Slide 2:

Refrigeration by a mechanical vapor-compression system may be an efficient method.

However, the energy input is shaft work, which is high-grade energy and therefore

expensive. The relatively large amount of work is required because in compression

The vapor undergoes a large change in specific volume. So, in absorption refrigeration the amount of
work required could be greatly reduced. Example 5.1 shows how this may be done by a absorption of
the refrigerant vapor by a liquid.

Slide 3:

Refrigeration is a process of removing heat from a space to reduce the temperature below the
immediate surrounding temperature. Thus, refrigeration refers the pumping of heat from lower to
higher temperature. Heat can flow from higher to lower temperature but reverse heat flow requires
input power according to second law of thermodynamics

Slide 4:

Homogeneous mixture is uniform in composition (Ex. Density, pressure and temperature).

Heterogeneous mixture is non- uniform in composition. (fog or cloud)

Slide 7:

Equation (5.1) allows calculation of the specific enthalpy in Btu per lb of mixture for a solution of known
concentration at some fixed temperature and pressure, if the enthalpies of the pure components and
the isothermal heat of solution are known.

Slide 9:

If we repeated the experiment with different initial concentration values, but with the same pressure,
our experimental results would give the equilibrium-boiling and equilibrium-condensing lines shown in
Fig. 5.2(c). If we repeated the experiments but with different pressures, we would obtain the results
shown in Fig. 5.2(d). If we reversed the experiments, started with a superheated vapor, and then
removed heal, we would have the results shown by Fig. 5.2(e).

slide 12:

Equation 5.2 defines straight line on the h-x diagram as shown by fig. 5.4b

Slide 17:

In the case of some binary mixtures such as aqua-ammonia, rectification of the vapor is required.

Slide 22:

(a) Analyzer:

The ammonia vapours leaving the generator may contain certain moisture, and therefore it should be
freed from any trace of water vapour before passing on to the condenser and then to the expansion
valve, otherwise the water vapour is likely to freeze in the small valve passage and choke the flow.

The function of the analyzer is to remove the moisture as far as possible. It is an open type of cooler and
forms an integral part of the generator, mounted on its top. Both the strong aqua-ammonia solution
from the absorber and the condensate removed in rectifier are introduced from the top and flow
downwards.

The hot rising vapour of ammonia therefore comes in contact with the same and gets cooled. Thus,
most of the water vapour is condensed and drips back into the generator. This helps in salvaging a
certain portion of heat in outgoing vapour which would otherwise have been rejected out through the
condenser.
(b) Rectifier:

It is a closed type of cooler and is actually a miniature condenser where any traces of water vapour left
in the ammonia vapour, are removed by condensation. The cooling is achieved by circulating water as is
done in an ordinary condenser. The condensed aqua is drained back to the generator through the
analyzer.

(c) Heat Exchangers:

Two heat exchangers are provided to internally exchange heat from the higher temperature fluid to the
lower temperature fluid so that one is cooled and the other is heated.

One heat exchanger is provided between liquid receiver and evaporator so that the liquid is sub-cooled
and vapour is heated up. Another heat exchanger is located between generator and absorber so that
the strong aqua is heated up before going on to the analyzer and weak aqua is cooled before entering
the absorber.

d. The strong solution of refrigerant and absorbent are heated by external source of heat such as steam
or hot water. It can also be heated by other sources like natural gas, electric heater, waste exhaust heat
and etc.

slide 24:

Q E is the heat transferred to the absorption system at temperature T E

Q G is the heat transferred to the generator of the absorption system at temperature T G

Q a is the heat transferred from one absorber and condenser of the absorption system at temperature
T0

w P the work input to the solution pump.

Slide 27:

If we assume that heat rejection at the absorber and condenser takes at same external heat sink
temperature T 0 , then a vapour absorption refrigeration system operates between three temperature
levels T G , T 0 and T E .

Slide 29:

The principal difference between Figs. 5.1 6 and 5.18 is that a double rectifying column and a
dephlegmator are added. A second heat exchanger is also added.

The vapor leaving the generator may contain from five to ten percent of water vapor. Through the use
of the rectifying equipment, the concentration of the vapor entering the condenser can be made almost
equal to unity.

The rectifying equipment operates exactly like that described in Section 5. 4. other parts of the system
have also been adequately discussed. In Section 5.3 we treated of' the processes involved in Fig. 5.18.
We will now consider the solution of a complete system problem.

Slide 31:

The most commonly used fluids in the absorption system are water as absorbent and ammonia as
refrigerant. The vapour from the evaporator is allowed to be mixed and absorbed in the absorber. The
heat of absorption generated in the process is rejected from the absorber to the circulating cold water in
a heat exchanger dipped in the solution contained in the absorber.

The strong aqua-ammonia solution from the absorber is pumped upto the condenser pressure and fed
to the generator which is the main energy consuming element of the system. Heat is supplied to the
generator. The boiling point of refrigerant NH 3, is lower than that of the absorbing liquid H 2O, hence the
vapours leaving the generator are predominantly those of refrigerant.
These vapours then pass on to the condenser. The liquid refrigerant from the condenser, then, passes
through an expansion valve or throttle valve to the evaporator where it absorbs heat from the
substances or bodies to be refrigerated. Liquid refrigerant is then evaporated and the vapours enter the
absorber completing the cycle.

The weak aqua-ammonia solution in the generator left due to separation of refrigerant vapour is drained
back to the absorber for repeating the cycle.

The weak aqua-ammonia solution leaving the generator is at high pressure and the pressure in the
absorber is the evaporator pressure which is less than the generator or condenser pressure, and hence a
pressure reducing valve is provided in the weak solution line to the absorber.

The energy requirements of the system are at the generator and at the pump as compared to those at
compressor in the vapour compression system. Since the volume of liquid handled by the pump is too
small, the power required here is almost negligible as compared to that by the generator.

Slide 35:

In the lithium bromide – water system, water is the refrigerant and lithium bromide the absorbent.
Hence the mixture is used only in air – unlimited applications. The mixture is again non – ideal and is
satisfactory from the point of view of the solubility requirement. Since lithium bromide is a salt, it exerts
no vapour pressure. So, the vapour leaving the generator is a pure refrigerant. The mixture satisfies the
boiling point requirements also. However, it is corrosive and the plant work under high vacuum.