United States Patent (19) 11) 4,133,183

Albertson 45) Jan. 9, 1979

(54) SOLAR POWERED ABSORPTION 3,242,679 3/1966 Puckett et al. ............................. 62/2
REFRGERATION SYSTEM 3,410,104 11/1968 Hopkins ................................. 62/148
3,980,071 9/1976 Barber, Jr. ........................... 126/271
75 Inventor: Clarence E. Albertson, Villa Park, Ill. 3,985,116 10/1976 Kapany ................................ 126/271
3,985,117 10/1976 Sallen ... ... 126/271
(73) Assignee: Borg-Warner Corporation, Chicago, 3,985,119 10/1976 Oakes, Jr. 126/271
1. 4,028,904 6/1977 Anderson ...... was or w w 62/2

(21) Appl. No.: 755,328 Primary Examiner-Lloyd L. King

22 Filed: Dec. 29, 1976 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Thomas B. Hunter
51 Int, Cl2. F2SB 27/00, F2SB 15/00, F24J/3/02 57 ABSTRACT
(52) U.S. C. ........................................... 62/2; 62/148; An absorption refrigeration system utilizes a solar col
62/476; 126/271 lector in the heat input circuit and includes means
(58) Field of Search .................................... 62/2, 148, within the collector housing for condensing water
62/476, 324; 126/271; 203/DIG. 1 vapor released from the absorbent solution. Ambient air
(56) References Cited abstracts heat from the vapor and causes condensation
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS thereof. s
2,030,350 2/1936 Bremser ..................................... 62/2 8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures
2,692,483 10/1954 Hedland.................................... 62/2

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U.S. Patent Jan. 9, 1979 Sheet 1 of 2 4,133,183

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U.S. Patent Jan. 9, 1979 Sheet 2 of 2 4,133,183

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1. 2
water may be drawn from a body of water such as a
SOLAR POWERED ABSORPTION lake, a stream, an artificial pool or a deep well, and
REFRGERATION SYSTEM returned thereto, the body of water thus forming a
portion of the cooling circuit.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In contrast, the present invention utilizes a solar col
1. Field of the Invention lector both as a means for receiving solar energy for
Absorption refrigeration apparatus utilizing solar transmission to the brine in order to heat the same to an
energy as the heat input with ambient air employed as a energized temperature to drive off water vapor. In
condensing fluid. another portion of the housing, the vapor passes into
2. Description of the Prior Art 10 contact to a surface which is maintained essentially at
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,980,071; 3,985,116; 3,985,117; and ambient air temperature so that the vapor is condensed
3,985,119 are representative of different types of solar and circulated to the evaporator.
collectors heretofore known in the art. None provides DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
means for condensing vapor or suggests an application
to an absorption system. 15 FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic diagram showing the
U.S. Pat. No. 3,410,104 describes the construction various components in an absorption refrigeration sys
and operation of a typical absorption refrigeration sys tem which is representative of the type of system for
tempowered by steam, although hot water is often used which the combined solar collector, generator/con
as a source of heat energy to the generator. denser of the present invention may be appropriately
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
20 used;
FIG. 2 is a cross-section view of a preferred embodi
This invention relates to absorption refrigeration ment of the solar collector;
means and more particularly of the type using a hygro FIG. 3 is a partial cross-section view taken along the
scopic brine, such as lithium bromide, as the absorber plane of line 3-3 of FIG. 2;
fluid, and water as the refrigerant. The present inven 25 FIG. 4 is a partial cross-section view showing a modi
tion uses a solar collector as the sole source of heat input fied form of the invention; and
to drive water vapor from the brine. The collector FIG. 4a shows a detail of one of the collector troughs
incorporates features which permit the vapor to be in the FIG. 4 modification.
condensed in one portion thereof for circulation to the DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED
evaporator. 30
EMBODIMENT
In a typical absorption refrigeration system, a liquid is
circulated in a chilling coil forming a portion of an Referring first to FIGS. 1-3, the absorption system of
evaporator in which a refrigerant is vaporized to ab the present invention includes several major compo
stract heat from the liquid. The liquid thus chilled is nents including a pressure vessel or shell 10 in which is
conducted to a refrigeration load, such as one or more 35 located an evaporator section E and an absorber section
remotely located air-conditioning units, the vaporized A. The evaporator comprises a coil 12 positioned above
refrigerant passing to an absorber for absorption by a a pan 14 which is adapted to collect unevaporated re
solution having a strong affinity for the refrigerant. The frigerant (water) which passes over the coil. Refriger
absorbent solution is diluted by the absorption process, antis continuously circulated from an evaporator sump
and the heat of solution thus generated is removed by 16 through line 18 to the inlet of refrigerant pump 20.
circulating a cooling medium in a cooling coil provided The pump 20 circulates refrigerant through line 22 to a
in the absorber. The dilute solution is conducted from spray header 24 above coil 12. The lower portion of the
the absorberto a generator, where it is heated to evapo shell 10 forms a sump for the collection of absorbent
rate refrigerant, thereby increasing the concentration of solution which is circulated through outlet line 26 to
the solution. The concentrated solution is returned to 45 absorber pump 28. From there is passes through a solu
the absorber, and the evaporated refrigerant is liquified tion heat exchanger 30 where it comes into contact with
in a condenser from which it is returned to the evapora concentrated absorbent solution returning from the
tor to complete the absorption refrigeration cycle. The solar collector/generator section, as will be described in
evaporator and the absorber are maintained at substan more detail below. A portion of the solution leaving
tially lower pressures than the generator and the con 50 pump 28 is diverted through line 32 which forms an
denser. Water is frequently used as the refrigerant, the ejector nozzle 34 in ejector mechanism 36. The concen
chilled fluid and the cooling medium, a suitable source trated solution in heat exchanger 30 mixes with the
of heat in the generator being steam or hot water circu solution in line 32 and the mixture is directed through
lated in a heating coil. When the refrigerant is water, line 40 to a spray header 42 above absorber coil 44. Coil
the absorbent solution is typically a hygroscopic brine 55 44 is supplied with a coolant which may be water from
such as an aqueous solution of lithium bromide or lith cooling tower 46 which flows through line 48 to the
ium chloride. It is to be noted, however, that a large coil and returns through line 50 back into the cooling
number offluids with widely varying characteristics are tower. It should be understood that any source of cool
suitable for use in absorption refrigeration systems. ing water may be used although it is most common to
The absorber cooling coil often conveniently forms a use air cooled cooling towers in absorption systems of
portion of a cooling circuit which also includes a con this type.
denser coil, situated in series with the cooling coil, for In the operation of the absorber section, the "thirsty'
abstraction heat from the refrigerant evaporated in the brine absorbs the water vapor released in the evapora
generator to reduce it to condensate. The cooling water tor section and combines therewith to create a more
is conducted from the condenser coil to a remote loca 65 diluent solution which is removed from the absorber
tion where the heat abstracted in the absorber and in the section through line 26 and pump 28. A portion of the
condenser is rejected to ambient air, usually the air out diluent solution is fed through the solution heat ex
of doors. Alternatively, and where feasible, the cooling changer 30 and then through line 52 to the inlet end of
 3
4,133,183 4.
the generator/condenser GC. The concentrated solu should be construed as broadly as the prior art will
tion from the generator section returns to the solution permit.
heat exchanger 30 through line 54. What is claimed is:
FIG. 2 is a cross-section view of the collector which 1. An absorption refrigeration system comprising: an
includes a housing 60 of generally rectangular form 5 evaporator; an absorber; a generator and a condenser all
which has a pair of spaced glass or other type of radia connected in a closed, continuous cycle refrigeration
tion transparent panels 62, 64. A series of troughs 66 circuit with relatively concentrated absorbent solution
(see FIG. 3) extend at an inclined angle, as oriented in flowing to the absorber to absorb water vapor from the
the collector, and the solution 65 flows downwardly evaporator and relatively dilute absorbent solution
through the troughs toward the solution return line 54 flowing from the absorber to the generator to be con
10
at the outlet end of the collector housing. Each of the centrated with concomitant release of water vapor to be
troughs 66 is coated, at 67, with a heat absorbent coat conducted to the condenser, said generator and con
ing such as black nickel or the like. As the solution denser being combined in a housing which includes a
flows from the inlet to the outlet end of the collector, a solar collector for providing thermal energy to the
considerable amount of water vapor is released. This 15 absorbent solution to be concentrated, said solar collec
vapor flows through openings or spaces 70 between the tor including a series of inclined troughs into which said
troughs and then passes through a partition 72 which relatively dilute solution is introduced, said troughs
has its upper surface coated or otherwise provided with being provided with a solar absorbing surface; an air
a reflective material to direct the heat upwardly against cooled
means
condenser section in said housing including
defining a vapor condensing surface subjacent
the bottom of the troughs.
The partition 72 has a series of perforations which said troughs; and means for conducting condensed
allow the water vapor to pass through in order to come vapor to said evaporator. S.
2. A system as defined in claim 1 including a forami
into contact with the lower wall 76 of the housing. The nous panel interposed between said condensing surface
vapor, when it contacts wall 76, condenses because of 2
the heat transfer augmentation provided by fins 78 ex 5 and said troughs, the surface of said panel facing said
troughs being provided with a reflective finish to direct
tending outwardly from the other side of wall 76 into solar radiation away from said condensing surface.
the ambient air. The condensed refrigerant then flows
to an outlet line 80, containing an orifice 81, leading to one solarsystem
3. A as defined in claim 2 including at least
radiation transparent panel above said troughs
a distributor box or nozzle 84 above the refrigerant 30 to close the upper portion of said housing.
distributor header 24 in evaporator E. 4. A system as defined in claim 3 including heat trans
FIGS. 4 and 4a illustrate another modification of the fer augmentation means in thermally conductive rela
collector. In this embodiment, two panels of glass or tion with said condensing
other radiation transparent material, shown at 90 or 92, ambient atmosphere. surface and extending into the
are disposed above a series of parabolic elements 94 35 5. A combination generator and condenser for an
which are spaced along the wall of the collector hous absorption refrigerant system of the type including an
ing and tend to concentrate the radiation into a series of evaporator and an absorber comprising: a housing in
troughs 98, which in a manner similar to the FIG. 3 cluding a solar collector for providing thermal energy
embodiment, conduct the relatively dilute absorbent to the absorbent solution to be concentrated; an air
solution from the entrance end of the collector assembly 40 cooled condenser section in said housing; a series of
to the outlet end thereof. Each of the collector troughs inclined troughs to which relatively dilute solution
has a heat absorbing surface 100 coated or otherwise from said absorber is introduced, said troughs being
formed on the inside thereof so as to readily absorb provided with a solar heat absorbing surface; means
radiant energy striking the surface and transfer it to the defining a vapor condensing surface in said housing
solution in the trough. A piece of transparent film 102 45 subjacent said troughs; and means for conducting con
extends above the trough and underneath the parabolic densate vapor to said evaporator.
elements 74. This film, which may be made of Tedlar, 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 including a for
or other transparent, chemically inert material, forms a maninous panel interposed between said condensing
barrier to water vapor released from the solution as it surface and said troughs, the surface of said panel facing
flows down through the trough elements. The vapor 50 said troughs being provided with a reflective finish to
flows down between the troughs and then through a direct solar radiation away from said condensing sur
perforated partition 104. Like panel 72, it has a reflec face.
tive upper surface and sufficient openings to permit the 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 including at least
vapor to flow through the partition causing it to strike one solar radiation transparent panel above said troughs
the inside surface of the lower wall 106 to condense the 55 to close the upper portion of said housing.
vapor in the same manner as the FIG. 2 embodiment. 8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 including heat
While this invention has been described in connection transfer augmentation means in thermally conductive
with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be relation with said condensing surface and extending into
understood that this is by way of illustration and not by the ambient atmosphere.
way of limitation; and the scope of the appended claims 60

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