ME-332 Heat Transfer & HVAC Lab

Heat Transfer and HVAC Lab

Absorption Refrigerator
6TH Semester

Submitted to: LE Zeeshan Ehsan

School of Mechanical and Manufacturing

Objectives
• Observing the components and operation of the three-fluid refrigeration absorption system.

Apparatus Required
• Absorption Cycle Refrigeration System.

Figure 1: Absorption Cycle Refrigerator

Introduction
The three-fluid refrigeration absorption system is a type of absorption refrigeration system that
uses three fluids: a refrigerant, an absorbent, and a coolant. This system operates on the
principle of absorption refrigeration, where the refrigerant is absorbed and desorbed to transfer
heat.
Components
- Evaporator: Where the refrigerant (usually water or ammonia) is vaporized, absorbing
heat from the surroundings.
- Absorber: Where the refrigerant vapor is absorbed by the absorbent (usually lithium
bromide or lithium chloride).
- Generator: Where heat is applied to the absorbent, causing the refrigerant to desorb
and vaporize.
- Condenser: Where the refrigerant vapor is condensed, releasing heat to the coolant
(usually water or air).
- Pump: Circulates the absorbent and refrigerant mixture between the absorber and
generator.
- Heat Exchanger: Facilitates heat transfer between the absorbent and coolant.
Operation
The three-fluid refrigeration absorption system operates by first vaporizing the refrigerant in
the evaporator, where it absorbs heat from the surroundings. The refrigerant vapor is then
absorbed by the absorbent in the absorber, creating a strong solution. This solution is pumped
 ME-332 Heat Transfer & HVAC Lab

to the generator, where heat is applied, causing the refrigerant to desorb and vaporize. The
refrigerant vapor then passes through the condenser, where it releases its heat to the coolant
and condenses back into a liquid. Meanwhile, the weak absorbent solution from the generator
is re-circulated to the absorber, where it can absorb more refrigerant vapor, and the cycle
repeats. Throughout the process, the coolant absorbs heat from the condenser and carries it
away, allowing the system to continuously provide cooling.
Advantages
The three-fluid absorption system offers advantages such as:
- High efficiency
- Low energy consumption
- Reliability
- Low maintenance

Procedure
1. Activate the absorption cycle refrigeration unit and allow it to start operating.
2. Permit the system to run for a sufficient amount of time, approximately 30 minutes, to reach a
stable and steady state condition.
3. Record the temperature readings at various points throughout the system under no-load
conditions, when it has reached a steady state.
4. Introduce a load on the system and allow it to operate for an additional 30 minutes, or until it
reaches a new steady state. Then, record the temperature readings again at the same points as
before, to compare with the no-load conditions.

Calculations
Temperatures (˚C)
Parameter Identifier No load 9W evaporator 18W
load evaporator
load
Boiler St-1 148.6 147.3 148.6
NH3 condenser St-2 67.8 68.1 68.4
inlet
NH3 condenser St-3 26.2 28.6 29.5
outlet
Evaporator St-4 -10.8 -10.5 -8.3
surface
Evaporator St-5 11.5 13.8 17.8
outlet
Absorber St-6 48.6 49.6 49.8
outlet
Absorber inlet St-7 38.7 39 39.8
Absorber St-8 46.1 46.8 47.5
reservoir outlet
Evaporator St-9 4.1 6.1 8.4
chamber
Inlet to boiler St-10 68.3 68.7 69.1
 ME-332 Heat Transfer & HVAC Lab

Discussion
The experiment revealed that changing the system loading significantly impacts various parameters. As
the evaporator load increased, the absorber's inlet and outlet points shifted into the mixture region.
Notably, the ammonia vapor in the condenser exited at a subcooled state, below its condensation
temperature, indicating efficient heat transfer. The negative temperature on the evaporator's surface
suggests a supercooled region, while the rising outlet temperature with increasing load indicates a
transition to a superheated region.
These findings demonstrate the system's dynamic response to loading changes, highlighting the
importance of careful system design and operation to maintain optimal performance. The results provide
valuable insights for optimizing absorption refrigeration systems and exploring new applications.
Future experiments can build upon this work by investigating the effects of different operating
conditions and system configurations on performance.

Conclusion
In conclusion, the experiment successfully demonstrated the dynamic behavior of a three-fluid
absorption refrigeration system under varying loads. The results showed significant changes in system
parameters, highlighting the importance of careful design and operation. The findings provide valuable
insights for optimizing system performance and exploring new applications. This experiment
contributes to the understanding and development of efficient and sustainable cooling technologies.
Future research can build upon this work to further improve absorption refrigeration systems.