Applied Thermal EngineeringVol. 17, No. 3, pp.

21 l-221, 1997
Copyright 0 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd
Printed in Great Britain. All rights reserved
1359-4311/97 $17.00 + 0.00
PII: S1359-4311(96)00041-5

Pergamon

THERMODYNAMIC
DESIGN DATA AND OPTIMUM
DESIGN MAPS FOR ABSORPTION REFRIGERATION
SYSTEMS
Da-Wen Sun
Department

of Agricultural

and Food Engineering,

University College Dublin,
Ireland, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin, 2, Ireland

National

University

of

(Received 5 August 1996)

Abstract-Absorption
refrigeration
systems increasingly
attract research interests. The most common
cycles are LiBr/H,O and H*O/NH, absorption
machines which have served as standards for comparison
in studying
and developing
new cycles and new absorbent/refrigerant
pairs. In the present study,
up-to-date thermodynamic
properties for LiBr/H*O and HrO/NH, solution are compiled and are used in
cycle simulation.
Detailed thermodynamic
design data and optimum design maps are presented. These
results form a source of reference for developing new cycles and searching for new absorbent/refrigerant
pairs. They can also be used in selecting operating conditions for existing systems and achieving automatic
control for maintaining
optimum operation of the systems. Copyright
0 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.
KeywordsAbsorption,
maps, heat pump,
H2O_NH,.

air-conditioning,
aqua-ammonia,
lithium bromide-water,
optimisation,

computer
simulation,
design
refrigeration,
water-ammonia,

data, design
LiBr-H20,

NOTATION
COP
{
z
X
X
T
ti
Y
P

coefficient of performance
flow ratio
enthalpy
pressure
thermal energy
ammonia mass fraction
ammonia mole fraction
temperature
mass flow rate
ammonia mass fraction
ammonia mole fraction

in liquid phase,
in liquid phase

in vapour
in vapour

lithium

bromide

mass fraction

phase
phase

Greek letters
solution density
specific volume

P
0

Subscripts
a
absorber, absorbent
condenser
:
dew point
evaporator
e
generator
r!
liquid phase of water-ammonia
mixture
me
mechanical
re
refrigerant
ss
strong solution (more absorbent,
less refrigerant)
V
gas phase of water-ammonia
mixture
ws
weak solution (less absorbent,
more refrigerant)

INTRODUCTION

In recent years, absorption refrigeration systems have attracted increasing research interest,
probably for two reasons. Firstly, the use of ozone-depletion refrigerants can be easily avoided and,
secondly, these systems can be powered by waste thermal energy or renewable energies and thus
211

D.-W. Sun

212

reduce the demand for electricity. The most common absorption systems are lithium bromide/water
(LiBr/H,O)
and water/ammonia
(H,O/NH,)
systems, where the components
are given as
absorbent/refrigerant.
For LiBr/H,O systems, since water is used as the refrigerant,
their application
is limited by the
freezing point of water and therefore they are usually used in the air-conditioning
industry. In
contrast, H,O/NH,
systems are used in food refrigeration
or ice making, since ammonia is the
refrigerant.
These systems have been studied theoretically
[13, 141 and experimentally
[7, 81. In
order to improve the performance
of absorption
systems, new absorbent/refrigerant
pairs have been
developed. These pairs include LiBr/H@-NH,,
LiBr-ZnBr,/CH,OH
and LiNO,-KNO,-NaNO,/
[4]. In these
H,O [9], LiBr-ZnBr,/CH30H
[lo], glycerol/H,0
[3], LiCi/H,O [1 1] and NH,/LiNO,
studies, LiBr/H,O and H20/NHX pairs were used as standards for comparison.
Therefore it is very
important
that more and accurate information
for LiBr/H,O and H20/NH3 absorption
systems is
available. In the present study, simulations
of LiBr/H,O and H20/NHJ absorption
refrigeration
systems are carried out. Detailed thermodynamic
design data and optimum design maps are given.
It is hoped that these results could serve as a source of reference for designing and selecting new
absorption
refrigeration
systems, developing
new absorbent/refrigerant
pairs and choosing and
optimising
suitable operating conditions.
CYCLE

DESCRIPTION

The absorption
cycle is illustrated in Fig. 1. Low-pressure refrigerant vapour from the evaporator
is absorbed by the liquid strong solution in the absorber. The pump receives low-pressure
liquid
weak solution from the absorber, elevates the pressure of the weak solution and delivers it to the
generator.
By weak solution (strong solution) is meant that the ability of the solution to absorb
the refrigerant vapour is weak (strong) according to ASHRAE definition [2]. In the generator, heat
from a high-temperature
source drives off the refrigerant vapour in the weak solution. The liquid
strong 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 the absorber. The

high pressure
refrigerant vapour

dephlegmator
Q
weak solut.ion

rectifier --

7
condenser

QE

generator

strong solution

expansion
valve

Q.

/
Fig. I. The schematic

of the absorption

refrigeration

cycle.

Design data and maps for absorption

refrigeration

systems

213

high-pressure refrigerant vapour condenses into liquid in the condenser and enters the evaporator
through a throttling valve, maintaining the pressure difference between the condenser and the
evaporator. In order to improve cycle performance, a solution heat exchanger is normally added
to the cycle, as shown in Fig. 1, it is an energy saving component but not essential to the successful
operation of the cycle.
The heat flow pattern to and from the four heat exchange components in the absorption cycle
is that 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 the atmosphere. The above
description is typical for a LiBr/H,O cycle. However, for the H*O/NH, absorption cycle, it not only
consists of all the components previously described, but also a rectifier and dephlegmator, as shown
in Fig. 1. The need for the latter two is occasioned by the fact that water is volatile. When ammonia
is evaporated off the generator, it also contains some water vapour. When this water enters the
evaporator, it elevates the evaporating temperature, it may also freeze along the pipelines. To
remove as much water vapour as possible, the vapour driven off at the generator first flows
countercurrent to the incoming solution in the rectifier, next, the solution passes through the
dephlegmator and condenses some water-rich liquid draining back to the rectifier. By this process,
only a small amount of water vapour escapes the dephlegmator and passes from the evaporator
to the absorber. It is assumed that the ammonia concentration in the refrigerant is 99%.
The cycle performance is measured by the coefficient of performance (COP), which is defined
as the refrigeration rate over the rate of heat addition at the generator plus the work input to the
pump, that is
COP = e,+e.I+,,e
The mass flow ratio is defined as the mass flow rate of solution from the absorber to the generator
(weak solution) to the mass flow rate of working fluid (refrigerant), that is
j-=

2.

In order to utilise equation (1) the cycle must be described mathematically,

of various cycles can be found elsewhere [17-211.
SOLUTION

detailed description

PROPERTIES

The thermodynamic properties for LiBr/H,O and H,O/NH, solutions are pressure, temperature,
concentration, enthalpy and density, these properties are interdependent and are necessary for
computer simulation of absorption refrigeration systems.
LiBrlH,O solution

The relation between the solution dew-point temperature (representing saturation pressure) &
(OF), LiBr concentration X, (%) and solution temperature T (F) can be found as follows [16]:

(3)
The coefficients in equation (3) are given in Table 1. It should be noted that temperatures in
equation (3) are in Fahrenheit, it is easy to convert them into Celsius.
The equation for the LiBr concentration X, (%), temperature T (C) and enthalpy (kJ/kg) of
LiBr/H*O solution can be found, with their coefficients given in Table 2, as follows [16]:

214

D.-W. Sun
Table

0
I
2
3
4
5

0
0
0
0
0
0

0
I
2
3
4
5

0
0
0
0
0
0

0
I
2
3
4

0
0
0
0
0

a..
-1.313448
1.820914
-5.177356
2.827426
-6.380541
4.340498

x
x
x
x
x
x

10-l
IO-
IO-*
IO-
10-I
IO-

I. Coefficients

of eauation

a..

0
I
2
3
4
5

I
I
I
I
I
I

9.967944
1.778069
-2.215597
5.913618
-7.308556
2.788472

Table 2. Coefficients
4,
I.134125
-4.80045 x IO-
-2.161438
x IO-
2.336235 x IO-
-1.188679 x IO-
2.291532 x IO-

of eauation

x
x
x
x
x

10
10m
IO-
lOm6
10-B

0
I
2
3
4
5

2
2
2
2
2
2

0
I
2
3
4
5

I
I
I
I
I
I

4.124891
-7.643903
x 10-Z
2.589577 x IO-
-9.500522
x IO-
1.708026 x lO-L
-1.102363
x 1Om

0
I
2
3
4
5

2
2
2
2
2
2

2
2
2
2
2

of equation

I
2
3
4

-5.631094
1.633541
- I.110273
2.882292
-2.523579

I
I
I
I

x
x
x
x
x

x IOmS
x IO-
x 1O-6
x IO-
x lo-
x IO

a,
5.743693
5.870921
-7.375319
3.277592
-6.062304
3.901897

x
x
x
x
x
x

IO-
IO-
10-L
IO-
IO-
IO-

(5)

4,

0 I

a..
1.978788
-1.779481
2.002427
-7.667546
1.201525
-6.64171

(4)

4,

10.
IO-
IO-
IO-*
IO-*
IO-

Table 3. Coefficients

9.939006
1.046888
-1.667939
5.332835
-3.440005

x
x
x
x
x
x

(3)

IO-
IO-
IO-
lOm8
10m

I
2
3
4

a,
1.392527
-2.801009
1.734979
-4.232988
3.503024

x
x
x
x
x

10m6
IO-
10.
IO -
IO-

The relation between the solution density p (kg/m3), temperature

T (C) and LiBr concentration
X, (%) is given, with their coefficients listed in Table 3, as follows [16]:

(5)
In equation (3), the solution dew-point temperature
is the saturation
temperature
of steam T(K),
pressure of steam P (MPa), with coefficients given in Table 4,
which is related to the saturation
as follows [ 121:

P(T)

= exp

3968.06
T_ 39.5735

+ ia,T
,=o
>

(6)

or
3892.7
In(P) - 9.48654

T(P) = 42.6776 -

Table 4. Coefficients

i
0
I
2
3
4

of equation

(6)

a,
1.04592
-4.04897
-4.1752
3.6851
- I.0152

for P < 12.33 MPa

x
x
x
x
x

IO
IO-
IO-
IO-
lOmy

Table 5. Coefficients

a. eauation

I
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

8.839230108 x
-2.67172935
6.22640035
-1.31789573
x
- I .91322436
6.87937653 x
- 1.24819906 x
7.21435404 x

(8b)
IO-

IO
IO
IO
IO

5
6
7
8
9

a,
8.6531
9.03668
-1.9969
7.19287
I.91482
of eauation

x
x
x
x
x

lOm1
lOm6
IO-
IO-
10mz5

(8)

b. eauation

(8~)

4.57874342 x IO -
5.08441288
- 1.48513244
-4.81351884
2.69411792
- 7.39064542
1.04961689 x IO
- 5.46840036

(74

Design data and maps for absorption refrigeration systems

Table 6. Coefficients
Equation

Equation

m,

n,

0
0
0
0
0
I

0
1
2
3
4
0
1
2
3
0
0

I
I
2
4
5
5
6
13

a,
3.22302
-3.84206 x 10-l
4.60965 x IO-
-3.18945 x lo-
1.3561 x lO-4
4.87755 x IO-
-1.20108 x IO-
1.06154 x IO-
-5.33589 x IO-
7.85041
-1.15941 x 10-l
-5.2315 x IO-
4.89596
4.21059 x IO-

I
0
I

Table 7. Coefficients
Equation

i
I
2
3
4
5
6
8
9

10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17

m,

I
2
3
4
5
6
I
8
9
IO
II
12
13
14
15
16

0
0
0
0
0
0
I

I
4
8
9
12
14
0

-7.6108
2.56905 x 10
-2.47092 x IO*
3.25952 x 10
- 1.58854
x IV
6.19084 x IO
1.14314 x IO
1.18157
2.84179
7.41609
8.91844 x 10
- 1.61309 x IO
6.22106 x 10
-2.07588 x l@
-6.87393
3.50716

2
3
5
5
5
6
6
8

1
3
3
4
5
2
4
0

of equations

(12) and (13)

Equation

M,

n.

0
0
0
0
I

0
1
2
3
0

2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
6
7

a,
3.24004
-3.9592 x lo- I
4.35624 x IO- ~2
-2.18943 x 10. -J
- I .43526
1.05256
-7.19281 x IO- -*
1.22362 x IO
-2.24368
-2.0178 x IO
I. 10834
1.45399 x 10
6.44312 x IO- ~I
-2.21246
-1.56266 x IO--I
- I .35529
1.83541 x lo- -I

I
2
0

I
0
1
0
2
0
2
0
2

T(P) = - 387.592 The refrigerant in the LiBr/H,O

T (K) and enthalpies H (kJ/kg)

(I I)

(12)

I
I

(10) and (I 1)

(10)

i
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
IO
II
I2
13
14

of eauations

215

m.

n,

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17

0
1
2
3
0

0
0
0
0
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
4
4
5
6
7
IO

I
2
3
0
1
2
0

1
0
4
2
1

12587.5
In(P) _ 15.2578

(I 3)
a,

I .28827
1.25247 x IO-
-2.08748
2.11696
2.35687
- 8.86987
1.02635 x 10
-2.3144
-6.70515
1.64508 x 10
-9.36849
8.42254
-8.58807
- 2.77049
-9.61248 x 10-l
9.88009 x IO-
3.08482 x IO-

for P 2 12.33 MPa .

(7b)

system is water, the relations between the saturated temperature

are given as follows, with coefficients listed in Table 5 [12]:
T = 647.3 - T
R
647.3

for saturated liquid water;

h(T) = 2099.3 a, + &F;-

@W

i=2

>

for saturated water vapour (steam);

.

1 + b,Ti3 + b2Tz6 + B3Tz8 + ib,Tk-

i3 4

Table 8. Coefficients
i

2
3

0
0

a,
9.9842
-7.8161
8.7601
-3.9076

x
x
x
x

IO-
IO-
lO-9
IO-

0
1
2
3

I
1

I
1

a,
3.5489
5.2261
-8.4137
6.4816

x
x
x
x

IO-
1O-6
10-S
lo-

of equation

0
1
2
3

2
2
2
2

(8~)

>

(IS)
%

-1.2006
-1.0567
2.4056
-1.9851

x
x
x
x

IO-
IO-
lo-
IO-

0
1
2
3

3
3
3
3

ai,
3.2426
9.8890
-1.8715
1.7727

x
x
x
x

IO-
IO-
lo-
1O-9

D.-W. Sun

216

Table 9. Derivedthermodynamicdesigndata forabsorption

systemsoperating
on LiBr/H,O

"C
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
80.0
90.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
80.0
90.0
90.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
80.0
90.0
90.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
80.0
90.0
80.0
90.0
90.0
80.0
90.0
90.0
80.0
90.0
90.0

H,O/NH,

"C

x,,

x,

20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
40.0
40.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
40.0
40.0
40.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
40.0
40.0
40.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
30.0
30.0
40.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
30.0
30.0
40.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
40.0
40.0
20.0
20.0
30.0
20.0
20.0
30.0
20.0
20.0
30.0

20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
40.0
40.0
40.0
40.0
40.0
40.0
40.0
40.0
40.0

2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
5.0
5.0
5.0
7.5
7.5
7.5

49.1
49.1
49.1
49.1
49.1
49.1
49.1
49.1
49.1
46.8
46.8
46.8
46.8
46.8
46.8
46.8
46.8
46.8
46.8
46.8
44.3
44.3
44.3
44.3
44.3
44.3
44.3
44.3
44.3
44.3
44.3
55.3
55.3
55.3
55.3
55.3
55.3
53.5
53.5
53.5
53.5
53.5
53.5
51.6
51.6
51.6
51.6
51.6
51.6
51.6
51.6
51.6
60.4
60.4
60.4
58.8
58.8
58.8
57.2
57.2
57.2

58.4
63.0
67.4
71.8
57.9
62.4
66.6
57.4
61.8
58.4
63.0
61.4
71.8
52.9
57.9
62.4
66.6
52.4
57.4
61.7
58.4
63.0
61.4
71.8
52.9
57.9
62.4
66.6
52.4
57.4
61.8
63.0
61.4
71.8
62.4
66.6
61.8
63.0
67.4
71.8
62.4
66.6
61.7
58.4
63.0
67.4
71.8
57.9
62.4
66.6
57.4
61.8
67.4
71.8
66.6
67.4
71.8
66.6
67.4
71.8
66.6

f
6.3
4.5
3.7
3.2
6.6
4.7
3.8
7.0
4.9
5.0
3.9
3.3
2.9
8.7
5.2
4.0
3.4
9.4
5.4
4.1
4.1
3.4
2.9
2.6
6.1
4.2
3.4
3.0
6.5
4.4
3.5
8.2
5.6
4.3
8.8
5.9
9.5
6.6
4.9
3.9
7.0
5.1
7.5
8.6
5.6
4.3
3.6
9.2
5.8
4.4
10.0
6.1
9.7
6.3
10.8
7.9
5.5
8.6
6.6
4.9
7.1

COP
0.86
0.83
0.77
0.68
0.83
0.81
0.77
0.81
0.80
0.88
0.84
0.79
0.71
0.85
0.85
0.83
0.78
0.82
0.82
0.81
0.89
0.86
0.81
0.73
0.87
0.86
0.84
0.80
0.85
0.84
0.83
0.81
0.74
0.62
0.79
0.73
0.77
0.83
0.76
0.65
0.81
0.75
0.78
0.86
0.84
0.78
0.67
0.83
0.83
0.77
0.80
0.80
0.69
0.55
0.69
0.72
0.59
0.72
0.74
0.61
0.75

Q,

kW

46.88
48.82
52.13
59.05
47.57
48.86
51.75
48.33
48.86
46.19
47.99
50.97
57.13
46.55
46.77
48.06
50.67
47.60
47.38
48.09
45.59
47.23
49.89
55.34
45.54
46.10
47.33
49.67
46.28
46.61
47.40
49.61
54.76
64.69
49.94
54.03
50.92
48.73
53.35
62.33
48.99
52.72
49.75
46.89
47.98
52.14
60.27
41.79
48.24
51.61
48.84
48.86
58.61
72.90
57.23
56.19
69.10
55.00
54.47
66.13
53.44

Q.

kW

42.18
42.49
42.80
43.12
41.79
42.10
42.42
41.40
41.71
42.18
42.49
42.80
43.12
41.48
41.79
42.10
42.42
41.09
41.40
41.71
42.18
42.49
42.80
43.12
41.48
41.79
42.10
42.42
41.09
41.40
41.71
42.49
42.80
43.12
42.10
42.42
41.71
42.49
42.80
43.12
42.10
42.42
41.71
42.18
42.49
42.80
43.12
41.79
42.10
42.42
41.40
41.71
42.80
43.12
42.42
42.80
43.12
42.42
42.80
43.12
42.42

Q.

kW

45.08
46.71
49.71
56.32
45.46
46.44
49.01
45.91
46.13
44.47
45.96
48.63
54.48
44.83
44.74
45.71
48.02
45.57
45.04
45.44
43.95
45.28
47.63
52.76
43.90
44.14
45.06
47.09
44.33
44.35
44.82
47.50
52.34
61.96
47.52
51.30
48.19
46.70
51.01
59.68
46.65
50.06
47.10
45.25
46.03
49.88
57.70
45.83
45.97
49.03
46.57
46.28
56.19
70.17
54.49
53.85
66.45
52.34
52.21
63.55
50.86

Q.

kW

40.38
40.38
40.38
40.38
39.68
39.68
39.68
38.98
38.98
40.46
40.46
40.46
40.46
39.76
39.76
39.76
39.76
39.05
39.05
39.05
40.54
40.54
40.54
40.54
39.84
39.84
39.84
39.84
39.13
39.13
39.13
40.38
40.38
40.38
39.68
39.68
38.98
40.46
40.46
40.46
39.76
39.76
39.05
40.54
40.54
40.54
40.54
39.84
39.84
39.84
39.13
39.13
40.38
40.38
39.68
40.46
40.46
39.16
40.54
40.54
39.84

solution

The relation between the saturation pressure P (kPa), solution temperature

concentration X (decimal) of H,O/NH, mixture is given as [6]
1ogP = A -

$ ,

T(K)

and ammonia

(94

where
A = 7.44 - 1.767X + 0.9823X + 0.3627X

(9b)

Design data and maps for absorption

refrigeration

systems

217

B = 2013.8 - 2155.7X + 1540.9X2 - 194.7X.

(9c)

The relations between the pressure P (kPa), temperature T (K), ammonia concentration 8,8
(decimal) and enthalpy (kJ/kg) are as follows [15]. Since for H20/NH3 systems, 1% of water is
assumed to exist in the refrigerant, these equations are also used to calculate the thermodynamic
properties of the refrigerant.
For the saturated liquid phase (coefficients given in Table 6)
T(P$)

= lOO&,(l

- 0

i= I

,[ 1n(y)7

(10)

;=+ik-+

h,(T,X) = 100:

(11)

For the saturated vapour phase (coefficients given in Table 7)

K(P,?)

h,(T,n

= 100$7,(1 - VI4 [In( y)r

,=I

= lOOO&

(12)

m(l - ?)I~.

,=I

(13)

The relation between the ammonia mole fraction and mass fraction is given by [5]
*=

17.03x
17.03X+ 18.015(1 -X)

(14)

The relation between the specific volume v (m/kg), temperature T (C) and concentration X
(decimal) of saturated H20/NH3 solution is fitted by the author with source data taken from the
ASHRAE handbook [l] and is given as follows, with the fitted coefficients listed in Table 8:
u(T,X) = i

&ivX/T .

(15)

r=Oj=O

THERMODYNAMIC

DESIGN

DATA

In order to provide the thermodynamic design data for absorption refrigeration machines, well
established computer software [ 17-2 l] is used to simulate the performance of absorption systems
against the thermodynamic properties listed in equations (3)-(14). The operating temperature
ranges are selected as follows: generator temperature T, = 60-90C; condenser temperature
z = 20-4OC; absorber temperature T, = 2WlOC; evaporator temperature 7; = 2.57.5C; mass
flow rate of refrigerant +re = 1.0 kg/s; effectiveness of heat exchanger 0.8.
Tables 9 and 10 list the detailed thermodynamic design data for each combination of the four
basic operating temperatures. Table 9 is for the LiBr/H,O cycle, while Table 10 is for the H,O/NH,
cycle. Since the refrigerant rate is chosen to be 1.0 kg/s, the results of heat flow into or from the
systems can be scaled up or down according to Tables 9 and 10 for other refrigerant flow rates.
These tables can also be used to determine the refrigerant flow rate required for a constant cooling
capacity, that is, if the Qe value is fixed at a certain value, other data can be easily converted. It
should be noted that in Tables 9 and 10, X,,, X,,, f and COP are determined by the operating
conditions T,, Z, T and I;, while Qp, Q_ Qlt and Qc are directly related to the mass flow rate of
refrigerant tire. The values of Qp, Q_ Ql and Qe approximately determine the sizes of the
refrigerators and hence the costs.

D.-W. Sun

218

Table 10. Derivedthermodynamicdesign data for absorption

"C
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
80.0
90.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
80.0
90.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
80.0
90.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
90.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
80.0
90.0
90.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
80.0
90.0
90.0

1;

7;

xw

x,

20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
40.0
40.0
40.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
40.0
40.0
40.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
40.0
40.0
40.0
40.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
40.0
40.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
40.0
40.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
40.0
40.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
30.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
30.0
30.0
40.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
30.0
30.0
40.0

20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
20.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
40.0
40.0
40.0
40.0
40.0
40.0
40.0
40.0
40.0
40.0
40.0
40.0
40.0
40.0
40.0
40.0

2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5

62.4
62.4
62.4
62.4
62.4
62.4
62.4
62.4
62.4
62.4
62.4
65.4
65.4
65.4
65.4
65.4
65.4
65.4
65.4
65.4
65.4
65.4
68.7
68.7
68.7
68.7
68.7
68.7
68.7
68.7
68.7
68.7
68.7
68.7
53.8
53.8
53.8
53.8
53.8
53.8
53.8
53.8
53.8
56.0
56.0
56.0
56.0
56.0
56.0
56.0
56.0
56.0
58.3
58.3
58.3
58.3
58.3
58.3
58.3
58.3
58.3
46.9
46.9
46.9
46.9
48.7
48.7
48.7
48.7
48.7
48.7
50.7
50.7
50.7
50.7
50.7
50.7

47.1
41.4
36.2
31.4
54.8
48.1
42.4
37.3
55.8
49.2
43.5
47.1
41.4
36.2
31.4
54.8
48.1
42.4
37.3
55.8
49.2
43.5
47.1
41.4
36.2
31.4
54.8
48.1
42.4
37.3
64.1
55.8
49.2
43.5
47.1
41.4
36.2
31.4
48.1
42.4
37.3
49.2
43.5
47.1
41.4
36.2
31.4
48.1
42.4
37.3
49.2
43.5
47.1
41.4
36.2
31.4
48.1
42.4
37.3
49.2
43.5
41.4
36.2
31.4
37.3
41.4
36.2
31.4
42.4
37.3
43.5
41.4
36.2
31.4
42.4
37.3
43.5

f
3.4
2.7
2.4
2.2
5.8
3.6
2.8
2.5
6.5
3.8
2.9
2.8
2.4
2.2
2.0
4.2
3.0
2.5
2.2
4.5
3.1
2.5
2.4
2.1
I.9
1.8
3.2
2.5
2.2
2.0
7.7
3.4
2.6
2.2
7.8
4.6
3.6
3.0
9.0
5.0
3.7
10.8
5.4
5.9
4.0
3.2
2.8
6.5
4.2
3.3
7.4
4.4
4.6
3.4
2.8
2.5
5.0
3.6
2.99
5.5
3.7
10.4
5.9
4.4
6.4
7.8
5.0
3.9
9.0
5.4
10.5
6.2
4.3
3.5
6.8
4.6
7.7

COP
0.80
0.78
0.77
0.76
0.74
0.74
0.74
0.74
0.67
0.70
0.71
0.82
0.80
0.79
0.78
0.77
0.77
0.77
0.76
0.72
0.73
0.73
0.84
0.82
0.81
0.80
0.80
0.80
0.79
0.78
0.70
0.75
0.75
0.75
0.75
0.75
0.74
0.73
0.67
0.71
0.71
0.59
0.66
0.78
0.78
0.76
0.75
0.72
0.73
0.73
0.66
0.68
0.81
0.80
0.78
0.77
0.75
0.75
0.75
0.70
0.71
0.70
0.71
0.71
0.66
0.74
0.74
0.73
0.67
0.69
0.59
0.77
0.76
0.75
0.71
0.71
0.65

systems operating on H*O/NH,

Q,

kW

25.73
26.14
26.55
26.92
26.63
26.22
26.42
26.70
27.92
26.13
26.68
25.16
25.59
26.00
26.34
25.48
25.53
25.81
26.10
26.24
25.90
25.99
24.63
25.06
25.44
25.76
24.68
24.92
25.23
25.51
26.93
25.17
25.18
25.35
27.36
27.18
27.52
27.91
29.08
27.89
27.90
31.53
28.69
26.30
26.52
26.94
27.35
27.39
27.05
27.23
28.77
27.62
25.52
25.93
26.39
26.81
26.28
26.33
26.61
27.16
26.75
29.32
28.69
28.87
29.64
27.90
27.91
28.24
29.50
28.61
31.69
26.92
27.22
27.64
27.99
27.76
29.34

Qc

kW

21.85
21.94
21.99
21.97
21.04
21.14
21.18
21.16
20.31
20.35
20.34
21.85
21.94
21.99
21.97
21.04
21.14
21.18
21.16
20.31
20.35
20.34
21.85
21.94
21.99
21.97
21.04
21.14
21.18
21.16
20.22
20.31
20.35
20.34
21.85
21.94
21.99
21.97
21.14
21.18
21.16
20.35
20.34
21.85
21.94
21.99
21.97
21.14
21.18
21.16
20.35
20.34
21.85
21.94
21.99
21.97
21.14
21.18
21.16
20.35
20.34
21.94
21.99
21.97
21.16
21.94
21.99
21.97
21.18
21.16
20.34
21.94
21.99
21.97
21.18
21.16
20.34

Q.

kW

24.43
24.73
25.10
25.48
25.38
24.85
24.99
25.28
26.64
25.35
25.29
23.93
24.26
24.62
24.99
24.29
24.23
24.45
24.76
24.99
24.57
26.68
23.47
23.80
24.14
24.47
23.54
23.68
23.94
24.24
25.91
23.97
23.92
24.10
26.09
25.79
26.08
26.48
27.78
26.49
26.50
30.30
27.36
25.08
25.20
25.57
26.00
26.13
25.71
25.90
27.53
26.34
24.37
24.67
25.09
25.52
25.07
25.06
25.35
25.95
25.53
27.97
27.27
27.46
28.28
26.61
26.55
26.89
28.22
27.31
30.53
25.68
25.93
26.36
26.76
26.51
28.19

Q.

kW

20.52
20.52
20.52
20.52
19.71
19.71
19.71
19.71
18.89
18.89
18.89
20.60
20.60
20.60
20.60
19.79
19.79
19.79
19.79
18.96
18.96
18.96
20.67
20.67
20.67
20.67
19.86
19.86
19.86
19.86
19.04
19.04
19.04
19.04
20.52
20.52
20.52
20.52
19.71
19.71
19.71
18.89
18.89
20.60
20.60
20.60
20.60
19.79
19.79
19.79
18.96
18.96
20.67
20.67
20.67
20.67
19.86
19.86
19.86
19.04
19.04
20.52
20.52
20.52
19.71
20.60
20.60
20.60
19.79
19.79
18.96
20.67
20.67
20.67
19.86
19.86
19.04

Design data and maps for absorption

refrigeration

systems

219

0.84

0.82

0.80

42

52

62

GenentorTempenbre

Fig.

2. The

optimum

design

map

for

absorption
temperatures

OPTIMUM

72

82

Tz Q

systems operating
at 20C.

DESIGN

on

LiBr/H1O

with

absorber

MAPS

It is understood
that for absorption
systems, their COP values illustrate the local maximum for
various operating conditions [17-211. The COP values shown in Tables 9 and 10 are the values
a system can achieve at the specified conditions;
however, they are not necessarily optimum values,
in other words, the specified operating conditions
are not optimised. Therefore, some energy is
wasted.
In order to provide detailed optimum operating conditions for absorption
systems, the computer
software [17-211 was used to search for different operating conditions
with which an absorption
cycle reaches its maximum performance.
These results are constructed
as optimum design maps
and are shown in Figs 2 - 5. Among them, Figs 2 and 3 are for LiBr/H,O cycles with one map
for z = 20C and the other for K = 30C and Figs 4 and 5 for H20/NH1 cycles with one map

0.88,
T.=30"C
\
\
\

0.86

\
\
1
\
1
\

0.84

8
a
s

\
\\
\
1 '\
\
\
0.82
Tm=2W

.I
%
0.80

'\ '\ '\ T*=8T

\
1'
T.=25C

\\ T.=64:

'\
\

'
\ T.=4=c
\
\

T-=304:

0.78

T-=354:
T.=Z"c
0.76

54

64

74

Gahentor TcmpenCre

Fig.

3. The

optimum

design

map

for

absorption
temperatures

84

94

Ts (C)

systems operating
at 30C.

on

LiBr/H,O

with

absorber

220

D.-W. Sun

T.=20C

T.=Z"C

40

50

60

80

70

90

Gmemtor Tempentnm TXCC)

Fig.

4. The

optimum

design

map

for

absorption
temperatures

systems operating
at 20C.

on

H*O/NH3

with

absorber

for E = 20C and the other for T, = 30C. In these Figures, the dashed lines represent constant
condenser temperatures
and solid lines for evaporator
temperatures.
If K, z and x are specified,
from the maps, T, can be found and, under these conditions, COP can also be found from the maps.
This COP is the maximum value. If one of the temperatures
shifts away, the cycle COP will be
lower than the original maximum COP, and the conditions
are no longer optimised unless other
conditions
are readjusted
according
to the maps. Taking Fig. 2 as an example, if z = 4C
r = 30C and T, = 20C from the map, q can be found to be 64C and COP is 0.847, which is
maximum. If T, shifts to 58C from Table 9 by interpolation,
the new COP value is 0.836, which
is lower than the original optimum value of 0.847 and hence indicates that new conditions are not
optimised. In order to maintain optimum operation,
for T, = 58C x must be decreased to 25C
along the solid line of I;: = 4C in Fig. 2 if the refrigerating
temperature
is required to be kept
constant and, in this case, the conditions
are optimised again and the COP value is 0.862, as
indicated in the map. Again this value is higher than the non-optimum
value of 0.836.

0.84,
T.=30C

0.80-

53

63

73

83

93

103

Geaentor Temperature TI CC,

Fig.

5. The

optimum

design

map

for

absorption
temperatures

systems operating
at 30C.

on

H*O/NH,

with

absorber

Design data and maps for absorption

refrigeration

systems

221

These optimum design maps are very important in designing new systems, choosing operating
conditions for existing systems. They can also be stored in computers to realise automatic control
of absorption systems for maintaining their optimum operation under various operating
conditions.
CONCLUSIONS

Detailed thermodynamic design data and optimum design maps for the most common LiBr/H,O
and H20/NH3 absorption refrigeration cycles are presented. The results are calculated using well
established simulation software, based on up-to-date thermodynamic properties of LiBr/H,O and
H,O/NH, solutions.
It is hoped that these results can serve as a source of reference for comparison in developing
new cycles and new absorbent/refrigerant
pairs. These results can be used to select operating
conditions for LiBr/H,O and H20/NH3 absorption refrigeration machines and to realise automatic
control for maintaining optimum operation of these systems under different conditions.
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