Vapor absorption refrigeration system

(VARS)
 Gas refrigeration system
 Vapor Compression refrigeration system

■ Vapor absorption refrigeration system

 Absorption Cycle(Flow diagramme)

Compressor is replaced with a more complex system

 Compressor is replaced with Absorber, liquid pump, expansion valve

and generator
 VARS VS VCRS

Vapor Absorption Vapor Compression

 Heat-driven system: heat input is  Electricity-driven system, mechanical

required work input is require

 More expensive and complex, larger,  Domestic and industrial application

less efficient than vapor-compression
systems  Less expensive in terms of initial cost,
simple in construction
 Used when waste heat is available,
e.g. Gas turbine exhaust, solar energy,  Typical value of COP is 3.0
waste condensate etc.
 Large variety of refrigerant can be
 Typical value of COP is 0.6 used

 Refrigerant used are water and

ammonia

Operation is quiet, little wear rate

The Basic Absorption Unit

The working principle

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 Steps of Absorption Cycle

 Low pressure vapor from evaporator is absorbed by liquid solution in

absorber.
 This process is exothermic. If heat weren’t removed, temp would rise and
absorption would cease.
 Absorber is cooled by water or air.
 Low pressure liquid is pumped to a higher pressure and enters the generator.
 Heat from a high temp source drives the vapor out of the liquid.
 The liquid returns to the absorber through a throttling valve, returning to a
low pressure.
 The high-pressure vapor is sent to a condenser, expansion valve, and then
the evaporator.
 Refrigerants pass through the condenser & evaporator section.
 Transport media remain in the absorption section.
 Aqua-ammonia VS LiBr-H2O
Aqua ammonia LiBr-H2O
 These systems are more versatile than  operated between 2-10 C used for air-
systems based on water-lithium bromide as
they can be used for both sub-zero
conditoning and water chiller
(refrigeration) as well above 0˚C (air  boiling point difference is large (2000
conditioning) applications. C)
 These systems are more complex in design  operated under vacuum
and operation due to the smaller boiling point  crystallization and air leakage
temperature difference between the problem
refrigerant and absorbent (about 133˚ C).
 Generator consists of both ammonia as well
as water vapors. If water vapors are allowed
to circulate with ammonia in the refrigerant
circuit freeze and choke the pipeline of
expansion valve
 The entire system is fabricated out of steel
 Ammonia-water system is operated at
pressures much higher than atmospheric.
problem of air leakage into the system is
eliminated
 No crystallization problem
these systems need safety precautions.
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