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Performance analysis of solar powered absorption refrigeration system

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Abstract

The present work provides a detailed thermodynamic analysis of a 10 kW solar absorption refrigeration system using ammonia-water mixtures as a working medium. This analysis includes both first law and second law of thermodynamics. The coefficient of performance (COP), exergetic coefficient of performance (ECOP) and the exergy losses (ΔE) through each component of the system at different operating conditions are obtained. The minimum and maximum values of COP and ECOP were found to be at 110 and 200°C generator temperatures respectively. About 40% of the system exergy losses were found to be in the generator. The maximum exergy losses in the absorber occur at generator temperature of 130°C for all evaporator temperatures. A computer simulation model is developed to carry out the calculations and to obtain the results of the present study.

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Abbreviations

COP:

Coefficient of performance

C p :

Specific heat (kJ/kg K)

E :

Exergy (kW)

ECOP:

Exergetic coefficient of performance

f :

Circulation ratio

g :

Specific Gibbs energy (kJ/kg)

G :

Total Gibbs energy (kJ)

h :

Specific enthalpy (kJ/kg)

I :

Availability destruction

KE:

Kinetic energy (kJ)

m :

Mass (kg)

n :

Number of moles

P :

Pressure (kPa)

PE:

Potential energy (kJ)

Q :

Heat energy (kW)

REV:

Refrigerant expansion valve

\( \overset{\lower0.5em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\frown}$}}{R} \) :

Gas constant (kJ/kmol K)

s :

Specific entropy (kJ/kg K)

S :

Total entropy (kJ/K)

SEV:

Solution expansion valve

t :

Time (s)

T :

Temperature (°C)

U :

Internal energy (kJ)

v :

Specific volume (m3/kg)

W :

Work (kJ)

x :

Liquid ammonia mass fraction

y :

Vapor ammonia mass fraction

Δ:

Difference in any quantity

∂ :

Partial differential

μ :

Chemical potential

ε :

Effectiveness

A:

Ammonia

abs:

Absorber

cond:

Condenser

cv:

Control volume

e:

Exit

eq:

Equilibrium

evap:

Evaporator

gen:

Generator

i:

Inlet

in:

Input

out:

Output

o:

Reference state

p:

Constant pressure

r:

reduced properties

ref:

Refrigerant

regen:

Regenerator

REV:

Refrigerant expansion valve

SEV:

Solution expansion valve

W:

Water

E:

Excess property

L:

Liquid

M:

Mixture

o:

Rate of flow of property

tot:

Total value

V:

Vapor

^:

Properties per unit kmol

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Technology, Al Balqa Applied University, Amman, 15008, Jordan

    Suleiman Qaseem Abu-Ein, Sayel M. Fayyad, Waleed Momani & Mamdouh Al-Bousoul

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  1. Suleiman Qaseem Abu-Ein
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  2. Sayel M. Fayyad
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  3. Waleed Momani
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  4. Mamdouh Al-Bousoul
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Correspondence to Suleiman Qaseem Abu-Ein.

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Abu-Ein, S.Q., Fayyad, S.M., Momani, W. et al. Performance analysis of solar powered absorption refrigeration system. Heat Mass Transfer 46, 137–145 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-009-0538-1

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