Ammonia Solar Heat Engine PDF

Solar Heat Pump Electrical Generation System Ammonia Absorption (Day Time Cycle) Thermal Solar Collectors
Expansion Engine uses ammonia pressure to force and compress air
High Pressure Hot Ammonia Vapor

Ammonia Vapor and Water are separated
Ammonia Condenser
High Pressure Hot Water
Ammonia condenses at high pressure/temperature and generates steam.
Aqueous Ammonia pump increases pressure Ammonia is injected/ absorbed in water
Ammonia vapor under partial vacuum
Water Output
Preheater High Pressure Cold Water
Anhydrous Ammonia Storage
Generator
As pi ra to r
Steam Turbine Condenser

Steam Turbine
Generator
Wind Turbine
Pump
Heat Storage
Design by Robert J. Rohatensky April 2007
Solar Heat Pump Electrical Generation System Ammonia Absorption (Day Time Cycle)
The target location in this example is Western Canada. For the summer daytime cycle, assume that the ambient air temperature is 20C and the shallow earth is 3C. The solar collectors would be concentrated solar trough or similar system capable of temperatures >400C.
Anhydrous Ammonia (NH3) is stored as a liquid under pressure at ambient temperature.

(400psi/2700kPa)
The NH3 pressure is used to drive an expansion engine attached to a fan. There is a pressure drop in the engine as the NH3 expands.
(~150psi/1300kPa)
The fan forces air through the heat exchanger increasing its pressure and temperature. The air is compressed to (20psi/150kPa) and the temperature rises to 35C.
The NH3 is then completely expanded to a low pressure in a heat exchanger (evaporator) and it boils at -33C.
The heat from the air (at the increased temperature) is transferred into the evaporating ammonia.
The water vapor in the air condenses as it is cooled and is captured.

The NH3 vapor is at a low pressure and contains the heat from the ambient air. (<14psi/100kPa) 30C
It is then absorbed into cool water. The absorption is exothermic and the resulting aqueous ammonia liquid contains the heat from the ambient air.
Ammonia is injected/ absorbed in water
A pump pressurizes the aqueous ammonia liquid to Ammonia is 400psi(2700kPa)

injected/ absorbed in water
Aqueous Ammonia pump increases pressure
This is a liquid and not compressible and the required power to increase the pressure is relatively low. Ammonia
is injected/ absorbed in water
This pump is very similar in action to the feed water pump in a Rankine cycle.
Ammonia is injected/ absorbed in water
A thermal oil and secondary heat exchanger would be used and is removed for simplification.
The pressurized aqueous ammonia solution is then heated with concentrated solar heat. 400psi(2700kPa) 400C

The ammonia boils out of the aqueous ammonia solution well below the boiling point of water. This is fractional distillation. 400psi(2700kPa) 400C

Ammonia Condenser
The ammonia vapor is condensed in a heat exchanger and the heat is transfered. 400psi(2700kPa) 20C

Ammonia Condenser
The condensed and cooled ammonia liquid is returned to pressurized storage. 400psi(2700kPa) 20C
Aqueous Ammonia pump increases pressure Ammonia is injected/ absorbed in water High Pressure Cold Water
As pi ra to r
Preheater
The water is cooled in a heat exchanger and the pressurized cold water travels though an aspirator creating a vacuum which draws the ammonia vapor. The pressure drops to 200psi through the aspirator, this pressure drop is maintained by the aqueous ammonia pump intake.

Ammonia Condenser
Preheater
The heat from the hot water and the ammonia condensation is used to drive a steam turbine which produces electricity.
Generator

Steam Turbine

Ammonia Condenser
Preheater

Steam Turbine
Cold water cools the steam turbine and the heat is transferred to underground thermal storage.
Generator
Pump
Heat Storage
The air pressure drops as it exits the heat exchanger and the much colder and dryer air is denser than ambient and negative buoyancy forces it down the convection tower. A wind turbine generates electricity.
Generator
Wind Turbine

Ammonia Condenser
Ammonia condenses at high pressure/temperature and generates steam.
Water Output
Preheater High Pressure Cold Water
Generator
As pi ra to r

Steam Turbine
Generator
Wind Turbine
Pump
Heat Storage

Ammonia Solar Heat Engine PDF

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Solar Heat Pump Electrical Generation System Ammonia Absorption (Day Time Cycle) Thermal Solar Collectors

Expansion Engine uses ammonia pressure to force and compress air

High Pressure Hot Ammonia Vapor

High Pressure Hot Water

Ammonia condenses at high pressure/temperature and generates steam.

Aqueous Ammonia pump increases pressure Ammonia is injected/ absorbed in water

Ammonia vapor under partial vacuum

Preheater High Pressure Cold Water

Anhydrous Ammonia Storage

Steam Turbine Condenser

Design by Robert J. Rohatensky April 2007

Anhydrous Ammonia (NH3) is stored as a liquid under pressure at ambient temperature.

Design by Robert J. Rohatensky April 2007

Design by Robert J. Rohatensky April 2007

Anhydrous Ammonia Storage

Design by Robert J. Rohatensky April 2007

Design by Robert J. Rohatensky April 2007

Design by Robert J. Rohatensky April 2007

The water vapor in the air condenses as it is cooled and is captured.

Design by Robert J. Rohatensky April 2007

Anhydrous Ammonia Storage

Design by Robert J. Rohatensky April 2007

Expansion Engine uses ammonia pressure to force and compress air

Ammonia vapor under partial vacuum

Ammonia is injected/ absorbed in water

Anhydrous Ammonia Storage

Design by Robert J. Rohatensky April 2007

Expansion Engine uses ammonia pressure to force and compress air

A pump pressurizes the aqueous ammonia liquid to Ammonia is 400psi(2700kPa)

Aqueous Ammonia pump increases pressure

Ammonia vapor under partial vacuum

Anhydrous Ammonia Storage

Design by Robert J. Rohatensky April 2007

Expansion Engine uses ammonia pressure to force and compress air

Aqueous Ammonia pump increases pressure

Ammonia vapor under partial vacuum

Anhydrous Ammonia Storage

Design by Robert J. Rohatensky April 2007

Expansion Engine uses ammonia pressure to force and compress air

Aqueous Ammonia pump increases pressure

Ammonia vapor under partial vacuum

Anhydrous Ammonia Storage

Design by Robert J. Rohatensky April 2007

Expansion Engine uses ammonia pressure to force and compress air

Aqueous Ammonia pump increases pressure Ammonia is injected/ absorbed in water

Ammonia vapor under partial vacuum

Anhydrous Ammonia Storage

Design by Robert J. Rohatensky April 2007

Expansion Engine uses ammonia pressure to force and compress air

High Pressure Hot Ammonia Vapor

Aqueous Ammonia pump increases pressure Ammonia is injected/ absorbed in water

Ammonia vapor under partial vacuum

Anhydrous Ammonia Storage

Design by Robert J. Rohatensky April 2007

Expansion Engine uses ammonia pressure to force and compress air

High Pressure Hot Ammonia Vapor

Aqueous Ammonia pump increases pressure Ammonia is injected/ absorbed in water

Ammonia vapor under partial vacuum

Anhydrous Ammonia Storage

Design by Robert J. Rohatensky April 2007

High Pressure Hot Ammonia Vapor

Anhydrous Ammonia Storage

Design by Robert J. Rohatensky April 2007