Ammonia Absorption Refrigeration Technology.

 One of the oldest known method of refrigeration.

 Our principles M/s. Mattes AG, Germany are world leaders in Ammonia
Absorption Refrigeration Technology with over 80 years of experience.
 Transparent Energy Systems & Mattes AG have jointly developed
Ammonia Absorption Refrigeration Plant for Indian market.
 Ammonia Absorption Refrigeration has many applications in industries
with a large potential to save running cost, as it runs on low grade heat
energy instead of high grade electricity.
 Also it has many other advantages viz. very low maintenance, long life,
good part load efficiency etc.

SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM FOR AMMONIA ABSORPTION REFRIGERATION

PLANT

What Is Absorption Refrigeration Plant (AARP) ?

1. AARP uses pure liquid ammonia as refrigerant and water as absorbent.

2. Energy input for AARP is heat from various sources viz. Low Pressure
Steam / Superheated Water / Thermal Oil etc.
3. Latent heat of vaporization of Liquid Ammonia is used for refrigeration in
evaporator.
4. Pure liquid ammonia goes from Receiver to the evaporator.
5. While going to the evaporator, liquid ammonia is subcooled in subcooler
by cold ammonia vapours coming from evaporator. This gives energy
efficiency.
6. In the evaporator, necessary refrigeration effect is achieved.
7. Ammonia vapours from Evaporator are absorbed by weak Ammonia water
solution in Absorber.
8. Heat of absorption is removed from absorber by cooling water.
9. Ammonia rich water solution from Absorber is pumped to the rectifying
column.
10. While Ammonia rich water solution goes to rectifying column, it recovers
heat in solution Heat Exchanger from hot weak Ammonia Solution being
returned back to absorber. This renders energy efficiency.
11. Ammonia from ammonia rich solution is boiled off in the desorber by
supply of heat.
12. Rectifying column purifies ammonia vapours.
13. Pure ammonia vapour is condensed to liquid from by cooling water in the
condenser.
14. The pure ammonia liquid is stored in the Receiver.
15. Part of the pure liquid ammonia is recycled to rectifying column as reflux
to maintain necessary purity of ammonia vapours.
16. Various temperatures, pressures and flow control systems are installed on
the above processes to ensure safety, reliability and accuracy.
17. AARP can give temperatures upto minus 60oC. Standardized models are
designed for - 30oC Special construction for below - 30oC to-60oC.
18. AARP is fully automatic in operation and consumes thermal energy in
proportion to the refrigeration demand in 30 to 100% of their rated
capacity. This excludes of course the Electric Pumps.
19. AARP routinely achieves a turndown ratio of 30%. With additional
equipment and controls a turndown ratio down to 0% can be achieved.
20. Evaporator design is done separately to suit the application.

TYPICAL GENERAL ARRANGEMENT DRAWING

SR.NO.
DESCRIPTION
1 ABSORBER
2 RECTIFYING COLUMN
3 DESORBER
4 SUB COOLER
7 SOLUTION HEAT EXCHANGER
 SR.NO DESCRIPTION
1 ABSORBER
2 RECTIFYING COLUMN
3 DESORBER
4 SUB COOLER
5 CONDENSER
6 RECEIVER
7 SOLUTION HEAT EXCHANGER

Exclusive Features

A) Design & Material of Construction :

1. Heat Exchangers to standard TEMA / AD Merck Blatter / ASME.
2. Through Fabrication stage inspection as per Quality Control Plan.
3. All heat exchangers are so designed that they have self cleaning
feature to avoid fouling.
4. System is fabricated and factory assembled & modular in
construction. Therefore site work is minimal.
5. System is standardized in design & is designed for wide operating
parameters e.g. NH3 Evaporation Temperature = + 5 to -30oC.
Steam Pressure = 0 to 10 kg/cm2(g). Therefore BORSIG System
can be tuned to different parameters as the need be- By fitting
some additional components standard system BORSIG can be used
below -30oC to -60oC.

6. Operating settings can be changed without change of Hardware

Components.
B) Maintenance & Trouble Shooting :
1. A large number of isolation valves have been provided to facilitate
quick inspection and maintenance.

2. Filters and strainers can be cleaned without stopping system.

C) Safety & Reliability :
1. Reliable adequate control instruments for proper monitoring of
various parameters & interlocks.
2. System is controlled through full proof (fool proof?) PLC based
control.
3. Each pressure vessel is protected by double safety valves with three
way isolation facility.
 4. Safety valve can be maintained without stopping the system.

5. The components are thoroughly tested and inspected by TES before

put to use.
Capacity & Operating Control of Parameters for Fluctuating Loads &
D)
Other Parameters.
1. System can modulate without loss of efficiency over 30 to 100%
capacity.
2. System works automatically even on 0 to 100% load variation.
3. Proprietary try type distillation column operate reliably on wide
fluctuations in load WITHOUT loss of efficiency or stability.

4. Due to tray type rectifying column, System restarts quickly even on

power failure for 20 minutes.

Typical Industrial Application of Ammonia Absorption

Refrigeration Plant

 Cold Storage
 Freeze drying
 Food Refrigeration
 Brine Cooling
 Vapor ammonia Recovery Chemical Processes.
 Ammonia Recovery from Liquor Ammonia from Chemical Processes
 Ice Making Plants
 Ice Cream Plants
 Meat Processing
 Fish Processing Industries.
 Dairies.
 Refineries
 Fertilizer plants
 Bulk Drug Industries
 Pesticide Plants

Comparison Between Ammonia Absorption Refrigeration

Plant & Compression Cycle Refrigeration Plant

Ammonia Absorption Refrigeration Compression Cycle Refrigeration

Plant plant
High Running Cost due to Electricity as
1 Low Running cost on cheap fuels like 1
Energy Input
- Agrofuels
- Furnace Oil
- Waste Heat
Very low maintenance costs due to no
2 reciprocating parts having high wear & 2 High maintenance cost
tear.
High plant availability due to no
reciprocating parts ( only one Frequent outage on plant needs standby
3 3
Centrifugal pump is moving part which compressor
has standby )
loss of efficiency at part load due to fixed
No loss of efficiency at part load.
4 4 mechanical losses & motor electrical
Efficiency improves at part load
losses.
No fouling of Evaporator surfaces due Possibility of fouling due to lube oil on
5 5
to lubricating oil evaporator Surfaces.
6 Small size standby D.G.Set is sufficient. 6 Large D.G.Set needed on standby
Outdoor installation, hence low civil & Indoor installation is needed due to
7 7
structural costs. Electrical systems
Low foundation costs due to no High foundation costs due to
8 8
reciprocating parts reciprocating Compressors.
9 Log life of plant of atleast 25 years 9 Low life of Compressor
Loss of efficiency with usage due to
10 No loss of efficiency with usage 10
compressor parts wear & tear.

Ammonia Compression
Absorption Cycle
No Description
Refrigeration Refrigeration
plant Plant
1 Technical Specifications :
a) Refrigeration Load : TR 100 100 100 100
b) Ammonia Evaporation Temp. Deg.C -10 -30 -10 -30
c) Cooling Water Temp. (Deg.C) Summer 28 28 28 28
Monsoon 32 32 32 32
Winter 24 24 24 24
Average 28 28 28 28
d) Cooling Tower Load TR 288.7 356.4 131.4 154.6
Modern
Reciprocating
2 System configuration AARP Model
Compression
Cycle Plant

Comparison of Energy Consumption and Running Cost of AARP as

compared to Compression Cycle Plant.

BASIS OF DESIGN AND SYSTEM CONFIGURATION

Ammonia
Absorption Compression Cycle
No Description
Refrigeration Refrigeration Plant
Plant
1 Technical Specifications :
Refrigeration
a) TR 100 100 100 100
Load
Ammonia
b) Evaporation Deg.C -10 -30 -10 -30
Temp.
Summer : 28 28 28 28
Cooling Water Monsoon : 32 32 32 32
c)
Temp. (Deg.C) Winter : 24 24 24 24
Average : 28 28 28 28
Cooling Water
d) TR 288.7 356.4 131.4 154.6
Load

Modern
System
2 AARP Model Reciprocating
configuration
Compression Cycle
Plant
 AMMONIA EVAPORATION TEMPERATURE = -10OC & -30OC

REQUIREMENT OF UTILITIES
Ammonia Absorption Compression Cycle
No. Description Unit
Refrigeration Plant Refrigeration Plant
Ammonia Evaporation
Deg.C -10 -30 -10 -30
Temp.
A] HEAT INPUT : kcal/hr 567254.15 770897.43 NA NA
STEAM
Steam Pressure kg/cm2(g) 1.7 5.18 NA NA
Steam Temperature Deg.C 130 160.1 NA NA
Steam required at Given
kg/hr 1092.60 1551.03 NA NA
Pressure
B] Boiler Fuel Data F.O Baggase Coal
Calorific value kcal/kg 9710.00 2200.00 4500.00
Boiler efficiency % 95.00 75.00 80.0
o
C] Fuel Consumption for above Steam Output. (f90 C) (Refer Note Below)
F.O lit/hr 69.69 100.62 NA NA
Bagasse kg/hr 370.15 534.41 NA NA
Coal kg/hr 169.65 244.94 NA NA
HOT WATER
Supply Temp. Deg.C 150 180 NA NA
Return Temp. Deg.C 120 150 NA NA
Rate of Circulation m3/hr 18.90 25.69 NA NA
D] Fuel Consumption for above Hot Water OutPut.
F.O lit/hr 64.73 87.96 NA NA
Bagasse kg/hr 343.80 467.21 NA NA
Coal kg/hr 157.57 214.13 NA NA
E] Fuel Prices Including C.Excise Duty, Sales Tax and Transport.
F.O Rs/lit 9.25
Bagasse Rs/Kg 0.50
Coal Rs/Kg 2.50
F] Fuel Cost for Steam
F.O Rs/hr 644.63 930.73 NA NA
Bagasse Rs/hr 185.07 267.20 NA NA
Coal Rs/hr 424.12 612.35 NA NA
Fuel cost for Hot Water
F.O Rs/hr 598.75 813.63 NA NA
Bagasse Rs/hr 171.90 233.60 NA NA
Coal Rs/hr 393.92 535.32 NA NA
G] ELECTRIC POWER :
Power requirement for Compressor :
At Compressor Shaft KW - - 110 191
Belt losses (8%) KW - - 8.8 15.28
 Power required at Motor
KW - - 118.8 206.28
shaft
Power for Solution Pumps
KW 7.5 15 - -
Motor
Power for Cooling water
KW 12.3 12.3 5.6 5.3
Pumps
Total Power at Motor
KW 19.8 27.3 124.4 211.6
Shaft
Add Motor Losses (Motor
KW 1.5 2.1 9.4 15.9
Efficiency assumed 93%)
Total Power at Motor
KW 21.3 29.4 133.8 227.50
Terminals
Add HT metering losses
(Transformer efficiency KW 1.1 1.5 6.7 11.40
assumed 95%)
Total Power Metered at
Incoming of HT KW 22.4 30.9 140.5 238.9
Transformer
H] Make-up-Water
Make-up-water M3/hr 1.50 1.85 0.68 0.80
Cost of make up water
Rs. 15 18.50 6.80 8.00
(@ Rs.10.00 per m3/hr)

Cost of Heat & Electricity in Rs./hr

Source
Source of Power
of Steam
Steam + Grid Power +
1 F.O 771.63 1103.73 709.3 1202.5
Make up water
Coal 551.12 785.35
Bagasse 312.07 440.20
Hot Water + Grid Power
2 F.O 707.18 961.40 709.3 1202.5
+ Make up water
Coal 520.92 708.32
Bagasse 298.90 406.60
The maintenance cost of AARP is much lower as compared to Compression
*
Cycle Refrigeration plant.
AARP System Borsig can also be driven by Superheated Hot Water or
**
Thermic Fluid of Equivalent Temp.
 Comparison Between ammonia Absorption Refrigeration Plant & Single
Effect Lithium Bromide Absorption Refrigeration Plant for Chilled
Water Application.
Ammonia Absorption
Refrigeration Plant
1 Application Range
Operating Temp. Range: +5 to -60oC
Driving Heat Source Temp Range:
85oC & above
Cooling water Temp:35oC or below
2 Construction :
Refrigerant - Ammonia (NH3)
Absorbent - Water
3 Material of Construction
Plates - Carbon Steel
Tubes - Carbon Steel
All welded construction
Operating System pressure is above
atmosphere upto (-30oC)
4 Functioning
- Fully automatic continuous
Modulation
- Part load efficiency is good
5 Maintenance & Spares :
- No maintenance
- Tubes are carbon steel & solution
pumps are standard centrifugal
pumps.
6 Life - Long life of 25 years or more
7 Corrosion
corrosion is negligible
8 Due to low corrosion repairs
Single Effect Lithium Bromide
Absorption Chiller
1 Application Range
Operating Temp Range: +7 & above
Driving Heat Source Temp Range :
85oC & above
Cooling water Temp : 35oC or below
2 Construction :
Refrigerant - Water
Absorbent - Lithium Bromide (LiBr)
3 Material of Construction
Plates - Carbon Steel
Tubes - Copper Nickel Tubes
Tubes to tubesheet are expanded
joint rest is welded construction
System is under vacuum
4 Functioning
- Fully automatic continuous
Modulation
- Part load efficiency is good
5 Maintenance & Spares :
- Vacuum maintenance is critical for
functions and system life
- Copper Nickel tubes & Hermetic
pumps are very costly
- Copper Nickel tubes need
replacement periodically & hence
repair cost is high
Life - Entire equipment life is not
6
more than 15 years.
7 Corrosion is high
Highly susceptible to corrosion &
therefore life can be limited if
vacuum is not maintained properly
Expanded tube-to-tubesheet joints
have tendancy to leak periodically.
8 Due to corrosion tube repairs &
 replacement is frequent.
maintenance costs are very low
All tubes are Copper or Copper Nickle
Tubes. Therefore tube replacement
is very costly

9 Due to pressurised system ; No 9 Due to vacuum System ; special

special care is needed care is needed otherwise plant stops
frequently. Also due to thousands of
expanded tube to tubesheet joints,
the vacuum loss is frequent with
passage of time. Fault finding is very
time consuming.

10 Chilled water application : 10 Chilled water application :

Chilled water temperature Chilled water temperature
7o C outlet 7o C outlet
12o C return 12o C return
Cooling water temperature : 30oC Cooling water temperature : 30oC
Driving Heat Sources temperature Driving Heat Source temperature
85oC to 140oC 85oC to 140oC
C.O.P.: 0.6 to 0.65 C.O.P.: 0.6 to 0.65

Conclusion : Thermal Efficiency / Thermal Performance of AARP is same as Single

Effect LiBr Chiller

10. ENERGY EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF CHILLERS

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT

VAPOUR ABSORPTION CHILLER

S.N PARAMETERS VAPOUR COMPRESSION CHILLER AMMONIA - H
LiBr - H 20
20
SINGLE DOUBLE HALF TRIPLE
RECIPROCATING CENTRIFUGAL SCREW SINGLE STAGE
EFFECT EFFECT EFFECT EFFECT
Refrigeration
+6 to +6 to +6 to +6 to
1 Temp. Range +7 to -30oC +7 to -0oC +7 to -25oC -10 to -60oC
-10oC -10oC -10oC -10oC
(Brine / Water)

Heat Heat
Heat (Steam/
(Steam / (Steam / Heat (Hot Heat
Hot Water /
Hot Hot Water) (Steam
Hot Oil)
2 Energy Input Electricity Electricity Electricity Water / Water / /Hot
Hot Hot Oil/ Oil /Direct
Oil/Direct Direct Fired )
Fired) Fired)

Heat Input
Temp. Range Minimum Minimum Minimum Minimum
3 - - - Minimum 85oC
-Maximum 85oC 130oC 55oC 190oC
-Minimum

Typical Energy
to TR Ratio
-Air 0.7-0.9 kw/TR 0.65 kw/TR 5000 2575 7500 2000
0.63kw/TR 4615 kcal/TR
Conditioning kcal/TR kcal/TR kcal/TR kcal/TR
4
Temp. Range 1.25 to 2.5 1.25 to 2.5
----- 6666 kcal/hr
kw/TR kw/TR ------ ----- ----- -----
-Subzero Temp.
Range
 R11,R123,R134a R22, R134a Pure
5 Refrigerant R22, R12 Pure Water Pure Water Pure Water Pure Ammonia
Ammonia Ammonia Water

Water-
Water-LiBr Water-LiBr Water-LiBr Ammonia-LiBr
6 Absorbent ------ ------ ------ LiBr
solution solution solution solution
solution

Typical single
unit capacity
range -Air 300 TR & 30 TR & 30 TR & 30 TR & 50 TR &
1-150 TR 50-200 TR 30 TR & above
Condition above above above above above
7
temperature
range 10-50 TR 50-200 TR 30 TR & above
------ ----- ----- ----- -----
-Subzero temp.
range

Typical COP at Improves

Reduces at Marginal Improvement at Part
8 Part Load upto Reduces at part part load by 15- No variation
50% Load
load 20%

5-6 mm Hg
2.5-3.5 bar a 5-6 mm Hg 5-6 mm 1.2kg/cm2(a)
5-6 mm Hg (abs)
Typical Internal 0.15-0.40 bar a (abs) Hg (abs)
2-5.5 bar (abs)
Pressure Levels 11-12 bar 18 kg/cm2(a)
-Low -High 370-390
60-70 mm 2 kg/cm2
9 1.20-1.50 bar a 18-20 bar 60-70 mm mm Hg
Hg (abs) (a)
-5 to 50oC Hg (abs) (abs) -25 to +150oC
Typical Internal
Temp. Levels -25 to 50 C
o
-25 to 50oC
+4 to +4 to
+4 to 75oC +4 to
130oC 160oC
+130oC

Typical Cooling
tower capacity
range per 100
TR of chillers
-Air conditioning 130 120 120 260 200 370 170 290
Temperature
10
Range
- Subzero temp. 190 ----- 160 --- --- --- --- 290
range

Typical Make-up
water quantity
range in Ltrs/Hr. 672 620 620 1345 1035 1914 880 1500
-Air Conditioning
11
temperature
range 983 --- 830 --- --- --- --- 1500
-Subzero temp.
range

Material of
12 construction --- --- --- Cu-Ni or Stainless Steel Carbon Steel
-Generator
-Absorber --- --- --- Cu-Ni Carbon Steel
Copper / Carbon copper / Copper/
-Evaporator Cu-Ni Carbon Steel
steel Carbon steel Carbon steel
Cu-Ni
Copper / Carbon Copper / Copper /
-Condenser Carbon Steel
steel Carbon steel Carbon steel

-Solution Heat
--- --- --- Carbon Steel Carbon Steel
Exchange
Cast Iron Cast Iron with
-Solution Pump --- --- ---
Hermatically Sealed (Canned motor type) Meh.Seal
-Refrigerant --- --- --- Cast Iron Not needed
 pump Hermatically Sealed (Canned motor type)

13 Expected Life 25-30 years 15-20 years 50 years

Normally
Expected Periodic Compressor Overhaul Tube Replacement Practically no
14
Repairs / Tube Replacement after 1-12 years due to Corrosion repairs
Maintenance

Factory
Factory
Assembled
Assembled
15 Factory Assembled upto 230 TR in
packaged Or
A/C & subzero
Site Assembled
range

Beneficial Low cost Low cost Low cost a) Waste Heat

16
Energy Sources Electricity Electricity Electricity b) Low cost steam / Low cost fuels

Sudden Power
failure for 45-
a) Vacuum in Chiller 60 min. or
-Lubrication b) Purge System for Vacuum more can
disturb the
System c) Corrosion Inhibitors in distillation
-Compressor
Absorbent column for
Critical -Electricity Operation &
17 ---- continuous
Parameters supply Maintenance d) Surfactants in Absorbent operation.
-Electrical
Needs D.G.set
Power Panel e) Cooling Water Treatment if there is
Maintenance
f) Cooling Water Temperature frequent power
failure for
g) Heat Source Temperature periods longer
than 30 min.
SMALL AMMONIA REFRIGERATOR

Anhydrous Ammonia (Nh3) has been used for many years to perform all
types of refrigeration and air conditioning chores. Anhydrous Ammonia means
ammonia without water, Aqua Ammonia is a solution of ammonia and water
which is used in refrigeration and air conditioners that are not a vapor
compression type. Vapor compression systems use compressors to compress
the ammonia vapor. Absorption type systems do not use a compressor but
instead use a generator. These systems shall be the main topic of the
following chapters. It is assumed by the Author that you have some
knowledge of refrigeration and are aware of the cycles and pressures of
refrigeration in general. Please refer to our available Browser Books on the
subject if you are not. Ammonia Refrigeration Basics is a good source of
basic information should you require a better understanding on the subject.

Example:# 101A

THE GENERATING CYCLE

The Intermittent absorption system uses a generator charged with water and
ammonia. A heat source, usually a kerosene flame, heats this solution in the
generator. The ammonia is vaporized and driven off.

A condenser, at the top of the system, condenses the ammonia vapor into a
liquid. The liquid flows by gravity into the liquid receiver shown above and
then into the evaporator. During the generating cycle, little or no refrigerating
effect is taking place. As the system cools, the pressure drops, causing the
liquid ammonia in the evaporator to boil (flash off) and absorb heat. The cycle
is completed when vaporized ammonia is re-absorbed in the Aqua ammonia
solution in the generator.

Example: 101A illustrates the generating cycle, in operation, the kerosene

burner tank is filled with just enough kerosene for one cycle. This cycle is
usually once a day. The burner is filled and lighted. It heats the water and
ammonia mixture (Aqua Ammonia) (Brown Mixture) in the generator. The
ammonia vapor (Tan Color) is driven off through the tube, (A) up to the air
cooled condenser. There the ammonia gas is cooled and condensed to liquid
ammonia (Red Color). The liquid flows into the receiver. Note the one way
check valve between the condenser and the liquid receiver, it serves to
restrict any back flow of liquid into the condenser. Also notice the small
restrictor port which will be covered below during the refrigeration cycle of the
system.

When the kerosene has all been burned (usually from 20 to 40 minutes), the
generating cycle ends.

THE REFRIGERATION CYCLE

Example:#101B

The pressure in the system drops as the water cools and absorbs ammonia
vapor. Liquid ammonia (Light Blue) flows into the evaporator, begins to
evaporate, and cools it. Evaporated ammonia (Aqua Blue) flows back through
the tube (B). It is again absorbed by the water in the generator. Refrigeration
continues, usually until the next firing of the kerosene burner. The small
restrictor perform two functions, it allows the liquid to enter the evaporator at
a controlled level. This protects the evaporator from getting flooded. The
restrictor also acts as a expansion valve which greats a pressure differential.
A pressure differential is essential to the refrigeration cycle as it causes the
liquid ammonia to change it's boiling point from a high pressure flash of
temperature to a lower pressure flash off temperature. Without this change in
pressures the refrigeration would not be performed and the system would
simply act as an ammonia container.

This type of refrigerating system is quite simple. The piping is welded steel
because the pressures on the generating cycle are quite high. The
refrigerating ability is quite good. Kerosene flame heated absorption
refrigerators are popular in areas where electric power is not available.

Other means of firing the burner can be propane or natural gas. Many RV unit
refrigerators use a combination of propane fired burners and add a small 12
volt fan assembly to improve cooling within the evaporator section of the
refrigerator (Ice Box).. Many types of absorption systems are on the market
these days and are not limited to small appliances. The theory can and has
been applied to very large commercial systems and perform in much the
same manner.

Most small RV type refrigerators are not field repairable due to the critical
charge ( The right amount of Aqua Ammonia ) and the nature of the system
construction. If a small unit develops a leak, the best thing to do is replace it
with a new one. Most manufacturers design the units to last for a very long
time, but a damaged unit should be replaced (Leaking). Maintenance can and
should be performed on the burner assembly and the piping that feed the
propane or kerosene. Most Aqua Ammonia leaks are easy to find as are
Anhydrous Ammonia leaks the smell is very strong and aids in detecting even
the smallest of leaks.

CONTINUOUS-CYCLE ABSORPTION SYSTEM

 Example:# 101C

There are other types of absorption systems available, the continuous-cycle

absorption cooling unit is operated by the application of a limited amount of
heat. This heat is furnished by gas, electricity, or kerosene. No moving parts
are employed. The operation of the refrigerating mechanism is based on
Dalton's Law.

DALTON'S LAW

Dalton's Law of partial pressures is the foundation of the principle of

operation of one of the absorption type refrigerating systems. The Law
States:

The total pressure of a confined mixture of gases is the sum of the

pressures of each of the gases in the mixture.
The total pressure of the air in a compressed air cylinder is the sum of
the oxygen, nitrogen, and the carbon dioxide gases, and the water
vapor pressure.

The law further explains that each gas behaves as if it occupies the
space alone. To illustrate, the absorption refrigerator uses two gases,
ammonia and hydrogen. The ammonia, at room temperature, is
absorbed by the water in the closed sustem.
Heating this solution drives out the ammonia. (The hydrogen is not
absorbed by the water and remains as a gas.) Due to the pressure it is
under, the ammonia condenses into a liquid in the condenser. The
pressure is uniform throughout the system. Total pressure in the
system is the sum of the vapor pressure of the ammonia plus the
hydrogen pressure. When the pressure of the ammonia vapor is below
the pressure corresponding to the vapor pressure for ammonia alone,
the ammonia continues to evaporate. It tries to reach a vapor pressure
corresponding to the temperature in the absorber.
This refrigeration device is widely used in domestic refrigerators, and
recreational vehicles. It is also used in year-around air conditioning of both
homes and larger buildings. The unit consists of four main parts the boiler,
condenser, evaporator and the absorber. When the unit operates on
kerosene or gas, the heat is supplied by a burner. This element is fitted
underneath the central tube (A). When operating on electricity, the heat is
supplied by an element inserted in the pocket (B).

The unit charge consists of a quantity of ammonia, water, and hydrogen.

These are at a sufficient pressure to condense ammonia at room
temperature. When heat is supplied to the boiler system, bubbles of ammonia
gas are produced. They rise and carry with them quantities of weak ammonia
solution through the siphon pump (C). This weak solution passes into tube
(D), while the ammonia vapor passes into the vapor pipe (E) and on to the
water separator. Here any water vapor is condensed and runs back into the
boiler system, leaving the dry ammonia vapor to pass to the condenser. Air
circulating over the fins of the condenser removes heat from the ammonia
vapor. It condenses into liquid ammonia and then flows into the evaporator.

The evaporator is supplied with hydrogen. The hydrogen passes across the
surface of the ammonia. It lowers the ammonia vapor pressure enough to
allow the liquid ammonia to evaporate. The evaporation of the ammonia
extracts heat from the evaporator. This, in turn, extracts heat from the food
storage space, lowering the temperature inside the refrigerator.

The mixture of ammonia and hydrogen vapor passes from the evaporator to
the absorber. A continuous trickle of weak ammonia solution enters the upper
portion of the absorber. It is fed by gravity from the tube (D). This weak
solution flows down through the absorber. It comes into contact with the
mixed ammonia and hydrogen gases. This readily absorbs the ammonia from
the mixture. The hydrogen is free to rise through the absorber coil and to
return to the evaporator. The hydrogen circulates continuously between the
absorber and the evaporator.

The strong ammonia solution produced in the absorber flows down to the
absorber vessel. It passes on to the boiler system, thus completing the full
cycle of operation.
This cycle operates continuously as long as the boiler is heated. A thermostat
which controls the heat source regulates the temperature of the refrigerated
space.
Since the refrigerant is ammonia, it can produce quite low temperatures. Most
systems require electrical devices, so both gas and electricity must be
supplied. Except for the thermostatic controls and (in some cases) fans, there
are no moving parts.
Service is usually quite simple. The burner and stack must be kept clean. The
refrigerator should be carefully leveled before being placed in operation.

The pressure differential in the type of system is created by the hydrogen

gas, it causes the ammonia to change pressure and allows it to boil off in the
evaporator (flash off).
Ammonia Absorption Refrigerator
1. Abstract

Environmental pollution such as the depletion of the ozone layer

and the greenhouse effect has recently become a social
problem and the effects of ammonia as refrigerant must be
reevaluated. To solve the problem of these concerns, Hitachi
Zosen Corporation has provided absorption heat pumps for
nearly 20 years, and has now developed a new ammonia
absorption refrigerator that is the most compact in the world.
The following is one of Hitachi Zosen Corporation's proposals to
create an economical heat energy supply system based on this
refrigerator.
This project has been developed in cooperation with Osaka Gas
Co., Ltd. and Sumitomo Precision Products Co., Ltd.

2. Features

This system provides cooling and heating using ammonia as

refrigerant, water as an absorption agent and heat (steam/gas)
as a power source.
(1) As this device is heat driven, it is possible to operate it with
waste heat.
(2) As it has few rotational parts, it offers noiseless operation
and easy maintenance.
(3) With high performance plate fin heat exchangers, this
device's compact design results in the reduction of ammonia
volume to one fifth that of conventional systems.
 System flow

Hitachi Zosen Corporation

7-89, Nanko Kita 1-chome, Suminoe-ku, Osaka 559-0034 Japan
TEL +81-6-6569-0061
FAX +81-6-6569-0079
http://www.hitachizosen.co.jp
 Absorption Heat Pumps
One approach toward environmentally sound and energy-efficient space conditioning is the use
of absorption heat pumps. These systems are powered by recuperated waste heat or are gas-
fired, as opposed to the electrical energy required for vapor compression systems, thus
resulting in high overall energy efficiencies. They also do not use CFC or HCFC-based
refrigerants, and have fewer moving parts.

Single-Effect Absorption Heat Pump Schematic (Source: Ammonia-Sodium Thiocyanate Double-Effect Abs
M. J. Moran and H. N. Shapiro, Fundamentals of Engineering Heat Pump (Source: Columbia Gas System Service
Thermodynamics, 4th edition, Wiley) Corporation)

A simple, single-effect absorption heat pump is shown above. The principle of operation is as
follows: thermal energy is used to boil a refrigerant from a concentrated refrigerant-absorbent
solution in a generator at high pressure. The refrigerant is condensed using ambient air as the
heat sink, and expanded to a low pressure across a valve. At this low pressure, the refrigerant
is cold enough to effect space-conditioning as it evaporates in the evaporator, thus cooling
room air. The evaporated refrigerant is combined with the dilute solution in an absorber (while
releasing the heat of absorption), from where it is pumped back in liquid form to the generator,
which requires orders of magnitude less electrical energy than the compression of the
refrigerant vapor in conventional systems. This thermodynamic cycle can also be run in the
heating mode in winter, with the evaporator coupled to the outdoor air to withdraw heat from
the ambient, and the condenser and absorber coupled to the indoor air to provide space
 heating. Thus, these thermodynamically attractive absorption systems have been implemented
in large commercial applications.

The coefficient of performance of absorption heat pumps can be improved by using increasingly
complex thermodynamic cycles. One example is a double-effect cycle, as shown in the
adjacent figure. In such a cycle, the heat of condensation of the refrigerant generated in the
gas-fired generator is used to generation a "second effect" refrigerant stream, thus improving
the COP over the corresponding single-effect values. In the 1980s, Dr. Garimella developed a
double-effect residential heat pump (Garimella et al. 1992) using an ammonia-sodium
thiocyanate fluid pair as the working fluid, in collaboration with Prof. Richard N. Christensen of
The Ohio State University and Steven Petty, Bert Cook and others at the Columbia Gas System
Service Corporation. A prototype system with a nominal cooling mode COP of 0.8 and a
heating mode COP of about 1.6-1.8 was developed.

Triple-Effect Absorption Heat Pump Duhring Diagram Dual-Cycle Absorption Heat Pump (Source: Batte
(Garimella et al. 1997) Institute, Columbus, OH)

Triple-effect cycles offer further increases in COP through additional internal recuperation.
Several cycle layouts are possible for the development of a triple-effect cycle, one of which is
shown above as a Duhring diagram. Here, the heat of condensation, absorption and
rectification from the high pressure cycle are used as the heat source for the desorber of the
low pressure cycle. Systems with this cycle configuration employing ammonia-water as the
working fluid for the high pressure cycle, and ammonia-water or ammonia-sodium thiocyanate
for the low pressure cycle were investigated by Dr. Garimella (Garimella et al. 1997), and
yielded high COPs. Performance variation over a range of postulated ambients was also
documented.

Another approach to improve the COP of an absorption cycle without the corresponding
increase in system pressures typically required for multiple-effect cycles is the use of a dual
cycle, as shown above. A dual-cycle using LiBr/H2O as the working fluid for the high
temperature cycle and ammonia-water for the low-temperature cycle was investigated in the
mid-eighties by Dr. Garimella and his colleagues at Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH
with funding from the Gas Research Institute, Chicago, IL. Here, the heat of condensation from
the LiBr/H2O cycle is used as the heat source for the ammonia-water portion of the cycle.
Considerable advantage was taken in this system of the numerous internal recuperation
possibilities. Multiple heat exchange functions were performed in individual components. Two
notable examples are the Absorption Power Module (which combines the desorption of water,
condensation of water, and the desorption of ammonia-water) and the Quad Heat Exchanger
(which combines the solution-solution heat exchange, water condensate subcooling, and the
rectification of ammonia). Schematics of these components are shown below.

Absorption Power Module Quad Heat Exchanger

Dual-Cycle Absorption Heat Pump Multi-Function Components (Source: Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH

Generator-Absorber Heat Exchange heat pumps offer another means of obtaining extremely
high COPs with the pressures representative of a single-effect cycle. Essentially, the cycle is
operated over a large absorbent-refrigerant concentration range, which offers possibilities for
considerable overlap in the temperature ranges of the absorption and desorption processes.
Therefore, the external (e.g., gas-fired) heat input can be minimized. A portion of the
desorption is done using the high-temperature dilute solution exiting the desorber as the heat
source. Similarly, yet another portion of the desorption is conducted using the solution near
the hot end of the absorber, which over this wide concentration range, is hotter than the cold
end of the generator. Detailed investigations of the performance of the cycle as a heat pump
in the heating and cooling modes were conducted by Garimella et al. (1996).

GAX Cycle Schematic (Provided by Robert DeVault, Oak

Ridge National Laboratory)