Abstract: | This paper presents a detailed thermodynamic analysis of absorption heat pumps and heat transformers. First and second law thermodynamic methods are both applied to calculate the respective energy efficiency (COP) and the energy efficiency (n) for the systems as well as the individual components. Using LiBr/H2O as an example, two three-dimensional T-S-X diagrams for an absorption heat pump and a heat transformer are constructed by calculating the thermodynamic properties and the chemical potentials. From the calculated COP and n values, it is concluded that AHP for heating has better thermodynamic performance than both AHP for cooling and heat transformer. |