Introduction

The vapour absorption refrigeration system is one of the oldest,simplest and

economical method to produce refrigeration effect.This system of refrigeration
is used in both domestic and in air conditioning installation. The refrigerant,
commonly used in a vapour absorption system is ammonia. This sytem uses
heat energy instead of mechanical energy.In the vapour absorption system,the
compressor is replaced by an absorber,a pump agenerator and apressure
reducing vapour. There component on vapour absorption system, perform the
same function as that of a compressor in vapour compression system.

Vapour Absorption Refrigeration Systems (VARS) belong

to the class of vapour cycles similar to vapour compression refrigeration
systems. However, unlike vapour compression refrigeration systems, the
required input to absorption systems is in the form of heat. Hence these systems
are also called as heat operated or thermal energy driven systems. Since
conventional absorption systems use liquids for absorption of refrigerant, these
are also sometimes called as wet absorption systems. Similar to vapour
compression refrigeration systems, vapour absorption refrigeration systems
have also been commercialized and are widely used in various refrigeration and
air conditioning applications. Since these systems run on low-grade thermal
energy, they are preferred when low-grade energy such as waste heat or solar
energy is available. Since conventional absorption systems use natural
refrigerants such as water or ammonia they are environment friendly.

PRINCIPLE
All the absorption system of refrigeration
operate on the principle that several combination of chemicals,have the property
that the other on cooling but releases the same on heating for maintaining a
pressure difference in the system necessary to evaporate and condense the
refrigerant.
 There are different combination used in different absorption refrigeration
system.The system which used solid absorbent are known as intermittent
absorption system while systems,using liquid absorbent are continuous cycle
absorption system.Some of the combination used in absorption refrigeration
system are given below;

(1) Ammonia as refrigerant and water as absorbent.

(2) Water as refrigerant and lithium bromide as absorbent.
(3) Sulphur dioxide as refrigerant and silica gel as absorbent.
(4) Methylene chloride as refrigerant and dimethyl ethane as absorbent.

Of all the above mentioned absorption system,these are two principle types.One
utalises a solid absorbent material while the other uses a liquid absorbent. The
liquid absorbent system is the most popular,because of its popularity in its
utility. A study of its cycle is helpful to an understanding of other related
absorption systems. In the liquid absorbent system,the followimg main parts are
connected in series with help of steel pipes.

1. Generator
2. Rectifier(seperator)
3. Condenser
4. Evaporator
5. Absorber

(1) NH3 Absorption System

Before the development of the vapor
compression system of refrigeration, vapor absorption cycle was very widely
used. The vapor compression system replaced vapor absorption system because
it has high coefficient of performance (COP). The vapor absorption system
requires very less amount of electricity but large amount of heat; hence it can be
used very effectively in industries where very large stocks of excessive steam
are available. In such cases there is not only effective utilization of steam, but
also lots of savings in electricity costs. Of late the vapor absorption systems are
being employed by a number of industries to save on their electric bills.
However, the vapor absorption system is useful only where large
scale refrigeration in excess of at least 20 tons is required.

Various Processes of NH3 Absorption

Cycle
The various processes of the vapor
absorption cycle are similar to the one in vapor compression cycle, only the
method of compression of the refrigerant is different. In vapor absorption
system ammonia is used as the refrigerant, which has very high affinity to
dissolve in water. Here are various processes of vapor absorption cycle:

1) Compression or absorption of the refrigerant: In vapor absorption system

there is no traditional compressor, instead there is absorber. The absorber
consists of water, called as absorbent, in which the refrigerant, ammonia,
dissolves. This mixture of water and ammonia is then pumped and heated
thus increase in temperature and pressure of the ammonia occurs. Ammonia
 leaves the absorber at high pressure and high temperature. Some work has to
be provided to the pump and heating is carried out by the steam. The amount
of electricity required by the pump is much lesser than that required by the
compressor hence there is lots of saving of electricity, however, the
additional source of heat in the form of steam has to be provided.

2) Condensation: The refrigerant at pressure and temperature then enters

condenser where it is cooled by water and its temperature and pressure
reduces.

3) Expansion: Thereafter the expansion of refrigerant occurs in throttling valve

due to which the temperature and pressure of the ammonia refrigerant
reduces drastically and suddenly.

4) Evaporation: Finally the refrigerant enters the evaporator where it produces

the cooling effect. It leaves the evaporator in vapor state and then enters
absorber, where it is absorbed by absorbent, water and compressed by the
pump. This process repeats again and cycle continues.

(2) Water-Lithium Bromide Vapor

Absorption Refrigeration System

In water-lithium bromide
vapor absorption refrigeration system, water is used as the refrigerant while
lithium bromide (Li Br) is used as the absorbent. Thus in the absorber the
lithium bromide absorbent absorbs the water refrigerant and solution of water
and lithium bromide is formed. This solution is pumped by the pump to the
generator where the solution is heated. The water refrigerant gets vaporized and
moves to the condenser where it is heated while lithium bromide flows back to
the absorber where it further absorbs water coming from the evaporator.

Special Features of Water-Lithium

Bromide Solution
Here are some special features of the water and lithium bromide in absorption
refrigeration system:

1) As such lithium bromide has great affinity for water vapor, however,
when the water-lithium bromide solution is formed, they are not
completely soluble with each other under all the operating conditions of
the absorption refrigeration system. Hence, when the water-lithium
bromide absorption refrigeration system is being designed, the designer
must take care that such conditions would not be created where the
crystallization and precipitation of lithium bromide would occur.

2) The water used as the refrigerant in the absorption refrigeration system

means the operating pressures in the condenser and the evaporator would
be very low. Even the difference of pressure between the condenser and
the evaporator are very low, and this can be achieved even
without installing the expansion valve in the system, since the drop in
pressure occurs due to friction in the refrigeration piping and also in the
spray nozzles.

3) The capacity of any absorption refrigeration system depends on the

ability of the absorbent to absorb the refrigerant, which in turn depends
on the concentration of the absorbent. To increase the capacity of the
system, the concentration of absorbent should be increased, which would
enable absorption of more refrigerant. Some of the most common
methods used to change the concentration of the absorbent are:
controlling the flow of the steam or hot water to the generator, controlling
the flow of water used for condensing in the condenser, and re-
concentrating the absorbent leaving the generator and entering the
absorber.
Various Processes Water-Lithium Bromide
Absorption Refrigeration Cycle

1) Evaporator: Water as the refrigerant enters the evaporator at very low

pressure and temperature. Since very low pressure is maintained inside
the evaporator the water exists in the partial liquid state and partial vapor
state. This water refrigerant absorbs the heat from the substance to be
chilled and gets fully evaporated. It then enters the absorber.
 2) Absorber: In the absorber concentrated solution of lithium bromide is
already available. Since water is highly soluble in lithium bromide,
solution of water-lithium bromide is formed. This solution is pumped by
the pump to the generator.

3) Generator: The heat is supplied to the refrigerant water and absorbent

lithium bromide solution in the generator from the steam or hot water.
Due to heating water gets vaporized and it moves to the condenser, where
it gets cooled. As water refrigerant moves further in the refrigeration
piping and though nozzles, it pressure reduces and so also the
temperature. This water refrigerant then enters the evaporator where it
produces the cooling effect. This cycle is repeated continuously. Lithium
bromide on the other hand, leaves the generator and reenters the absorber
for absorbing water refrigerant. The condenser water is used to cool the
water refrigerant in the condenser and the water-Li Br solution in the
absorber. Steam is used for heating water-Li Br solution in the generator.
To change the capacity of this water-Li Br absorption refrigeration
system the concentration of Li Br can be changed.

Domestic Electrolux Refrigerator

An electolux refrigerator is the

most popular type domestic refrigerator which works on the principle of vapour
absorption system.It employ three fluids system i.e a refrigerant,solvent and an
insert gas. A refrigerant and solvent is aqua ammonia i.e a mixture of ammonia
and water and the inert gas is hydrogen.
In its simplest form, ammonia is used as refrigerant and water as absorber.
Ammonia mixed with water remains in the generator. When heat is applied to
the generator chamber,it pushes the refrigerant mixed with water towards the
separator. In the separator,water and ammonia are separated. Ammonia vapour
move further and are condensed in condenser. On the other side,water after
bfing condensed on the way comes to absorber. Condensed ammonia enters the
evaporater and after absorbing heat from the surrondings,it changes into vapour
from in the presence of hydrogen. Finally it comes back to the generator
through the absorber. This cycle of ammonia,water and hydrogen flow is
continued and thus cooling effect is obtained.
 Comparison Between Vapour Absorption
And Vapour Compression system
S.N Vapour absorption
O system
1. The main parts like generator,
rectifier,condenser,evaporater and
absorber are used
2. Steel pipes is used to connect parts
3. Mixture of gases like aqua ammonia
and hydrogen are changed
4. Uses low grade energy like heat.
Therefore,may be worked on exhaust
systems from I.C engines, etc.
5. Moving parts are only in the pump,
which is a small element of the
system. Hence operation is smooth.
6. The system can work on lower
evaporator pressures also without
affecting the COP.
7. No effect of reducing the load on
performance
8. It occupies more space.
Vapour compression system
It has the main perts like compressor ,
condenser, receiver, refrigerant control
device and evaporater
Copper pipes is used to connect parts
Refrigerant like Freon or ammonia or
carbondioxide or sulphurdioxide is
charged
Using high-grade energy like
mechanical work.
Moving parts are in the compressor.
Therefore, more wear, tear and noise
The COP decreases considerably with
decrease in evaporator pressure.
Performance is adversely affected at
partial loads.
It occupies less space
9. It does not require much servicing It requires service occasionally