City University of Hong Kong

Division of Building Science and Technology

Associate of Science in Building Services Engineering

BST20532 HVAC SERVICES 2

VAPOUR ABSORPTION REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS

AIMS & OBJECTIVES

After studying this lecture notes, students are expected to:
• understand the system concept of vapur absorption refrigeration system, and the major differences against
vapour compression refrigeration system;
• understand the thermodynamic properties of water and LiBr for absorption system;
• carry out thermal analysis including the heat absorbed and rejected at evaporator and condenser
respectively, as well as the heat required and removed at generator and absorber correspondingly;
• further understand the advantage by installing heat exchanger, as well as the disadvantage due to
crystallization;
• appreciate the typical configuration of the absorption chillers available in market.

OUTLINE
1. System Concept and Basic Configuration
1.1 Operating Principles
1.2 System Description
1.3 System Components

2. Temperature-Pressure-Concentration Properties of LiBr

3. Mass Flow Rate (Example 1)

4. Enthalpy

5. Thermal Analysis of Simple System (Example 2)

6. Absorption Cycle with Heat Exchanger (Example 3)

7. Crystallization (Example 4)

8. Commercial Configuration of Absorption Chillers

Tutorial
BST20532 HVAC Services 2 - Vapour Absorption Refrigeration System

1. SYSTEM CONCEPT AND BASIC CONFIGURATION

1.1 Operating Principles

The objective of a compressor in a vapour compression refrigeration cycle is

to withdraw the vapour refrigerant from the evaporator and compress it to a
pressure corresponding to which the saturation temperature is higher than the
cooling medium in the condenser. The high pressure vapour refrigerant then
rejects heat in the condenser and turns into a high pressure liquid. In other
words, a vapour compression refrigeration cycle uses mechanical energy
derived from electric motors, internal combustion engines, gas turbines, or
steam turbines to effect refrigeration. The amount of mechanical energy
required is comparable in magnitudes with other quantities of heat transfer in
the cycle.

The compression work can be reduced considerably if the vapour refrigerant is

dissolved in a suitable liquid before compression. After compression, the
vapour can be drawn off and then throttled and evaporated in the usual way.
Vapour absorption refrigeration cycles are heat-operated cycles and consume
relatively very small amount of mechanical power.

1.2 System Description

A basic vapour absorption refrigeration cycle is shown as follows:

Condenser Generator

Condenser Steam or
water hot water

Expansion
valve

Evaporator Absorber

Chilled Absorber
water cooling
water

Solution pump

In this cycle, vapour refrigerant is drawn from the evaporator by absorption

into a liquid having a high affinity for the refrigerant. The subsequent solution
is then pumped to a high pressure. The refrigerant is expelled from the
solution by application of heat and its temperature is also increased. The hot
vapour refrigerant then passes to the condenser where heat is rejected and the
refrigerant gas liquefies. The liquid refrigerant then flows to the evaporator
through an expansion device.

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1.3 Special Components

In principle, the absorber, the solution pump and the generator combine to
take the duty of the compressor of a vapour compression refrigeration cycle.
The functions and roles of these components in vapour absorption
refrigeration cycle.

1.3.1 Generator

Heat from a high temperature source is required to transfer into the generator.
At the higher temperature, the refrigerant is less soluble in the liquid
absorbent. The heat received by the generator results in the removal of vapour
refrigerant from the solution. The heat source can be waste steam from a
boiler plant, an electric heater, hot water from a solar collector, flue gases
from an incineration plant, geothermal sources, cogeneration plant, or from
hot discharges in industrial processes.

1.3.2 Absorber

The vapour refrigerant coming off from the evaporator is absorbed in a

suitable liquid which is maintained at a lower temperature. At this lower
temperature, solubility of the refrigerant is high. The process of solution
produces heat which is rejected to suitable heat sink.

1.3.3 Solution Pump

The strong solution from the absorber is pumped to the generator which is at a
higher pressure. The amount of work absorbed by the solution pump is very
small as compared with that required for compressing a corresponding amount
of vapour refrigerant.

2. TEMPERATURE - PRESSURE - CONCENTRATION PROPERTIES OF LiBr

LiBr-water absorption cycle is one of the vapour absorption refrigeration systems.

LiBr (lithium bromide), a solid salt crystal, in the presence of water vapour will
absorb the vapour and become a liquid solution.

Please note that water is the refrigerant and LiBr the absorbent.

Water vapour pressure exerted by the liquid solution is a function of temperature and
concentration, as shown in Figure 1.

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40 7.38

Fig. 1: Temperature-Pressure-Concentration Diagram of Saturated LiBr-Water Solutions

3. MASS FLOW RATE

EXAMPLE 1

Consider the system as shown,

&1 =
solution flow rate at pump, m
0.6 kg/s

Tg = 1000C
Tc = 400C
Te = 100C
Ta = 300C

Determine refrigerant (water) mass

flow rate.

Using P-x-t diagram (Fig. 1),

Tc = 400C ⇒ Pc = 7.38 kPa = Pg (high pressure side)

Te = 100C ⇒ Pe = 1.23 kPa = Pa (low pressure side)

At generator: Tg = 1000C, Pg = 7.38 kPa

⇒ xg = 66.4% = x2

At absorber: Ta = 300C, Pa = 1.23 kPa

⇒ xa = 50% = x1

Mass balance: &1= m

Total: m &2+ m & 3 = 0.6
LiBr: m& 1 x1 = m& 2 x2

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0. 6 x 0.5
∴ &2=
m = 0.452 kg/s
0. 664

& 3 = 0.6 - 0.452 = 0.148 kg/s

m

Note: Approximate 4 kg of solution is pumped (or "carries") for each kg of

refrigerant water vapour developed.

4. ENTHALPY

For pure water, its enthalpy value

can be determined from steam table.
Enthalpy value of LiBr-water
solution can be read from
corresponding enthalpy chart (Fig.
2), datum of which are as follow:

Enthalpy of liquid water = 0 at 00C

(same as steam table convention)
Enthalpy of solid LiBr = 0 at 250C

Fig. 2: Enthalpy of LiBr-Water Solutions

5. THERMAL ANALYSIS OF SIMPLE SYSTEM

EXAMPLE 2

For the same system as in Example 1, determine qg, qa, qc, qe, & COP.

From LiBr-water enthalpy chart (Fig. 2),

At absorber, h1 = -168 kJ/kg for Ta = 300C & xa = 50%

At generator, h2 = -52 kJ/kg for Tg = 1000C & xg = 66.4%

For water (from steam table)

h3 = h of saturated vapour at 1000C = 2676 kJ/kg (at generator)

h4 = h of saturated liquid at 400C = 167.5 kJ/kg (at condenser)
h5 = h of saturated vapour at 100C = 2520 kJ/kg (at evaporator)

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From energy balance,

qg = (m& 3h3 + m
& 2h2) - m
& 1h1
= [0.148 (2676) + 0.452 (-52)] - 0.6 (-168)
= 473.3 kW

qc = m& 3h3 - m
& 4h4
= 0.148 (2676 - 167.5) &3= m
(for m & 4)
= 371.2 kW

qa = (m& 2h2 + m
& 5h5) - m
& 1h1
= [0.452 (-52) + 0.148 (2520)] - 0.6 (-168) &5= m
(for m & 4)
= 450.3 kW

qe = m& 5h5 - m
& 4h4
= 0.148 (2520 - 167.5)
= 348.2 kW

q e 348. 2
COP = = = 0. 736
q g 473. 3

6. ABSORPTION CYCLE WITH HEAT EXCHANGER

Plant performance can be improved by adding a heat exchanger.

EXAMPLE 3

The system in Example 1 is modified by adding heat exchanger so that:

T2 = 520C

Determine new qg,qa, qc, qe & COP.

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The following quantities are unchanged after adding the heat exchanger,

m&1= m & 2 = 0.6 kg/s

m&3= m & 4 = 0.452 kg/s
m&5= m &6= m & 7 = 0.148 kg/s
h1 = -168 kJ/kg h3 = -52 kJ/kg
h5 = 2676 kJ/kg h6 = 167.5 kJ/kg
h7 = 2520 kJ/kg

So, change at h2 & h4 only.

Hence qc & qe are unchanged: qc = 371.2 kW & qe = 348.2 kW

At point 2, T2 = 520C and x2 = 50%

∴ h2 = -120 kJ/kg (from Fig. 2)

Rate of heat exchange = m& 1 (h2 - h1) & 2h2 - m

(actually m & 1h1, but m
&2= m
& 1)
= 0.6 [(-120)-(-168)]
= 28.8 kW

∴ & 3 (h3 - h4)

m = 0.452 (-52 - h4)
= 28.8 kW

⇒ h4 = -116 kJ/kg

From enthalpy diagram (Fig. 2),

h4 = -116 kJ/kg & x4 = 66.4% gives T4 = 640C

qg = (m& 5h5 + m
& 3h3) - m
& 2h2
= [0.148 (2676) + 0.452 (-52)] - 0.6 (-120)
= 444.5 kW

qa = (m& 7h7 + m
& 4h4) - m
& 1h1
= [0.148 (2520) + 0.452 (-116)] - 0.6 (-168)
= 421.3 kW

q e 348. 2
COP = = = 0.783 (> 0.736 of simple cycle)
q g 444. 5

Ta + Tc 30 + 40
Taking Tb = = = 350C
2 2

COPideal =
(
Te Tg − Tb ) =
(10 + 273.15)(100 - 35) = 1.97
Tg ( Tb − Te ) (100 + 273.15)(35 - 10)

So COP < ½ (COPideal)!!

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7. CRYSTALLIZATION

Crystallization lines appear in the lower right sections of the LiBr-water property
charts (refer Figures 1 & 2). The region below the line indicates solidification of
LiBr. The solidification will dilute the liquid solution and so maintain the
concentration at the crystallization line. Formulation of crystal can block the fluid
flow in pipes & interrupt plant operation.

It is known that:
• low condensing pressure may cause crystallization (for low condensing
temperature).
• crystallization is most likely to occur where the solution from the generator leaves
the heat exchanger.

EXAMPLE 4

Consider the same system as in Example 3. Tc reduces from 400C to 340C.

Determine whether crystallization will occur.

From P-x-t diagram (Fig. 1),

Tc = 340C & Tg = 1000C

⇒ xg = 69% = x3

Mass balance at generator (refer to the figure in Example 3),

& 3x3 = m
m & 1x1

0. 6 x 0.5
∴ &3=
m = 0.435 kg/s
0.69

&5= m
m &1- m
& 3 = 0.6 - 0.435 = 0.165 kg/s

Enthalpy balance at heat exchanger (ideally)

& 3(h3 - h4) = m

m & 1 (h2 - h1)

h1 = h at 300C & 50% concentration = -168 kJ/kg (from Example 3)

h2 = h at 520C & 50% concentration = -120 kJ/kg (from Example 3)
h3 = h at 1000C & 69% concentration = -54 kJ/kg (from Fig. 2)

0. 6 x - 48
∴ h4 = -54 - = -120 kJ/kg
0. 435

h4 & x4 = x3 locates a point within crystal region in Fig. 2

∴ some of the solution has thus solidified after leaving the heat exchanger.

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8. COMMERCIAL CONFIGURATION OF ABSORPTION CHILLERS

Typical Arrangement of Single-Shell Absorption Chiller

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There are numerous features of commercial plant:

• Condenser/generator combines in one vessel and evaporator/absorber combines in

one vessel (also possible to combine all components into one vessel with an
internal separator between the high- and low-pressure chambers).
• Circulating pump spray evaporating water over evaporator tubes to chill water
from refrigeration load, which is a separate circuit for maintaining better purity.
• Cooling water from cooling tower passes in series through absorber and
condenser.
• Anti-crystallization control is installed, e.g. to maintain condensing pressure
artificially high even when low-temperature cooling water enters the condenser.

Application or selection of vapour absorption refrigeration system is preferred in the

following situations:

• In localities where there will not be enough electrical power to drive large motors,
and the installation of other prime movers such as internal combustion engines
and gas turbines is not feasible.
• In development where there is a lot of waste heat: cogeneration plants, power
plants, laundries and some industrial establishments. In these cases, refrigeration
is effected almost costlessly by using the waste heat to run an absorption
refrigeration machine.
• It is more economical in using natural gas to drive the absorption type chiller,
rather than using electricity for the compression type chillers. This may happen
in some developing countries, such as Mainland China.

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TUTORIAL

Comparison between Vapour Compression & Absorption Refrigeration Systems

Compression Type Absorption Type

Main components

Working principle

Common refrigerant

COP definition

Main input power type &

source

Electricity consumption

Range of cooling capacity

available in market

Physical size of similar

capacity (water cooled)

Ozone depletion problem

Global warmth problem

Crystallization problem

Noise and vibration problem

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Suggested Answers

Compression Type Absorption Type

Main components Evaporator, condenser, Evaporator, condenser,

expansion device and expansion device, generator,
compressor absorber and solution pump

Working principle Refrigerant is compressed Refrigerant is compressed

from PE to PC by mechanical from PE to PC by prior
compression solution absorption

Common refrigerant HCFC and HFC Water

(LiBr just the absorbent)

COP definition Heat Absorbed Heat Absorbed

COP = COP =
Elect. Power Input Heat Input

Main input power type & Electrical type & from Heat type & from steam/hot
source power supply water

Electricity consumption Significant Insignificant

Range of cooling capacity 10 - 8500 TR 100 - 1600 TR

available in market

Physical size of similar Shorter ≅ 40% longer

capacity (water cooled) (width & height are
comparable)

Ozone depletion problem Yes due to leakage of No

refrigerant

Global warmth problem Yes due to leakage of No

refrigerant

Crystallization problem No Yes, especially during low

condensing pressure and
leaving the heat exchanger

Noise and vibration problem More serious due to high Less serious, only several
speed compressor solution and recirculation
pumps

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