption refrigeration system

An experimental investigation of the performance of a commercially available vapor absorption refrigeration (VAR) system is described. The natural gas-fired VAR system uses aqua-ammonia solution with ammonia as the refrigerant and water as the absorbent and has a rated cooling capacity of 10 kW. The unit was extensively modified to allow fluid pressures and temperatures to be measured at strategic points in the system. The mass flow rates of refrigerant, weak solution, and strong solution were also measured. The system as supplied incorporates air-cooled condenser and absorber units. Water-cooled absorber and condenser units were fitted to extend the VAR unit's range of operating conditions by varying the cooling water inlet temperature and/or flow rates to these units. The response of the refrigeration system to variations in chilled water inlet temperature, chilled water level in the evaporator drum, chilled water flow rate, and variable heat input are presented.     

Thermodynamic analysis of natural gas reciprocating compressors based on real and ideal gas models

The accurate modelling and investigating effects of various parameters of the reciprocating compressors are important subjects. In this work, based on first law of thermodynamics, conversation of mass and real and ideal gas assumptions, a theoretical analysis has been constructed to simulate natural gas reciprocating compressors. For computing the thermodynamic properties of natural gas based on real gas model, the AGA8 equation of state has been used. Numerical results validated with previous measured values and showed a good agreement. The effects of important parameters such as: angular speed, clearance and pressure ratio have been studied on the performance of the compressors. The results reveal the in-control volume temperature for ideal gas is more than real gas model but the mass flow rate and work for real gas is higher than ideal gas model. On the other hand, the indicated work that required for compression is greater for ideal gas model.     

A phenomenological model for analyzing reciprocating compressors

A new model for hermetic reciprocating compressors is presented. This model is able to predict compressor efficiency and volumetric efficiency in terms of a certain number of parameters (10) representing the main sources of losses inside the compressor. The model provides users with helpful information about the way in which the compressor is designed and working.A statistical fitting procedure based on the Monte Carlo method was developed for its adjustment. The model can predict compressor performance at most points with a maximum deviation of 3%.A possible gas condensation on cold spots inside the cylinder during the last part of the compression stroke was also evaluated.     

Behavior of isobaric heat capacity of R32 in the gas phase

The specific isobaric heat capacity was measured for R 32 (difluoromethane) in the gas phase. Twenty-one measurements for R 32 were obtained at temperatures from 282 to 319 K and at pressures from 1.0 to 2.4 MPa, which are very close to the saturation curve. The expanded uncertainty (k = 2) of the temperature measurements is estimated to be less than 23 mK, and that of the pressure measurements is less than 15 kPa. The expanded uncertainty for c_p is estimated to range from 15 to 47 J kg^?1 K^?1. The measurements were compared with available equations of state. Based on the measurements, heat capacity curves of the ideal gas and saturated vapor of R 32 were specified. These data will be very useful for improving available models, especially for correcting behavior in the gas phase, so as to represent reliable thermodynamic properties of R 32 and refrigerant mixtures with R32 that are used for refrigeration and air conditioning systems.     

New correlation to predict the heat transfer coefficient during in-tube cooling of turbulent supercritical CO2

The Nusselt number variations of supercritical carbon dioxide during in-tube cooling are presented and discussed. Using data presented in this paper as well as prior publications, a new correlation to predict the heat transfer coefficient of supercritical carbon dioxide during in-tube cooling has been developed. The new correlation is presented in this paper. It is based on mean Nusselt numbers that are calculated using the thermophysical properties at the wall and the bulk temperatures, respectively. It is seen that the majority of the numerical and experimental values are within ±20% of the values predicted by the new correlation.     

Hot gas defrost model development and validation

This paper describes the development, validation, and application of a transient model for predicting the heat and mass transfer effects associated with an industrial air-cooling evaporator during a hot gas defrost cycle. The inputs to the model include the space dry bulb temperature, space humidity, coil geometry, frost thickness, frost density, and hot gas inlet temperature. The model predicts the time required for a complete frost melt as well as the sensible and latent loads transferred back to the conditioned space during the defrost period. The model is validated by comparing predicted results to actual defrost cycle field measurements and to results presented in previously published studies.A unique contribution of the present model is its ability to estimate parasitic space loads generated during a defrost cycle. The parasitic energy associated with the defrost process includes thermal convection, moisture re-evaporation, and extraction of the stored energy in the coil mass following a defrost cycle. Each of these factors contribute to the parasitic load on compressors connected to the defrost return. The results from the model provide quantitative information on evaporator operation during a defrost cycle which forms the basis to improve the energy efficiency of the defrost process.     

Efficiency of urban water supply in Sub-Saharan Africa: Do organization and regulation matter?

Using the model developed by Battese and Coelli (1995), we compare the technical efficiency of urban water utilities in Sub-Saharan Africa countries. We examine how private-sector participation, economic regulation, and their combination affects technical efficiency. We find that regulating water utility operations via performance contracts leads to higher technical efficiency compared to control by an independent regulatory agency. Private-sector participation in management has a positive effect on technical efficiency. However, there is no evidence of a statistically significant difference between the technical efficiency of publicly and privately owned utilities, respectively, when they are regulated by either an independent agency or a performance contract.     

A novel parallel-type hybrid-power gas engine-driven heat pump system

This paper presents a novel concept to integrate a heat pump system and a power system which form a hybrid-power gas engine-driven heat pump (HPGHP) system. The power system of the HPGHP system includes an engine, a motor, a set of battery packs, a continuous variable transmission device and a power-control module. The engine in the power system is capable of operating constantly with high thermal efficiency and low emissions during the four different operating modes: for operating mode A, the ICE powers directly to match the compressor's demand load by throttling the natural-gas flow or adjusting the speed of the ICE, correspondingly the battery packs are disengaged and the ICE operates alone; for operating mode B, the ICE operates in the unique condition with the lowest fuel consumption ratio, meanwhile, the battery packs discharge to provide the supplementary power by the power-control module; for operating mode C, the ICE operates in the unique condition with the lowest fuel consumption ratio, and the redundant power provided by the ICE is converted by the motor to charge the battery packs, here, the motor is used as a generator; for operating mode D, the ICE is disengaged and the battery pack is used alone. Simulation results of the power system showed that for a conventional gas engine-driven heat pump (GHP) system the maximum and minimum thermal efficiencies of the power system are 33% and 22%, respectively; compared with the conventional GHP system, the power system in the novel HPGHP system has superior performance with the maximum and minimum thermal efficiencies of 37% and 27%, respectively.     

Comparative study of the impact of the dummy port in a scroll compressor

A dummy port plays an important role in the porting process and the improvement of the performance of a scroll compressor. This paper documents an investigation on the working mechanism of the dummy port in a scroll compressor. To characterize the dummy port effects on the different parts of the scroll compressor, two scroll compressors, one with and the other without a dummy port, are studied comparatively. The flow through the dummy port is examined in the background of an integrated compressor working process. The assembly of the compressor under investigation includes the upper bearing housing, scrolls, check valve, and discharge plenum. The Navier–Stokes equations with a k– turbulence model are solved at the standard operating conditions of a scroll compressor. Refrigerant-22 is used as the working fluid. The thermodynamic and transport properties of the refrigerant gas are modeled by the Martin–Hou equation of state and power laws, respectively. Global flow physics is investigated first to lay a foundation to understand the working mechanisms that control the porting process before averaging techniques are applied. The behavior of the gas pockets in the porting process is characterized in both geometric and dynamic nature. The time-dependent variation of volume, mass, energy, and volume-averaged field quantities inside the gas pockets are studied throughout the porting process. The impact of the dummy port on the compressor performance is defined.