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Economic analysis of two stage dual fluid absorption cycle for

optimizing generator temperatures

Article  in  Energy Conversion and Management · March 2001

DOI: 10.1016/S0196-8904(00)00075-3

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 Energy Conversion and Management 42 (2001) 407±437
www.elsevier.com/locate/enconman

Economic analysis of two stage dual ¯uid absorption cycle for

optimizing generator temperatures
Saghiruddin, M. Altamush Siddiqui *
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202 002, India
Received 19 November 1999; accepted 15 May 2000

Abstract
Economic analysis of a ¯at plate solar collector for operating a two stage dual ¯uid absorption cycle has
been performed to optimize the generator temperatures. The dual ¯uid absorption cycle uses a LiBr±H2 O
solution in the ®rst stage, while ammonia refrigerant with some suitable absorbent is used in the cycle at the
second stage. The absorbents selected to be used with ammonia at the second stage are water, lithium
nitrate and sodium thiocyanate. For the purpose of comparison, the analysis has also been done with an
evacuated type solar collector, biogas and LPG as the sources of energy in the dual ¯uid cycle. Compar-
isons of the optimum generator temperatures, optimum values of coecient of performance (COP) and the
minimum operating costs obtained for the dual ¯uid cycle have been done with those of the single stage
absorption cycle. The dual ¯uid cycle using NH3 ±H2 O at the second stage when operated by the ¯at plate
solar collector shows very good performance and becomes quite economical, especially at low evaporation
and high condensing temperatures. Eventually, the single stage cycle, due to certain limitations in it, ceases
to operate at such conditions. The optimum generator temperatures, optimum COPs and minimum op-
erating costs obtained for a wide range of operating conditions have been exhibited graphically. Also,
mathematical relationships have been developed for ®nding the optimum generator temperatures in the
cycle at the second stage of the dual ¯uid system. Ó 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Dual ¯uid cycle; LiBr±H2 O; Ammonia refrigerant; Flat plate solar collector; Evacuated tubular collector;
Biogas; Lique®ed petroleum gas; Low evaporation temperature; Economic analysis

1. Introduction

For low evaporator temperatures in the single stage ammonia cycle, the required temperatures
are reported [1] to be very high, which limits the use of ordinary type ¯at plate collectors for the

*
Corresponding author. Tel.: +91-571-702-247; fax: +91-571-400-528.

0196-8904/01/$ - see front matter Ó 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S 0 1 9 6 - 8 9 0 4 ( 0 0 ) 0 0 0 7 5 - 3
408 Saghiruddin, M.A. Siddiqui / Energy Conversion and Management 42 (2001) 407±437

Nomenclature

A Absorber
Ap Area of ordinary ¯at plate solar collector (m2 )
At Area of evacuated tubular plate solar collector (m2 )
C Condenser/speci®c heat (kJ/kg K)
CP Subroutine for speci®c enthalpy
E Evaporator
Cb Total cost of biogas per year (Rupees)
Cl Total cost of LPG per year (Rupees)
Cp Total cost of ordinary ¯at plate collector per year (Rupees)
Ct Total cost of evacuated tubular type solar collector per year (Rupees)
Cb1 Capital cost of biogas (Rupees)
Cb2 Running cost of biogas per year (Rupees)
Cl1 Capital cost of LPG (Rupees)
Cl2 Running cost of LPG per year (Rupees)
Cp1 Capital cost of ordinary ¯at plate collector (Rupees)
Cp2 Running cost of ordinary ¯at plate collector per year (Rupees)
Ct1 Capital cost of evacuated type solar collector (Rupees)
Ct2 Running cost of evacuated type solar collector (Rupees)
DUAL Dual ¯uid absorption cycles
h Speci®c enthalpy (kJ/kg)
H Subroutine for speci®c enthalpy
m Mass ¯ow rate/TR (kg/h)
PC Precooler
PH Preheater
P Subroutine for absolute pressure
p Absolute pressure; pa , pc , pe , pg , pr are pressures in the absorber, condenser, evapo-
rator, generator and recti®er, respectively (bar)
Qa , Qc , Qr Heat released by the absorber, condenser and recti®er, respectively (kJ/h)
Qe Cooling e€ect produced by evaporator (kJ/h)
Qg Heat required in generator (kJ/h)
Qb Heating value of biogas (kJ/m3 )
Ql Heating value of lique®ed petroleum gas (kJ/m3 )
Qp Useful heat available from ordinary type ¯at plate solar collector (kJ/m2 )
Qt Useful heat available from evacuated tubular type solar collector (kJ/m2 )
S Solar ¯ux (kJ/hm2 )
SSAC Single stage absorption cycle
t Temperature (°C)
T Subroutine for temperature
TR Tonnage of refrigeration (12600 kJ/h)
TV1 , TV2 Throttle valves
 Saghiruddin, M.A. Siddiqui / Energy Conversion and Management 42 (2001) 407±437 409

Vb Volume ¯ow rate of biogas (m3 /h)

V1 Volume ¯ow rate of LPG (m3 /h)
x Concentration of liquid ammonia per kg of solution in H2 O±NH3 , LiNO3 ±NH3 or
NaSCN±NH3 /concentration of lithium bromide salt (%) in LiBr±H2 O solution
Y Subroutine for ammonia concentration in vapour phase
y Concentration of ammonia in vapour phase, weight per kilogram of H2 O±NH3 gas
mixture/(y ˆ x for other cycles)
Subscripts
a1 Absorber at ®rst stage
a2 Absorber at second stage
am Ambient
a ammonia
b biogas
cl Condenser at ®rst stage
c2 Condenser at second stage
e1 Evaporator at ®rst stage
e2 Evaporator at second stage
g1 Generator at ®rst stage
g2 Generator at second stage
l Lique®ed petroleum gas (LPG)/liquid
p Ordinary ¯at plate collector
pv For speci®c heat of vapour at constant pressure
pl For speci®c heat of liquid at constant pressure
r Recti®er/reactant
s Solar energy
t Evacuated tubular collector
v Vapour
w Water
Greek letters
 Heat exchanger e€ectiveness c1 , c2 for precoolers and h1 , h2 for preheaters

vapour absorption cycle. Also, the performance of the absorption cycle for such conditions of
operation becomes extremely poor [1±4]. To improve their performance, some advanced stage
absorption cycles have been proposed by few investigators of this area. Thermodynamic design of
a two stage dual ¯uid cycle for solar refrigeration, using H2 O±NH3 at the second stage, has been
presented by Kaushik and Kumar [5]. Also, optimization of the generator temperatures in a
biogas operated two stage dual ¯uid cycle has been done by Siddiqui and Shamim [6], leaving the
e€ects of employing a recti®cation column in the H2 O±NH3 cycle. Optimization of generator
temperatures in a two stage dual ¯uid cycle for solar refrigeration is of great interest because
lowering the generator temperature in it facilitates the use of ordinary ¯at plate collectors. For
this purpose, an economic analysis of the ordinary type ¯at plate collector, meant to operate the
410 Saghiruddin, M.A. Siddiqui / Energy Conversion and Management 42 (2001) 407±437

two stage dual ¯uid cycle using di€erent working ¯uids, such as H2 O±NH3 , LiNO3 ±NH3 and
NaSCN±NH3 has been performed. This analysis has also been repeated for other sources of
energy, like an evacuated type tubular solar collector, biogas and Lique®ed petroleum gas (LPG)
in order to compare and study the e€ect of changing the energy source.

2. System analysis

2.1. System description

Fig. 1 shows the schematic diagram of a two stage dual ¯uid vapour absorption system, having
a LiBr±H2 O cycle at the ®rst stage and an ammonia cycle at the second stage. The working of the
absorption cycles with two stages is similar to those operating separately as a single stage simple
absorption cycle [1±4]. However, the cooling e€ect produced by evaporator E1 is utilized to cool
absorber A2 at the second stage.
The generator, in the case of the H2 O±NH3 cycle, consists of a recti®er and an analyser for
separating the traces of water vapour escaping along with the ammonia vapour. Thus, after
recti®cation, almost pure ammonia vapour is expected to ¯ow into condenser C2 . The refriger-
ation e€ect produced in evaporator E2 by the liquid ammonia coming from the condenser and,
then, passing through the precooler and throttle valve TV1 is meant to cool spaces. The heat
required in generators G1 and G2 are supposed to be obtained by means of the energy sources
under study. However, in the LiNO3 ±NH3 and NaSCN±NH3 cycles, the recti®er and the analyser
are not required.

2.2. System modelling

The mass, concentration and energy balance for each component as a control volume give the
following relations:
m1 ˆ m4 …y4 ÿ x10 †=…x1 ÿ x10 †; …1†

m10 ˆ m4 …y4 ÿ x1 †=…x1 ÿ x10 †; …2†

m13 ˆ m4 …y4 ÿ x14 †=…y13 ÿ x14 †; …3†

m14 ˆ m4 …y4 ÿ y13 †=…y13 ÿ x14 †; …4†

m15 ˆ m18 x24 =…x24 ÿ x15 †; …5†

m24 ˆ m18 x15 =…x24 ÿ x15 †; …6†

Qa1 ˆ m18 h23 ‡ m24 h25 ÿ m15 h15 ; …7†

Qc1 ˆ m18 …h18 ÿ h19 †; …8†

Qe1 ˆ m18 …h22 ÿ h20 †; …9†

 Saghiruddin, M.A. Siddiqui / Energy Conversion and Management 42 (2001) 407±437 411

Fig. 1. Two stage dual ¯uid vapour absorption cycle.

Qg1 ˆ m18 h18 ‡ m24 h24 ÿ m15 h17 ; …10†

Qa2 ˆ m4 h9 ‡ m10 h11 ÿ m1 h1 ; …11†

Qc2 ˆ m4 …h4 ÿ h5 †; …12†

Qe2 ˆ m4 …h8 ÿ h6 †; …13†

Qg2 ˆ m4 h4 ‡ m10 h10 ÿ m1 h3 ‡ Qr ; …14†

Qr ˆ m13 h13 ÿ m14 h14 ÿ m4 h4 ; …15†

where Qr is applicable only for the H2 O±NH3 mixture and will be zero for the other ¯uids under
study.
412 Saghiruddin, M.A. Siddiqui / Energy Conversion and Management 42 (2001) 407±437

Here, since absorber A2 is to be cooled by the ¯uid in evaporator E1 at the ®rst stage, therefore

Qa2 ˆ Qe1 ; …16†

m18 ˆ Qa2 =…h22 ÿ h20 †; …17†

m4 ˆ 12600  TR=…h8 ÿ h6 †: …18†

Here, 12,600 is the heat load on the evaporator (Qe2 ) per TR (tonnage of refrigeration) in kJ/h.
The coecient of performance at the ®rst and second stages and that of the combined dual ¯uid
cycle are given by

COP1 ˆ Qa2 =Qg1 ; …19†

COP2 ˆ Qe2 =Qg2 ; …20†

COPDUAL ˆ Qe2 =…Qg1 ‡ Qg2 †: …21†

Again, the mass transfer equilibrium implies

pe1 ˆ pa1 and pc1 ˆ pg1 ; …22†

pe2 ˆ pa2 and pc2 ˆ pg2 ˆ pr : …23†

These pressures relate the refrigerant temperature to the solution temperature and concentration.
The mass and energy balances to the precooler and preheater in the cycle at the second stage,
assuming the ¯uids in them have a counter¯ow con®guration, lead to

h9 ˆ h8 ‡ Cpv;8 …tc2 ÿ te2 †; …24†

h6 ˆ h5 ÿ c2 …h9 ÿ h8 †; …25†

h3 ˆ h1 ‡ …m10 =m1 †h2 …h11 ÿ h1 †: …26†

Similar equations can also be written for the cycle at the ®rst stage.
The e€ectiveness of the precooler and the preheater are assumed to be

c1 ˆ c2 ˆ h1 ˆ h2 ˆ 0:75:

2.3. Equations of the state points

The thermodynamic properties, such as speci®c enthalpy, speci®c heat, saturation temperature±
pressure and concentration of the absorbent/refrigerant in the mixtures of H2 O±NH3 , LiNO3 ±
NH3 , NaSCN±NH3 , and LiBr±H2 O used as working ¯uids in the absorption cycles are evaluated
for each state point by considering them in the form of subroutines. These property equations are
taken from Refs. [1±3,7±15].
 Saghiruddin, M.A. Siddiqui / Energy Conversion and Management 42 (2001) 407±437 413

LiBr±H2 O system at the ®rst stage

Cpv;22 ˆ CPvw …Tel ; pel †;

h15 ˆ H1s …ta1 ; xa1 †;

h18 ˆ Hsw …tc1 ; tg1 †;

h19 ˆ H1w …Tc1 ; pc1 †;

h22 ˆ Hvw …Te1 ; pe1 †;

h24 ˆ H1s …tg1 ; xg1 †;

h26 ˆ H1s …ta1 ; xg1 †;

pc1 ˆ Pw …Tc1 † ˆ …pg1 †;

pe1 ˆ Pw …Te1 † ˆ …pa1 †;

xa1 ˆ Ts …Ta1 ; Te1 † ˆ x15 ;

xg1 ˆ Ts …Tg1 ; Tc1 † ˆ x24 or Tg1 ˆ Ts …xg1 ; Tc1 †:

Ammonia system at the second stage

Cpv;8 ˆ CPva …Te2 †;

h1 ˆ H1s …ta2 ; xa2 †

and

h4 ˆ H1s …tc2 ; tg2 † for the NaSCN±NH3 and LiNO3 ±NH3 solutions;

while
h1 ˆ H1s …Ta2 ; xa2 ; pa2 †
and
h4 ˆ Hvs …y4 ; Tr ; pr † for the H2 O±NH3 solution;
h5 ˆ H1a …Tc2 ; pc2 †;
h8 ˆ Hva …Te2 ; pe2 †;
h10 ˆ H1s …tg2 ; xg2 †
and
h12 ˆ H1s …ta2 ; xg2 † for the NaSCN±NH3 and LiNO3 ±NH3 solutions;
while
h10 ˆ H1s …Tg2 ; xg2 ; pg2 †
414 Saghiruddin, M.A. Siddiqui / Energy Conversion and Management 42 (2001) 407±437

and
h12 ˆ H1s …Ta2 ; xg2 ; pa2 † for the H2 O±NH3 solution;
h13 ˆ Hvs …y13 ; Tg2 ; pg2 †;
h14 ˆ H1s …Tr ; x14 ; pr †;
xa2 ˆ Ps …Ta2 ; pa2 † ˆ x1 ;
xg2 ˆ Ps …Tg2 ; pa2 † ˆ x10 or Tg2 ˆ Ts …xg2 ; Tc2 †;
x14 ˆ Ps …Tr ; pr †;
y13 ˆ Y …xg2 ; pg2 †;
pc2 ˆ Pa …Tc2 † ˆ pg2 ;
pe2 ˆ Pa …Te2 † ˆ pa2 ;
pr ˆ Pa …Tr †:

2.4. Optimization procedure

The condensing temperatures tc1 and tc2 at the ®rst and second stages of the two stage dual ¯uid
cycle, respectively, are assigned some ®xed values. Also, it is assumed that tc1 ˆ tc2 ˆ ta1 ˆ tr
and tam ˆ …tc1 ÿ 10†°C. However, the temperature in the evaporator at the ®rst stage is ®xed to be
te1 ˆ 5°C, so that the temperature in the absorber at the second stage also is ®xed to be
ta2 ˆ …te1 ‡ 5†°C. On the other hand, the evaporator temperature at the second stage te2 is assigned
some desired value. Thus, the operating pressures in the various components, concentration of the
LiBr salt xa1 in the absorber at the ®rst stage, and the concentrations of the ammonia refrigerant
xa2 in the absorber and x14 in the recti®er at the second stage are computed. The concentration of
ammonia xg2 in the generator (G2 ) is then set to be xg2 ˆ …xg2 ÿ 0:005† after assigning the initial
value as xg2 ˆ xa2 . Subsequently, the generator temperature tg2 is then calculated for this value of
xg2 . Hence, the mass ¯ow and heat transfer rates to and from each component at the second stage
for the cooling load of Qe2 ˆ 12,600 kJ/h are evaluated. Thereby, the performance of the cycle at
the second stage and, hence, the amount and cost of energy required in the generator (G2 ) are
estimated.
Now, knowing the absorber load at the second stage Qa2 , which is supposed to be cooled by the
evaporator at the ®rst stage, it is assigned that Qe1 ˆ Qa2 . Thus, the mass ¯ow and heat transfer
rates to and from the components at the ®rst stage are computed for di€erent values of the
temperature tg1 in generator G1 which is obtained by varying the concentration of the LiBr salt xg1
after taking the initial values as: xg1 ˆ xa1 . The amount and cost of the energy required in gen-
erator G1 are then estimated for the given generator temperatures, and hence, the minimum costs
are selected, iteratively. Thus, the values of tg1 and COP1 of the LiBr±H2 O cycle at the ®rst stage,
corresponding to the minimum costs of the energy sources so obtained, become the optimum
generator temperature and the optimum coecient of performance (COP). The calculations are
then repeated for di€erent values of tg2 in generator G2 by sequence variation of xg2 . The minimum
amount and costs of the energy sources used in generator G2 are also selected iteratively, which
give the optimum generator temperatures and COP for the cycle at the second stage.
 Saghiruddin, M.A. Siddiqui / Energy Conversion and Management 42 (2001) 407±437 415

The total cost and amount of energy required by the two cycles at the ®rst and second stages,
along with the COP of the combined cycle, are then estimated. The calculations are repeated for
di€erent values of tc2 and te2 ranging between 25±45°C and 0±60°C, respectively.
The above calculations are also done for the various energy sources required in the absorption
cycle using the given ¯uid mixtures, with the solar ¯ux for the solar operated system being
S ˆ 2436:577 kJ/hm2 .

3. Results and discussion

3.1. Coecient of performance versus tg2

The COP of the cycle at the second stage with ammonia as the refrigerant and water, lithium
nitrate and sodium thiocyanate as the absorbents while using the LiBr±H2 O solution in the cycle
at the ®rst stage, are plotted against the generator temperature tg2 (of the second stage) and shown
in Fig. 2. The COPs of the combined cycle, considering the cooling load of the cycle at the second
stage and heat inputs Qg1 and Qg2 of the generators at the two stages, are also plotted with tg2 in
Fig. 2. Here, the heat input to the generators of the two cycles are through ordinary ¯at plate
collectors. The COP of the LiBr±H2 O cycle at the ®rst stage, on the other hand, remains constant
for all values of tg2 and te2 , irrespective of the working ¯uid being used. This is because the op-
erating conditions, such as te1 , ta1 , tc1 , tg1 , xa1 and xg1 , remain ®xed when tg2 and te2 are changed.
However, with a change in the condenser temperature tc2 , the COP of the LiBr±H2 O cycle
changes. This is due to the change in the absorber and condenser temperatures ta1 and tc1 with tc2
because tc1 ˆ ta1 ˆ tc2 . Here, the generator temperatures in the cycle at the ®rst stage are the
optimum values estimated corresponding to the minimum energy required by the LiBr±H2 O cycle
having the cooling load Qe1 ˆ Qa2 . The optimum values of COP1 and tg1 for the LiBr±H2 O at the
®rst stage of the dual ¯uid cycle, along with the LiBr salt concentration xg1 , are given in Table 1
for di€erent temperatures in the condenser (ta1 ˆ tc1 ) and the di€erent sources of energy. It is
interesting to note that the COP of the LiBr±H2 O cycle still remains constant, even though Qa2
increases with an increase in the generator temperature tg2 . This increase in the values of Qa2 are
due to the large amount of ammonia generated in the cycle at the second stage, which, in turn, has
to be absorbed in absorber A2 . Thus, the values of COP remain constant because the generator
load Qg1 also increases in the same ratio as does Qe1 …ˆ Qa2 †, which is the evaporator load in the
LiBr±H2 O cycle. For the purpose of the comparison, the COP of the single stage cycle has also
been plotted for the H2 O±NH3 , LiNO3 ±NH3 and NaSCN±NH3 solutions and shown in Fig. 2.
The coecient of performance exhibited in Fig. 2 for the combined dual ¯uid cycle and the one
at the second stage increase with generator temperature, reach maximum values and then decrease
gradually in the case of H2 O±NH3 , but become almost constant for the LiNO3 ±NH3 and NaS-
CN±NH3 solutions. It is seen that the COP of the ammonia cycle at the second stage of the dual
¯uid system is considerably higher than the COP of the single stage cycle using the same working
¯uid. It is also found that the COP of the combined dual ¯uid cycle is lower than the COP of the
single stage cycle, except in the case of the H2 O±NH3 mixture, where the COPs of the former
exceed those of the latter, especially at low evaporator temperatures. However, the maximum
416 Saghiruddin, M.A. Siddiqui / Energy Conversion and Management 42 (2001) 407±437

Fig. 2. Variation in the coecient of performance of the three ammonia cycles in the dual ¯uid system, and single stage
ammonia cycle, with the generator temperature at di€erent values of te for tc ˆ 30°C (te ˆ te2 and tg ˆ tg2 for the dual
¯uid system).

values of COP for the dual ¯uid cycle and the cycle at the second stage appear at relatively very
low generator temperatures as compared to the single stage cycle.
Another interesting result with the H2 O±NH3 mixture when used in the dual ¯uid system,
unlike the single stage cycle, is that at 0°C, its COP exceeds those of the LiNO3 ±NH3 and the
 Saghiruddin, M.A. Siddiqui / Energy Conversion and Management 42 (2001) 407±437 417

Table 1
Optimum values of the (COP1;0 ) and the generator temperature (tg1;0 ) along with the corresponding concentration of the
LiBr salt in the generator (xg1;0 ) of the LiBr±H2 O cycle, used at the ®rst stage in the dual ¯uid absorption system when
te1 ˆ 5°C
tc1 ˆ ta1 …°C†
25 30 35 40 45
Flat plate solar collector
COP1;0 0.8421 0.8073 0.7707 0.7386 0.7107
tg1;0 …°C† 52.4 64.9 76.5 88.2 100.3
xg1;0 52.34% 55.9% 58.71% 61.34% 63.86%

Tubular solar collector

COP1;0 0.8577 0.8216 0.7910 0.7658 0.7458
tg1;0 (°C) 51.6 69.9 82.0 95.4 109.5
xg1;0 54.34% 57.9% 61.21% 64.34% 67.36%

Biogas
COP1;0 0.8588 0.8237 0.7935 0.7699 ±
tg1;0 (°C) 57.1 71.1 84.3 99.2 ±
xg1;0 54.84% 58.9% 62.21% 65.84% ±

Lique®ed petroleum gas

COP1;0 0.8594 0.8237 0.7946 0.7790 ±
tg1;0 (°C) 58.1 71.1 87.7 103.1 ±
xg1;0 55.34% 58.9% 63.21% 67.34% ±

NaSCN±NH3 mixture, which subsequently lowers as the evaporator temperature decreases. This
may be due to the reason that the generator load in the cycle using the H2 O±NH3 mixture, which
is highly dependent on the evaporator and generator temperatures, becomes considerably lower at
very low generator temperatures. The low generator temperatures in the cycle at the second stage
are evidently due to lowering the absorber temperature in it. This raises the COP of the H2 O±NH3
cycle.
The deviation in the values of COP of the absorption cycles on changing the working ¯uids is
seen to be largest in the case of the single stage cycle, a little less in the cycle at the second stage
and least in the combined dual ¯uid cycle. The smaller deviation, in the cycle at the second stage,
although having di€erent absorbents, is because of the low absorber temperature and the same
refrigerant (ammonia) used in it. That is, at low absorber temperatures, the concentration of
ammonia refrigerant in the absorber, for a ®xed value of the evaporator temperature, becomes
quite high, thereby reducing the fraction of the absorbent in it. Thus, lowering the absorbent
concentration in the absorber minimizes the e€ect of the absorbent on the performance of the
system. Similarly, on reducing the evaporator temperature, for a ®xed temperature in the ab-
sorber, the concentration of the refrigerant in the absorber will decrease, thereby increasing the
e€ect of the absorbent on the COP of the system. This is why the deviation in the values of COP of
the cycle at the second stage, using di€erent working ¯uids, increases on lowering the evaporator
temperature. This can be seen in Fig. 2.
418 Saghiruddin, M.A. Siddiqui / Energy Conversion and Management 42 (2001) 407±437

The least deviation, found in the COP of the dual ¯uid cycle, among the di€erent absorbents
may also be due to reduction of the absorbent concentration in the absorber of the ammonia cycle
used at the second stage. In addition to this, the generator load (Qg1 ) of the LiBr±H2 O cycle at the
®rst stage, which appears in the denominator of the expression for the COP, will further reduce
this deviation. This becomes more clear from the following mathematical treatment in which the
COP of the dual ¯uid cycle, given by Eq. (21), using the H2 O±NH3 and LiNO3 ±NH3 mixtures is
considered.
Taking ÔRÕ as the ratio of the two COP's and denoting COPw and COPl as those for the H2 O±
NH3 and LiNO3 ±NH3 solutions, respectively, obtained from Eq. (20), and re-arranging it in terms
of the generator loads at the two stages of the dual ¯uid cycle, one can write
R ˆ …COPl =COPw †‰…1 ‡ Qg1 =Qg2 ;w †=…1 ‡ Qg1 =Qg2 ;l †Š: …27†
Since the COP of the H2 O±NH3 solution is generally less than that of the LiNO3 ±NH3 solution,
the generator load Qg2 ;w will be greater than Qg2 ;l . Thus, the terms within brackets in Eq. (27) will
further reduce the ratio ÔRÕ in addition to that obtained by (COPl /COPw ).
Since the optimum generator temperature tg1 , for a set of operating conditions (ta2 , te2 , tc2 , tg2 , xa2
and xg2 ) in the cycle at the second stage, corresponds to the minimum amount and cost of the
energy required in generator G1 at the ®rst stage, its value will be di€erent depending upon the
type of energy used (refer to Table 1). However, the COP of the ammonia cycle at the second stage
and the combined dual ¯uid cycle for the evacuated tubular collector, biogas and LPG sources of
energy will follow the same trend as was found for the ordinary ¯at plate collector shown in Fig.
2, with minor di€erences in their magnitudes and slopes [16].

3.2. Energy versus generator temperature

The areas of the ¯at and evacuated tubular collectors and volume ¯ow rates of the biogas and
LPG, for supplying heat energy to generators G1 and G2 of the dual ¯uid cycle using H2 O±NH3 ,
LiNO3 ±NH3 and NaSCN±NH3 mixtures in the cycle at the second stage, with LiBr±H2 O in the
cycle at the ®rst stage, are shown in Fig. 3 versus generator temperature tg2 . The solar collector
areas Ap1 , Ap2 , Ap , At1 , At2 and At , along with the volume ¯ow rates of the gases Vbl , Vb2 , Vb , Vl1 ,
Vl2 and Vl are shown, respectively, for the LiBr±H2 O cycle at the ®rst stage and ammonia cycle at
the second stage and the total values for the combined dual ¯uid cycle. The relations for Ap , At , Vb
and Vl are given in the Appendix. It can be seen that the areas, Ap2 and At2 , and ¯ow rates, Vb2
and Vl2 , for the ammonia cycle at the second stage decrease from high values, reach a minima at
certain values of the generator temperature and then increase with further rise in the temperature.
The values of Ap1 , At1 , Vb1 and Vl1 for the LiBr±H2 O cycle at the ®rst stage, which correspond
to optimum values of tg1 obtained for a set of the operating conditions, increase gradually with tg2 .
However, with a change in the values of tg2 , keeping ta1 , te1 , tc1 , xa1 and xg1 ®xed, the optimum
generator temperature and COP of the LiBr±H2 O cycle remain constant (Table 1). Also, the
heating values of the energy sources (Qp1 , Qt1 , Qb1 and Ql1 ), which are related to the temperature
tg1 , do not change during the variation of tg2 . The changes in the values of Ap1 , At1 , Vb1 and Vl1 are
only due to the change in the generator load Qg1 , because the evaporator load Qe1 , which is equal
to Qa2 , increases with the increase in tg2 , while the ratio of Qe1 and Qg1 , which is the COP of the
LiBr±H2 O cycle, remains constant.
 Saghiruddin, M.A. Siddiqui / Energy Conversion and Management 42 (2001) 407±437 419

Fig. 3. Variation of Ap , At , Vb and Vl with the generator temperature tg2 for di€erent working ¯uids in the two stage
dual ¯uid cycle at te2 ˆ ÿ15°C and tc2 ˆ 30°C (ta1 ˆ tc1 ˆ tc2 ), te1 ˆ 5°C and ta2 ˆ 10°C.

The areas (Ap and At ) and volume ¯ow rates (Vb and Vl ) for the combined dual ¯uid cycle,
which are required both at the ®rst and second stages, also vary like those of the ammonia cycle at
the second stage, showing minima at certain values of the temperature tg2 . Fortunately, the op-
timum generator temperatures, corresponding to the minimum values of Ap2 , At2 , Vb2 and Vl2 (for
the ammonia cycle at the second stage) and Ap , At , Vb and Vl (for the combined dual ¯uid cycle)
with same operating conditions, are nearly equal. This is due to the fact that the e€ect of the
420 Saghiruddin, M.A. Siddiqui / Energy Conversion and Management 42 (2001) 407±437

energy sources in the LiBr±H2 O cycle on tg2 is nominal. Thus, the optimum generator tempera-
tures in the cycle at the second stage are selected iteratively, corresponding to the minimum values
of Ap , At , Vb and Vl required by the generators of the two cycles in the dual ¯uid system. The
optimum generator temperatures in the LiBr±H2 O cycle, selected iteratively for each value of tg2 ,
are also given in Table 1.
The costs of the solar collectors, biogas and LPG, corresponding to the areas and volume ¯ow
rates shown in Fig. 3 are also presented in Fig. 4 for the same operating conditions. The respective
costs of the energy sources, shown in Fig. 4, follow the same trend, yielding the same optimum
temperatures in generator G2 , as do the solar collector areas and ¯ow rates of the gases in Fig. 3.
The energy costs, shown in Fig. 4, are found to be highest for the tubular collectors and lowest for
LPG, biogas being cheaper than the ordinary ¯at plate collector.

3.3. Optimum generator temperatures

The optimum generator temperatures (tg2 ) in the cycle at the second stage, which were obtained
iteratively for the minimum energy requirement in both cycles of the dual ¯uid system, have been
plotted and shown in Figs. 5 and 6 for the di€erent working ¯uids using the various sources of
energy. Interestingly, the optimum generator temperatures, for ®xed evaporator temperature te2 ,
are seen to vary linearly with the condenser temperature. Also, the change in generator temper-
ature on changing the evaporator temperature seems to be almost at a constant rate. The opti-
mum generator temperatures for the ammonia cycle at the second stage in the dual ¯uid system
may be correlated mathematically, which can be shown to have a linear variation with the con-
denser temperature tc2 and the evaporator temperature te2 . Thus, the optimum generator tem-
peratures for the cycle at the second stage were related as

tg2 ˆ m tc2 ÿ n te2 ‡ c: …28†

The constants m, n and c in Eq. (28), estimated after noting the slopes and intercepts of each
line in Figs. 5 and 6, are given in Table 2.
As stated earlier, the optimum generator temperatures in the dual ¯uid cycle come out quite low
as compared to the single stage cycle. For the purpose of comparison, the percentage deviation in
the optimum generator temperatures of the single stage cycle from those of the ammonia cycle in
the dual ¯uid system have been calculated for the di€erent operating conditions from the fol-
lowing equation:

Percentage deviation ˆ ‰…tg2 ;DUAL ÿ tg;SSAC †=tg;SSAC Š100:

Some of these values are given in Table 3 for the various working ¯uids and sources of energy.
It is found that the percentage deviation in the generator temperatures of the single stage cycle
from those of the dual ¯uid cycle generally increases with an increase in the condenser and
evaporator temperatures.
In the cycle using the H2 O±NH3 mixture with the sources of energy as the ordinary ¯at col-
lector, evacuated tubular collector, biogas and LPG, the optimum temperatures in the dual ¯uid
cycle decrease by 15±43% which can be seen in Table 3. Similarly, the decrease in the optimum
generator temperatures when using the LiNO3 ±NH3 solution come out to be 14±41%, 18±44%,
 Saghiruddin, M.A. Siddiqui / Energy Conversion and Management 42 (2001) 407±437 421

Fig. 4. Variation in the costs of the energy sources with tg2 for di€erent working ¯uids in the two stage dual ¯uid cycle
at te2 ˆ ÿ15°C and tc2 ˆ 30°C …ta1 ˆ tc1 ˆ tc2 † ta2 ˆ 10°C and te1 ˆ 5°C.

23±44% and 22±45% for the above given sources of energy. The NaSCN±NH3 mixture, like the
other two ¯uids in the cycle at the second stage of the dual ¯uid system, shows almost the same
ranges of decrease in the temperatures. They are around 17±37%, 22±40%, 24±41% and 24±41%
422 Saghiruddin, M.A. Siddiqui / Energy Conversion and Management 42 (2001) 407±437

Fig. 5. Optimum generator temperatures for the solar collectors, with condenser temperature, for di€erent working
¯uids in the two stage dual ¯uid cycle at di€erent evaporator temperatures.

for the given energy sources. In general, the optimum generator temperature tg2 in the cycle at the
second stage of the dual ¯uid system seems to be almost around 14±45% lower than the generator
temperatures in the single stage cycle, when compared under the same operating conditions, using
the same working ¯uids and sources of energy.
It is to be noted that the percentage deviations given in Table 3 are only for those conditions
when the single stage cycle can operate without any problem of crystallization with the LiNO3 ±
NH3 and NaSCN±NH3 solutions and the safe temperature limit up to 120°C in the H2 O±NH3
solution [16]. However, the two stage dual ¯uid cycle, which operates relatively at low generator
temperatures, can work at very low evaporator and high condenser temperatures.
 Saghiruddin, M.A. Siddiqui / Energy Conversion and Management 42 (2001) 407±437 423

Fig. 6. Optimum generator temperatures for the LPG and biogas, with condenser temperature, for di€erent working
¯uids in the two stage dual ¯uid cycle at di€erent evaporator temperatures.

The percentage deviation in the optimum generator temperatures of the cycle at the second
stage in the dual ¯uid system, while using the LiNO3 ±NH3 or the NaSCN±NH3 solution, from
those of the cycle using the H2 O±NH3 solution has also been calculated. It is found in the case of
the ordinary type collector that the deviation in the optimum values of tg2 of the LiNO3 ±NH3
cycle from those of the H2 O±NH3 cycle are very nominal. This indicates that both these solutions
have almost equal temperatures in the cycle at the second stage, the H2 O±NH3 solution having a
little higher values at low temperatures in the evaporator. In the case of the evacuated tubular
collector, biogas and LPG operated dual ¯uid cycles, the LiNO3 ±NH3 shows higher temperatures
424 Saghiruddin, M.A. Siddiqui / Energy Conversion and Management 42 (2001) 407±437

Table 2
Values of the constants m, n and c in Eq. (28), applicable for the two stage dual ¯uid cycle
Working ¯uid
H2 O±NH3 LiNO3 ±NH3 NaSCN±NH3
m n c m n c m n c
Source of energy
Flat plate collector 1.2 1.66 11 1.15 1.35 12.25 1.2 1.6 13
Tubular collector 1.2 1.5 11 1.176 1.6 14.6 1.35 1.96 13.75
Biogas 1.168 1.522 12 1.2 1.65 15.5 1.48 2.1 11.6
Lique®ed petroleum gas 1.17 1.52 13 1.3 1.72 12 1.5 2.13 12.3

than those using the H2 O±NH3 solution, being around 1±20%, 1±16% and 3±18%. Unlike the
LiNO3 ±NH3 solution, it is found that the NaSCN±NH3 solution requires relatively higher gen-
erator temperatures as compared to the H2 O±NH3 solution when used in the cycle at the sec-
ond stage of the dual ¯uid system. The increase in the optimum generator temperatures of the
NaSCN±NH3 solution are 8±13%, 17±33%, 20±41% and 20±45% for the ordinary ¯at plate,
evacuated tubular collector, biogas and LPG, respectively.
Comparisons of the generator temperatures between the energy sources for operating the dual
¯uid cycle show that the optimum generator temperatures for the H2 O±NH3 cycle in the dual ¯uid
system, when operated by the di€erent energy sources, are around 1±5% more than those of the
¯at plate operated cycles, while the increase in the values of tg2 in the case of the ¯at plate collector
for the LiNO3 ±NH3 mixture are 3±15%, 3±20% and 5±21%, and for the NaSCN±NH3 , they are 5±
16%, 9±20% and 11±22%, when operated by the evacuated solar collector, biogas and LPG, re-
spectively.

3.4. Optimum coecients of performance

The optimum values of COP for the ammonia cycle at the second stage, obtained corre-
sponding to the optimum temperature in generator G2 , have been plotted against the condenser
temperature (tc1 ˆ tc2 ) and shown in Figs. 7 and 8 for the di€erent operating conditions. The
optimum values of COP decrease almost linearly with the condenser temperature in the case of the
LiNO3 ±NH3 and NaSCN±NH3 mixtures. However, for the H2 O±NH3 mixture, the optimum
COP decreases gradually, with relatively a little faster rate when the temperature in the condenser
is around 30±35°C. Also, the COP decreases on lowering the evaporator temperature. It is found
that there is a considerable amount of increase in the optimum values of COP of the ammonia
cycle at the second stage in the dual ¯uid system from those of the single stage cycle when op-
erating alone. This is mainly due to lowering of the absorber temperature in the ammonia cycle
when coupled with the LiBr±H2 O cycle in the dual ¯uid system. However, comparison of the
single stage ammonia cycle with the ammonia cycle in the dual ¯uid system may not be realistic,
because the LiBr±H2 O cycle also requires some energy, which is incorporated in evaluating the
COP of the dual ¯uid cycle.
For this purpose, a comparative study has been done by calculating the percentage deviation in
the values of the COP of the single stage cycle from those of the combined dual ¯uid cycle. These
 Saghiruddin, M.A. Siddiqui / Energy Conversion and Management 42 (2001) 407±437 425

Table 3
Percentage deviation in the optimum generator temperatures of the ammonia cycle in the DUAL system from those of
the same ¯uid used in the single stage cycle
Working ¯uid te (°C) tc (°C) Flat plate solar Evacuated tubular Biogas LPG
collector collector
H2 O±NH3
0 25 ÿ32.92 ÿ31.77 ÿ32.52 ÿ29.44
0 30 ÿ35.03 ÿ35.73 ÿ35.68 ÿ35.68
0 35 ÿ39.00 ÿ39.30 ÿ39.30 ÿ39.36
0 40 ÿ41.00 ÿ40.84 ÿ41.57 ÿ41.57
0 45 ÿ42.43 ÿ42.95 ÿ42.55 ÿ43.24
ÿ5 25 ÿ26.11 ÿ28.35 ÿ28.20 ÿ29.05
ÿ10 25 ÿ25.66 ÿ25.77 ÿ24.77 ÿ24.20
ÿ15 25 ÿ22.00 ÿ22.01 ÿ22.00 ÿ22.02
ÿ20 25 ÿ21.03 ÿ19.84 ÿ21.00 ÿ20.00
ÿ25 25 ÿ18.20 ÿ17.03 ÿ18.08 ÿ18.80
ÿ30 25 ÿ16.63 ÿ15.10 ÿ16.58 ÿ16.65
LiNO3 ±NH3
0 25 ÿ30.60 ÿ32.13 ÿ32.23 ÿ32.27
0 30 ÿ34.74 ÿ35.32 ÿ36.27 ÿ37.50
0 35 ÿ36.52 ÿ39.38 ÿ41.90 ÿ39.58
0 40 ÿ39.23 ÿ41.62 ÿ42.57 ÿ42.73
0 45 ÿ40.54 ÿ43.54 ÿ43.71 ÿ45.22
ÿ5 25 ÿ23.33 ÿ29.13 ÿ24.25 ÿ31.62
ÿ10 25 ÿ21.20 ÿ29.83 ÿ32.08 ÿ32.04
ÿ15 25 ÿ23.50 ÿ26.23 ÿ27.20 ÿ27.17
ÿ20 25 ÿ16.01 ÿ22.81 ÿ23.82 ÿ25.07
ÿ25 25 ÿ17.45 ÿ22.00 ÿ23.28 ÿ23.17
ÿ30 25 ÿ17.40 ÿ19.48 ÿ22.92 ÿ22.80
ÿ40 25 ÿ13.70 ÿ18.20 ± ±
NaSCN±NH3
0 25 ÿ29.14 ÿ32.05 ÿ33.31 ÿ33.43
0 30 ÿ32.28 ÿ35.05 ÿ36.32 ÿ36.46
0 35 ÿ35.57 ÿ38.36 ÿ38.98 ÿ38.64
0 40 ÿ34.65 ÿ40.50 ÿ41.15 ÿ41.25
0 45 ÿ37.03 ± ± ±
ÿ5 25 ÿ25.53 ÿ27.03 ÿ29.63 ÿ29.60
ÿ10 25 ÿ22.70 ÿ25.44 ÿ25.40 ÿ28.12
ÿ15 25 ÿ21.94 ÿ23.17 ÿ24.54 ÿ24.48
ÿ20 25 ÿ20.00 ÿ22.68 ± ±
ÿ25 25 ÿ17.06 ± ± ±

deviations, considered only for the conditions when the single stage cycle can operate without any
problem of crystallization or temperature limit, are listed in Table 4 for the H2 O±NH3 mixture.
The percentage deviations in COP of the H2 O±NH3 cycle in the dual ¯uid system, from those of
the single stage cycle are around ÿ32% to ‡15%, ÿ38% to ‡10%, ÿ3% to ‡17% and ÿ3% to
426 Saghiruddin, M.A. Siddiqui / Energy Conversion and Management 42 (2001) 407±437

Fig. 7. Optimum values of COP for the solar collector operated cycles with condenser temperature, for di€erent
working ¯uids in the two stage dual ¯uid cycle, at di€erent evaporator temperatures.

‡16% when using the ordinary ¯at plate solar collector, evacuated tubular collector, biogas and
LPG, respectively. It is interesting to see that at high evaporator and low condenser temperatures,
the COP of the single stage cycle exceeds those of the dual ¯uid cycle. However, at low evaporator
and high condenser temperatures, the COP of the dual ¯uid cycle becomes more. It is to be noted
that such results are obtained only when H2 O±NH3 is used as the working ¯uid in the dual ¯uid
system. It is found that the COP of the dual ¯uid cycle with the LiNO3 ±NH3 and NaSCN±NH3
 Saghiruddin, M.A. Siddiqui / Energy Conversion and Management 42 (2001) 407±437 427

Fig. 8. Optimum values of COP for the gas operated cycles with the condenser temperature, for di€erent working ¯uids
in the two stage dual ¯uid cycle, at di€erent evaporator temperatures.

solutions come out to be quite low as compared to the single stage cycle. However, at low
evaporator and high condenser temperatures, the deviation in the values of COP decreases. With
the ¯at plate collector at very low evaporator temperatures, the COPs of the dual ¯uid cycle using
LiNO3 ±NH3 and NaSCH±NH3 start becoming high.
The e€ect of changing the source of energy in generators G1 and G2 of the dual ¯uid cycle have
also been observed. The percentage deviation in the values of COP have been calculated by
428 Saghiruddin, M.A. Siddiqui / Energy Conversion and Management 42 (2001) 407±437

Table 4
Percentage deviation in the optimum COP of the ammonia cycle in the DUAL system from those of the same ¯uid used
in the single stage cycle
Working ¯uid te (°C) tc (°C) Flat plate solar Evacuated tubular Biogas LPG
collector collector
H2 O±NH3
0 25 ÿ32.62 ÿ38.65 ÿ31.02 ÿ31.00
0 30 ÿ22.44 ÿ30.00 ÿ22.56 ÿ22.69
0 35 ÿ07.41 ÿ15.10 ÿ06.81 ÿ06.75
0 40 ‡02.41 ÿ04.00 ‡03.95 ‡04.18
0 45 ‡14.83 ‡07.01 ‡16.43 ‡16.16
ÿ5 25 ÿ25.70 ÿ29.25 ÿ25.98 ÿ26.05
ÿ10 25 ÿ21.20 ÿ20.82 ÿ21.07 ÿ21.03
ÿ15 25 ÿ14.35 ÿ15.15 ÿ15.08 ÿ15.15
ÿ20 25 ÿ08.90 ÿ08.37 ÿ08.74 ÿ08.63
ÿ25 25 ‡00.38 ‡00.79 ‡00.67 ‡00.55
ÿ30 25 ‡11.62 ‡10.20 ‡10.20 ‡10.27
LiNO3 ±NH3
0 25 ÿ42.32 ÿ43.00 ÿ43.03 ÿ43.06
0 30 ÿ40.73 ÿ41.62 ÿ41.84 ÿ41.91
0 35 ÿ39.48 ÿ40.92 ÿ41.14 ÿ40.05
0 40 ÿ38.38 ÿ40.17 ÿ40.18 ÿ40.16
0 45 ÿ36.96 ÿ39.26 ÿ39.13 ÿ38.48
ÿ5 25 ÿ41.14 ÿ41.95 ÿ42.27 ÿ42.08
ÿ10 25 ÿ40.32 ÿ42.05 ÿ42.35 ÿ42.27
ÿ15 25 ÿ41.05 ÿ42.75 ÿ42.88 ÿ42.95
ÿ20 25 ÿ39.16 ÿ42.88 ÿ43.09 ÿ43.19
ÿ25 25 ÿ36.74 ÿ42.80 ÿ43.10 ÿ43.07
ÿ30 25 ÿ38.63 ÿ42.55 ÿ43.05 ÿ43.10
ÿ40 25 ÿ35.10 ÿ42.35 ± ±
NaSCN±NH3
0 25 ÿ43.51 ÿ44.83 ÿ44.92 ÿ45.00
0 30 ÿ42.32 ÿ44.45 ÿ44.45 ÿ44.81
0 35 ÿ41.38 ÿ43.76 ÿ43.88 ÿ44.10
0 40 ÿ40.12 ÿ42.97 ÿ43.17 ÿ43.25
0 45 ÿ39.00 ± ± ±
ÿ5 25 ÿ42.44 ÿ44.19 ÿ44.48 ÿ44.44
ÿ10 25 ÿ41.26 ÿ43.70 ÿ43.88 ÿ43.95
ÿ15 25 ÿ40.39 ÿ43.04 ÿ43.27 ÿ43.32
ÿ20 25 ÿ39.47 ÿ42.62 ± ±
ÿ25 25 ÿ36.66 ± ± ±
ÿ30 25 ÿ35.90 ± ± ±

comparing them with the ¯at plate operated cycles. Because of the higher optimum generator
temperatures obtained in the case of the evacuated tubular collector, biogas and LPG as com-
pared to the ¯at plate operated cycles, it is evident that there will be high values of the optimum
 Saghiruddin, M.A. Siddiqui / Energy Conversion and Management 42 (2001) 407±437 429

COP in the cycles powered by energy sources other than the ordinary ¯at plate collector. Thus,
the increase in COP of the combined dual ¯uid cycle, when operated by means of the evacuated
type collector, biogas and LPG, over those of the ordinary ¯at plate collector come out to be
around 1±5%, 2±10% and 2±10% for the H2 O±NH3 , LiNO3 ±NH3 and NaSCN±NH3 mixtures,
respectively.

3.5. Minimum operating costs

The minimum areas of the solar collector and volume ¯ow rates of the biogas and LPG, ob-
tained iteratively for the cycles in the dual ¯uid system by ®xing the evaporator, condenser and the
absorber temperatures and varying the generator temperature (tg2 ) of the cycle at the second stage,
have been exhibited against the condenser/absorber temperature in Figs. 9 and 10. These are the
areas and volume ¯ow rates corresponding to which the optimum generator temperatures in the
cycle at the second stage have been selected. It is seen that the areas of the solar collectors and
¯ow rates of biogas and LPG, generally, increases gradually with the condenser temperature.
However, the operating costs of the H2 O±NH3 cycle using any of the four sources of energy and
those of the LiNO3 ±NH3 and NaSCN±NH3 cycle using only the ordinary ¯at plate collector
change by a considerable amount on varying the evaporator temperature. This is because the
useful heat available from the ¯at plate solar collector and the COP of the H2 O±NH3 mixture are
very sensitive to change in the generator temperatures. The same trend is also found in the case of
the single stage cycle.
Figs. 11 and 12 show variation in the minimum operating costs of the cycles at the two stages
and the combined dual ¯uid cycle using various working ¯uids and powered by the di€erent
sources of energy. The minimum costs, shown in Figs. 11 and 12, follow the same trend as seen in
Figs. 9 and 10, which are for the corresponding values of the solar collector areas and the volume
¯ow rates of the gases used. It is found that the operating cost of the ammonia cycle in the dual
¯uid system comes out to be lower than that of the single stage cycle in the same manner as the
COP of the ammonia cycle at the second stage in the dual ¯uid system improves considerably
when compared with the single stage ammonia cycle. However, in the dual ¯uid system, since the
LiBr±H2 O cycle also takes some energy for its operation, a comparison based upon cost of the
combined cycle is more important. This is why, the comparison of the dual ¯uid cycle has been
done with the single stage cycle.
The percentage deviations in the minimum operating costs of the dual ¯uid cycle from those of
the single stage cycle have been calculated for the H2 O±NH3 , LiNO3 ±NH3 and NaSCN±NH3
solutions and are given in Table 5. Interestingly, one can see that there are negative deviations in
the case of the H2 O±NH3 cycle, especially at high condenser and low evaporator temperatures.
This shows that the single stage cycle, at such conditions, will have higher operating costs than the
dual ¯uid cycle. However, at high values of te and low values of tc , the dual ¯uid cycle will have
higher operating costs.
The percentage deviation in the case of the H2 O±NH3 cycle lies between ‡23 to ÿ42%, ‡57 to
ÿ17%, ‡34 to ÿ20% and ‡48 to ÿ9% when powered by the ¯at plate solar collector, evacuated
tubular collector, biogas and LPG, respectively, with the single stage cycle being suitable for the
conditions when positive deviations are obtained. In the case of LiNO3 ±NH3 and NaSCN±NH3
solutions, the percentage deviations are 58±72%, 35±46% and 61±80% for the evacuated tubular
430 Saghiruddin, M.A. Siddiqui / Energy Conversion and Management 42 (2001) 407±437

Fig. 9. Minimum areas of the solar collectors with condenser temperature, for di€erent working ¯uids in the two stage
dual ¯uid cycle at di€erent evaporator temperatures.

collector, biogas and LPG energy sources, respectively. For the ¯at plate operated cycles, the
deviations are around 4±47% and ÿ15% to 46% in the cases of the LiNO3 ±NH3 and NaSCN±NH3
solutions, respectively. In all these cases, lower values of the deviations occur towards high
condenser and low evaporator temperatures. Although the single stage cycle seems to have low
operating costs, even at high values of tc and low values of te in the cases of the LiNO3 ±NH3 and
NaSCN±NH3 solutions, yet it cannot operate at such conditions due to the crystallization
problem of the solid absorbents. The remaining alternative is to use the dual ¯uid cycle at low
values of te and high values of tc .
 Saghiruddin, M.A. Siddiqui / Energy Conversion and Management 42 (2001) 407±437 431

Fig. 10. Minimum volume ¯ow rates of LPG and biogas with condenser temperature, for di€erent working ¯uids in the
two stage dual ¯uid cycle at di€erent evaporator temperatures.

The percentage deviations in the operating costs of the dual ¯uid cycle using the LiNO3 ±NH3
and NaSCN±NH3 solutions from those of the H2 O±NH3 solution have also been calculated. It is
seen that at high evaporator temperatures, the operating costs of the cycle using the H2 O±NH3
mixture becomes cheaper than those using the other ¯uids. However, as the evaporator tem-
peratures are decreased, the cost of the H2 O±NH3 cycle increases. Thus, the decreases in operating
costs of the dual ¯uid cycle using LiNO3 ±NH3 from those using H2 O±NH3 with the ordinary
collector, evacuated collector, biogas and LPG as the energy sources are around 76%, 50%, 56%
and 70%, respectively, and for the NaSCN±NH3 mixture, they are around 40%, 33%, 11% and
35%.
432 Saghiruddin, M.A. Siddiqui / Energy Conversion and Management 42 (2001) 407±437

Fig. 11. Minimum costs of solar collectors with condenser temperature for di€erent working ¯uids in the two stage dual
¯uid cycle at di€erent evaporator temperatures.

Similarly, comparisons of the cost with respect to the energy source for the H2 O±NH3 , LiNO3 ±
NH3 and NaSCN±NH3 solutions show that the dual ¯uid cycle operated by the evacu-
ated type collector will be very costly, whereas those operated by the gases will be cheaper.
The percentage deviations in the costs of the evacuated type collector, biogas and LPG oper-
 Saghiruddin, M.A. Siddiqui / Energy Conversion and Management 42 (2001) 407±437 433

Fig. 12. Minimum costs of LPG and biogas with condenser temperature for di€erent working ¯uids in the two stage
dual ¯uid cycle at di€erent evaporator temperatures.

ated dual ¯uid cycle from those of the ordinary type collector show that the evacuated type
collector would be around 6±117%, 19±117%, and 41±114% costlier while using the H2 O±NH3 ,
LiNO3 ±NH3 and NaSCN±NH3 mixtures, respectively. On the other hand, the biogas and LPG
operated cycles would be around 18±80% cheaper than those operated by the ordinary type
collector.
434 Saghiruddin, M.A. Siddiqui / Energy Conversion and Management 42 (2001) 407±437

Table 5
Percentage deviation in minimum operating costs of the ammonia cycle in the DUAL system from those of the same
¯uid used in the single stage cycle
Working ¯uid te (°C) tc (°C) Flat plate solar Evacuated tubular Biogas LPG
collector collector
H2 O±NH3
0 25 ‡23.56 ‡57.05 ‡34.33 ‡48.36
0 30 ‡07.18 ‡39.13 ‡15.90 ‡31.42
0 35 ÿ14.15 ‡11.91 ‡07.25 ‡07.73
0 40 ÿ25.69 ‡00.14 ÿ00.88 ÿ03.87
0 45 ÿ35.57 ÿ10.17 ÿ08.34 ÿ14.94
ÿ5 25 ‡09.70 ‡37.06 ‡25.23 ‡37.90
ÿ10 25 ÿ02.72 ‡20.39 ‡15.86 ‡28.74
ÿ15 25 ÿ14.18 ‡11.76 ‡07.57 ‡19.60
ÿ20 25 ÿ23.04 ‡03.36 ÿ01.54 ‡10.73
ÿ25 25 ÿ32.89 ÿ05.86 ÿ10.25 ‡01.31
ÿ30 25 ÿ42.38 ÿ16.87 ÿ19.88 ÿ08.80
LiNO3 ±NH3
0 25 47.51 68.60 43.96 74.25
0 30 38.12 63.80 41.50 70.87
0 35 30.54 60.36 39.96 68.00
0 40 23.71 57.11 38.65 65.28
0 45 17.00 53.50 36.80 61.71
ÿ5 25 36.88 64.34 42.60 71.22
ÿ10 25 29.07 62.61 41.25 71.36
ÿ15 25 23.70 63.00 42.39 72.93
ÿ20 25 16.98 62.44 42.68 73.24
ÿ25 25 10.76 60.22 42.02 72.70
ÿ30 25 04.00 58.64 35.30 72.20
NaSCN±NH3
0 25 46.04 72.44 46.85 80.10
0 30 37.34 69.83 45.89 78.25
0 35 28.10 66.59 44.34 76.47
0 40 18.37 62.95 42.68 73.68
0 45 08.19 ± ± ±
ÿ5 25 ‡36.38 70.00 45.44 78.45
ÿ10 25 ‡26.24 66.13 44.00 76.41
ÿ15 25 ‡16.23 62.54 43.09 74.04
ÿ20 25 ‡04.66 59.22 ± ±
ÿ25 25 ÿ04.67 ± ± ±
ÿ30 25 ÿ15.34 ± ± ±

4. Conclusions

(1) The coecients of performance of the combined dual ¯uid cycle and the ammonia cycle at
the second stage increase with the generator temperature, reach maximum values and then de-
 Saghiruddin, M.A. Siddiqui / Energy Conversion and Management 42 (2001) 407±437 435

crease gradually in the case of the H2 O±NH3 solution and become almost constant for the
LiNO3 ±NH3 and NaSCN±NH3 solutions.
(2) The coecient of performance of the LiBr±H2 O cycle at the ®rst stage remains constant for
all values of tg2 and te2 irrespective of the working ¯uid being used.
(3) The solar collector areas and the gas ¯ow rates for the ammonia cycle at the second stage
and the combined dual cycle decrease from high values, reach minima at certain values of the
generator temperature tg2 and then increase with a further rise in the temperature.
(4) The values of Ap1 , At1 , Vb1 and Vl1 for the LiBr±H2 O cycle at the ®rst stage, which corre-
spond to the optimum values of tg1 , increase gradually with tg2 . The respective costs of the energy
sources also follow the same trend.
(5) The optimum generator temperatures for ®xed evaporator temperature te2 vary linearly with
the condenser temperature, which are related as
tg2 ˆ mtc2 ÿ nte2 ‡ c:
(6) The optimum generator temperature tg2 is found to be around 14±45% lower than the
generator temperatures in the single stage cycle.
(7) The LiNO3 ±NH3 and NaSCN±NH3 solutions need nearly 20% and 45% high generator
temperatures, respectively, as compared to the H2 O±NH3 solution.
(8) The optimum values of tg2 for the H2 O±NH3 , LiNO3 ±NH3 and NaSCN±NH3 solutions,
when operated by the di€erent sources of energy, increase up to 5%, 20% and 22%, respectively,
from those of the ¯at plate collector operated cycle.
(9) The optimum values of COP decrease almost linearly with condenser temperature in the
cases of the LiNO3 ±NH3 and the NaSCN±NH3 mixtures, while for the H2 O±NH3 mixture, they
decrease gradually.
(10) At low evaporator and high condenser temperatures, the COP of the dual ¯uid cycle using
H2 O±NH3 increases by 10±17% from that of the single stage cycle.
(11) With the ¯at plate collector, at very low evaporator temperatures, the COP of the dual
¯uid cycle using LiNO3 ±NH3 and NaSCH±NH3 also becomes high.
(12) The increase in COP of the combined dual ¯uid cycle, when operated by means of the
di€erent energy sources over those of the ordinary ¯at plate collector, come out to be around 1±
5%, 2±10% and 2±10% for the H2 O±NH3 , LiNO3 ±NH3 and NaSCN±NH3 mixtures, respectively.
(13) The areas of the solar collectors and ¯ow rates of biogas and LPG, along with their costs,
increase gradually with condenser temperature.
(14) The percentage deviations in the operating costs of the dual ¯uid cycle from the single stage
cycle, while using the H2 O±NH3 mixture at low evaporator temperatures, go down by 42%, 17%,
20% and 9% in the cases of the ¯at plate collector, evacuated type collector, biogas and LPG,
respectively.
(15) The operating costs of the cycles using LiNO3 ±NH3 and NaSCN±NH3 are considerably
lower than those using the H2 O±NH3 solution.
(16) The operating costs of the cycle powered by the evacuated type collector, biogas and LPG
are around 115% more than those of the ¯at plate operated cycles.
(17) The H2 O±NH3 solution powered by the ¯at plate collector in the cycle at the second stage
of the dual ¯uid system is seen to have cheaper operating costs and convenient operating con-
ditions.
436 Saghiruddin, M.A. Siddiqui / Energy Conversion and Management 42 (2001) 407±437

(18) The dual ¯uid cycle using the LiNO3 ±NH3 and NaSCN±NH3 solutions and powered by
the ¯at plate collector are also suitable choices, especially for the conditions when the single stage
cycle is non-operative.

Appendix A

Capital, yearly running and total costs of the solar collectors, biogas and LPG have been
obtained from the following relations:
(i) Ordinary type ¯at plate solar collector:
Cp ˆ 6:667  10ÿ2 Cp1 ‡ 0:55778Cp2
Cp1 ˆ 8450Ap
Cp2 ˆ 900Ap
Ap ˆ 1:2Qe  TR=…COP  Qp †
Qp ˆ 0:938S ÿ 15:72…t0 ÿ tam †
(ii) Evacuated type tubular ¯at plate collector:
Ct ˆ 6:667  10ÿ2 Ct1 ‡ 0:55778Ct2
Ct1 ˆ 22 628At
Ct2 ˆ 3067At
At ˆ 1:2Qe  TR=…COP  Qt †
Qt ˆ 0:899S ÿ 4:08…t0 ÿ tam †
(iii) Biogas:
Cb ˆ 6:667  10ÿ2 Cbl ‡ 0:55778Cb2
Cb1 ˆ 27 586 Vb0:65
Cb2 ˆ 18 495 Vb0:667
Vb ˆ Qe  TR=…COP  Qb †
Qb ˆ 17 963:9 ÿ 12:645 tp ÿ 1:75  10ÿ3 tp2
(iv) Lique®ed petroleum gas:
Cl ˆ 6:667  10ÿ2 Cl1 ‡ 0:55778 Cl2
Cl1 ˆ 975
Cl2 ˆ 10 1563Vl
Vl ˆ Qe  TR=…COP  Ql †
Ql ˆ 102 649:64 ÿ 39:455tp ÿ 9:0155  10ÿ3 tp2
S ˆ 2436:577 kJ=hm2 …for Aligarh; India†
t0 ˆ tg ‡ 5 C
tp ˆ tg ‡ 100 C
 Saghiruddin, M.A. Siddiqui / Energy Conversion and Management 42 (2001) 407±437 437

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