Vapor

Absorption
System

Submitted to : Sir Istiaq

Submitted by: Wahab Ali
2006-MECH-124

UNVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND

TECHNOLOGY LAHORE
Department of Mechanical Engineering
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2006-MECH-124

Vapor Absorption System

VAPOR ABSORPTION CYCLE

Before the development of the vapor compression system of refrigeration, vapor absorption
cycle was very widely used. The vapor compression system replaced vapor absorption
system because it has high coefficient of performance (COP). The vapor absorption system
requires very less amount of electricity but large amount of heat; hence it can be used very
effectively in industries where very large stocks of excessive steam are available. In such
cases there is not only effective utilization of steam, but also lots of savings in electricity
costs. Of late the vapor absorption systems are being employed by a number of industries to
save on their electric bills. However, the vapor absorption system is useful only where large
scale refrigeration in excess of at least 20 tons is required.

VARIOUS PROCESSES OF VAPOR ABSORPTION CYCLE

The various processes of the vapor absorption cycle are similar to the one in vapor
compression cycle, only the method of compression of the refrigerant is different. In vapor
absorption system ammonia is used as the refrigerant, which has very high affinity to
dissolve in water. Here are various processes of vapor absorption cycle:

1) Compression or absorption of the refrigerant: In vapor absorption system there is no

traditional compressor, instead there is absorber. The absorber consists of water, called as
absorbent, in which the refrigerant, ammonia, dissolves. This mixture of water and ammonia
is then pumped and heated thus increase in temperature and pressure of the ammonia
occurs. Ammonia leaves the absorber at high pressure and high temperature. Some work
has to be provided to the pump and heating is carried out by the steam. The amount of
electricity required by the pump is much lesser than that required by the compressor hence
there is lots of saving of electricity, however, the additional source of heat in the form of
steam has to be provided.

2) Condensation: The refrigerant at pressure and temperature then enters condenser

where it is cooled by water and its temperature and pressure reduces.

3) Expansion: Thereafter the expansion of refrigerant occurs in throttling valve due to which
the temperature and pressure of the ammonia refrigerant reduces drastically and suddenly.

4) Evaporation: Finally the refrigerant enters the evaporator where it produces the cooling
effect. It leaves the evaporator in vapor state and then enters absorber, where it is absorbed
by absorbent, water and compressed by the pump. This process repeats again and cycle
continues.

There are different types absorbents like water and lithium bromide that can be used with
refrigerant ammonia. These systems are called water absorption system or lithium bromide
absorption system.
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WORKING
Some liquids like water have great affinity for absorbing large quantities of certain vapors
(NH3) and reduce the total volume greatly. The absorption refrigeration system differs
fundamentally from vapor compression system only in the method of compressing the
refrigerant. An absorber, generator and pump in the absorption refrigerating system replace
the compressor of a vapor compression system. Figure shows the schematic diagram of a
vapor absorption system. Ammonia vapor is produced in the generator at high pressure from
the strong solution of NH3 by an external heating source. The water vapor carried with
ammonia is removed in the rectifier and only the dehydrated ammonia gas enters into the
condenser. High pressure NH3 vapor is condensed in the condenser. The cooled NH3
solution is passed through a throttle valve and the pressure and temperature of the
refrigerant are reduced below the temperature to be maintained in the evaporator. The low
temperature refrigerant enters the evaporator and absorbs the required heat from the

evaporator and leaves the evaporator as saturated vapor. Slightly superheated, low
pressure NH3 vapor is absorbed by the weak solution of NH3 which is sprayed in the
absorber as shown in Weak NH3 solution (aqua–ammonia) entering the absorber becomes
strong solution after absorbing NH3 vapor and then it is pumped to the generator through
the heat exchanger. The pump increases the pressure of the strong solution to generator
pressure. The strong NH3 solution coming from the absorber absorbs heat form high
temperature weak NH3 solution in the heat exchanger. The solution in the generator
becomes weak as NH3 vapor comes out of it. The weak high temperature ammonia solution
from the generator is passed to the heat exchanger through the throttle valve. The pressure
of the liquid is reduced to the absorber pressure by the throttle valve.
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APPLICATION
THE PRINCIPLE FUNCTION OF AN ABSORPTION CHILLER
The absorption chiller is a machine to produce chilled water by using heat such as steam,
hotwater, gas, oil.
Pure water is used as refrigerant and lithium bromide solution is used as absorbent.
Chilled water is produced by the principle that liquid, which evaporates easily, absorbs heat
from surrounding when it evaporates.

The refrigerant (water) evaporate at around 4 C under the high vacuum condition of
754mmHg in the evaporator. When the refrigerant (water) evaporate, the latent heat of
vaporization generate.

This latent heat of vaporization can cool the chilled water which runs into the heat exchanger
tubes in the evaporator by transfer of heat to the refrigerant (water).

EVAPORATOR

In order to keep evaporating, the refrigerant vapor must be discharged from the evaporator
and refrigerant (water) must be supplied. The refrigerant vapor is absorbed into lithium
bromide solution which is convenient to absorb the refrigerant vapor in the absorber. The
heat generated in the absorption process is led out of system by cooling water continually.

ABSORBER

As lithium bromide solution is diluted, the effect to absorb the refrigerant vapor reduces. In
order to keep absorption process, the diluted solution must be made concentrated lithium
bromide.
Absorption chiller is provided with the solution concentrating system by the heating media
such as steam, hot water, gas, oil, which performs such function is called generator.
The concentrated solution flows into the absorber and absorbs the refrigerant vapor again.
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HIGH PRESSURE GENERATOR

In order to above works continually and to make complete cycle, the following two functions
are required.
1.To concentrate and liquefy the evaporated refrigerant vapor, which is generated in the high
pressure generator.
2.To supply the condensed water to the evaporator as refrigerant (water).