Report on

Vapor Absorption Refrigeration system

Submited by
SOURAV MONDAL
B. E. Power Engg.
JADAVPUR UNIVERSITY
ACKNOLDGEMENT

I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to my teacher Mr. Amitav

datta & Mr.Bireswar Majumdar .

They gave me the golden opportunity to do this wonderful project on the topic
VAPOUR ABSORPTION REFRIGERATION SYSTEM, which also helped
me in doing a lot of Research and i came to know about so many new things I
am really thankful to them.

Secondly i would also like to thank my friends who helped me a lot in finalizing
this project within the limited time frame.
ABSTRACT

Refrigeration is the most important matter in now days.we use only 30 % of

consuming energy by conventional refrigeration process for cooling purpose.
Conventional cooling system mainly say about vapor compression refrigeration
system,but it consume high grade of energy ,mainly for operating compressor.
That`s why we bend our aim to make ,such a system which more efficient than
compression system and consume also low grade of energy.
Name of the system is Vapor Absorption refrigeration system.
Absorption refrigeration unit employing either water-lithium bromide or
ammonia-water refrigerant-absorbent pairs.
Absorption systems are an alternative to vapour compression systems by
being thermally activated.
Such heat energy may come from the sun or even from hot exhaust gases from
a particular engineering process.
A thorough investigation of the optimal operating temperatures is necessary
to ensure effective operation of the system.
CONTENT
1. Introduction
2. Vapor Absorption Refrigeration System principle
3. Condenser
4. Expansion Valve
5. Evaporator
6. Absorber
7. Solution pump
8. Generator
9. Refrigerant & Absorbent Properties
10.Mathematical calculation
INTRODUCTION
Vapour Absorption Refrigeration Systems (VARS) belong to the class of
vapour cycles similar to vapour compression refrigeration systems. However,
unlike vapour compression refrigeration systems, the required input to
absorption systems is in the form of heat. Hence these systems are also called as
heat operated or thermal energy driven systems.

Since conventional absorption systems use liquids for absorption of refrigerant,

these are also sometimes called as wet absorption systems.

Similar to vapour compression refrigeration systems, vapour absorption

refrigeration systems have also been commercialized and are widely used in
various refrigeration and air conditioning applications.

Since these systems run on low-grade thermal energy, they are preferred when
low-grade energy such as waste heat or solar energy is available.

Since conventional absorption systems use natural refrigerants such as water

or ammonia they are environment friendly.

SYSTEM PRINCIPLE
When a solute such as lithium bromide salt is dissolved in a solvent such as
water, the boiling point of the solvent (water) is elevated. On the other hand, if
the temperature of the solution (solvent + solute) is held constant, then the
effect of dissolving the solute is to reduce the vapour pressure of the solvent
below that of the saturation pressure of pure solvent at that temperature.

If the solute itself has some vapour pressure (i.e., volatile solute) then the total
pressure exerted over the solution is the sum total of the partial pressures of
solute and solvent.

If the solute is nonvolatile (e.g. lithium bromide salt) or if the boiling point
difference between the solution and solvent is large (≥ 300o C), then the total
pressure exerted over the solution will be almost equal to the vapour pressure of
the solvent only. In the simplest absorption refrigeration system, refrigeration is
obtained by connecting two vessels, with one vessel containing pure solvent
and the other containing a solution.

Since the pressure is almost equal in both the vessels at equilibrium, the
temperature of the solution will be higher than that of the pure solvent.

This means that if the solution is at ambient temperature, then the pure solvent
will be at a temperature lower than the ambient. Hence refrigeration effect is
produced at the vessel containing pure solvent due to this temperature
difference.

The solvent evaporates due to heat transfer from the surroundings, flows to the
vessel containing solution and is absorbed by the solution.

This process is continued as long as the composition and temperature of the

solution are maintained and liquid solvent is available in the container.
CONDENSER
The purpose of condenser is to condense the refrigerant vapors. Inside the
condenser, cooling water flows through tubes and the hot refrigerant vapor fills
the surrounding space.

As heat transfers from the refrigerant vapor to the water, refrigerant

condenses on the tube surfaces. The condensed liquid refrigerant collects in
the bottom of the condenser before traveling to the expansion device.

The cooling water system is typically connected to a cooling tower.

Generally, the generator and condenser are contained inside of the same shell.

EXPANSION VALVE
When the refrigerant passes through the expansion valve, its pressure and
temperature reduces suddenly.

This refrigerant (ammonia in this case) then enters the evaporator. Controls the
amount of refrigerant flow into the evaporator. Cause a pressure drop
(Isenthalpic) of the working fluid. Causes sudden drop in temperature.
EVAPORATOR
 An evaporator is a device used to turn the liquid form of a
chemical into its gaseous form. The liquid is evaporated, or
vaporized, into a gas.
The evaporators are heat exchanger surfaces that transfer the
heat from the substance to be cooled to the refrigerant, thus removing
the heat from the substance. The evaporators are used for wide variety
of diverse applications in refrigeration and air conditioning processes a

hence they are available in wide variety of shapes, sizes and designs.
They are also classified in different manner depending on the method
of feeding the refrigerant, construction of the evaporator, direction of
air circulation around the evaporator, application and also the
refrigerant control.
In the domestic refrigerators the evaporators are commonly known as the
freezers since the ice is made in
 these compartments. In case of large refrigeration plants and
central air conditioning plants the evaporator is also known as the
chiller since these systems are first used to chill the water, which then
produces the cooling effect.

ABSORBER
The absorber is a sort of vessel consisting of water that acts
as the absorbent, and the previous absorbed refrigerant. Thus the
absorber consists of the weak solution of the refrigerant (ammonia in
this case) and absorbent (water in this case). When ammonia from the
evaporator enters the absorber, it is absorbed by the absorbent due to
which the pressure inside the absorber reduces further leading to more
flow of the refrigerant from the evaporator to the absorber. At high
temperature water absorbs lesser ammonia, hence it is cooled by the
external coolant to increase it ammonia absorption capacity.

SOLUTION PUMP
 pump is a device that moves fluids (liquids), or sometimes slurries, by
mechanical action.
 Pumps operamechanical work by moving the fluid. Pumps
operate via many energy sources, including manual operation, ete by
some mechanism (typically reciprocating or rotary), and consume
energy to perform lectricity, engines, or wind power, come in many
sizes, from microscopic for use in medical applications to large
industrial pumps.
When the absorbent absorbs the refrigerant strong solution
of refrigerant absorbent (ammonia water) is formed. This solution is
pumped by the pump at high pressure to the generator. Thus pump
increases the pressure of the solution.
GENERATOR
 Generator is used for Heats the strong aqua ammonia solution up to
the boiling temperature of ammonia solution to produce ammonia
vapors.
Here, solar panel is used for the heating purpose. Separates the dissolved
ammonia from the water-ammonia solution. The refrigerant ammonia solution
in the generator is heated by the external source of heat. This is can be steam,
hot water or any other suitable source. Due to heating the temperature of the
solution increases. The refrigerant in the solution gets vaporized and it leaves
the solution at high pressure. The high pressure and the high temperature
refrigerant then enters the condenser, where it is cooled by the coolant, and it
then enters the expansion valve and then finally into the evaporator where it
produces the cooling effect. This refrigerant is then again absorbed by the
weak solution in the absorber.

When the vaporized refrigerant leaves the generator weak

solution is left in it. This solution enters the pressure reducing valve
and then back to the absorber, where it is ready to absorb fresh
refrigerant. In this way, the refrigerant keeps on repeating the cycle.
The pressure of the refrigerant is increased in the generator,
hence it is considered to be equivalent to the compression part of the
compressor.

REFRIGERANT & ABSORBENT PROPERTIES

1. The refrigerant should exhibit high solubility with solution in the absorber.
2. There should be large difference in the boiling points of refrigerant
o
and absorbent (greater than 200 C), so that only refrigerant is
boiled-off in the generator. This ensures that only pure refrigerant
circulates through refrigerant circuit (condenser-expansion valve-
evaporator) leading to isothermal heat transfer in evaporator and
condenser.
3. It should exhibit small heat of mixing so that a high COP can be achieved.
4. The refrigerant-absorbent mixture should have high thermal
conductivity and low viscosity for high performance.
5. It should not undergo crystallization or solidification inside the system.
6. The mixture should be safe, chemically stable, non-corrosive,
inexpensive and should be available easily.

MATHEMATICALLY CALCULATION

COP=QL/(Qg+W)

=QL/Qg

=(1-T0/TS)(TL/(T0-TL))