A comparison between ammonia-water and water-lithium bromide solutions in vapor absorption refrigeration systems

Journal Article · Wed Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1998 · International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0735-1933(98)00058-X· OSTI ID:638420

Horuz, I ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Uludag, Bursa (Turkey)

A Vapor Absorption Refrigeration (VAR) System is similar to a Vapor Compression Refrigeration (VCR) System. In both systems the required refrigeration is provided by refrigerants vaporizing in the evaporator. However, in the VAR System, a physico-chemical process replaces the mechanical process of the VCR system and heat rather than a mechanical and electrical energy is used. The advantages of this system lie in the possibility of utilizing of waste energy from industrial plants as well as of using solar energy. The study included an investigation to analyze the Vapor Absorption Refrigeration systems using ammonia-water and water-lithium bromide solutions. A fundamental VAR system is described and the operating sequence is explained. Since the most common VAR systems use ammonia-water solution with ammonia as the refrigerant and water-lithium bromide solution with water as the refrigerant, the comparison of the two is presented in respect of the coefficient of performance (COP), the cooling capacity and the maximum and minimum system pressures. It is concluded that the VAR system using water-lithium bromide solution provided better performance than the system using ammonia-water solution. However, there are some points to be considered such as: the danger of crystallization and impossibility of operating in very low temperatures because of the use of water as the refrigerant.

• OSTI ID: 638420
• Journal Information: International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer, Journal Name: International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 25; ISSN 0735-1933; ISSN IHMTDL
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
ABSORPTION REFRIGERATION CYCLE
COEFFICIENT OF PERFORMANCE
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
REFRIGERANTS
SOLAR ENERGY
WASTE HEAT UTILIZATION