DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF

SOLAR POWERED VAPOUR

ABSORPTION REFRIGERATION
SYSTEM
(BTME-607)
SUBMITTED BY

KUMAD SHARDA 1137607

NISHANT GUPTA 1137617
RAMAKANT SHARMA 1137635
SARBJEET SINGH 1137643

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

BEANT COLLEGE of ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
GURDASPUR (143521)
APRIL- 2014
 A MINOR PROJECT REPORT ON

DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF

SOLAR POWERED VAPOUR
ABSORPTION REFRIGERATION
SYSTEM
MINOR PROJECT (BTME-607)

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY
IN
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

SUBMITTED BY

KUMAD SHARDA 1137607 (C.R.NO. 242/11)

NISHANT GUPTA 1137617 (C.R.NO. 252/11)
RAMAKANT SHARMA 1137635 (C.R.NO. 269/11)
SARBJEET SINGH 1137643 (C.R.NO. 277/11)

UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF

DR. JAGDEV SINGH
(ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR)

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

BEANT COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
GURDASPUR (143521)
APRIL-2014
 BEANT COLLEGE of ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
GURDASPUR
DECLARATION BY CANDIDATES

We hereby declare that the work which is being presented in the report on Minor Project
entitled “DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF SOLAR POWERED VAPOUR
ABSORPTION REFRIGERATION SYSTEM” and submitted for completion of course
curriculum of 6th semester of B.Tech. (Mechanical Engineering) degree program in the
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Beant College of Engineering and Technology,
Gurdaspur has been carried out under the guidance of Dr. Jagdev Singh, Associate
Professor during January-April 2014.

KUMAD SHARDA (1137607)

NISHANT GUPTA (1137617)
RAMAKANT SHARMA (1137635)
SARBJEET SINGH (1137643)

Dr. JAGDEV SINGH

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

Department of Mechanical Engineering

B.C.E.T. Gurdaspur
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First of all we would like to thank our project guide Dr. Jagdev Singh, Associate Professor, Mechanical

Engineering Department, BCET Gurdaspur who has given valuable support during the course of our

project by clarifying our doubts and guiding us with his novel ideas.

We would like to thank Dr. Dilbag Singh, Head of Department, Mechanical Engineering, Beant College of

Engineering & Technology and Dr. O.P. Singh, Professor, Mechanical Engineering, for giving us this

wonderful opportunity to work in desired area of interest.

We extend our sincere thanks to all teaching staff of Mechanical Engineering department, who helped

us in completing this project successfully.

We also thank the people who directly or indirectly gave encouragement and support throughout the

project.

At last we would like to thanks the Almighty God for his blessing and grace in every stage in our life.

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 ABSTRACT

Vapour absorption refrigeration system is an attractive method for utilization low grade energy directly

for cooling. This is an important advantage as against the conventional vapour compression refrigeration

system which operates on high grade energy. Another important feature of this system is that it does

not use any moving component except a very small liquid pump. Vapour absorption refrigeration system

comprises of four basic components viz, an evaporator, an absorber, a generator and a condenser. A

refrigerant flows from the condenser to the evaporator, then via absorber to the generator and back to

condenser, and while the absorbent passes from the absorber to the generator back to the absorber.

For maximum efficiency, the pressure difference between the low pressure side and the high pressure

side is maintained as small as possible. Although the initial cost of these system is presently higher but

there operating cost are often low, which can further reduced if efficient absorption and distillation can

be achieved. Since the efficiency of these processes is determined largely by thermodynamic properties

of the refrigerants – absorbent combination, an extensive study of these properties is important in the

development of an efficient absorption refrigeration cycle. A vapour absorption refrigeration system

using solar energy as heating source is a system that produces cooling effect rather than electrical input

as in the most familiar vapour compression refrigeration cycle. In this system, the work of compressor as

done in vapour compression system is replaced by absorber and generator. Power required by this

system is less than the power required by vapour compression refrigeration system.

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 CONTENTS

CHAPTER-1 INTRODUCTION PAGE NO.

1.1 Refrigeration 1

1.2 Vapor Compression Refrigeration System 2

1.3 Vapor Absorption Refrigeration System 3-5

1.4 Solar energy as heat source 5-6

1.5 Working Fluid for Absorption Refrigeration System 6

CHAPTER -2 LITERATURE REVIEW 7-9

CHAPTER-3 PROBLEM FORMULATION & OBJECTIVES 10

CHAPTER-4 METHODOLOGY 11-13

CHAPTER-5 CONCLUSIONS 14

REFERENCE 15-16

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 CHAPTER-1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Refrigeration

Refrigeration is a process by which the temperature of a body, which is in thermal equilibrium

with surroundings, is brought below atmospheric temperature .The work of heat transport is

traditionally driven by mechanical work, but can also be driven by heat,

magnetism, electricity, laser, or other means. Refrigeration has many applications, including, but

not limited to house hold refrigerators, industrial freezers, cryogenics, and air conditioning. Heat

pumps may use the heat output of the refrigeration process, and also may be designed to be

reversible, but are otherwise similar to refrigeration units.

Refrigeration has had a large impact on industry, lifestyle, agriculture and settlement patterns,

resources. In most developed countries, cities are heavily dependent upon refrigeration in

supermarkets, in order to obtain their food for daily consumption. The increase in food sources

has led to a larger concentration of agricultural sales coming from a smaller percentage of

existing farm .This has resulted in new food sources available to entire populations, which has

had a large impact on the nutrition of society. Refrigeration of medicines at remote areas has

become possible now which has enhanced public health standards.

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1.2 Vapour compression refrigeration system

This system uses a circulating liquid refrigerant as the medium which absorbs and removes heat

from the space to be cooled and subsequently rejects that heat elsewhere. It has four components:

a compressor, a condenser, a thermal expansion valve, and an evaporator. The hot compressed

vapour is then in the thermodynamic state known as superheated vapour and it is at a

temperature and pressure at which it can be condensed with either cooling water or cooling air.

That hot vapour is routed through a condenser where it is cooled and condensed into a liquid by

flowing through coil or tubes with cool water or cool air flowing across the coil or tubes. The

condensed liquid refrigerant, in the thermodynamic state known as saturated liquid, is next

routed through an expansion valve where it undergoes an abrupt reduction in pressure. That

pressure reduction results in the adiabatic flash evaporation of a part of the liquid refrigerant.

The auto-refrigeration effect of adiabatic flash evaporation lowers the temperature of liquid and

vapour refrigerant mixture to where it is colder than the temperature of the enclosed space to be

refrigerated. The cool mixture is routed through the coil or tubes in the evaporator. A fan

circulates the warm air in the enclosed space across the coil or tubes carrying cold refrigerant

liquid a vapour mixture. That warm air evaporates the liquid part of the cold refrigerant mixture.

At the same time circulating air is cooled and thus lowers the temp of the enclosed space to the

desire temperature. The evaporator is where the circulating refrigerant absorbs and removes heat

which is subsequently rejected in the condenser and transferred elsewhere by the water or air

used in condenser. To complete the refrigeration cycle, the refrigerant vapour from the

evaporator is again a saturated vapour and is routed back into the compressor.

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1.3 Vapour Absorption Refrigeration system

The vapour absorption refrigeration system comprises of all the processes in the vapour

compression refrigeration system like compression, condensation, expansion and evaporation. In

the vapour absorption refrigeration system, refrigerant used is ammonia, water or lithium

bromide. The refrigerant gets condensed in the condenser and it gets evaporated in the

evaporator. The refrigerant produces cooling effect in the evaporator and releases the heat to the

atmosphere via the condenser.

The major difference between the two systems is the method of the suction and compression of

the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle. In the vapour compression refrigeration system, the

compressor sucks the refrigerant from evaporator and compresses it to the high pressure. The

compressor also enables the flow of the refrigerant through the whole refrigeration cycle. In the

vapour absorption cycle, the process of suction and compression are carried out by two different

devices called as the absorber and the generator. Thus the absorber and the generator replace the

compressor in the vapour absorption cycle. The absorbent enables the flow of the refrigerant

from the absorber to the generator by absorbing it. Another major difference between the vapour

compression and vapour absorption cycle is the method in which the energy input is given to the

system. In the vapour compression refrigeration system the energy input is given in the form of

the mechanical work from the electric motor run by the electricity. In the vapour absorption

system the energy input is given in the form of the heat. This heat can be from the excess steam

from the process or the hot water. The heat can also be created by other sources like natural gas,

kerosene, and heater etc. though these sources are used only in the small systems.

3
 Fig 1.1 Vapour Absorption Refrigeration System

The initial flow of the refrigerant from the evaporator to the absorber occurs because the vapour

pressure of the refrigerant-absorbent in the absorber is lower than the vapour pressure of the

refrigerant in the evaporator. The vapour pressure of the refrigerant-absorbent inside the

absorbent determines the pressure on low-pressure side of the system and also the vaporizing

temperature of the refrigerant inside the evaporator. The vapour pressure of the refrigerant-

absorbent solution depends on the nature of the absorbent, its temperature and concentration.

When the refrigerant entering in the absorber is absorbed by the absorbent its volume decreases,

thus the compression of the refrigerant occurs. Thus absorber acts as the suction part of the

compressor. The heat of absorption is also released in the absorber, which is removed by the

external coolant.

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When the vaporized refrigerant leaves the generator weak solution is left in it. This solution

enters the pressure reducing valve and then back to the absorber, where it is ready to absorb fresh

refrigerant. In this way, the refrigerant keeps on repeating the cycle. The pressure of the

refrigerant is increased in the generator, hence it is considered to be equivalent to the

compression part of the compressor.

1.4 SOLAR ENERGY AS HEAT SOURCE

Solar energy is a very large, inexhaustible source of energy. The power from the sun intercepted

by the earth is approximately 1.8 ×1011 MW which is much larger than the present consumption

rate on the earth of all commercial energy sources. Thus, in principle, solar energy could supply

all the present and future energy needs of the world on the continuing basis. This makes it one of

the most promising of the unconventional energy sources. In addition to its size, solar energy has

two other factors in its favour. First unlike fossil fuels and nuclear power, it is an environmental

clean source of energy. Second, it is free and available in adequate quantities in almost all parts

of the world where people live. However, there are many problems associated with its use. The

main problem is that it is a dilute source of energy.

Even in the hottest regions on earth, the solar radiation flux rarely exceeds 1kWh/m2 and the total

radiation over a day is best about 6 kWh/m2.These are low values from the point of view of

technological utilization. Consequently, large collecting areas are required in many applications

and this result in excessive costs.

A second problem associated with the use of solar energy is that its availability varies widely

with time. The variation in availability occurs daily because of the day-night cycle sun. In

addition, variation occurs at a specific location because of local weather conditions.

Consequently, the energy collected when the sun is shining must be stored for use during periods

5
when it is not available. The need for storage significantly adds to the cost of the system. Thus,

the real challenge in utilizing solar energy as an energy alternative is to address these challenges.

1.6 Working Fluid for absorption refrigeration system

Performance of an absorption refrigeration system is critically dependent on the chemical and

thermodynamics properties of the working fluid which is aqua ammonia in this case. Ammonia

is refrigerant and water is absorbent. Solution of water and ammonia in liquid phase has a margin

of miscibility within the operating temperature range of cycle. The mixture is also chemically

stable, non-toxic and non-explosive. In addition to these requirements, the following are

desirable:

 The elevation of boiling (the difference in boiling point between the pure refrigerant and

the mixture at the same pressure) should be as large as possible.

 Refrigerant should have high heat of vaporization and high concentration within the

absorbent in order to maintain low circulation rate between the generator and the

absorber per unit of cooling capacity.

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 CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW

Velmurugan V, Raja Balayanan S.R. (2011) -presented a detailed description of a newsolar-

based refrigeration system using three fluid ammonia-hydrogen/water (NH3-H2/H2O) vapour

absorption systems. This technique uses solar energy to produce cold air and does not pollute the

environment.

Satish Raghuvanshi & Govind Maheshwari (2011) - studied empirical relations for evaluating

the characteristics and performance of a single stage Ammonia water (NH3-H2O) vapour

absorption system. The necessary heat and mass transfer equations and appropriate equations

describing the thermodynamic properties of the working fluid at all thermodynamic states are

evaluated. An energy analysis of each component has been carried out and numerical results for

the cycle are tabulated. Finally the variations of various thermodynamic parameters are

simulated and examined.

K. Balaji and R. Senthil Kumar (2012)-dealt with hypothetical design of lithium bromide

water absorption refrigeration system using waste heat from sugar industry steam turbine

exhaust. The hypothetical design is based on the cooling effect required for DC thrust motor in a

sugar industry.

V.D. Patel , A.J. Chaudhari and R.D. Jilte (2012)- worked upon theoretical calculations of

different components of the systems like evaporator, absorber, condenser and pump of vapour

absorption refrigeration system for a capacity of 0.25TR and experimentally developed and run

system to validated for reducing the temperature of free of cost operation.

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T.K. Chandrashekarand Manu.S (2012)- carried study on designing the absorber for miniature

LiBr-H2O Vapour Absorption Refrigeration for cooling electronic devices.

Tarik Shaikh, Prof. Yogesh J. Morabiya (2013)-worked upon simple absorption refrigeration

system using Li-Br / H2O as a working pair. The simulation of the system was carried out using

Engineering Equations Solver. Results of simulated performance of this system and the effects of

the refrigeration load inlet temperature on the coefficient of performance, COP of the system are

given. The performance of the system increased with increasing initial temperature of the

cooling load. The effects of changing refrigeration load inlet temperature were investigated and

shown.

Prashant Tile and S. S. Barve (2013)- studied about Vapour absorption machine working on

the principle of absorption refrigeration cycle. Vapour absorption machine consists of two

rectangular pressure vessel shells. Both shells operate under vacuum. As these pressure vessels

are subjected to vacuum, there is a chance of external pressure failure. Therefore, design of

components of vapour absorption machine is carried out using ASME and TEMA code. Design

pressure is 1 Bar and design temperature is 150oC.

Christy V Vazhappilly and Trijo Tharayil (2013)-carried out the detailed study about a

prototype of an absorption system for refrigeration using heat from the exhaust gases. The

heating coil generator system was replaced by the frame plate type heat exchanger. The exhaust

gases from the IC engine were utilized to vaporize the ammonia refrigerant. The available heat in

the exhaust gases was estimated based on actual I.C-Engine driving cycles. The frame plate type

heat exchanger was modeled and flow analysis inside the heat exchanger was analyzed.

8
Nimai Mukhopadhyay & Someshwar Choudhury (2013) -studied the theoretical modeling of

solar-assisted cascade refrigeration system in cold storage. The system consists of electricity-

driven vapour compression refrigeration system and solar-driven vapour absorption refrigeration

system. The vapour compression refrigeration system was connected in series with vapour

absorption refrigeration system. The results showed higher COP as compared with the

conventional vapour compression refrigeration system. COP of this type refrigeration system

increased as sunlight becomes intense.

K.V. Rao & B.J.M. Rao (2013)- studied on obtaining the energy from one single flat plate

collector, with the help of vapour absorption refrigeration technique. In this way a commercial

single flat plate water heating system was used for heating purpose in winter and rainy seasons

and cooling effect during summer.

Deepak Desai & J.B. Raol (2013)- carried out work on designing and developing energy

efficient solar based refrigeration system for milk cooling at village level society and for room

conditioning for cold stores and packaging rooms for milk and milk products, to reduce peak

load penalty. Use of solar energy made scope for its commercial use in the dairy processing

operations as well as to design and develop solar based refrigeration systems for dairy industry.

9
 CHAPTER 3

PROBLEM FORMULATION

Vapour absorption refrigeration system had been a major area of interest in past and present era.

A lot efforts is being put to enhance the overall performance of the system by keeping in touch

with energy conservation. A solar vapour absorption refrigeration system produces cooling effect

using solar energy rather than electrical input as in a more familiar compression cycle. In this

system the heat source is solar energy, which reduces the power which is required by the

compressor. In this system, the work of compressor as done in vapour compression system is

replaced by absorber and generator. Power required by this system is less than the power

required by vapour compression system as it uses solar energy as its energy source. So that’s

why it has been decided to make a project on “DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF SOLAR

POWERED VAPOUR ABSORPTION REFRIGERATION SYSTEM”.

OBJECTIVE

The main objective of the project is to design and fabricate solar powered vapour absorption

refrigeration system. As it consumes solar energy so it is very useful in this present era of energy

crisis. Also it is environment friendly as no harmful refrigerants like CFC’s are used which

causes global warming.

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 CHAPTER -4

METHODOLOGY

4.1Introduction

After all the problem formulation and objectives been defined it has been decide to work upon

solar powered vapour absorption refrigeration system using the following components

Generator-Generator will be a type of container consisting of pipes. Corrosion resistant material

will be used for pipe and generator. The hot water from solar water heater will be passed through

these pipes to heat aqua ammonia solution.

Rectifier- The rectification column makes evaporated water to condense and trickle back to the

generator. It should have enough length to allow complete rectification.

Condenser- The type of condenser used will be a surface condenser. In these condensers, there

will be a shell and tube heat exchanger installed. The cooling water will be allowed to flow

through tube side and the vapour enters the shell side where the condensation occurs on the

outside of heat transfer tubes.

Evaporator-The natural circulation evaporators are based on the natural circulation of the

product caused by the density differences that arise from heating. In an evaporator using tubing

after the liquid ammonia begins to boil bubbles will rise and cause circulation, facilitating the

separation of the liquid and vapour at the top of heating tubes.

Heat exchanger- Double pipe heat exchanger is a type of heat exchanger which will be used.

This heat exchanger is cheap for both design and maintenance. It is located between the absorber

and the generator to heat the cool solution from the absorber on its way to the generator and to

cool the solution returning from the generator to the absorber.

11
Pump-Pump is used to pump aqua ammonia solution at a pressure to the generator. The

diaphragm pump is to be used to pump refrigerants. A diaphragm pump is a positive

displacement pump that uses combination of reciprocating action of rubber and suitable valves at

either side of diaphragm to pump a fluid. When the volume of a chamber of pump is increased

(the diaphragm moving up), the pressure decreases, and fluid is drawn into the chamber. When

the chamber pressure later increases from decreased volume (the diaphragm moving down), the

fluid previously drawn in is forced out.

Fig 4.1 Solar Vapour Absorptio0n Refrigeration Syst

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Heating water by solar energy

The heating of water supplied to generator will be done by thermosyphon solar water heater. In

this system, the heat from the collector will be transferred to water in two ways : directly where

water circulates through the collector, or indirectly where an anti-freeze solution carries the heat

from collector and transfers it to water in the tank via heat exchanger. Convection allows for the

movement of the heated liquid out of the solar collector to be replaced by colder liquid which is

in turn heated. Due to this principle, it is necessary for the water to be stored in a tank above the

collector.

fig4.2 Thermosyphon system using solar energy

13
 CHAPTER-5

CONCLUSION

Earlier vapour absorption refrigeration system used external heating coil as a heating source in

generator which consumed electrical power which was not so economical .So in this project, we

use the solar energy which is economical. A vapour absorption system using solar energy has

emerged largely due to concerns regarding global warming.

In this system heat source is solar energy which reduces the power which is required by the

compressor. Work of compressor as done in vapour compression system is replaced by absorber,

generator and pump. Power required by this system is less than the power required by vapour

compression system.

As is with any project, this one has both advantages and disadvantages. On the down side, the

project relies on solar heat for refrigeration. This means that in absence of a source of heat, this

system get effected. Refrigerant ammonia is used here in this system which is ozone friendly.

Further, in the presence of abundant solar energy, the refrigeration system is cheap and practical.

With almost negligible operating costs operating costs, refrigeration is considered universal for

higher productivity and less wastage in the agricultural sector.

14
 REFRENCES

1. Velmurugan,V., Rajabalayanan S.R., 2011 ,Investigation of a novel solar powered

absorption refrigeration system with solar point collector, RJCS ,VOL. 1(7), pp. 51-56.

2. Raghuvanshi, Satish, Maheshwari, Govind, 2011 Analysis of ammonia-water vapour

absorption refrigeration system, IJSER, VOL.2, pp.1-7.

3. Balaji, K., Kumar Senthil, 2012, Study of vapour absorption system using waste heat

from sugar industry, IOSRJEN, VOL. 2, pp. 34-39.

4. Patel, V.D., Chaudhary, A.J., 2012, Theoretical and experimental evaluation of vapour

absorption refrigeration system, IJERA, pp. 128-131.

5. Chandrashekhar, T.K., 2012, Theoretical model of absorber for miniature LiBr-water

vapour absorption refrigeration system, IJMER, VOL. 2, pp. 010-017.

6. Shaikh, Tarik, Morabiya, Yogesh, 2013, Review of Solar absorption refrigeration system

using LiBr-Water & simulate performance of system, IJAERS, VOL.2, pp. 57-60.

7. Tile, Prashant, Barve, S.S., 2013, Design and analysis of vapour absorbing machine,

IJMER, VOL. 3, pp. 2161-2165.

8. Vazhappilly, Christy, Nagarajan, A.P., 2013, modeling and Experimental analysis of

generator in vapour absorption refrigeration system, IJERA, VOL. 2, pp. 63-67.

9. Mukhopadhyay, Nimai, Choudhary, Someshwar, 2013, Performance Analysis of Solar

Assisted Cascade Refrigeration System of Cold Storage System,IJAREEIE,VOL.2 ,pp.

1248-1254.

10. Rao, K.V., Rao B.J.M., 2013, Low cost solar cooling system, IJEIT, VOL. 3, pp. 51-60.

11. Desai, Deepak, Raol, J.B., 2013, Application of solar energy for sustainable dairy

development, EJSD, VOL. 2, pp. 131-140.

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12. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/vapour compression system

13. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/vapour absorption system

14. Indian Institute of Technology; AIR CONDITIONING AND REFRIGERATION

Lectures 14,15,16,17. By Prof. M. Ramgopal, Department of Mechanical Engineering.

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