Vapor Absorption Refrigeration System

Technical Description

Absorption refrigeration systems operate using thermal energy. They use the principle of liquids
evaporating already at low temperatures when pressure is reduced. This basic principle is
demonstrated in the experimental unit with the example of an ammonia-water solution with the
ammonia acting as refrigerant.
In the evaporator the liquid ammonia evaporates and withdraws heat from the environment. To
keep the evaporation pressure low, the ammonia steam in the absorber is absorbed by the water.
In the next step, ammonia is permanently removed from the high concentration ammonia
solution to prevent the absorption process from being halted. For this purpose, the high
concentration ammonia solution is heated in a generator until the ammonia evaporates again. In
the final step, the ammonia steam is cooled in the condenser to the base level, condenses and is
returned to the evaporator. The low concentration ammonia solution flows back to the absorber.
To maintain the pressure differences in the system, hydrogen is used as an auxiliary gas.
In process technology systems the resulting waste heat can be used for cooling. In small mobile
systems, such as a camping refrigerator or minibar in a hotel, the required heat is generated
electrically or by gas burner. Another benefit of absorption refrigeration systems is their silent
operation.

Fig 1: Absorption Refrigeration System

This system demonstrates the functional principle of an absorption refrigeration system with its
main components: evaporator, absorber, boiler as generator with bubble pump, condenser. The
boiler can alternatively be operated with gas or electrically. Another electric heater at the
evaporator generates the cooling load.
Temperatures in the refrigeration circuit and the heating power at the boiler and at the evaporator
are recorded and displayed digitally. The well-structured instructional material sets out the
fundamentals and provides a step-by-step guide through the experiments.

Specifications:
1. Operation of an absorption refrigeration system
2. Main system components: evaporator, absorber, boiler with bubble pump, condenser
3. Ammonia-water solution as working medium, hydrogen as auxiliary gas
4. Boiler to separate ammonia
5. Bubble pump for transportation in the circuit
6. Adjustable electrical heater at the evaporator serves as cooling load
7. Boiler is alternatively heated by electrical heater or gas burner
8. Piezoelectric igniter for gas operation
9. Digital displays for temperature and power

Main Components of Absorption Test Rig:

The main components of the absorption refrigeration system with appropriate diagram are given
below.

Fig 2: Labelled Absorption Refrigeration System

1. Condenser
2. Absorber
3. Tank
4. Displays and control
5. Power input meter
6. Boiler with bubble pump to separate the ammonia
Technical Data:
Working medium: ammonia-water solution
Auxiliary gas: hydrogen
Electric heater: 80W
Gas burner, adjustable
Measuring ranges;
Temperature: 4x -80...240°C
Power: 0...200W
Dimensions and Weight:
LxWxH: 850x390x830mm
Weight: approx. 40kg
Required for Operation:
230V, 50/60Hz, 1 phase or 120V, 60Hz/CSA, 1 phase; Propane gas: 30...50mbar

Flow Chart of Absorption Refrigeration system:

Flow chart of Ammonia and Hydrogen in Absorption Refrigeration System is given below;
Fig 3: Schematic Diagram of Vapor Absorption System
The labeled diagram with green, yellow and blue solution is explained below;
1. Condenser
2. Evaporator
3. Absorber
4. Tank
5. Boiler with bubble pump
Green: High Concentration ammonia solution,
Yellow: Low Concentration ammonia solution,
Blue: Gas Mixture Ammonia Hydrogen
 EXPERIMENT 4

Objective:
To determine the Coefficient of Performance of Vapor Absorption Refrigeration System.
Apparatus:
Vapor Absorption Refrigeration System

Theory:
This type of refrigerator was developed in 1925 by Munters and Battzervan when they were studying at
Royal Institute of Technology At Stockholm for their undergraduate course. This type of refrigerator was
known as three fluid refrigeration system. The elimination of aqua pump from the absorption system with
the complete absence of moving parts and work input. The main purpose of removing the pump was to
make the machine noiseless. It uses refrigerant as a solvent s and an inlet gas for inlet of the system. The
inert gas is continued to the lower side of system only by its system. It is possible to maintain the uniform
pressure throughout the system and after sometime permitting the refrigerant to evaporator at low
temperature corresponding to its partial pressure. In the high pressure side system (generator and
condenser), there exists only the refrigerant which is subjected to total pressure of the system so that it is
condensed by using normal cooling water as air as it is done in other system. In lower side of the system,
the total pressure is sum of the partial pressure of hydrogen which is used as an inert gas. The liquid
ammonia which comes into the evaporator as the partial pressure of ammonia is low. The strong aqua
ammonia solution is heated in generator by the application of external heat source. The water vapor
carried with ammonia vapor is removed in separate form as shown in figure. Then the dry ammonia vapor
is passed into the condenser and it is condensed by using external cooling source. The liquid ammonia
flows under gravity in the evaporator and it evaporates. The mixture of hydrogen and ammonia vapor is
passed into the absorber and the weak solution from aqua ammonia from the separator is allowed to
follow into the absorber, through tray this weak aqua ammonia solution comes into contact with hydrogen
separated. This strong solution is further passed to the generator and it completes the cycle. There is no
pump to create the pressure differential between condenser and evaporator or not an expansion
valve. The hydrogen returns to the evaporator having no affinity for the absorbent. The hydrogen
is held in this condition by the V tube due to small pressure difference in the system. The
solution is circulated through absorber and generated by thermal action alone. The paths are so
arranged that the liquid refrigerant flows through evaporator by gravity, only care is to be taken
to keep hydrogen isolated in the proper part of the system otherwise pressure will be unbalanced
and the machine will stop.
Procedure:
1. Switch on the main supply.
2. Adjust current and the supply voltage.
3. Take the initial temperature reading.
4. Check the sight glass, either the refrigerant is flowing or not through the system
5. Repeat the procedure after sometime.
6. Take readings until the steady state is reached.
7. When steady state is reached, take this reading for calculation and find the theoretical and
actual COP.

Readings and Calculations

The coefficient of Performance can be calculated as follows,
COP = Output/ Heat
COP = Refrigerating effect / boiler power input
= [T𝐸 (𝑇𝐺 − 𝑇𝐶) ÷ (T𝐸 − 𝑇𝐶)𝑇𝐺]
Cooling output from the evaporator section & Heat input is in watts from the boiler section.
Where as
G = Generator ; C= Condenser ; E = Evaporator ; a = Absorber
Sr. No TG (oC) Tc (oC) TE (oC) Ta (oC) Power Input COP
(W)
1 132.2 41.8 3 33.8 75 1.58
2 131 42.7 5.2 32.6 75 1.62

3 122 39.4 15.8 28.4 70 2.59

4 117 38.7 18.7 37.9 70 2.92

Comments and Conclusions: