Absorption Refrigeration

Lecture 1

Mohamed Abdelkareem
Assiatant Professor,
Mechanical Power Engineering Department.
Zagazig University.
Lecture contents

1. What is an absorption system

2. Comparison with vapor compression system

3. Construction and COP calculation

4. Refrigerant-Absorbent Mixture

5. Single-effect LiBr ARS

6. Solved examples

7. Commercial absorption units

2
 Vapor Absorption Refrigeration System
 Oldest Method of Producing Refrigeration Effect.

 The system uses a heat source (e.g., solar energy, a fossil-fuel flame, waste
heat from factories, or district heating systems) to provide the energy needed
for the cooling process instead of Mechanical Energy.
 The System Runs on Low–Grade Thermal Energy.
 The System is Environment Friendly Since They use Natural Refrigerants Such
as Water or Ammonia.
 Compressor is Replaced By
- Absorber
- Generator
- Pump
- Pressure Reducing Valve
• The vapor-compression cycle (VCRS) is described as a work-operated cycle
because the elevation of pressure of the refrigerant is accomplished by a
compressor that requires work.
• The absorption cycle (ARS), on the other hand, is referred to as a heat-
operated cycle because most of the operating cost is associated with providing
the heat that drives off the vapor from the high pressure liquid. 3
 ARS vs VCRS
The thermal compression is achieved by the following process:

4
ARS vs VCRS

5
ARS Features
◉ ARS are often classified as heat-driven systems. They are used
especially,
when there is a source of inexpensive thermal energy at a temperature of
100 to 200°C.

◉ The principle can be used to air-condition buildings using available waste

heat from a source. ARS are primarily used in large commercial, industrial
installations or for storage in recreational vehicles.

◉ Some examples include geothermal energy, solar energy, and waste

heat
from cogeneration or process steam plants, and even natural gas when it is
at a relatively low price.

◉ For example, using waste heat from a gas turbine makes it very efficient
because it first produces electricity, then hot water, and finally,
airconditioning
(called cogeneration/trigeneration). 6
 Simple ARS
• Two different pressures exist in the system: a high pressure prevails in the
generator and condenser, while the low pressure prevails in the absorber
and evaporator.
• The compression operation is provided by the assembly in the left half of the
diagram.
• Low-pressure vapor from the evaporator is absorbed by the liquid solution in
the absorber.
• If this absorption process were executed adiabatically, the temperature of
the solution would rise and eventually the absorption of vapor would cease.

7
Simple ARS Cont.
• To perpetuate the absorption process the absorber is cooled by
water or air that ultimately rejects this heat to the atmosphere.
• The pump receives low-pressure liquid from the absorber,
elevates the pressure of the liquid, and delivers the liquid to the
generator.
• In the generator, heat from a high-temperature source drives off
the vapor that had been absorbed by the solution.
• The liquid solution returns to the absorber through a throttling
valve whose purpose is to provide a pressure drop to maintain the
pressure difference between the generator and absorber.
• high-temperature heat enters the generator while low-
temperature heat from the substance being refrigerated enters the
evaporator.
• The heat rejection from the cycle occurs at the absorber and
condenser at temperatures such that the heat can be rejected to
atmosphere.
8
Coefficient of performance
Coefficient of performance of the ARS

~ 0.6-1.4
• The comparatively low value of COPabs should not be considered prejudicial to the
absorption system, because the COPs of the two cycles are defined differently.
• The COP of the VCR is the ratio of the refrigeration rate to the power in the form of
work supplied to operate the cycle. Energy in the form of work is normally much
more valuable and expensive than energy in the form of heat

9
COP of an Ideal ARS
In an ideal Vapour Absorption System:-
 Heat given to the refrigerant in Generator at Temp. Tg = Qg
 Heat discharge to the Atmosphere or Cooling Water from
Condenser & Absorber at Temp. Tc = Qc+a
 Heat Absorbed by the refrigerant in Evaporator at
Temp. Te = Qe
 Heat added to the refrigerant due to Pump work = Qp
Neglecting the Heat due to Pump Work Qp

According to First Law of

Thermodynamics:

Qg Qe Qca --------- (1)

10
COP of an Ideal ARS
 An Ideal Vapour Absorption System is Perfectly Reversible.
 For completely reversible system the total Entropy Change
(System + Surrounding) is Zero.
Qg Qe Qca
  
Tg Te Tc --------- (2)

From Eq. (1) & (2)

Q g Qe Q g Qe
 
Tg Te Tc

Qe  Qe  Q g  Q g
Te Tc Tc Tg
   
   
1 1 1 1 
Qe 

 

Qg
  
 Te Tc  Tc T g 
   
 
11
 COP of an Ideal ARS
 
Qe

 Te 
  T g Tc 


 


   --------- (3)
Qg T T
  

Tg 
c
 e  



Maximum Possible COP of the System is given by:

 
 Qe 
 COP   



 Max  

Qg 
 
From Eq. (3)
 

 Te 
  T g Tc 

 COP     
 
 Max 
 T T 
  Tg  --------- (4)
 c e   
 

The COP depends on the main three operating

temperatures:
○ The temperature of the heat source (High temperature)
○ The temperature of Condenser/ Absorber (They can be different) 12
 COP of an Ideal ARS
In Equation (4):
 
 T e  is the COP of Carnot
  --

 Tc Te 
 Refrigerator working
 
between Tc & Te
 


T g Tc 

  - - is the Efficiency of
 Tg 

 
Carnot Engine working
between Tg & Tc


COP 
Max
   COP 
Carnot
 ηC a r n o t

 If in case the Heat is Discharge at Different Temperature in

Condenser & Absorber then:
   T  T 

Where Ta – Temp. at which
 Te  g a 
  COP 
 Max
 

 
   Heat is Discharge in Absorber


Tc  Te  
 
Tg 

 13
 COP of an Ideal ARS
Another Method
The power cycle receives energy in the form of
heat qg at an absolute temperature Ts, delivers
some energy W in the form of work to the
refrigeration cycle, and rejects a quantity of
energy qa in the form of heat at a temperature
Ta.

The refrigeration cycle receives the work W

and with it pumps heat qe at the refrigerating
temperature of Tr to a temperature Ta, where
the quantity qc is rejected.

14
Desirable Properties of Refrigerant-Absorbent
Mixture
 SOLUBILITY REQUIREMENT:- The refrigerant should exhibit high
solubility with solution in Absorber so that a strong solution highly rich in
refrigerant is formed in the Absorber by absorption of refrigerant vapors.

 BOILING POINT REQUIREMENT:- There should be large

difference in the boiling points of refrigerant and absorbent (Greater than
200oC) so that only refrigerant is boiled-off in the Generator. The
absorbent should have negligible vapor pressure at the generator temperature.
Thus almost absorbent free refrigerant is boiled off from the generator and the
absorbent alone returns to the absorber. Also, it ensures that only pure
refrigerant circulates through refrigerant circuit (Condenser-Exp.Valve-
Evaporator) leading to isothermal heat transfer in Evaporator and Condenser

 The Refrigerant-Absorbent mixture should have High Thermal Conductivity.

 It should have Low Viscosity to minimize Pump Work.
 It should have Low Freezing Point.
 It should not undergo Crystallization or Solidification inside the
system.
 The mixture should be Safe, Chemically Stable, Non-Corrosive, Inexpensive
and should be available easily.
15
Refrigerant-Absorbent Mixture

The most Commonly Used Refrigerant-Absorbent Pairs

in Commercial Systems:
 Water-Lithium Bromide (H2O-LiBr) or Water-Lithium Chloride
 Refrigerant – Water
 Absorbent – Lithium Bromide/ Chloride
 Application – the minimum temperature is above
the freezing point of water > 0oC, A/C applications
 Ammonia-Water (NH3-H2O)
 Refrigerant – Ammonia
 Absorbent – Water (transport medium)
 Application – Refrigeration applications, + 5 C to –
55 C

16
Refrigerant-Absorbent Mixture

The composition may be defined in many different ways, including mass fraction, mole
fraction, and concentration. In this text, the mass fraction is used throughout, defined as

17
 P-T-X properties of LiBr-water solutions:
• Lithium bromide is a solid salt crystal; in the presence of water
vapor it will absorb the vapor and become a liquid solution.
• The liquid solution exerts a water-vapor pressure that is a function
of the solution temperature and the concentration of the solution.
• If two vessels were connected as shown, one vessel containing
LiBr-water solution and the other pure water, each liquid
would exert a water-vapor pressure.
• At equilibrium the water-vapor pressures exerted by the two
liquids would be equal.

T of pure water is 40°C----p vapor is 7.38 kPa.

That same vapor pressure would be developed
by a LiBr-water solution at a temperature of
80°C and a concentration x = 59% LiBr
on a mass basis.
Many other combinations of temperatures and
concentrations of solution also provide a vapor
pressure of 7.38 kPa. 18
P-T-X properties of LiBr-water solutions:

19
 Enthalpy LiBr-water solutions
• Water in liquid or vapor form flows in and out of the
condenser and evaporator, so enthalpies at these points can be determined from a
table of properties of water.
• In the generator and absorber, LiBr-water solutions exist for which the enthalpy
is a function of both the temperature of the solution and the concentration.

20
 Pressure–Temperature Diagram
• The advantage of this representation is the fact that plots of saturation temperature
versus saturation pressure are almost straight lines for most fluids and fluid
mixtures when the mass fraction is constant.
• These plots are referred to as Duhring plots.

21
Crystallization
Crystallization is a phenomenon that causes aqueous solution of LiBr to permanently
separate into salt at low cooling water temperatures. As the absorbent crystallizes, it
becomes a non-flowing solid and slush stats to form, rendering the chiller inoperable.

Crystallization is likely to occur when condenser pressure falls and when there is sudden
drop in condenser water temperature. While reducing condenser water temperature does
improve performance, it could cause a low enough temperature in the heat exchanger to
crystallize the concentrate.

Power failures can cause crystallization as well. A normal absorption chiller shutdown uses a
dilution cycle that lowers the concentration throughout the machine. At this reduced
concentration, the machine may cool to ambient temperature without crystallization.
However, if power is lost when the machine is under full load and highly concentrated
solution is passing through the heat exchanger, crystallization can OCCUR. The longer the
power is out, the greater the probability of crystallization.
Crystallization is avoided by:
• Maintaining artificially high condensing pressures even though the temperature of the
available heat sink is low;
• Regulating cooling water flow rate to condenser;
• By adding additives;
• An air purging system is used to maintain vacuum.
22
Example 1
Compute the rate flow of refrigerant (water) through the condenser and
evaporator in the cycle shown in Fig. 13-6 if the pump delivers 0.6 kg/s and the following
temperatures prevail: generator, 100°C; condenser, 40°C;
evaporator, 10°C; and absorber, 30°C. compute
qg, qa,qc,qe, and the COP.
The condensing temperature of 40°C fixes the pressure in the condenser (and thus
in the generator) of 7.38 kPa.
The evaporator temperature of 10°C establishes the low pressure at 1.23 kPa.

23
Example 1
The state point of the solution at point 2 leaving the generator is found from the P-T-X at the
intersection of the solution temperature of 100°C and the pressure of 7.38 kPa. This
concentration is x2 = 0.664 = 66.4%.

Leaving the absorber at a solution temperature of 30°C and a pressure of 1.23 kPa, x1 = 0.50
= 50%

Mass-flow balances can be written about the

generator:
Total mass-flow balance:
w2 + w3 = w1 = 0.6

Li-Br balance:
w1x1=w2x2
0.6(0.50) = w2 (0.664)
Solving the two balance equations simultaneously
gives
w2 = 0.452 kg/s and w3 = w4 = w5 = 0.148 kg/s
Approximately 4 kg of solution is pumped for each kilogram of refrigerant water vapor
developed.
24
Example 1
The enthalpies of the solution can determined as
hl = h at 30°C and x of 50% = -168 kJ/kg
h2 = h at 100°C and x of 66.4% = -52 kJ/kg
Point 3, 4 and 5 from steam tables
h3 = h of saturated vapor at 100°C = 2676.0kJ/kg
h4 =h of saturated liquid at 40°C = 167.5 kJ/kg
h5 = h of saturated vapor at 10°C = 2520.0 kJ/kg
The rates of heat transfer at each of the components can now be computed from energy
balances:
qg = w3h3+ w2h2 -w1h1 = 0.148 (2676) + 0.452 (-52) - 0.6 (-168) = 473.3 kW
qc = w3h3 - w4h4 = 0.148(2676 - 167.5) = 371.2 kW
qa = w2h2 + w5h5 - w1h1 = 0.452(-52) + 0.148(2520) - 0.6(-168) = 450.3 kW
qe = w5h5 - w4h4= 0.148(2520 - 167.5) =348.2 kW

Finally,

25
 ARS with HX
• A logical addition to the simple cycle is a heat exchanger as shown to
transfer heat between the two streams of solutions. This heat exchanger
heats the cool solution from the absorber on its way to the generator and
cools the solution returning from the generator to the absorber.

26
Example 2
The simple cycle operating at the temperatures is modified by the insertion of a heat
exchanger such that the temperature at point 2 is 52°C. The mass rate of flow
delivered by the solution pump is 0.6 kg/s. What are the rates of energy
transfer at each of the components and the COPabs of this cycle compared to COPideal ?

Certain quantities are unchanged

w1 = w2 = 0.6 kg/s,
w3 = w4 = 0.452 kg/s,
and w5 = w6 = w7 = 0.148 kg/s;
The enthalpies that remain unchanged are
h1= -168 kJ/kg
h3 = -52 kJ/kg
From steam table
h5 = 2676.0 kJ/kg
h6 = 167.5 kJ/kg
h7 = 2520.0 kJ/kg

The heat-transfer rates at the condenser and evaporator remain unchanged qc= 371.2 kW
and qe = 348.2 kW
27
Example 2
h2 = h at 52°C and x of 50% = -120 kJ/kg
Heat exchange in the hX is qhx
qhx = wl (h2 - h1) = 0.6[-120 - (-168)]= 28.8 kW
qhx = 28.8 kW = w3(h3 - h4) = 0.452(-52 - h4) and so h4 = -116 kJ/kg
T4 = T at -116 kJ/kg and x of 64.4% = 64°C

Heat transfer in the generator and absorber

qg=w5h5+w3h3-w2h2= 0.148(2676.0) + 0.452(-52) - 0.6(-120) = 444.5 kW
qa = w7h7 + w4h4 - w l h l= 0.148(2520) + 0.452(-l 16) - 0.6(-168) = 421.3 kW
Finally,
This COP is an improvement over the value of 0.736 applicable to the simple system without
a heat exchanger.
Choosing the mean of the two temperatures (30 and 40°C) as the heat- rejection T give Ta= 35°C

Therefore the absorption COP at these conditions is less than half of that of an ideal heat-powered
refrigerating unit. 28
Example 3
In Example 2, the ambient wet-bulb temperature decreases so that the temperature of
cooling water drops, which also reduces the condensing temperature to 34°C. All other
temperatures specified remain unchanged. Is there a danger of crystallization?
The crucial component from the standpoint of crystallization
is the heat exchanger,
The reduction in condensing temperature drops the high-
side pressure (5.62 kPa) so that the concentration of
solution leaving the generator at point 3 is 69% (Tcondenser=
34°C and Tsolution= 100°C).

If the mass flow rate delivered by the solution pump

remains constant at 0.6 kg/s, new mass rates of flow apply
at points 3 and 5.

29
 Example 3
The enthalpies surrounding the heat exchanger that are known at this stage are:
h1 = h at 30°C and x of 50% = -168 kJ/kg
h2 = h at 52°C and x of 50% = -120 kJ/kg
h3 = h at 100°C and x of 69% = -54 kJ/kg
An energy balance about the heat exchanger yields

From the enthalpy chart the condition of

solution at point 4, which is h = -120 kJ/kg, x =
0.69, is found to be crystallized.
Some of the solution has solidified, and there is
danger of blocking the flow and causing
refrigeration to cease.
Two facts
(1) The position in the system where crystallization
is most likely to occur is where the solution from the
generator leaves the HX.
(2) an operating condition conducive to
crystallization is at low condensing pressures. 30
Increasing the condensing temperature
This can be done conveniently by increasing the temperature of cooling water supplied to
the condenser, which in turn can be achieved by bypassing a fraction of the water around
the cooling tower. The effect on the cycle performance of increasing the condensing
temperature is the same as that of decreasing the generator temperature, namely, reducing
the Li-Br concentration of solution returning from the generator to the absorber as shown in
the skeleton p-x-t diagram. If point A is the original operating condition, an increase in
condensing temperature and pressure moves the condition of the solution along a line of
constant generator temperature to point B, so that the Li-Br concentration drops. For a
given rate of flow of solution handled by the pump, the flow rate of refrigerant circulating to
the condenser and evaporator decreases.

31
Example 4
Duhring plots

32
Example 4

33
 Commercial absorption units
Taking advantage of the fact that the condenser
and generator operate at the same pressure,
combines these components in one vessel (high
pressure). Similarly, since the evaporator and
absorber operate at the same pressure, these
components likewise can be installed in the
same vessel (low pressure).

In the high-pressure vessel the water vapor

from the generator drifts to the condenser,
where it is liquefied, while in the low-pressure
vessel the water vapor released at the
evaporator flows downward to the absorber.

To enhance the heat-transfer rate at the evaporator a circulating pump sprays the evaporating
water over the evaporator tubes to chill the water from the refrigeration load.
Note that the chilled water serving the refrigeration load is a separate circuit from the water
serving as a refrigerant in the absorption unit. Maintaining separate water circuits helps
maintain better purity in the absorption unit and permits the water serving the refrigeration
load to operate at pressures above atmospheric.
The cooling water from the cooling tower passes in series through the absorber and condenser,
extracting heat in both components. 34
 Commercial absorption units
To enhance the heat-transfer rate at the evaporator
a circulating pump sprays the evaporating water
over the evaporator tubes to chill the water from
the refrigeration load.

Note that the chilled water serving the refrigeration

load is a separate circuit from the water serving as
a refrigerant in the absorption unit.

Maintaining separate water circuits helps maintain

better purity in the absorption unit and permits the
water serving the refrigeration load to operate at
pressures above atmospheric.

The cooling water from the cooling tower passes in

series through the absorber and condenser,
extracting heat in both components.
Commercial LiBr-water absorption units have controls that avoid crystallization, one element of them
usually being to maintain a condensing pressure artificially high even when low-temperature cooling
water is available for the condenser.
The three methods for reducing the refrigerant-water flow are:
1. Reducing the flow rate delivered by the pump at position 1
2. Reducing the generator temperature 3. Increasing the condensing temperature
35
Commercial absorption units

36
Commercial absorption units

37
 Example 5
The absorption cycle analyzed in Example 2 is equipped with capacity control to throttle the
steam providing heat to the generator and thus reduces the steam pressure and the generator
temperature. If the generator temperature is reduced to 95°C while all of the temperatures
and the flow rate through the pump remain constant, determine the new refrigerating
capacity, the rate of heat addition at the generator, and COPabs.

The reduction in generator temperature (T solution 95°C and T

condenser 40°C) reduces x from 66.4 to 65% and h3, which is
the enthalpy of solution at point 3, from -52 to -59 kJ/kg.
The revised mass flow rates are

From an energy balance about the generator and evaporator, respectively.

qg = w3h3+ w5h5 –w2h2 = 412.93 kW
qe = w7(h7–h6)= 324.6 kW
Reduction of the generator temperature does reduce the refrigeration capacity from
348.2 to 324.6 kW. The rate of heat addition at the generator also drops so that the COPabs
remains essentially unchanged (0.786 versus 0.783). 38
 Example 5
The enthalpies surrounding the heat exchanger that are known at this stage are:
h1 = h at 30°C and x of 50% = -168 kJ/kg
h2 = h at 52°C and x of 50% = -120 kJ/kg
h3 = h at 100°C and x of 69% = -54 kJ/kg
An energy balance about the heat exchanger yields

From the enthalpy chart the condition of

solution at point 4, which is h = -120 kJ/kg, x =
0.69, is found to be crystallized.
Some of the solution has solidified, and there is
danger of blocking the flow and causing
refrigeration to cease.
Two facts
(1) The position in the system where crystallization
is most likely to occur is where the solution from the
generator leaves the HX.
(2) an operating condition conducive to
crystallization is at low condensing pressures. 39
 Combined ARS
Some large-capacity water chilling installations use an energy source of high-pressure
steam in a system that combines a vapor-compression and an absorption system. The high-
pressure steam, as shown, first expands through a turbine, which provides the power for
driving the compressor of a vapor-compression system. The exhaust steam from the turbine
passes to the generator of the absorption system. The water to be chilled passes in series
through the evaporators of the two refrigerating plants. This combination is the counterpart of
the type of power plant where some of the energy of high- pressure steam is used to generate
power and the condensation of the steam is used for heating or process purposes.

40
 Example 6
A combined absorption and vapor-compression system, is energized with high-pressure steam that
undergoes the following conditions through the steam turbine and absorption unit:

The COP of the vapor-compression unit is [3.6], and the COPabs of the absorption unit is [0.7].
What is (a) the total refrigerating capacity and (b) the COP of the combined system?
(a) If heat loss from the steam turbine is neglected, the power delivered by the turbine P equals that
extracted from the steam as it flows through the turbine
P = msteam (ha - hb)=(1.2 kg/s) (3080 - 2675 kJ/kg) = 486 kW
The refrigerating capacity of the vapor-compression system qvc is
∵ Pturbine = Pcompressor =P
qvc = (P) (COP) = (486 kW) (3.6) = 1750 kW
The rate of heat addition to the absorption unit is
∵ heat addition to the absorption = msteam (hb - hc) = (1.2 kg/s) (2675 - 419 kJ/kg)= 2707 kW
The refrigerating capacity of the absorption unit qabs is qabs = (2707 kW) (COP = 0.7) = 1895 kW
The total refrigerating capacity qtot is therefore
qtot =qvc + qabs=1750+1895=3645 kW
(b) The COP of the combined system, which is a heat-operated refrigerating unit, is the quotient of qtot and
the total rate of heat supplied
∵ the total rate of heat supplied = msteam (ha - hc)=1.2(3080-419)=3193 kW
COPcomb=3645/3193=1.14 which is a favorable COP for a heat-operated unit. 41
Example 7
A combined absorption and vapor-compression system, is energized with high-pressure steam that
undergoes the following conditions through the steam turbine and absorption unit:

The relative efficiency of the vapor-compression unit is [0.75] for [TEvapor=3℃ and TConden= 40℃],
In a LiBr-Water absorption cycle at the following temperatures: Tg=105℃, Tc=40℃, Te=5℃, and
[Tab=30℃ and the relative efficiency of the absorption unit is [0.72]. What is (a) the total
refrigerating capacity and (b) the COP of the combined system?

42
Example 7

43
ARS for Ammonia-Water
Another form of ARS that becomes economically attractive when there is a source of
inexpensive heat energy at a temperature of 100 to 200oC is absorption refrigeration, where
the refrigerant is absorbed by a transport medium and compressed in liquid form. The most
widely used absorption refrigeration system is the ammonia-water system, where am-monia
serves as the refrigerant and water as the transport medium.

44