|| SHREE ||

Page 1 of 25

ME 350 Refrigeration and Air Conditoning lecture presented

by Prof M V Rane

|| SHREE ||

Page 2 of 25

'
Example 1: Absorption Refrigeration_Ammonia Water Cycle: Single Effect
A large ammonia/water absorption refrigeration plant operating according to the schematic
diagram of has the following conditions:
a. Refrigeration load, Qe 1000 kW
b. High side pressure, condenser pressure, 1450 kPa
c. Low side pressure, plow, 500 kPa
d. Absorber exit temperature, t1, 40 C
e. Generator exit temperature, t4, 95 C
f. Rectifier vapour exit temperature, t7, 55 C

Reference:D:\Mc+app+o\UNITS_MVR.xmcd

ME 350 Refrigeration and Air Conditoning lecture presented

by Prof M V Rane

|| SHREE ||

Page 3 of 25

Schematic:

ME 350 Refrigeration and Air Conditoning lecture presented

by Prof M V Rane

|| SHREE ||

Page 4 of 25

SOLUTION:
Find:
Determine
a. Rectifier heat duty, Qr in kW
c. Generator heat duty, Qg in kW
e. Coefficient of Performance, COP

b.
d.

Condenser heat duty, Qc in kW

Absorber heat duty, Qa in kW,

Given Data:
Qe := 1000 kW
phi := 1450 kPa
plo := 500 kPa
t1 := 40 K + t0 = 313.15 K
t4 := 95 K + t0 = 368.15 K
t7 := 55 K + t0 = 328.15 K

Note: Temperature in C is not accepted in MathCad, so,

temperatures in C are listed as temperatures in K by adding
t.0 = 273.1 K, units are always maintained in K

ME 350 Refrigeration and Air Conditoning lecture presented

by Prof M V Rane

|| SHREE ||

Page 5 of 25

Assumptions:

Steady state
No pressure changes except through the throttling devices (flow restrictors) and the pump
State points 1, 4, 8, 14 and 15 are saturated liquid
State at points 11, 12 and 13 are saturated vapour
Liquid refrigerant with higher moisture content may be allowed to spillover, form the
evaporator to the refrigerant heat exchanger (rhe)
Throttling devices (flow restrictors) are adiabatic
Pump is isentropic
No jacket heat losses
Vapour leaving the the generator, 13, is in equilibrium with the entering solution
streams, 3 and 14
Properties for calculations are picked up from the Enthalpy-Concentration Diagram for
ammonia/water, NH3/H2O, mixture (page 17.80 of 1993 ASHRAE Fundamentals)
Properties for pure ammonia (R-717) are from property table (page 17.45 of 1993
ASHRAE Fundamentals).

ME 350 Refrigeration and Air Conditoning lecture presented

by Prof M V Rane

|| SHREE ||

Page 6 of 25

Analysis:
Locating Various State Points on Enthalpy-Concentration Diagram for NH3/H2O mixture and
then using them to calculate the performance of the cycle
Vapour at Outlet of the Rectifier
Known parameters
p7 := phi = 1450 kPa

pressure

t7 t0 = 55 K

temperature, note here it represents 55 C

Parameters determined from the Enthalpy-Concentration Diagram

WFV7 := 0.9975
hv.7 := 1350 kJ kg

concentration
1

enthalpy

ME 350 Refrigeration and Air Conditoning lecture presented

by Prof M V Rane

|| SHREE ||

Page 7 of 25

Liquid at Outlet of the Condenser

Known parameters
p8 := phi = 1450 kPa

pressure

WFS8 := WFV7 = 0.9975

concentration

Parameters determined from the Enthalpy-Concentration Diagram

t8 := 37.5 K + t0
hl.8 := 190 kJ kg

temperature
1

enthalpy

ME 350 Refrigeration and Air Conditoning lecture presented

by Prof M V Rane

|| SHREE ||

Page 8 of 25

Vapour at Outlet of the Evaporator:

ESTIMATE assuming inlet liquid refrigerant concentration to be 0.9975 which is close to 1
Known parameters
p10 := plo = 500 kPa

pressure

WFV10 := 1

concentration

Parameters determined from the Enthalpy-Concentration Diagram

t10 := 4 K + t0
hv.10 := 1275 kJ kg

temperature
1

enthalpy of saturated vapour

ME 350 Refrigeration and Air Conditoning lecture presented

by Prof M V Rane

|| SHREE ||

Page 9 of 25

Vapour at Outlet of the Refrigerant Heat Exchanger, 12

Known parameters
p12 := plo = 500 kPa

pressure

WFV12 := WFV7 = 0.9975

concentration

Parameters determined from the Enthalpy-Concentration Diagram

t12 := 30 K + t0
hv.12 := 1340 kJ kg

temperature
1

enthalpy of saturated vapour

ME 350 Refrigeration and Air Conditoning lecture presented

by Prof M V Rane

|| SHREE ||

Page 10 of 25

Heat Picked-up by Refrigerant in the Evaporator: Discussion

Refrigerant enters the evaporator through the throttling device, at state point 10. Enthalpy at
10 is same as enthalpy at 9, before the adiabetic throttling device.
Refrigerant leaves the evaporator in the form of saturated vapour, state point 11, and
saturated liquid in equilibrium with vapour 11, state point 15.
Concentration of vapour at 11 is > 0.999, almost 1 assuming liquid composition above 0.9 at a
saturation temperature 2 to 3 C higher than that for pure refrigerant at the evaporator
pressure.
Refrigerant entering the evaporator, 9 or 10, has 0.0025 weight fraction water. The saturated
vapour leaving evaporator at 11 has > 0.001 eight fraction water, almost no water in it.
To ensure that no accumulation of unevaporated water in the form of solution takes place in
the evaporator, the unevaporated water along with ammonia in the absorbed state, 15, has to
be drained.
Ideally this unevaporated refrigerant solution, 15, should completely evaporate in the vapour
stream 11, as it picks up heat in the Refrigerant Heat Exchanger, rhe.

ME 350 Refrigeration and Air Conditoning lecture presented

by Prof M V Rane

|| SHREE ||

Page 11 of 25

This cooling effect, delivered at temperature substantially above the evaporator temperature,
up to the condenser temperature can be gainfully used to cool saturated condensate, 8.
Saturated liquid refrigerant exiting the condenser is subcooled to a lower temperature, 9.
This reduces the enthalpy at the entrance of the throttling device and results in reduced
flashing at the refrigerant throttle valve exit, 10, or at the inlet of the evaporator.
This increases cooling effect delivered per unit mass flow rate through the evaporator and thus
leads to 5 to 10% increase in cooling capacity of the absorption refrigeration system. This
also results in increased cooling Coefficient of Performance, COP.
Since, heat exchanged in the rhe, between 8-9 and (11&15)-12, is internal to the cycle, the
evaporator heat duty can easily be evaluated by taking the heat balance across 8-12.
This will be valid because there is no external heat or work interaction between 8 and 12 other
than the evaporator duty, Qe.

ME 350 Refrigeration and Air Conditoning lecture presented

by Prof M V Rane

|| SHREE ||

Page 12 of 25

Refrigerant Mass Flow Rate

Qe = 1000 kW
m8 :=

Qe
hv.12 hl.8

= 0.87 kg s

m10 := m8 = 0.87 kg s

m7 := m8 = 0.87 kg s

m12 := m8 = 0.87 kg s

Solution at Outlet of the Absorber, 1

Known parameters
p1 := plo = 500 kPa

pressure

t1 t0 = 40 K

temperature

Parameters determined from the Enthalpy-Concentration Diagram

WFS1 := 0.50
hl.1 := 55 kJ kg

concentration
1

enthalpy

ME 350 Refrigeration and Air Conditoning lecture presented

by Prof M V Rane

|| SHREE ||

Page 13 of 25

Solution at Outlet of the Generator, 4

Known parameters
p4 := phi = 1450 kPa

pressure

t4 t0 = 95 K

temperature

Parameters determined from the Enthalpy-Concentration Diagram

WFS4 := 0.415

concentration

split := WFS1 WFS4 = 0.085

concentration split: is the change in

concentration of the absorbing or generating
solution

hl.4 := 200 kJ kg

solution enthalpy

ME 350 Refrigeration and Air Conditoning lecture presented

by Prof M V Rane

|| SHREE ||

Page 14 of 25

Mass and Concentration Balance Across the Absorber: Discussion

Solution weak in refrigerant, weak ammonia solution, exiting the generator at 4 is subcooled to
5 in the solution heat exchanger.
This subcooled weak solution is throttled through the solution throttling device to 6 before
entering the absorber. Low pressure ammonia vapour from the evaporator, 11, enters the
absorber as 12.
Vapour at 11 and unevaporated liquid refrigerant at 15, passing through the refrigerant heat
exchanger where it vaporizes completely. This low pressure vapour, 12, is absorbed in the
absorber in weak solution 6. After absorption of ammonia vapour, 12, the resulting strong
solution exits the absorber as 1.
Mass balance across the absorber:
Concentration balance across the absorber:

m12 + m6 = m1
m12 . WFV12 + m6 . WFS6 = m1 . WFS1

Heat of absorption, Qa, that is equivalent to heat of condensation plus the heat of mixing, is
released in the absorber. This heat is rejected in the cooling water flowing through the
absorber, as it is heated form state point 103 to 104.
ME 350 Refrigeration and Air Conditoning lecture presented
by Prof M V Rane

|| SHREE ||

Page 15 of 25

WFS6 := WFS4 = 0.415

m1 := m12

WFV12 WFS6
WFS1 WFS6

= 5.959 kg s

m6 := m1 m12 = 5.09 kg s

m2 := m1 = 5.959 kg s

m4 := m6 = 5.09 kg s

m3 := m2 = 5.959 kg s

m5 := m6 = 5.09 kg s

Heat Balance Across the Absorber: Discussion

Heat of absorption, Qa, that is equivalent to heat of condensation plus the heat of mixing, is
released in the absorber. This heat is rejected in the cooling water flowing through the
absorber, as it is heated form state point 103 to 104.
Mass balance across the absorber:
m12 + m6 = m1
Energy balance on ammonia side in absorber:
m12 . hv.12 + m6 . hl.6 = m1 . hl.1 + Qa
Energy balance on cooling water side absorber: mcw.103 . hcw.103 + Qa = mcw.104 . hcw.104

ME 350 Refrigeration and Air Conditoning lecture presented

by Prof M V Rane

|| SHREE ||

Page 16 of 25

Solution at Inlet of the Generator, 3

Known parameters
p3 := phi = 1450 kPa

pressure

WFS3 := WFS1 = 0.5

concentration

approachsat := 0 K

solution is assumed to be saturated at

generator inlet

tsat.gi := 80 K + t0

saturation temperature

Parameters determined from the Enthalpy-Concentration Diagram

t3 := tsat.gi approachsat = 353.15 K
t3 t0 = 80 K
hl.3 := 125 kJ kg

temperature
1

enthalpy

ME 350 Refrigeration and Air Conditoning lecture presented

by Prof M V Rane

|| SHREE ||

Page 17 of 25

Energy Balance Across the Solution Heat Exchanger

Qshe := hl.3 m3 hl.1 m1 = 1072.6 kW
Solution at Inlet of the Absorber Before the Solution Throttle Valve, 5
Known parameters
p5 := phi = 1450 kPa

pressure

Parameters determined from the Enthalpy-Concentration Diagram

WFS5 := WFS4 = 0.415
hl.5 := hl.4 Qshe m4
t5 := 48 K + t0

concentration
= 10.8

kJ
kg

enthalpy
temperature

ME 350 Refrigeration and Air Conditoning lecture presented

by Prof M V Rane

|| SHREE ||

Page 18 of 25

Mass and Concentration Balance Across the Rectifier: Discussion

Since, vapour pressure of water at the generator temperature is not insignificant, water vapour
is also present in the ammonia vapour generated from the generator.
Refrigerant vapour exiting the generator at 13 is cooled in the rectifier to 7. This helps in
reducing the amount of water vapour present in the refrigerant vapour being sent to the
condenser.
On cooling the vapour stream exiting the generator, water vapour preferentially condenses in
the form of ammonia/water solution of concentration far weaker than that of the vapour. This
solution, 14, is returned to the generator of regeneration.
Reducing the water content in the vapour, before it enters the condenser, helps in reducing the
quantity of unevaporated refrigerant stream at the outlet of the evaporator, 15.
If the quantity of unevaporated refrigerant stream 15 is high, state at 12 will be wet. There
will be unevaporated refrigerant at the outlet of the refrigerant heat exchanger at 12. Cooling
effect delivered in the evaporator per unit refrigerant circulated through the condenser and the
evaporator will reduce. This will also result in reduced COP and require higher heat input to
the cycle.

ME 350 Refrigeration and Air Conditoning lecture presented

by Prof M V Rane

|| SHREE ||

Page 19 of 25

Mass and Concentration Balance Across the Rectifier, 13 - 7 - 14

Known parameters
p13 := phi = 1450 kPa
t13 := tsat.gi = 353.15 K

pressure
t13 t0 = 80 K

temperature

Parameters determined from the Enthalpy-Concentration Diagram

WFV13 := 0.986
hv.13 := 1430 kJ kg

concentration
1

enthalpy

ME 350 Refrigeration and Air Conditoning lecture presented

by Prof M V Rane

|| SHREE ||

Page 20 of 25

Mass and Concentration Balance Across the Rectifier: 13 - 7 - 14

Mass balance across the rectifier:
Concentration balance across the absorber:

m13 = m7 + m14
m13 . WFV13 = m7 . WFV7 + m14 . WFS14

Heat of rectification, Qr, that is equivalent to heat of condensation plus the heat of mixing, is
released in the rectifier. This heat is rejected in the cooling water flowing through the
absorber, as it is heated form state point 102 to 103.
WFS14 := WFS1 = 0.5
m13 := m7

WFV7 WFS14
WFV13 WFS14

m14 := m13 m7 = 0.021

= 0.89

kg
s

kg
s

ME 350 Refrigeration and Air Conditoning lecture presented

by Prof M V Rane

|| SHREE ||

Page 21 of 25

Energy Balance Across the Rectifier: 13 - 7 - 14

Qr = hv.13 . mv.13 - h.l.14 . m.14 - hv.7 . m7
Note: This heat may be multiplied with 1.1 to account for non-equilibrium conditions between
the v.13 and l.14. In this example equilibrium is assumed and hence 1.1 multiplier is not used.
kJ
hl.14 := hl.3 = 125
kg
Qr := ( hv.13 m13 hl.14 m14 hv.7 m7) = 96.4 kW

Energy Balance Across the Condenser: 7 - 8

Qc := hv.7 m7 hl.8 m8 = 1008.7 kW
Energy Balance Across the Generator: 3 - 4 - 13 - 14
Qg := Qc + Qr + m4 hl.4 + m8 hl.8 m3 hl.3 = 1543.3 kW
Qg. := m13 hv.13 + m4 hl.4 m3 hl.3 m14 hl.14 = 1543.3 kW

ME 350 Refrigeration and Air Conditoning lecture presented

by Prof M V Rane

|| SHREE ||

Page 22 of 25

Energy Balance Across the Absorber: 2 - 12 - 1

1 := 1000

kg
3

( 1 WFS1) + 600

m
p2 := phi = 1450 kPa

kg
m

( WFS1) = 800

kg
m

p2 p1
kJ
hl.2 := hl.1 +
=

53.813

kg
1

hl.6 := hl.5 = 10.754

kJ
kg

Qa := hl.6 m6 hl.1 m1 + hv.12 m12 = 1438.2 kW

Heat Balance
Heatin := Qe + Qg = 2543.3 kW
Heatout := Qa + Qc + Qr = 2543.3 kW

COP :=

Qe
Qg

= 0.648

ME 350 Refrigeration and Air Conditoning lecture presented

by Prof M V Rane

|| SHREE ||

Page 23 of 25

ME 350 Refrigeration and Air Conditoning lecture presented

by Prof M V Rane

|| SHREE ||

Page 24 of 25

ME 350 Refrigeration and Air Conditoning lecture presented

by Prof M V Rane

|| SHREE ||

Page 25 of 25

ME 350 Refrigeration and Air Conditoning lecture presented

by Prof M V Rane