Effects of a nonabsorbable gas on interfacial heat and mass transfer for the entrance region of a falling film absorber

Journal Article · Thu Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1996 · Journal of Solar Energy Engineering

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2847928· OSTI ID:230816

Ameel, T A ^[1]; Habib, H M ^[2]; Wood, B D ^[3]

---

1. Louisiana Tech Univ., Ruston, LA (United States). Dept. of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
2. El-Menoufia Univ., Shebin (Egypt)
3. Arizona State Univ., Tempe, AZ (United States)

An analytical solution is presented for the effect of air (nonabsorbable gas) on the heat and mass transfer rates during the absorption of water vapor (absorbate) by a falling laminar film of aqueous lithium bromide (absorbent), an important process in a proposed open-cycle solar absorption cooling system. The analysis was restricted to the entrance region where an analytical solution is possible. The model consists of a falling film of aqueous lithium bromide flowing down a vertical wall which is kept at uniform temperature. The liquid film is in contact with a gas consisting of a mixture of water vapor and air. The gas phase is moving under the influence of the drag from the falling liquid film. The governing equations are written with a set of interfacial and boundary conditions and solved analytically for the two phases. Heat and mass transfer results are presented for a range of uniform inlet air concentrations. It was found that the concentration of the nonabsorbable gas increases sharply at the liquid-gas interface. The absorption of the absorbate in the entrance region showed a continuous reduction with an increase in the amount of air.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 230816
• Journal Information: Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, Journal Name: Journal of Solar Energy Engineering Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 118; ISSN JSEEDO; ISSN 0199-6231
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
ABSORPTION REFRIGERATION CYCLE
HEAT TRANSFER
LITHIUM BROMIDES
SOLAR COOLING SYSTEMS
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES