A Parametric Examination of the Factors Affecting the Performance of a Diffusion Absorption Refrigeration System

Author(s):  
Noman Yousuf ◽  
Timothy Anderson ◽  
Roy Nates

Abstract Despite being identified nearly a century ago, the diffusion absorption refrigeration (DAR) cycle has received relatively little attention. One of the strongest attractions of the DAR cycle lies in the fact that it is thermally driven and does not require high value work. This makes it a prime candidate for harnessing low grade heat from solar collectors, or the waste heat from stationary generators, to produce cooling. However, to realize the benefits of the DAR cycle, there is a need to develop an improved understanding of how design parameters influence its performance. In this vein, this work developed a new parametric model that can be used to examine the performance of the DAR cycle for a range of operating conditions. The results showed that the cycle's performance was particularly sensitive to several factors: the rate of heat added and the temperature of the generator, the effectiveness of the gas and solution heat exchangers, the mass flowrate of the refrigerant and the type of the working fluid. It was shown that can deliver good performance at low generator temperatures if the refrigerant mass fraction in the strong solution is made as high as possible. Moreover, it was shown that a H2O-LiBr working pair could be useful for achieving cooling at low generator temperatures.

Author(s):  
Govinda Mahajan ◽  
Heejin Cho ◽  
Scott M. Thompson ◽  
Harrison Rupp ◽  
Kevin Muse

Oscillating heat pipes (OHPs) were experimentally assessed as a passive-type heat transfer device for air-to-air heat exchange in a typical Heating Ventilation & Air conditioning system (HVAC) with adjacent air streams at different temperatures. The objective is to utilize, otherwise wasted thermal energy to pre-heat or pre-cool air in order to reduce the payload on HVAC systems, thus reducing energy consumption. OHPs can achieve effective thermal conductivities on-the-order of 10,000 W/m-K via no internal wicking structure and hence can perform aforementioned heat transfer task while providing an aerodynamic form factor. A unique working fluid with limited research inside OHPs, but with properties desirable for low grade heat fluxes, i.e. n-pentane with 70 % fill ratio, was chosen as the working fluid to achieve maximum heat transfer. Aerodynamic performance, in terms of pressure drop, was evaluated and juxtaposed with heat transfer gain/loss. The OHP thermal performance and total heat transfer for hot-environment HVAC operation was benchmarked with an empty/evacuated OHP with same overall dimensions. Results indicate that the current, atypically-long OHP is fully-capable of operating in the air-to-air convection mode for waste heat recovery for typical HVAC operating conditions. Since the OHP is passive, cost effective, and relatively aerodynamic (no fins were used), the potential cost savings for its integration into HVAC systems can be significant.


2013 ◽  
Vol 330 ◽  
pp. 203-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Bruno Augustin ◽  
Jigar Golecha ◽  
K.G. Sai Shreenaath ◽  
Vishnu Swami ◽  
M. Suresh

Increase in the consumption of electrical energy worldwide has laid the emphasis on replacing electrical energy with thermal energy wherever possible. In this paper, the bubble pump, which is ‘heart’ of diffusion- absorption refrigeration system, has been investigated numerically. A thermally driven bubble pump, which can be powered by waste heat or solar thermal energy, is used to lift the liquid. As a result of the absence of any mechanical moving part, the refrigerator is silent and very reliable in addition to aneconomicalandenvironmental friendlydevice. The concept of such a pump is already in existence but optimization studies are yet to be extensively investigated. This paper deals with the optimization of various parameters of the bubble pump usingwateras the working fluid. Parametric studies are carried out and a design optimization for maximum efficiency is performed for various operating conditions.Numerical simulation of the bubble pump is carried out using simple numerical equations which assume slug flow in the bubble pump. The diameter of the pipe and the position of the heating element are varied and the effect it has on time taken, pumping ratio and pumping ratio for one pumping cycle is studied.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdulghani M. Ramadan

Adsorption cooling technology is one of the effective means to convert low grade thermal energy in to effective cooling, which improves energy efficiency and lowers environmental pollution. The main objective of this study is to investigate the thermal performance of an adsorption refrigerator theoretically. The working adsorbent/adsorbate pair used is Granular Activated Carbon, GAC/R134a pa*ir. The effect of different design parameters and operating conditions on the system performance is studied and interpreted.Some assumptions and approximations are also considered. A computer program is written using Matlab. Results show that the equilibrium adsorption capacity is highly affected by the driving temperature and equilibrium pressure. Increasing equilibrium pressure leads to a corresponding increase in the equilibrium adsorption capacity whereas it is value is decreased as the driving temperature increases. Moreover, increasing the driving and evaporator temperatures raise the values of the Specific Cooling Effect (SCE) andCoefficient of Performance (COP). The maximum values of SCE and COP are 60 KJ/kg and 0.4 corresponding to driving and evaporator temperatures of 100 oC and 20 oC respectively. However, increasing the condenser temperature leads to a remarked decrease in SCE and COP of the cooling system. SCE and COP values are 32 KJ/kg and 0.22 at driving and condenser temperatures of 100 oC and 40 oC respectively. When comparing the present study results with literature, there is a good agreement in general. It is clear that the adsorption cooling system can be driven effectively by low grade heat sources such as, solar energy, waste heat energy, geothermal energy…etc.


Author(s):  
C. Somayaji ◽  
P. J. Mago ◽  
L. M. Chamra

This paper presents a second law analysis and optimization for the use of Organic Rankine Cycle “ORC” to convert waste energy to power from low grade heat sources. The working fluids used in this study are organic substances which have a low boiling point and a low latent heat for using low grade waste heat sources. The organic working fluids under investigation are R134a and R113 and their results are compared with those of ammonia and water under similar operating conditions. A combined first and second law analysis is performed by varying some system operating parameters at various reference temperatures. Some of the results show that the efficiency of ORC is typically below 20% depending on the temperatures and matched working fluid. In addition, it has been found that organic working fluids are more suited for heat recovery than water for low temperature applications, which justifies the use of organic working fluids at the lower waste source temperatures.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1984
Author(s):  
Ramin Moradi ◽  
Emanuele Habib ◽  
Enrico Bocci ◽  
Luca Cioccolanti

Organic Rankine cycle (ORC) systems are some of the most suitable technologies to produce electricity from low-temperature waste heat. In this study, a non-regenerative, micro-scale ORC system was tested in off-design conditions using R134a as the working fluid. The experimental data were then used to tune the semi-empirical models of the main components of the system. Eventually, the models were used in a component-oriented system solver to map the system electric performance at varying operating conditions. The analysis highlighted the non-negligible impact of the plunger pump on the system performance Indeed, the experimental results showed that the low pump efficiency in the investigated operating range can lead to negative net electric power in some working conditions. For most data points, the expander and the pump isentropic efficiencies are found in the approximate ranges of 35% to 55% and 17% to 34%, respectively. Furthermore, the maximum net electric power was about 200 W with a net electric efficiency of about 1.2%, thus also stressing the importance of a proper selection of the pump for waste heat recovery applications.


Author(s):  
James F. Walton ◽  
Andrew Hunsberger ◽  
Hooshang Heshmat

In this paper the authors will present the design and preliminary test results for a distributed electric generating system that uses renewable energy source for economical load-following and peak-shaving capability in an oil-free, high-speed micro-turboalternator system using compliant foil bearings and a permanent magnet alternator. Test results achieved with the prototype system operating to full speed and under power generating mode will be presented. A comparison between predicted and measured electrical output will also be presented up to a power generating level of 25 kWe at approximately 55,000 rpm. The excellent correlation between design and test provides the basis for scale up to larger power levels. Based upon the turboalternator test results a thermodynamic cycle analysis of a system using low grade waste heat water at approximately 100 C will be reviewed. The tradeoff study results for a series of environmentally friendly refrigerant working fluids will also be presented including sensitivity to vaporization and condensing temperatures. Based on the cycle and pinch point analyses predicted maximum output power was determined. Finally a preliminary turbine design for the selected R134a working fluid was completed. The results of this study show that a net output power level of greater than 40 kW is possible for approximately 240 l/m flow of water at 100C is possible.


2003 ◽  
Vol 125 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gunnar Tamm ◽  
D. Yogi Goswami

A combined thermal power and cooling cycle proposed by Goswami is under intensive investigation, both theoretically and experimentally. The proposed cycle combines the Rankine and absorption refrigeration cycles, producing refrigeration while power is the primary goal. A binary ammonia-water mixture is used as the working fluid. This cycle can be used as a bottoming cycle using waste heat from a conventional power cycle or as an independent cycle using low temperature sources such as geothermal and solar energy. An experimental system was constructed to demonstrate the feasibility of the cycle and to compare the experimental results with the theoretical simulation. Results showed that the vapor generation and absorption condensation processes work experimentally, exhibiting expected trends, but with deviations from ideal and equilibrium modeling. The potential for combined turbine work and refrigeration output was evidenced in operating the system. Analysis of losses showed where improvements could be made, in preparation for further testing over a broader range of operating conditions.


Author(s):  
Fredrik Ahlgren ◽  
Maria E. Mondejar ◽  
Magnus Genrup ◽  
Marcus Thern

Maritime transportation is a significant contributor to SOx, NOx and particle matter emissions, even though it has a quite low CO2 impact. New regulations are being enforced in special areas that limit the amount of emissions from the ships. This fact, together with the high fuel prices, is driving the marine industry towards the improvement of the energy efficiency of current ship engines and the reduction of their energy demand. Although more sophisticated and complex engine designs can improve significantly the efficiency of the energy systems in ships, waste heat recovery arises as the most influent technique for the reduction of the energy consumption. In this sense, it is estimated that around 50% of the total energy from the fuel consumed in a ship is wasted and rejected in fluid and exhaust gas streams. The primary heat sources for waste heat recovery are the engine exhaust and the engine coolant. In this work, we present a study on the integration of an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) in an existing ship, for the recovery of the main and auxiliary engines exhaust heat. Experimental data from the operating conditions of the engines on the M/S Birka Stockholm cruise ship were logged during a port-to-port cruise from Stockholm to Mariehamn over a period of time close to one month. The ship has four main engines Wärtsilä 5850 kW for propulsion, and four auxiliary engines 2760 kW used for electrical consumers. A number of six load conditions were identified depending on the vessel speed. The speed range from 12–14 knots was considered as the design condition, as it was present during more than 34% of the time. In this study, the average values of the engines exhaust temperatures and mass flow rates, for each load case, were used as inputs for a model of an ORC. The main parameters of the ORC, including working fluid and turbine configuration, were optimized based on the criteria of maximum net power output and compactness of the installation components. Results from the study showed that an ORC with internal regeneration using benzene would yield the greatest average net power output over the operating time. For this situation, the power production of the ORC would represent about 22% of the total electricity consumption on board. These data confirmed the ORC as a feasible and promising technology for the reduction of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of existing ships.


Author(s):  
Concepción Paz ◽  
Eduardo Suarez ◽  
Miguel Concheiro ◽  
Antonio Diaz

Waste heat dissipated in the exhaust system in a combustion engine represents a major source of energy to be recovered and converted into useful work. A waste heat recovery system (WHRS) based on an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) is a promising approach, and has gained interest in the last few years in an automotive industry interested in reducing fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. Understanding the thermodynamic response of the boiler employed in an ORC plays an important role in steam cycle performance prediction and control system design. The aim of this study is therefore to present a methodology to study these devices by means of pattern recognition with infrared thermography. In addition, the experimental test bench and its operating conditions are described. The methodology proposed identifies the wall coordinates, traces paths, and tracks wall temperature along them in a way that can be exported for subsequent post-processing and analysis. As for the results, through the wall temperature paths on both sides (exhaust gas and working fluid) it was possible to quantitatively estimate the temperature evolution along the boiler and, in particular, the beginning and end of evaporation.


Author(s):  
M. Deligant ◽  
S. Braccio ◽  
T. Capurso ◽  
F. Fornarelli ◽  
M. Torresi ◽  
...  

Abstract The Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) allows the conversion of low-grade heat sources into electricity. Although this technology is not new, the increase in energy demand and the need to reduce CO2 emissions create new opportunities to harvest low grade heat sources such as waste heat. Radial turbines have a simple construction, they are robust and they are not very sensitive to geometry inaccuracies. Most of the radial inflow turbines used for ORC application feature a vaned nozzle ensuring the appropriate distribution angle at the rotor inlet. In this work, no nozzle is considered but only the vaneless gap (distributor). This configuration, without any vaned nozzle, is supposed to be more flexible under varying operating conditions with respect to fixed vanes and to maintain a good efficiency at off-design. This paper presents a performance analysis carried out by means of two approaches: a combination of meanline loss models enhanced with real gas fluid properties and 3D CFD computations, taking into account the entire turbomachine including the scroll housing, the vaneless gap, the turbine wheel and the axial discharge pipe. A detailed analysis of the flow field through the turbomachine is carried out, both under design and off design conditions, with a particular focus on the entropy field in order to evaluate the loss distribution between the scroll housing, the vaneless gap and the turbine wheel.


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