4.

Principle of Operation

4.Principle of Operation
Chapter Objectives This chapter describes the working cycle of the vapour absorption chiller
and the functions of its various components

What is Refrigeration? Refrigeration is defined as the process of extracting heat from a low
temperature medium and transferring it to a high temperature heat sink.
Refrigeration maintains the temperature of the heat source below that of its
surroundings while transferring the extracted heat to a heat sink.

Basic Principles The boiling point of water is directly proportional to pressure. At

atmospheric pressure water boils at 212°F. At lower pressure it boils at
lower temperature. At 0.24 ”Hg absolute pressure the boiling point of
water is 39 °F.

To change water from liquid to vapour it has to be heated. The heat is

absorbed by the water and its temperature starts rising. However it rises
until it reaches a point where the temperature stays constant and it starts
boiling, i.e. the liquid water vapourises. This point is called the boiling
point. At this point all the heat being absorbed by the water does not
change its temperature but only its phase. This heat, required to change the
phase of a liquid to vapour, is called the Latent of Vaporization. Similarly
the heat rejected by a vapour when it condenses is called the Latent Heat of
Condensation.

Lithium Bromide (LiBr) is a chemical similar to common salt (NaCl). LiBr

is soluble in water. The LiBr water solution has a property to absorb water
due to its chemical affinity. As the concentration of LiBr solution
increases, its affinity towards water increases.

Also as the temperature of LiBr solution decreases, its affinity to water

increases. Further there is a large difference between vapour pressure of
LiBr and water. This means that if we heat the LiBr water solution, the
water will vaporize but the LiBr will stay in the solution and become
concentrated.

Absorption Cycle Absorption systems use heat energy to produce a refrigerating effect. In
overview these systems the refrigerant, i.e. water, absorbs heat at a low temperature
and pressure during evaporation and releases heat at a high temperature
and pressure during condensation.

A solution known as absorbent, i.e. Lithium Bromide (LiBr), is used to

absorb the vaporized refrigerant (after its evaporation at low pressure).
This solution, containing the absorbed vapour is heated at a higher
pressure. The refrigerant vapourises and the solution is restored to its
original concentration for recirculation.

In a double effect absorption machine, the latent heat of condensation of

the refrigerant generated in the first stage generator is used in a second
stage generator to enhance the efficiency of the cycle as in a double effect
absorption machine.

When the refrigerant undergoes a series of evaporation, absorption,

pressurization, vaporization, condensation, throttling, and expansion
processes, absorbing heat from a low temperature heat source and releasing
 4. Principle of Operation

it to a high temperature sink, so that its state is restored to its original one,
it is said to have completed a refrigerating cycle.

Modes of Operation This vapour absorption machine can function in two modes –
a) Cooling mode
b) Heating mode
c) SIM mode

a) Cooling mode. Refer to the Fig. 1 given below.

Evaporator The evaporator consists of a tube bundle, an outer shell, distribution trays,
and a refrigerant pan. The chilled water flows inside the tubes. A
refrigerant pump circulates the refrigerant from the refrigerant pan into the
distribution trays. From the trays the refrigerant falls on the evaporator
tubes. The shell pressure is very low (0.24 “Hg). At this pressure the
refrigerant evaporates at a low temperature (39 °F) and extracts latent
heat of evaporation from the water being circulated through the evaporator
tubes. Thus the water being circulated through the tubes becomes chilled.

Absorber The absorber consists of a tube bundle, an outer shell (common with the
evaporator), distribution trays, and an absorbent collection sump.
Concentrated absorbent solution (63.4%) from the low temperature
generator-1 is fed into the distribution trays. This solution falls on the
absorber tubes. Concentrated absorbent has an affinity to water. Hence the
vaporized refrigerant from the evaporator section is absorbed.

Due to this absorption the vacuum in the shell is maintained at a low

pressure and ensures the correct chilled water temperature. The
concentrated absorbent becomes diluted. During this dilution the 'Heat of
Dilution' is generated. This increases the temperature of the absorbent
solution. This heat is removed by the cooling water being circulated in the
absorber tubes. As the absorbent solution loses its heat to the cooling
water, it is able to absorb more refrigerant vapour, and gets further diluted.
The diluted absorbent (58.5%) collects in the bottom of the shell.

Heat exchangers The absorbent pump pumps the dilute absorbent from the absorber to the
High temperature generator via the Low temperature Heat Exchanger. A
part of it before entering the Low temperature heat exchanger first passes
through drain heat exchanger where it absorbs heat from the condensed
refrigerant from the hot water generator. The other part of liquid passes
through the low temperature heat exchanger where it absorbs heat from the
concentrated absorbent coming from Low temperature Generator.

Both the dilute solutions mix at low temperature heat exchanger outlet.
Then it enters the High Temperature Generator via the high temperature
Heat exchanger for first regeneration. The regenerated solution, referred as
intermediate solution, then passes through the high temperature heat
exchanger shell side where it gives the heat to the dilute solution. Then it
goes to Low temperature Generator. The heat exchangers serve to heat up
the absorbent solution before it enters the high temperature generator for
regeneration. This reduces the heat input required in the generators thereby
increasing the efficiency of the cycle.

High Temperature The high temperature generator (HTG) consists of a furnace and a tube
bundle for direct firing fuel, a separate tube bundle for hot exhaust gases,
Generator
 4. Principle of Operation

an outer shell and a set of eliminators. These act as the heat source. The
intermediate absorbent flows around these tubes and is heated. The
temperature of the solution increases until it reaches it's boiling point. The
absorbed refrigerant boils out of the solution. The solution concentration
increases (to 61%). This solution is referred to as intermediate solution.
The vaporized refrigerant generated passes through the eliminators and
goes to the tube side of low temperature generator.

Low Temperature The low temperature generator and condenser tube bundles are enclosed in
a shell and are separated by an insulation plate. The vaporized refrigerant
Generator and Condenser from the high temperature Generator flows into the LTG tubes. It heats the
strong absorbent, flowing outside the tubes, and condenses within the
tubes. The condensed refrigerant flows into the condenser after passing
through the Drain Heat Exchanger. Refrigerant vaporized from the
intermediate absorbent passes through the eliminators to the condenser.

The refrigerant vapour condenses on the outside of the condenser tubes and
gets collected in the bottom of the condenser. The condensed refrigerant
from the LTG and the condenser mix and flows to the evaporator. The
absorbent, which has become concentrated in the LTG drains to the
absorber through the Low Temperature Heat exchanger to begin a new
absorbent cycle.

Dump condenser The dump condenser consists of a shell and tube heat exchanger. Cooling
water is circulated through the tubes, when ever the damper is closed. The
vaporized refrigerant from the High temperature generator flows into the
shell side of dump condenser. It heats the cooling water circulated through
the tubes and gets condensed. The condensed refrigerant flows back into
the high temperature generator.

b) Heating mode. Refer to the Fig. 1 given below.

Individual Parts The operation of the various parts of the absorption machine is described
below.

High Temperature The high temperature generator (HTG) consists of a furnace and a tube
bundle for direct firing fuel, a separate tube bundle for hot exhaust gases,
Generator an outer shell and a set of eliminators. These act as the heat source. The
absorbent around these tubes gets heated up. The temperature of the
solution increases until it reaches it’s boiling point. The absorbed
refrigerant boils out of the solution. The vaporized refrigerant generated
passes through the eliminators and goes to the side arm heat exchanger

Side arm heat exchanger An additional heat exchanger has been provided for heating the space
heating water. This is a shell and tube heat exchanger in which the space
heating water flows on the tube side and on the shell side there is water
vapour coming from the HTG. This water vapour serves to heat up the
heating water. During this process the water vapour gets condensed and it
flows back to the HTG.

Dump condenser The dump condenser consists of a shell and tube heat exchanger. Cooling
water is circulated through the tubes, when ever the damper is closed. The
vaporized refrigerant from the High temperature generator flows into the
shell side of dump condenser. It heats the cooling water circulated through
the tubes and gets condensed. The condensed refrigerant flows back into
 4. Principle of Operation

the high temperature generator.

c) SIM mode.

Description In this mode, the vapour absorption machine will deliver both chilling and
heating at the same time. The basic operation is a combination of the above
modes – cooling and heating.