International Journal of Refrigeration 26 (2003) 551–558

www.elsevier.com/locate/ijrefrig

A study on numerical simulations and experiments for mass

transfer in bubble mode absorber of ammonia and water
Jae-Cheol Lee, Ki-Bong Lee, Byung-Hee Chun,
Chan Ho Lee, Jong Joo Ha, Sung Hyun Kim*
Department of Chemical Engineering, Korea University, Sungbuk-ku, Seoul 136-701, South Korea

Received 13 May 2002; received in revised form 16 December 2002; accepted 20 December 2002

Abstract
An absorber is a major component in the absorption refrigeration systems, and its performance greatly affects the
overall system performance. In this study, both the numerical and experimental analyses in the absorption process of a
bubble mode absorber were performed. Gas was injected into the bottom of the absorber at a constant solution flow
rate. The region of gas absorption was estimated by both numerical and experimental analyses. A higher gas flow rate
increases the region of gas absorption. As the temperature and concentration of the input solution decrease, the region
of gas absorption decreases. In addition, the absorption performance of the countercurrent flow was superior to that of
cocurrent. Mathematical modeling equations were derived from the material balance for the gas and liquid phases
based on neglecting the heat and mass transfer of water from liquid to gas phase. A comparison of the model simu-
lation and experimental results shows similar values. This means that this numerical model can be applied for design of
a bubble mode absorber.
# 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd and IIR. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Absorption system; Ammonia–water; Mass transfer; Absorber; Bubble; Modelling

Etude sur les simulations numériques et les expériences

portant sur le transfert de masse dans un absorbeur à
ammoniac-eau à bulles
Mots cle´s : Système à absorption ; Ammoniac–eau ; Transfert de masse ; Absorbeur ; Bulle ; Modélisation

1. Introduction but also as energy efficient heating and cooling technol-

Due to the ozone depletion problem associated with
the use of CFC and HCFC refrigerants, absorption heat
pumps and refrigeration systems have attracted an
increasing interest in recent years. Increasingly, the
absorption systems are regarded not only as envir-
onmentally friendly alternatives to CFC based systems,
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +82-2-3290-3297; fax: +82-
2-926-6102.
E-mail address: kimsh@korea.ac.kr (S.H. Kim).
0140-7007/03/$35.00 # 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd and IIR. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/S0140-7007(03)00002-1
ogy. In the heat pump systems, an absorber is one of
major components from the viewpoint of size and per-
formance. It is the largest component and has a com-
plicated heat and mass transfer mechanism which
influences the system performance significantly. There-
fore, it is necessary to analyze the combined heat and
mass transfer mechanisms in the absorption process.
However, the general absorption columns which have
packed materials can not be used in the heat pump sys-
tems, because they have problems for effective heat
transfer to the cooling water and the pressure drop of
552 J.-C. Lee et al. / International Journal of Refrigeration 26 (2003) 551–558

the injected gas flow. Therefore, falling film modes and

Nomenclature bubble modes have been recommended to enhance heat
and mass transfer performance in the ammonia–water
Ab Mass transfer area between bubble and absorption systems [1]. However, few papers are to be
solution (m2) found for bubble mode absorption, and most of them
Ap Drag force area (m2) are the numerical analyses [2–6]. Though Sujatha, et al.
CD Drag coefficient [7] tested a bubble absorber working with R22 and five
Cp Specific heat of fluid (J/K kg) organic absorbents for experimental analyses, there are
Dl Ammonia diffusivity at liquid phase (m2/ no papers for experimental analyses of ammonia–water
s) bubble absorbers.
d Absorber diameter (m) In the present study, a significant research for bub-
do Injection orifice diameter (m) ble mode absorber is performed. A numerical model
dp Bubble diameter (m) that can explain bubble mode absorption is estab-
dR Variation of bubble radius (m) lished, and it is proved from experimental analyses.
Fb Buoyant force working on bubble (N) This model can be applied to the design of bubble
FD Total drag force working on bubble (N) mode absorbers. In addition, the height of the gas
Fg Gravity force working on bubble (N) absorber is estimated by both numerical and experi-
g Gravitational acceleration (m/s2) mental analyses.
Kl Overall mass transfer coefficient of liquid
phase (m/s)
N Number of injected bubbles per second 2. Numerical simulation
Nsh,l Sherwood number of liquid phase
Nsc Schmidt number of liquid phase 2.1. Assumptions for numerical simulation model
NReb Reynolds Number of bubble
m Total amount of mass transfer (kg) In this model, input ammonia gas is injected into the
m0 Amount of mass transfer for a bubble bottom of a cylindrical absorber. The basic assumptions
(kg) for numerical modeling are as follows:
Q Ammonia absorption heat per ammonia
unit mass (J/kg)
A bubble of ammonia gas is a sphere.
R Bubble radius (m)
Mass transfer flux is constant on the entire sur-
Rcylinder Absorber radius (m) face of mass transfer.
Re Fluid Reynolds Number
There is no interaction and aggregation.
Reg Reynolds Number of gas
Relations of bubble temperature, pressure, and
Reo Orifice Reynolds number volume are based on the ideal gas equation
Resol Reynolds Number of solution
Injected bubbles and input solutions have same
T temperature (K) temperature.
TC, W cooling water temperature (K)
U overall heat transfer coefficient (J/s m2 K)
V fluid velocity (m/s) 2.2. Diameter and velocity of injected bubble
Vb velocity of bubble (m/s)
Vo gas velocity in orifice injector (m/s) Treybal’s experimental correlation [8] published in
Vt terminal velocity (m/s) 1980 is used as the initial diameter of injected
X mass fraction of Solution (kg of gas/kg of bubbles.
liquid) when Reo < 2100
Xi equilibrium mass fraction at the surface dp ¼ 0:0287d1=2 1=3
o Reo ð1Þ
of solution (kg of gas/kg of liquid)
Z absorber hight (m) when 10 000<Reo < 50 000
dp ¼ 0:0071Re0:05
o ð2Þ
Greek symbols
g gas viscosity (kg/m.s) when 2100< Reo < 10 000
l viscosity of liquid phase (kg/m.s) dp can be approximated by the straight line on log-log
gas density of gas (kg/m3) coordinates between the points given by dp at
l density of solution (kg/m3) Reo=2100 and Reo =10 000.
f distribution coefficient The terminal velocity of bubbles can be derived from
the balance of gravity, buoyant force, and total drag
force of the solution.
 J.-C. Lee et al. / International Journal of Refrigeration 26 (2003) 551–558 553

Fg  Fb þ FD ¼ 0Fg ¼ mg=gc dX 4Ngas R 2

¼ ð12Þ
Fb ¼ ðml gÞ= gas gc FD ¼ CD Vt l Ap =2gc dR m



0:5
; Vt ¼ 2g gas  l m = Ap gas CD l ð3Þ Energy balance equations can be presented as follows:

The terminal velocity is the function of bubble dia- . Non-cooling system:

meter and absorber temperature. It changes con- mCp dT ¼ Qdm ð13Þ
tinuously along the absorber height. Finally, actual
bubble velocity is presented as the sum of terminal . Cooling system:
velocity (Vt) and solution velocity (Va).

mCp dT ¼ Qdm þ U T  Tc;w dA ð14Þ
Vb ¼ Vt þ Va ð4Þ

2.3. Mass transfer coefficient where, A is a heat transfer area between input solutions
and cooling water. The ordinary differential equation
Treybal’s experimental correlation [8] is used as the mass for solution temperature (dT) can be derived from the
transfer coefficient Kl between the liquid and gas phase. energy balance equations.
Kl ¼ Nsh:l Dl =dp ð5Þ

0:116 . Non-cooling system:
Nsh:l ¼ 2:0 þ 0:0187N0:779 0:546
Reb Nsc dp g0:333 D0:666
l ð6Þ
dT 4QNgas R 2
The mass transfer coefficient is also the function of ¼ ð15Þ
dR mCp
bubble diameter, absorber temperature, and solution
concentration, and changes continuously along the
absorber height. . Cooling system:
dT 4QNgas R 2
2.4. Mathematical equations for absorption region ¼
dR mCp


The rising height of bubble in the differential time, dZ 2Rcylinder U T  Tc;w gas Vb
þ ð16Þ
can be expressed as multiplication of bubble velocity Vb mCp l Kl ðXi  XÞ
by time dt.
dZ ¼ Vb dt ð7Þ
3. Experimental apparatus and procedure
The basic equation for mass transfer can be repre-
sented as follows; A schematic diagram of a cylindrical bubble mode
 l K l A b ðX i  X Þ absorber for the mass transfer studies is given in Fig. 1.
dm’ ¼ dZ ð8Þ The column has a diameter of 3 cm with a height of 100
Vb
cm. A gas injection orifice whose inner diameter is 3 mm
The amount of mass transfer dm0 can be represented was installed at the bottom of the absorber. Ammonia
as the following functions of bubble radius R. gas flowed up while ammonia solution flowed both up
and down. Also, seven manometers were equipped to
dm0 ¼ gas 4R 2 dR ¼ gas Ab dR
measure the pressure. The cylindrical column made of
l Kl Ab ðXi  XÞ acrylic resin is transparent, so the state of bubble flow
¼ dZ ð9Þ can be seen. Five sample ports were installed at 20 cm
Vb
intervals and twelve thermocouples were set to measure
A following ordinary differential equation can be the effect of mass transfer and the thermal state of the
derived from Eq. (9). inner experimental column. The input solution was pre-
dZ gas Vb heated in the solution tank where three 500 W-catridge
¼ ð10Þ heaters were installed. A 500 W-embedded type car-
dR l Kl ðXi  XÞ
tridge heater was set in the input line for more accurate
The differential equations for the total mass transfer, temperature control. Each temperature measured by
m and mass fraction, X are as follows Eqs. (11) and (12). thermocouples (K-type) was stored by data acquisition
systems. The concentration of the solution sample was
dm analyzed by the measurement of electric conductivity
¼ 4Ngas R 2 ð11Þ
dR and comparison with the standard curve, which relates
554 J.-C. Lee et al. / International Journal of Refrigeration 26 (2003) 551–558
Fig. 1. Schematic of bubble mode absorber system.
electric conductivity to concentration of ammonia
solution.
In the experiments, the flow rate of ammonia solution
was fixed at 0.3 kg/min in the absorber of 3cm diameter,
and the gas flow rate was varied. The ammonia solu-
tions of 0 to 28 wt.% were flowed under a condition of
20
C. In each condition, the absorber was operated as
the cocurrent or countercurrent flow, and results were
compared. Experimental results were represented as the
variation of temperature, concentration, and pressure
along the height of absorber.
4. Results and discussion
4.1. Numerical analyses for mass transfer
4.1.1. Concentration and temperature of absorber in the
absorption process of steady state
Numerical simulations for concentration and tem-
perature of the absorber along the absorber height were
performed under conditions of steady state absorption
processes. As the absorber temperature and solution
concentration change continuously along the height of
absorber, the simulation results for steady state absorp-
tion processes can be obtained from the combination of
ordinary differential Eqs. (10), (11), (12), (15) and (16).
Fig. 2 shows the variations of solution concentration
and temperature along the height of cylindrical absorber
under the condition of input solution of 288 K and 28
wt.%, when the ammonia gas is injected into the bottom
of the absorber. The optimum absorption height can be
Fig. 2. Numerical simulation of cocurrent system 1 (input
solution of 288 K, 0.3 kg/min and 28 wt.%).
easily found from the variation of solution concen-
tration and the variation of solution temperature by
ammonia absorption heat. As the gas flow rate increa-
ses, the absorption region of the gas where temperature
and solution concentration change along the height of
absorber also increases. The gas absorption region
reaches 10 cm height for a gas flow rate of 0.878 g/min.
However, the gas absorption region reaches a 70 cm
height for 7.902 g/min. Fig. 3 shows the results for an
input solution temperature of 283 K. Fig. 3 shows that
the absorption region of 283 K is much smaller than
that of 288 K. These results indicate that the absorption
is a sensitive function of temperature, and that cooling
systems are necessary for effective removal of absorp-
tion heat. Fig. 4 shows the result of the countercurrent
flow for the input solution temperature of 283 K and the
concentration of 28 wt.%. Fig. 4 shows that the
absorption region of the countercurrent flow decreases
by about 15 cm in comparison with the cocurrent flow.
4.1.2. Effects of cooling water
Numerical simulations for cooling effects of absorber
were performed. Fig. 5 shows the variation of the
 J.-C. Lee et al. / International Journal of Refrigeration 26 (2003) 551–558
absorber temperature and concentration along the
height of the absorber under the conditions of an input
solution of 288 K and 28 wt.%. As the overall heat
transfer coefficient increases, the absorber temperature
is kept low and the absorption region decreases. In that
case, the ammonia gas and solution are injected into the
bottom of the absorber, and the temperature of the cool-
ing water is 280 K. The results indicate that the absorp-
tion region for the overall heat transfer coefficient of 700
[J/(s K m2)] decreases by about 20 cm in comparison with
that of 100 [J/(s K m2)]. Therefore, the heat transfer
improvement is necessary for enhancement of absorber
performance. The results of Fig. 6 show the variation of
the absorption region and absorber temperature with the
cooling water temperature at a constant overall heat
transfer coefficient of 400 [J/(s K m2)]. As the cooling
water temperature decreases, the absorber temperature
is kept low and the absorption region decreases. The
results also indicate that the absorption region for
cooling water temperature of 275 K decreases by about
15 cm in comparison with 285 K. The effect of the
cooling water temperature clearly appears for the
absorption process.
Fig. 3. Numerical simulation of cocurrent system 2 (input
solution of 283 K, 0.3 kg/min and 28 wt.%).
555
4.2. Experimental analyses for mass transfer
To find the optimum absorption region in each
experimental condition, the variations of absorber tem-
perature, concentration, and pressure were measured.
Fig. 7 shows the effect of the gas flow rate on the con-
centration profile for a solution at a temperature of 288
K, concentration of 29 wt.%, and cocurrent flow. The
concentration of solution is almost the same above
20cm at a low gas flow rate, and the concentration
increases with increasing height of the absorber at a
high gas flow rate. Consequently, the results indicate
that higher gas flow rate increases the region of gas
absorption. The temperature profile as well as pressure
profile agrees with such a tendency, so the optimum
absorption region can be estimated from analyses of
experimental data. Approximately, a gas absorption
region reaches a 70 cm height for a gas flow rate of
7.902 g/min and cocurrent flow. Fig. 8 shows the effect
of the gas flow rate on the temperature profile for the
countercurrent. Similar to the cocurrent flow at a low
gas flow rate, the temperature of the absorber is almost
the same above 20 cm. At a high gas flow rate, a gas
Fig. 4. Numerical simulation of countercurrent system 2 (input
solution of 283 K, 0.3 kg/min and 28 wt.%).
556 J.-C. Lee et al. / International Journal of Refrigeration 26 (2003) 551–558

Fig. 5. Numerical simulation of cocurrent system for effect of Fig. 6. Numerical simulation of cocurrent system for effect of
cooling water 1 (input solution of 288 K, 0.3 kg/min and 28 cooling water 2 (input solution of 288 K, 0.3 kg/min and 28
wt.%). wt.%).

absorption region increases. In comparison with the

cocurrent flow experiment, it is easy to estimate opti-
mum absorption region from the experimental data for
the countercurrent flow. As can be seen in Fig. 8, the gas
absorption process for the input solution concentration of
30% is almost completed below an absorber height of 60
cm. Fig. 9 shows the variation of the absorber temperature
as the absorber height for the input solution concentration
of 20 wt.% and countercurrent flow. The absorption
region of the solution concentration of 20 wt.% decreases
about 25 cm in comparison with the 30 wt.%.
From these experimental analyses, the optimum
height of ammonia absorber in each experimental con-
dition can be estimated. It is shown that absorption
region is a sensitive function of flow direction and con- Fig. 7. Effect of gas flow rate of cocurrent on concentration
centration of ammonia solution. profile (input solution of 288 K, 0.3 kg/min and 29 wt.%).

4.3. Comparison of numerical simulation and

experimental results
Fig. 10 shows the comparison of results between the
numerical simulation and the experiment for an input
solution at a temperature of 288 K, concentration of 28
wt.%, and cocurrent flow. Fig. 11 shows the comparison
for an input solution at a temperature of 283 K, con-
centration of 28 wt.%, and countercurrent flow.
Although the numerical simulation cannot estimate
irregularities such as turbulences and eddies, the experi-
mental values agree with the results of simulation model
for operational conditions of the absorber. This simu-
 J.-C. Lee et al. / International Journal of Refrigeration 26 (2003) 551–558
Fig. 8. Effect of gas flow rate of countercurrent on temperature
profile (input solution of 288 K, 0.3 kg/min and 30 wt.%).
Fig. 9. Effect of gas flow rate of countercurrent on temperature
profile (input solution of 288 K, 0.3 kg/min and 20 wt.%).
lation model can be useful for estimating the tempera-
ture, concentration, and absorber height under the con-
ditions of high temperature and pressure, which are
difficult to conduct experiments.
5. Conclusions
Ammonia–water absorption in the cylindrical bubble
mode absorber was studied. The following conclusions
were drawn from the numerical and experimental stud-
ies for mass transfer between the ammonia gas and the
ammonia aqueous solution:
(1) Ammonia gas absorption is sensitive to the
amounts of the input gas and solution, temperature and
concentration of solution, and direction of flow. As the
flow rate of the input gas increases, the absorption
region of the gas also increases. When the gas and solu-
tion flows are countercurrent, and temperature and
concentration of the input solution are kept low, the
absorption region of the gas decreases. In addition, the
experimental results for an absorber diameter of 3 cm
557
Fig. 10. Comparison between simulation and experimental
data for cocurrent (input solution of 288 K, 0.3 kg/min and 28
wt.%).
Fig. 11. Comparison between simulation and experimental
data for countercurrent (input solution of 283 K, 0.3 kg/min
and 28 wt.%).
show that an absorber with a maximum 70 cm height is
necessary for the gas absorption process of the bubble
mode under experimental conditions.
(2) Mathematical model equations were derived from
the material balance for gas and liquid phase based on
the negligible mass transfer of water from liquid to gas
phase. Experimental values agree with the model simu-
lations for operational conditions of the absorber.
(3) The numerical model in these studies can be used
for the optimum design and absorber height under con-
ditions of high temperature and pressure, for which
experiments are difficult to conduct.
Acknowledgements
This study was supported by research grants from
the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation
(KOSEF) through the Applied Rheology Center
558 J.-C. Lee et al. / International Journal of Refrigeration 26 (2003) 551–558
(ARC), an official ERC, at Korea University, Seoul,
Korea.
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