Vapor Absorption System
Why we require VARS
In the VCRS the purpose of the compressor is to withdraw the vapor
from the evaporator, then raise its temperature and pressure level so
that it can reject heat in the condenser, which was absorbed in the
evaporator.
After condensation it is ready for expansion to the evaporator pressure.
The major drawback of the VCRS is that it requires a large amount of
power to run the compressor.
This drawback is avoided in the VARS which utilizes the principle of
drawing the refrigerant vapor from the evaporator by absorbing it into
a liquid having high affinity for the refrigerant.
Heat is supplied to the solution which raises its temperature and drives
of the refrigerant vapor so that it can pass on to the condenser and
condensed.
Then it is throttled and passed on to the evaporator. Thus completes
the cycle.
Comparison between the VARS and VCRS
Simple vapor absorption system (VARS)
A simple VARS consists of
An evaporator,
An absorber,
A generator,
A condenser,
An expansion valve,
A pressure reducing valve
A pump
An absorber, generator, a pressure-reducing valve and a pump,
replaces the compressor.
The most commonly used fluids in the absorption system are
water as absorbent and NH3 as refrigerant.
Basic absorption refrigeration Cycle
The solution in the absorber is called the aqua ammonia, a
strong solution containing as much of ammonia as
possible, a weak solution contains considerably less
ammonia.
The heat of absorption generated in the process is rejected
from the absorber to the circulating cold water in a heat
exchanger employed in the absorber.
The strong aqua-ammonia solution from the absorber is
pumped up to the condenser pressure through the
generator.
The strong NH3 solution is heated in the generator by
direct heat sources like fuel burner, steam or solar energy.
The pump work required is very less due to very low
specific volume of liquid.
The boiling point of refrigerating NH3 is lower than that
of absorbing liquid H2O, hence the vapors leaving the
generator are predominantly those of refrigerant.
The high pressure and high temperature vapor from the
generator is fed to the condenser where it is condensed
and the liquid refrigerant after throttling enters the
evaporator.
The weak ammonia solution left in the generator due to
separation of refrigerant vapor is drained back to the
absorber through the pressure-reducing valve.
Practical Vapor absorption System
To make the simple VARS more economical and practical
following equipment are added to the simple cycle.
An analyzer,
A rectifier,
Two heat exchangers
• In the generator energy is added to the system from an
external source such as gas burner, electric heater or steam
passing through the coil.
• The generator unit may consist of a horizontal shell partly
filled with strong aqua NH3 solution automatically maintained
at a constant level covering the submerged steam or hot gas
tubes.
Practical Vapor absorption System
Analyesr: -
The NH3 vapor leaving the generator contain moisture and it
has to be removed before it is passed on to the condenser and
then to the expansion valve, otherwise there is always a
chance that water vapor may freeze in the valve while passing
through it and choking it.
To avoid these problems an analyzer is used.
The function of the analyzer (open type cooler) is to remove
the moisture as for as possible.
It may be built as integral part of the generator or made as
separate equipment.
Both the strong aqua from the absorber and the aqua from
rectifier are fed at the top of the analyzer and flow downward
over the trays and into the generator.
Due to exposer of considerable liquid surface area vapor is
cooled while most of water vapor condenses, so that only
ammonia vapor leaves the top of the analyzer.
Since the aqua is heated by the vapor, less external work is
required in the generator.
Rectifier: -
The function of the rectifier is to further cool the vapor
leaving the analyzer so that the almost all water vapor is
condensed and only dehydrated ammonia gas is allowed to
pass to the condenser.
This is a closed type of vapor cooler and is generally water-
cooled (double pipe shell or coil or shell and tube type.
The condensed aqua is drained back to the analyzer and
generator.
Aqua heat exchangers: - There are two heat exchangers:
1. First one is between the generator and absorber:
To cool the weak aqua and heat the strong aqua solutions.
Heat transfer take place from weak solution coming from the
generator and the strong solution gets heated up.
This reduces the heat required in the generator and cooling
requirement in the absorber.
2. Second one between receiver and evaporator:
To sub cool the liquid and to heat the vapor.
The refrigerant entering the evaporator is subcooled and
further results in slightly superheating of refrigerant
entering the absorber
COP of ideal Vapor absorption system: Let
Qc = Heat removed in the condenser from the refrigerant to the
surroundings at Tc
Qa = Heat liberated in the absorber due to condensation of
refrigerant which comes in contact with the absorbent.
Qe = Heat abstracted by the refrigerant in the evaporator at Te
Qg = Heat input to the generator at Tg
W = Heat equivalent of work given to pump.
Neglecting the heat due to pump work
Qc = Qg + Qe
Since the vapor absorption system can be considered as
perfectly reversible system, the change in entropy of the
system can be considered as zero
we have Qc = Qg + Qe
On Simplification we get
Desirable characteristics of a refrigerant/absorbent pair for an VARS
Low viscosity to minimize the pump work,
Low freezing point and high thermal conductivity
Good chemical and thermal stability, safe, stable and noncorrosive
Solubility requirement: - The refrigerant should have good solubility
so that the strong solution highly rich in refrigerant is obtained in the
absorber by the absorption of refrigerant vapor.
Boiling requirement: -There should be large difference in the normal
boiling point of the two substances; it should be at least 200 0C, so that
•The absorbent exerts negligible vapor pressure at the generator
temperature.
•Almost absorbent free refrigerant is boiled off from the generator
•Pure refrigerant enters the condenser and then to the evaporator.
Some common refrigerant – absorbent pairs used in VARS are
1. Ammonia- water – Aqua ammonia: - Ammonia is the
refrigerant and act as absorbent. It satisfies the solubility
criterion but boiling point difference is only 1330C.
2. Lithium bromide and water: -
Lithium bromide as absorbent and water as refrigerant.
It satisfies both the solubility and boiling point
requirements but the solution is highly corrosive.
System can be used in applications where low
refrigeration temperatures are not required (A/C where Tc
is not less than 00C).
Since lithium bromide solution has extremely low vapor
pressure it has got great affinity for water vapor. When the
two are placed side by side in a closed evacuated system
water boils and evaporates.
Advantages of Aqua-Ammonia Systems
No moving parts hence vibration free
Designed to operate above 100 TR
At reduced loads, performance is almost as high as full load
The weight of the system per ton of refrigerating capacity is less.
The system is very reliable and maintenance cost is less
Absorption system may be designed to use any readily available
source of thermal energy such as process steam, hot exhaust
from furnaces, and solar energy.
Disadvantages of Aqua-Ammonia Systems
Ammonia is toxic, hence, cannot be used in residential areas
Low loads cannot be handled
High corrosion
Applications:
Large water-lithium bromide (H2O-LiBr) systems are extensively
used in air conditioning applications
Large ammonia-water (NH3-H2O) systems are used in refrigeration
applications – food processing industry
Small ammonia-water systems with a third inert gas are used in a
pump-less form in small domestic refrigerators (triple fluid vapor
absorption systems).
Three –Fluid VARS
It was developed first time in 1925 at Swedish UG
students at Royal institute of technology, Stockholm.
In this system a lighter gas compared to the refrigerant
vapor is introduced into the system which acts as a
carrier fluid thus eliminating the pumping.
Due to the absence of any mechanical component it is
completely leak-proof and silent.
Total pressure remains same throughout the system.
The third fluid mainly remains in the evaporator thus
reducing partial pressure of the refrigerant to enable it to
evaporate at low pressure and hence at low temperature.
In the evaporator the light gas is charged such that the
partial pressure of ammonia should give the desired
evaporator temperature.
As ammonia vaporizes in the evaporator, it get absorbed
in the absorber. The lighter gas travels down to the
absorber along with Ammonia.
Light gas gets heated up while ascending due to the
returning weak solution.
Thus the warm light gas has tendency to move up and
then come down along with ammonia vapor in order to
have a steady flow system.
The absorbed ammonia along with water flows to the
generator, thus completing the cycle.
The actual three fluid system developed uses hydrogen as
light gas since its molecular weight is 2 and that of
ammonia is 17.
Also hydrogen is noncorrosive and insoluble in water.
A thermo-syphon bubble pump is used to lift the aqua
solution from the generator to the separator.
The discharge tube from the generator is extended down
below the liquid level in the generator.
The bubbles rise and carry slugs of weak ammonia water
solution into the separator.
Two liquid seals (U bends) are provided as vapor locks to
prevent Hydrogen getting into solution circuit.
A three fluid system was commercialized by Electrolux
Company.
Comparison of two fluid and three fluid system
(i)Silent in operation: Since no pump is used in three fluid
system it is completely silent compared to two fluid
system .
(ii)Cost: Since the cost of pump needed for two fluid system
is costly compared to hydrogen in the tree fluid system
(iii)Pressure: The three fluid system is well balanced
compared to two fluid system.
(iv)Maintenance: No lubrication and maintenance problem
at all in three fluid system.
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