VAPOUR ABSORPTION

LiBr-Water
REFRIGERATION SYSTEM
INTRODUCTION
The energy and global warming crises have drawn
renewed interests to thermally driven cooling systems from
the air conditioning and process cooling fraternities
A vapour absorption refrigeration system is a heat operated
unit which uses refrigerant (water) that is alternately
absorbed by and liberated from the absorbent (LiBr).
It uses low graded heat energy (Solar energy, Geothermal
energy) instead of mechanical energy.




WHY LiBr water system is preferred
(i) it can be thermally driven by gas, solar energy, and
geothermal energy as well as waste heat, which help to
substantially reduce carbon dioxide emission;
(ii) its use of water as a refrigerant;
(iii) it is quiet, durable and cheap to maintain, being nearly
void of high speed moving parts;
(iv) its vacuumed operation renders it amenable to scale up
applications
How it works???
Basic Components
Generator
Condenser
Evaporator
Absorber
Function
1. Generator-
The purpose of the generator is to deliver the refrigerant
vapour to the rest of the system
a high-temperature energy source , typically steam or hot
water, flows through tubes that are immersed in a dilute
solution of refrigerant and absorbent.

2. Condenser-
The purpose of condenser is to condense the refrigerant
vapours.
Inside the condenser, cooling water flows through tubes and
the hot refrigerant vapour fills the surrounding space which
converts into condensed refrigerant liquid.
Function
3. Evaporator-
The purpose of evaporator is to cool the circulating water.
The evaporator contains a bundle of tubes that carry the
system water to be cooled/chilled.
High pressure liquid condensate (refrigerant) is throttled down
to the evaporator pressure (typically around 6.5 mm Hg
absolute).
4. Absorber-
Inside the absorber, the refrigerant vapour is absorbed by the
lithium bromide solution.
As the refrigerant vapour is absorbed, it condenses from a
vapour to a liquid, releasing the heat it acquired in the
evaporator.
Thermodynamic representation

Assumption
As the refrigerant vapour is absorbed, it condenses from a
vapour to a liquid, releasing the heat it acquired in the
evaporator.
Specific enthalpy of superheated refrigerant at inlet of
condenser from generator is equal to the specific enthalpy of
saturated refrigerant at the generator temp.
Solution leaving the absorber and generator are saturated at
the unit temp.
Absorber and generation pressure are equal to the evaporator
and condenser respectively
Solution entering generator at generator pressure.

MATHEMATICAL MODELLING BASED ON ABOVE
ASSUMPTION
Model Validation

FEASIBILITY AND COST COMPARISON DATA
Note- 20 S = 1 POUND
Area of improvement in future

(i) develop advanced absorption cycles which could work at
low heat source temperature or recover more heat to improve
system performance;
(ii) improve the design of major components such as
generator and absorber to enhance their heat and mass
transfer efficacy;
(iii) avoid crystallization problem;
(iv) develop new and reliable working pairs.
Practical Problem with water-LiBr
refrigeration system
1. CRYSTALLIZATION To prevent crystallization the condenser
pressure has to be maintained at certain level, irrespective
of cooling water temperature. This can be done by
regulating the flow rate of cooling water to the condenser.
- Additives are also added in practical systems to inhibit
crystallization
2. AIR LEAKAGE - Since the entire system operates under
vacuum, outside air leaks into the system. Hence an air
purging system is used in practical systems .
3. PRESSURE DROP - Since the operating pressures are very
small and specific volume of vapour is very high, pressure
drops due to friction should be minimized. This is done by
using twin- and single-drum arrangements in commercial
systems.
Conclusion
The heat input required for per KW cooling
capacity is 1.43 KW
COP obtained by this experiment varies
from .35-.80 .


Reference
Micallef , Micallef: Mathematical model of vapour absorption
refrigeration unit
Xiaolin Wang and Hui T. Chua,Western Australia Geothermal
Centre of Excellence, School of Mechanical Engineering M050,
The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway,
Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
Laboratoire de Physique de la Matire Condense, Facult des
Sciences Ben M'Sik, Casablanca, B.P. 7955, Maroc

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