International Journal of Mechanical and Production

Engineering Research and Development (IJMPERD)

ISSN(P): 2249-6890; ISSN(E): 2249-8001
Vol. 4, Issue 5, Oct 2014, 27-34
TJPRC Pvt. Ltd.

ANALYTICAL STUDY OF A SOLAR ABSORPTION REFRIGERATION SYSTEM

SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH1, L .P. SINGH2, VIJENDRA K.KUSHWAHA3 & VIVEK KUMAR4
1
2, 3
4

PG Scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, SHIATS-DU, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India

Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, SHIATS-DU, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India

Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, ACET, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, India

ABSTRACT
Vapor Absorption refrigeration systems are those systems which produce cooling effect by using solar heat
energy, and have no moving parts. The stages of design are presented including the design of the evaporator, absorber,
Solution heat exchanger, generator and condenser and solar collector. Double-pass Horizontal-tube heat exchangers have
been used for the condenser and for the evaporator. For generator, absorber, solution heat exchanger vertical tube heat
exchanger is used. The solution heat exchanger is designed as a single -pass vertical tube heat exchanger. The generator is
designed using vertical tube heat double-pass heat exchanger. The absorber is designed using as Double-pass vertical tube
heat exchanger. The condenser handles pure water vapor and adequate equations exist for the determination of the U-value.
This work is done on the basis of ASHRAE charts, steam table and many research papers which are related to this work.
Copper tubes with 8X2 matrix are used.

KEYWORDS: Solar Energy, Solar Collector, Air Flow Rate, Drying

INTRODUCTION
A vapor absorption system as shown in Figure 1 is a heat activated thermal cycle; it exchanges the thermal energy
with its surroundings. It operates often (always in a Li-Br and water and ammonia-water system) at lower pressure than the
atmospheric pressure where this pressure is regulated by the vapor pressure of the working fluid. The vapor pressure of the
working fluid is obviously strongly related to the temperature of the working fluid. An absorption system could be, at its
simplest, a single effect or more advanced multiple effect absorption cycle.
Working fluid from the outlet of the absorber is pumped by the solution pump to the higher pressure level. In the
generator the refrigerant is then extracted from the working fluid solution by the addition of extra heat (Qg) from an
external heat source into the generator and the rest of the solution in liquid state is drained back to the absorber as
absorbent, ready to absorb the refrigerant vapor from the evaporator. Heat rejection (Qc) and the condensation process of
the refrigerant vapor occur inside the condenser giving a liquid phase of the refrigerant. The liquid then passes through an
expansion valve to the evaporator section where it passes over tubes containing the fluid to be cooled. The mixing of the
absorbent and the refrigerant will bring the solution back into the initial liquid state condition and makes it possible to be
pumped by the solution pump to the next cycle.
During recent years research aimed at the development of technologies that can offer reductions in energy
consumption, peak electrical demand and energy costs without lowering the desired level of comfort conditions has
intensified. Alternative cooling technologies are being developed which can be applied to residential and commercial

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Sushil Kumar Singh, L. P. Singh, Vijendra K. Kushwaha & Vivek Kumar

buildings, in a wide range of weather conditions. These include night cooling with ventilation, evaporative cooling,
desiccant cooling, slab cooling and absorption cooling. Solar cooling is very attractive topic for researches of the solar
thermal system field. The reason is that the cooling load usually reaches its peak value when solar energy is mostly
available. Most of the research works in this field are carried out employing either a vapor compression cooling cycle or an
absorption cooling cycle. The absorption cooling cycle is usually a preferable alternative since it use thermal energy
collected from the sun without the need to convert this energy into mechanical energy as required by the vapor
compression cycle. In addition the absorption cycle use thermal energy at a lower temperature than that dictated by the
vapor compression cycle. Most of the absorption cooling cycles use either Li-Br-H2O or NH3-H2O solutions. In solar
applications the Li-Br-H2O is superior to the NH3-H2O system due to following reasons:

Generally, Li-Br-H2O absorption units require generator inlet temperatures of 70-88C, while H2O-NH3
absorption units require temperatures of 90-180C; which results in the H2O-NH3 cooling systems achieving a
lower COP when using flat plate collectors.

H2O-NH3 requires higher pressures and hence higher pumping power.

A more complex system requiring a rectifier to separate ammonia and water vapor at the generator outlet.
NH3-H2O system is restricted in building applications because of the hazards associated with the use NH3 whereas

Li-Br-H2O systems are safe.

In the present paper a mathematical model is developed for solar assisted vapor absorption refrigeration system
using Li-Br-H2O and Flat solar collector. The design and fabrication of the solar lithium bromide-water vapor absorption
system shown in Figure 1 is mainly composed of two systems. First is the solar collector-tank system composed of flat
plate collector and hot water storage tank, and the second is the absorption refrigeration system composed of condenser,
evaporator, absorber, solution heat exchanger and generator. Each system has its own loop and characteristics. The first lop
is form the solar collectors to the solar tank and the second loop is the absorptions system loop, and it starts from the
storage tank to complete the refrigeration cycle. cabinet drier to dry high moisture hygroscopic grain (Tomato) in three
consecutive trays in 6 hours a day for three continuous days. In present case solar cabinet drier was evaluated at no load
condition for an hour for a typical day in summer at Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh (India). The overall performance has been
encouraging and discussed in the paper.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The solar lithium bromide-water vapor absorption system is mainly composed of two systems. First is the solar
collector-tank system composed of flat plate collector and hot water storage tank, and the second is the absorption
refrigeration system composed of condenser, evaporator, absorber, solution heat exchanger and generator. Each system has
its own loop and characteristics. The first loop is form the solar collectors to the solar tank and the second loop is the
absorptions system loop, and it starts from the storage tank to complete the refrigeration cycle.
The solar energy is gained through the collector and is accumulated in the storage tank. Then the hot water in the
storage tank is supplied to the generator to boil off water vapor from a solution of lithium bromide-water. The water vapor
is cooled down in the condenser by rejecting heat to cooling water and then passed to the evaporator where it again
evaporated at low pressure, thereby providing air conditioning to the required space. The strong solution leaving the

Impact Factor (JCC): 5.3403

Index Copernicus Value (ICV): 3.0

Analytical Study of a Solar Absorption Refrigeration System

29

generator to the absorber passes through a heat exchanger in order to preheat the weak solution entering the generator.
In the absorber, the strong solution absorbs water vapor leaving evaporator. The mixing process of the absorbent and
refrigerant vapor generates latent heat of condensation and this heat rejected to cooling water system. An auxiliary energy
source is provided, so that the hot water is supplied to the generator, when solar energy is not sufficient to heat the water to
the required temperature needed by the generator. Solar heated water can be provided at 85-90C and is used to supply heat
to the generator where the water vapor released from the saturated solution of Li-Br-H2O. Since the storage tank heat
source strongly relies on weather and solar radiation data, which are time dependent. It is necessary to evaluate the
absorption cycle performance with variable generator and condenser temperature.

Figure 1: Li-Br-H2o Vapor Absorption System

Test Procedure
The experiment was conducted at the Mechanical Engineering Department, Shepherd School of Engineering and
Technology of Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology & Sciences (Deemed-to-be-University), Allahabad.
Assumptions
Following assumptions were considered:

Generator and condenser as well as evaporator and absorber are under same pressure.

Refrigerant vapor leaving the evaporator is saturated pure water.

Liquid refrigerant leaving the condenser is saturated.

Refrigerant vapor leaving the generator has the equilibrium temperatures of the weak solution at generator
pressure.

Weak solution leaving the absorber is saturated.

No liquid carryover from evaporator.

Pump is isentropic.

No jacket heat loss.

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Sushil Kumar Singh, L. P. Singh, Vijendra K. Kushwaha & Vivek Kumar

The LMTD expression adequately estimate the latent changes.

MODELLING AND DESIGN

Solar assisted lithium bromide-water vapor absorption refrigeration system is discussed. Then a mathematical
model is developed in order to simulate the 10.5 kW (3TR) lithium bromide-water vapor refrigeration system along with
the design of various components i.e. evaporator, absorber, generator, condenser and solution heat exchanger.
Mathematical Modeling and Design of an Absorption System
The simplified schematic diagram of the system for analyzing and designing purpose is shown in Figure 1.
With reference to Figure 1 at point (1) the solution is rich in refrigerant and pump forces the liquid through a heat
exchanger to the generator (3). The temperature of the solution in the heat exchanger increases. In the generator thermal
energy is added and refrigerant boil off the solutions. The refrigerant vapor (7) flows to the condenser, where heat is
rejected as the refrigerant condenses. The condensed liquid (8) flows through expansion valve to the evaporator (9). In the
evaporator, the heat from the load evaporates the refrigerant, which flows back to the absorber (10). At the generator exit
(4), the steam consists of absorbent-refrigerant solution, which is cooled in the heat exchanger. From points (6) to (1),
the solution absorbs refrigerant vapor from the evaporator and rejects heat through a heat exchanger. In order to estimate
the size of various component of single-effect water-lithium bromide absorption system i.e. condenser, evaporator,
absorber, solution heat exchanger, generator and finding effect of operating.
In this section a mathematical model is developed to simulate the flat-plate collector. In this system inlet hot water
temperature is 78

which is being fed to generator supplied by solar collector .this temperature is used to heat the weak

solution in generator .FPC (flat plate collector) works between 30

to 90

temperature due to simple design of it is

recommend for this system

General energy equation for flat plate collector is given by
(3.1)
Amount of solar radiation received by collector (in W)
Intensity of solar radiation (
Collector surface area (

)
)

(3.2)
From above equation and (3.39) and (3.38)

Where

= mass flow rate of water flowing in the tube of collector

Useful heat gain is expressed as

Impact Factor (JCC): 5.3403

Index Copernicus Value (ICV): 3.0

Analytical Study of a Solar Absorption Refrigeration System

31

(3.3)

Heat removal factor

(3.4)
From Duffci and Beckman

(3.5)
Collector

efficiency

(3.6)
Coefficient of Performance
Efficiency of an absorption refrigeration system can be easily expressed by a Coefficient of Performance (COP)
which is defined as the ratio between the amount of heat absorbed from the environment by the evaporator and the heat
supplied to the generator to operate the cycle and pump work.

(3.7)
As the work supplied to the absorption system is very small compared to the amount of heat supplied to the
generator, generally the amount of work is often excluded from the calculation.

(3.8)

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

A mathematical model has been developed and parametric study of lithium bromide-water vapor absorption
refrigeration system is carried-out. The effect of generator temperature on the coefficient of performance for different
condenser temperature, evaporator temperature, absorber temperature has been evaluated and discussed. Finally, the
availability of solar energy, useful energy for running the absorption air-conditioning system from 09:00 hrs. To 17:00 hrs.
(8 hours/day) has been calculated. The above time frame has been selected judiciously as the energy requirement for
cooling purposes attains its maximum value for months March to May (Summer Season)

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Sushil Kumar Singh, L. P. Singh, Vijendra K. Kushwaha & Vivek Kumar

Effect of Generator Temperature on COP for Different Temperature of Condenser

Figure 2 shows the variation of the coefficient of performance with generator temperature (Tgen) for different
condenser temperature (Tcond) with absorber temperature as (Tabs = 30C) and evaporator temperature as (Tevap = 10C) fix.
The graph plotted has been keeping Tcond as 25 oC, 30 oC and 35 oC. From figure it is evident that the COP initially exhibits
an appreciable increase with the rise in the generator temperature which results in increase in COP due to the fact that
when generator temperature increases the mass flow of the refrigerant also increases which results in increase in cooling
capacity and hence COP of the system increases. However, for Tgen < 65 oC curve corresponding to condenser temperature
(Tcond = 35 oC) COP is least due to the fact that as Tcond increases, the condensing temperature increases and hence causes
less heat transfer in the condenser. This results in an increase in the temperature and in enthalpy of the refrigerant at the
condenser outlet. Hence, the cooling capacity decreases as does

the

COP.

Figure 2: Variation of COP with Generator Temperature for Different

Condenser Temperature at Tabs = 30C and Tevap = 10C
Effect of Generator Temperature on COP for Different Temperature of Evaporator
Figure 3 shows the variation of generator temperature (Tgen) with COP respectively for various evaporator
temperature (Tevap) at keeping absorber temperature as (Tabs=30C) and condenser temperature as (Tcond=30C) fix. The
different evaporator temperatures taken are 8C, 10C and 12C. From the figure 3 it is clear that with increase in Tevap
leads to significant increase in COP.

Figure 3: Variation of COP with Generator Temperature for Different

Evaporator Temperature at Tabs=30C and Tcond=30C
Impact Factor (JCC): 5.3403

Index Copernicus Value (ICV): 3.0

Analytical Study of a Solar Absorption Refrigeration System

33

Effect of Generator Temperature on COP and Heat Input for Different Absorber Temperature
Figure 4 plots graph between COP and generator temperature (Tgen). Both the graphs have been plotted for
different absorber temperature (Tabs) at keeping condenser temperature as (Tcond=30C) and evaporator temperature as
(Tevap=10C) fix. The different absorber temperatures taken are 25C, 30C and 35C.It is clear from Figure that for
Tgen<65C, COP shares inverse relation with Tabs. This is primarily due to the fact that an appreciable increase in heat input
(Qgen) is observed.

Figure 4: Variation of COP with Generator Temperature for Diff Absorber

Temp at a Particular Value of Tcond = 30C and Tevap = 10C
Effect of Collector Area on the Collector Useful Heat Gain
The influence of collector area on the heat gain is shown in Figure 4 It is clear from the figure, an increase in the
collector area results in an increased collector useful heat (Quseful) gain. Area of collector is 36 meter2.

Figure 4: Variation of Quseful with Collector Area

CONCLUSIONS
In this study modeling and design has been carried out for 10.5 kW of solar assisted vapor absorption air
conditioning system using Lithium Bromide-Water as refrigerant. Also parametric study has been carried out to study the
effect of condenser temperature, generator temperature, evaporator temperature, absorber temperature on co-efficient of
performance (COP) and effect of generator temperature on specific solution circulation rates (f).
Based upon the study following conclusions have been drawn:

A model has been developed which can predict the COP of the system. Each component of the absorption system
i.e. generator, condenser, evaporator and absorber has been designed.

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Sushil Kumar Singh, L. P. Singh, Vijendra K. Kushwaha & Vivek Kumar

Higher evaporator and generator temperature, results in higher coefficient of performance (COP) of the system
due to the fact that as generator temperature increases, the heat transfer to the solution in the generator increases,
result in the increase of mass flow rate and so does the COP.

Low condensing temperature results in higher COP due to the fact that as Tcond increases, the condensing
temperature increases and hence causes less heat transfer in the condenser, which results in an increase in
temperature and enthalpy of the refrigerant at the condenser outlet. Hence, the cooling capacity decreases as does
the COP.

For generator temperature from 65C to 80C, the absorption system work efficiently.

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Zhai X. Q, Wang R. Z, Wu J. Y, Dai Y. J. and Ma Q. Design and performance of a solar-powered

air-conditioning system in a green building, Applied energy, 2007; 85:297-311.

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Mittal V, Kasana K.S. and Thakur N. S. Modeling and simulation of a solar absorption cooling system for
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Impact Factor (JCC): 5.3403

Index Copernicus Value (ICV): 3.0