Prof Khandekar's Vapor Absorption Lecture

ME340A: Prof.
Sameer Khandekar
http://home.iitk.ac.in/~samkhan
ME340A: Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Department of Mechanical Engineering

Instructor: Prof. Sameer Khandekar Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
Tel: 7038; e-mail: samkhan@iitk.ac.in Kanpur 208016 India
Vapor Absorption
Refrigeration
Systems
Sameer Khandekar
Sameer Khandekar
Sir M. Visvesvaraya Chair Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
Kanpur (UP) 208016 INDIA
Webpage: home.iitk.ac.in/~samkhan/

In this lecture…
◉ What is an absorption system
◉ Construction
◉ Operation
◉ Comparison with vapor compression system
Sameer Khandekar

208016 Kanpur India
1
ME340A: Prof. Sameer Khandekar

Vapor absorption refrigeration system
◉ An absorption refrigerator is a refrigerator that uses a heat source (e.g.,

solar energy, a fossil-fuel flame, waste heat from factories, or district
heating systems) to provide the energy needed for the cooling process.
◉ In this system mechanical compression process of vapor compression
cycle is replaced by a thermal compression process.
◉ The thermal compression is achieved by the following process:
○ Absorbing a fluid vapor (e.g., say: ammonia) into another carrier
Sameer Khandekar
liquid (e.g., say water).

○ Pumping this solution to a high pressure cycle by a simple pump
○ Producing vapors from the solution by heating (thus, cooling)

Features
◉ ARS are often classified as heat-driven systems. They are used especially,
when there is a source of inexpensive thermal energy at a temperature of
100 to 200°C.
◉ The principle can be used to air-condition buildings using available waste
heat from a source. ARS are primarily used in large commercial, industrial
installations or for storage in recreational vehicles.
◉ Some examples include geothermal energy, solar energy, and waste heat
from cogeneration or process steam plants, and even natural gas when it is
Sameer Khandekar
at a relatively low price.

◉ For example, using waste heat from a gas turbine makes it very efficient
because it first produces electricity, then hot water, and finally, air-
conditioning (called cogeneration/trigeneration).

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Vapor absorption refrigeration cycle

Thermal
Compression
Condenser
Heating
Water return via

rectifier
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Liquid pump
Heat of absorption

Another layout to represent the ARS

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Requirements of the system
◉ Solubility requirement: The refrigerant should have very high

solubility in the absorbent material (usually much higher than
the Roult’s law applicability limits), so that a strong solution is
possible.
◉ Boiling point requirement: There should be a large difference
in the normal boiling point of the two substances, of the order
of 150 C to 200 C. Higher the better. The absorbent should
have negligible vapor pressure at the generator temperature.
Sameer Khandekar
Thus almost absorbent free refrigerant is boiled off from the

generator and the absorbent alone returns to the absorber.

Ammonia Absorption Refrigeration system Thermal Compression
◉ ARS involves the absorption of a

refrigerant by a transport medium.
◉ Most widely used system is NH3 – H2O
system, where NH3 serves as refrigerant
and H2O as transport medium.
◉ Other systems include water–lithium
bromide and water–lithium chloride
systems, where water serves as the
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refrigerant. These systems are limited to

applications such as A-C where the
minimum temperature is above the Ammonia absorption refrigeration cycle.
freezing point of water.

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Advantages of ammonia systems
◉ Ideally fits into the concept of Integrated Energy Systems such as

Cogeneration involving combined generation, heat, refrigeration and
power (CHRP Plants) on various fuels like bio-mas, coal, Natural Gas,
Heavy Oil, Solar, geothermal, etc.
◉ Excellent for waste heat utilization
◉ Earns carbon credits, reduces taxes, promotes sustainable
development.
◉ Uses best eco-friendly refrigerant – ammonia
Sameer Khandekar
◉ Wide operational range + 5 C to – 55 C

◉ Low maintenance cost – no moving parts
◉ Can operate well for over 25 years

Equivalent thermodynamic model

Sameer Khandekar

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Determination of COP of ARS

◉ The COP of actual absorption refrigeration
systems is usually less than 1.
◉ Air-conditioning systems based on
absorption refrigeration, called absorption
chillers, perform best when the heat source
can supply heat at a high temperature with
little temperature drop.
Sameer Khandekar

Discussion on COP
◉ The COP depends on the main three operating temperatures:

○ Temperature of the heat source (High temperature)
○ Temperature of Condenser/ Absorber (They can be different)
○ Temperature of the refrigeration space (Low temperature)
◉ Hot source should be as high as possible
◉ Condenser/Absorber should be low
◉ Refrigeration temperature should be high.
If Condenser and Absorber temperatures are different, then
Sameer Khandekar
maximum COP is given by

𝑇 −𝑇 𝑇
𝑂𝑃 =
𝑇 𝑇 −𝑇

208016 Kanpur India
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Device Construction
◉ Like a standard vapor compression system, a vapor

absorption system also consists of a condenser, an expansion
valve and an evaporator.
◉ These three devices have exactly the same function as in the
vapor compression system
◉ Instead of a mechanical compressor, the vapor absorption
system achieves the compression by the application of heat –
Sameer Khandekar
thermal compression.
◉ Hence, to achieve this it has a refrigerant absorber, a liquid
pump, a heat exchanger (thermal compression), an analyzer
and a rectifier (for separating the solvent from the refrigerant).

Operational steps
◉ Dry ammonia vapor at low pressure passes in to the absorber

from the evaporator.
◉ In the absorber the dry ammonia vapor is dissolved in cold
water and strong solution of ammonia is formed.
◉ Heat evolved (heat of absorption) during the absorption of
ammonia in water is removed by circulating cold water
through the coils kept in the absorber.
Sameer Khandekar
◉ The highly concentrated ammonia solution (known as Aqua

Ammonia) is then pumped by a liquid pump to the generator
through a heat exchanger.

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Operational steps
◉ In the heat exchanger, strong ammonia solution is heated by the hot

weak solution returning from the generator to the absorber.
◉ Regeneration: The refrigerant-saturated liquid is heated by some
available means (e.g. steam coils, gas, electricity or solar heating) ,
causing the refrigerant to evaporate out.
◉ The hot gaseous refrigerant passes through a heat exchanger,
transferring its heat outside the system (such as to surrounding
Sameer Khandekar
ambient-temperature air), and condenses. The condensed (liquid)

refrigerant supplies the evaporation phase.
◉ The boiling point of ammonia is less than that of water, hence the
vapors leaving the generator are mainly of ammonia.

Operational steps
◉ The weak ammonia solution is left in the generator is called weak aqua.
◉ This weak solution (rich in water and depleted with ammonia) is
returned to the absorber through the heat exchanger.
◉ Ammonia vapor leaving the generator may contain some water vapor.
◉ If this water vapor is allowed to enter the condenser and the expansion
valve, it may freeze there resulting in chocked flow.
Sameer Khandekar
◉ Hence, analyzer and rectifiers are incorporated in the system before

condenser.

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Operational steps
◉ The ammonia vapor from the generator passes through a series of trays
in the analyzer and ammonia is separated from water vapor.
◉ The separated water vapor is returned to the generator.
◉ Then the ammonia vapor passes through a rectifier.
◉ The rectifier resembles a condenser and water vapor still present in
ammonia vapor condenses and the condensate is returned to analyzer.
Sameer Khandekar
◉ Then, at last, virtually pure ammonia vapor passes through the

condenser.

Operational steps
◉ The latent heat of ammonia vapor is rejected to the cooling water

circulated through the condenser and the ammonia vapor is condensed
to liquid ammonia.
◉ The high pressure liquid ammonia is throttled by an expansion valve or
throttle valve to low pressure liquid.
◉ This reduces the high temperature of the liquid ammonia to a low value
and liquid ammonia partly evaporates (some flashing).
Sameer Khandekar
◉ Then this two phase mixture (mostly liquid) is led to the evaporator.
◉ In the evaporator the liquid fully vaporizes.

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Operational steps
◉ The latent heat of evaporation is obtained from the brine (as a

secondary refrigerant) or other objects/material which is being cooled.
◉ The low pressure ammonia vapor leaving the evaporator again enters
the absorber and the cycle is completed.
◉ This cycle is repeated again to provide the refrigerating effect.
Sameer Khandekar

Comparison: Vapor compression and absorption systems
◉ Compared with vapor-compression systems, ARS have one major

advantage: A liquid is compressed instead of a vapor and as a result the
work input is very small (on the order of one percent of the heat supplied to
the generator) and often neglected in the cycle analysis.
◉ ARS are much more expensive than the vapor-compression refrigeration
systems. They are more complex and occupy more space, they are much
less efficient thus requiring much larger cooling towers to reject the waste
heat, and they are more difficult to service since they are less common.
Sameer Khandekar
◉ Therefore, ARS should be considered only when the unit cost of thermal
energy is low and is projected to remain low relative to electricity.

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S. No. Vapor Compression System Vapor Absorption System

1. This system has more wear and tear Only moving part in this system is an
and produces more noise due to the aqua pump. Hence the quieter in
moving parts of the compressor. operation and less wear and tear
2. Electric power is needed to drive the Waste, Low grade heat/Solar power
system can be used. No need of electric
power
3. COP is more COP is less
Sameer Khandekar
4. At partial loads performance is poor. At partial loads performance is not

affected.
5. Mechanical energy is supplied Heat energy is utilized
through a compressor

S. No. Vapor Compression System Vapor Absorption System
7. Charging of the refrigerating to the Charging of refrigerant is difficult

system is easy
6. Energy supplied is ¼ to ½ of the Energy supplied is about one and half
refrigerating effect (less) times the refrigerating effect (more)
8. Preventive measure is needed, since Liquid refrigerant has no bad effect

liquid refrigerant accumulated in the on the system.
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cylinder may damage the cylinder

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Actual systems
Sameer Khandekar

Lithium bromide – Air conditioning system

Sameer Khandekar

208016 Kanpur India
12

Solar heating based absorption chiller

Sameer Khandekar

Laboratory trainer kit

1 condenser, 2 evaporator with heater, 3 absorber,
4 tank, 5 gas burner, 6 boiler with bubble pump to
separate the ammonia, 7 displays and controls
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208016 Kanpur India
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Electrolux ammonia refrigerator

Sameer Khandekar
Old advert of domestic

Electrolux fridge
(Introduced in 1925)
Front view Rear view
(1933 Model)

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208016 Kanpur India
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Thanks!
Any questions ?
You can find me at
◉ samkhan@iitk.ac.in
Sameer Khandekar

208016 Kanpur India
15

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ME340A: Prof.

ME340A: Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Department of Mechanical Engineering

ME340A: Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Department of Mechanical Engineering

Department of Mechanical Engineering

ME340A: Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Department of Mechanical Engineering

Vapor absorption refrigeration system

◉ An absorption refrigerator is a refrigerator that uses a heat source (e.g.,

liquid (e.g., say water).

ME340A: Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Department of Mechanical Engineering

at a relatively low price.

Department of Mechanical Engineering

ME340A: Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Department of Mechanical Engineering

Vapor absorption refrigeration cycle

Water return via

ME340A: Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Department of Mechanical Engineering

Another layout to represent the ARS

Department of Mechanical Engineering

ME340A: Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Department of Mechanical Engineering

Requirements of the system

◉ Solubility requirement: The refrigerant should have very high

Thus almost absorbent free refrigerant is boiled off from the

ME340A: Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Department of Mechanical Engineering

Ammonia Absorption Refrigeration system Thermal Compression

◉ ARS involves the absorption of a

refrigerant. These systems are limited to

Department of Mechanical Engineering

ME340A: Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Department of Mechanical Engineering

Advantages of ammonia systems

◉ Ideally fits into the concept of Integrated Energy Systems such as

◉ Wide operational range + 5 C to – 55 C

ME340A: Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Department of Mechanical Engineering

Equivalent thermodynamic model

Department of Mechanical Engineering

ME340A: Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Department of Mechanical Engineering

Determination of COP of ARS

ME340A: Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Department of Mechanical Engineering

◉ The COP depends on the main three operating temperatures:

maximum COP is given by

Department of Mechanical Engineering

ME340A: Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Department of Mechanical Engineering

◉ Like a standard vapor compression system, a vapor

ME340A: Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Department of Mechanical Engineering

◉ Dry ammonia vapor at low pressure passes in to the absorber

◉ The highly concentrated ammonia solution (known as Aqua

Department of Mechanical Engineering

ME340A: Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Department of Mechanical Engineering

◉ In the heat exchanger, strong ammonia solution is heated by the hot

ambient-temperature air), and condenses. The condensed (liquid)

ME340A: Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Department of Mechanical Engineering

◉ Hence, analyzer and rectifiers are incorporated in the system before

Department of Mechanical Engineering

ME340A: Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Department of Mechanical Engineering

◉ Then, at last, virtually pure ammonia vapor passes through the

ME340A: Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Department of Mechanical Engineering

◉ The latent heat of ammonia vapor is rejected to the cooling water

Department of Mechanical Engineering

ME340A: Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Department of Mechanical Engineering

◉ The latent heat of evaporation is obtained from the brine (as a

ME340A: Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Department of Mechanical Engineering

Comparison: Vapor compression and absorption systems

◉ Compared with vapor-compression systems, ARS have one major

Department of Mechanical Engineering

ME340A: Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Department of Mechanical Engineering