DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

REFRIGERATION & AIR CONDITIONING LAB

TRIPLE FLUID VAPOR ABSORPTION SYSTEM

Aim: To find COP of Triple Fluid Vapor Absorption System (TF_VAS) for 1 ohm and 2 ohm
heat input.

Theory:
The triple fluid vapor absorption system uses refrigerant (NH3), absorbent (H2O) and carrier gas
(H2). The system does not have any mechanical liquid pump. Circulation of working fluids is
enabled using a bubble pump, density differences and gravity flow. The difference in partial
pressures in condenser and evaporator for refrigerant (NH3), results in cooling effect. In this
experiment, the unit is operated at two different heat input levels and the performance is
observed. The heat balance of the system is also considered.

Measure Parameters:
Solution Heat Exchanger Outlet (strong solution side): t1
Condenser Inlet (vapor at rectifier outlet) – D: t2
Solution Heat Exchanger Outlet (weak solution side): t3
Solution Heat Exchanger Inlet (strong solution side): t4
Condenser Outlet (liquid at evaporator inlet): t5
Evaporator Outlet (absorber inlet): t6
Evaporator Inlet (from condenser outlet) – F: t7
Bubble Pump Outlet (generator outlet) – C: t8

Instrumentation:

Temperature : Thermocouples are mounted at important points to measure the

temperature. A digital multi channel thermometer indicates temperatures
at these points.
Calculations:
Locating various State Points on Enthalpy – Concentration Diagram for NH3/H2O mixture and
then using them to calculate the performance of the cycle.

 Liquid at Outlet of the Condenser: 5

Known Parameters:-
t5 Condenser Outlet temperature
WFS50.999 This concentration is assumed, it should be verified based on rectifier
outlet condition

Parameters to be determined from the Enthalpy - Concentration Diagram:-

p5 Pressure
hl5 Enthalpy of liquid

 Vapor at Outlet of the Rectifier: 2

Known Parameters:-
t2 Condenser inlet temperature
p2 Pressure is same as that in the condenser
Parameters to be determined from the Enthalpy - Concentration Diagram:-
WFV20.999 Concentration at the rectifier outlet. This is higher than that assumed in
the condenser and using this new concentration, condense pressure may be
recalculated if needed
hv2 Enthalpy of vapor

 Vapor at Inlet of the Evaporator: 7

Known Parameters:-
t7 Evaporator inlet temperature
WFV7 Concentration is 1, since the liquid refrigerant being throttled is 0.9995.

Parameters to be determined from the Enthalpy - Concentration Diagram:-

p7 Pressure
hv7 Enthalpy of saturated vapour

 Vapor at Outlet of the Evaporator: 6

Known Parameters:-
p6 =p7 Pressure
t6 Evaporator outlet temperature

Parameters to be determined from the Enthalpy - Concentration Diagram:-

WFV6=WFV2= Concentration is 0.9995. Since, the carrier gas is being cooled vaporizes
0.9995 the entire refrigerant stream, so its composition has to same as that of
condenser liquid outlet.
hv6 Enthalpy of saturated vapor

 Heat Picked - up by Refrigerant in the Evaporator:

Refrigerant enters the evaporator through the throttling device at state point 7. Enthalpy at 7 is
same as enthalpy at 5, at the condenser outlet. Refrigerant may leave the evaporator in the form
of superheated vapor/saturated vapor/two phase mixture state point 6, depending on its
temperature and pressure. Concentration of saturated vapor at t6 and p6 is > 0.998. Since, this is
less than 0.9995 at condenser outlet, state point 5, all the liquid refrigerant would be vaporized at
t6 and p6.

This cooling effect delivered at temperature substantially above the evaporator

temperature, up to the condenser temperature can be gainfully used to cool saturated condensate,
5. Saturated liquid refrigerant exiting the condenser is subcooled to a lower temperature. This
reduces the enthalpy at the entrance of the evaporator and results in increasing cooling effect
delivered per unit mass flow rate through the evaporator and thus leads to 5 to 10% increase in
cooling capacity of the absorption refrigeration system. This also results in increased cooling
Coefficient of Performance, COP. Since, heat exchanged in the rhe, between 5-7 and evaporator
outlet-6, is internal to the cycle, the evaporator heat duty can easily be evaluated by taking the
heat balance across 5-7. This will be valid because there is no external heat or work interaction
between 5 and 6 other than the evaporator duty, Qe.

 Solution at outlet of the absorber: 4

Known Parameters:-
p6 =p4 Pressure
t4 Absorber outlet temperature

Parameters to be determined from the Enthalpy - Concentration Diagram:-

WFS4 Concentration at outlet of absorber.
hl4 Enthalpy of liquid

 Solution at Outlet of the Generator: C/8

Known Parameters:-
p8 =p5 Pressure
T8 Generator outlet temperature

Parameters to be determined from the Enthalpy - Concentration Diagram:-

WFS8 Concentration at generator outlet.
WFS1= WFS4 Concentration split is the change in concentration of the absorbing or
Split = WFS1 – WFS8 generating solution
hl8 Enthalpy of solution

 Mass and Concentration Balance Across the Absorber: Discussion

Solution weak in refrigerant, weak ammonia solution, exiting the generator at C / 8 is subcooled
to 3 in the solution heat exchanger. This subcooled weak solution enters the absorber. Low
pressure ammonia vapor from the evaporator enters the absorber as 6 along with the carrier gas.
Two phase refrigerant from the evaporator vapourizes completely as it cools the carrier gas
entering the evaporator from the absorber and also as it subcools the liquid refrigerant at
condenser outlet 5 on its way to the evaporator inlet F / 7. This low pressure vapour 6, is
absorbed in the absorber in weak solution 3. After absorption of ammonia vapour the resulting
strong solution exits the absorber as 4.

Mass balance across the absorber: m6 + m3 = m4

Concentration balance across the absorber: m6.WFV6 + m3.WFS3 = m4.WFS4

Heat of absorption, Qa, that is equivalent to heat of condensation plus the heat of mixing, is
released in the absorber. This heat is rejected to the ambient air.

WFS3= WFS8
m6= 0.000037×kg/s, Mass flow rate at 6 can be selected to match the generator heat duty with
the electrical heat input, eg. V2/R = (12 V)2/1 _ = 144 W.
m6= m2=m5=m7

m1= m4
m3= m4- m6
m8= m3

 Heat Balance Across the Absorber: Discussion

Heat of absorption, Qa, that is equivalent to heat of condensation plus the heat of mixing, is
released in the absorber. This heat is rejected in the ambent air through the absorber, condenser
and rectifier.

Mass balance across the absorber: m6 + m3 = m4

Energy balance on ammonia side in absorber: m6.hv6 + m3.hl3 = m4.hl4 + Qa

 Solution at Inlet of the Generator: 1

Known Parameters:-
p1, t1 Pressure, Temperature at generator inlet
WFS1 Concentration at generator inlet
t sat Saturtaion temeprature

Parameters to be determined from the Enthalpy - Concentration Diagram:-

hl1 Enthalpy of solution

 Solution at Inlet of the absorber: 3

Known Parameters:-
p3, t3 Pressure, Temperature at absorber inlet

Parameters to be determined from the Enthalpy - Concentration Diagram:-

hl3 Enthalpy of solution

 Energy Balance Across the Solution Heat Exchanger

Qshe.c= hl.1x m1 - hl.4x m4

Qshe.h= hl.8xm8 - hl.3x m3
Find the mismatch.
  Mass and Concentration Balance across the Rectifier: Discussion
Since, vapor pressure of water at the generator temperature is not insignificant, water vapour is
also present in the ammonia vapour generated from the generator. Refrigerant vapour exiting the
generator at 8 is cooled in the rectifier to 2. This helps in reducing the amount of water vapour
present in the refrigerant vapour being sent to the condenser. On cooling, the vapour stream
exiting the generator, water vapour preferentially condenses in the form of ammonia/water
solution of concentration far weaker than that of the vapour. This solution, drains back to the
generator due to slope of the rectifier. Reducing the water content in the vapour, before it enters
the condenser, helps in reducing the quantity of unevaporated refrigerant stream at the outlet of
the evaporator. If the quantity of unevaporated refrigerant stream is high, state at 6 will be wet.
There will be unevaporated refrigerant at the outlet of the refrigerant heat exchanger at 6.
Cooling effect delivered in the evaporator per unit refrigerant circulated through the condenser
and the evaporator will reduce. This will also result in reduced COP and require higher heat
input to the cycle.

 Mass and Concentration Balance Across the Rectifier: 8v - 2 - 8l

Known Parameters:-
p8, t8 Pressure and Temperature across rectifier.

Parameters to be determined from the Enthalpy - Concentration Diagram:-

WFV8v, WFS8 Concentration
hv8 Enthalpy of vapor

 Mass and Concentration Balance Across the Rectifier: 8v - 2 - 8l

Mass balance across the rectifier: m8v = m2 + m8l

Concentration balance across the absorber: m8v.WFV8v = m2.WFV2 + m8l.WFS81

Heat of rectification, Qr, that is equivalent to heat of condensation plus the heat of mixing, is
released in the rectifier. This heat is rejected in the room air.

m8v= m2+ m8l

 Energy Balance Across the Rectifier: 8v - 2 - 8l

Note: This heat may be multiplied with 1.1 to account for non-equilibrium conditions between
the v.13 and l.14. In this example equilibrium is assumed and hence 1.1 multiplier is not used.

Qr =(hv.8 x m8v - hl.8 x m8l - hv.2 x m2)

  Energy Balance Across the Condenser: 2 - 5
Qc= hv.2 x m2 - hl.5 x m5

 Energy Balance Across the Generator: 2 - 1 - 8

Qg = Qc + Qr + m5.h l.5 - m1.hl.1 + m8.h l.8
dmg = m8v + m8 - m8l - m1
Qg = m8v.h v.8 + m8.hl.8 - m8l.h l.8 - m1.hl.1

 Energy Balance Across the Absorber: 3 - 6 - 4

Qa = hl.3. m3 - h l.4. m4 + h v.6. m6

 Energy Balance Across the Evaporator: 5 - 6

Qe = m5( h v.6 - hl.5)

 Overall Heat Balance

Heatin := Qe + Qg
Heatout := Qa + Qc + Qr