Thermodynamic Performance of a Double-Effect Absorption Refrigeration Cycle Based on a Ternary Working Pair: Lithium Bromide + Ionic Liquids + Water

For an absorption cycle, a ternary working pair LiBr–[BMIM]Cl(2.5:1)/H2O was proposed as a new working pair to replace LiBr/H2O. The thermodynamic properties including specific heat capacity, specific enthalpy, density, and viscosity were systematically measured and fitted by the least-squares method. The thermodynamic performance of a double-effect absorption refrigeration cycle based on LiBr–[BMIM]Cl(2.5:1)/H2O was investigated under different refrigeration temperatures from 5 °C to 12 °C. Results showed that the ternary working pair LiBr–[BMIM]Cl(2.5:1)/H2O had advantages in the operating temperature range and corrosivity. Compared with LiBr/H2O, the operating temperature range was 20 °C larger, and the corrosion rates of carbon steel and copper were reduced by more than 50% at 453.15 K. However, the double-effect absorption refrigeration cycle with LiBr–[BMIM]Cl(2.5:1)/H2O achieved a coefficient of performance (COPc) from 1.09 to 1.46 and an exergetic coefficient of performance (ECOPc) from 0.244 to 0.238, which were smaller than those based on LiBr/H2O due to the higher generation temperature and larger flow ratio.