Experiment – 2

Objective: -
To study vapor absorption refrigeration system
Introduction:
The vapour absorption refrigeration is a heat operated system. It is quite similar to
the mechanical vapour compression system which employs reciprocating, centrifugal or
rotary compressors. In both the systems, we have the evaporator and condenser. The
process of evaporation and condensation of the refrigerant takes place at two different
pressure levels to achieve refrigeration in both the cases. The difference between the two
systems lies in the method employed to create the two pressure levels in the system for
evaporation and condensation of the refrigerant. They also differ in the manner by which
circulation of the refrigerant in the system is achieved.
The refrigeration by mechanical vapour compression system is an efficient method,
however, the energy input in the shaft-work· which is· high grade energy and therefore
very expensive. The work required is relatively large because of compression of vapour
which undergo large changes in specific volume (For example, for an ideal vapour
compression system having C.O.P. of 4, the shaft-work will be'125 per cent of the cooling
effect obtained). Thus, if means are available for raising pressure of the refrigerant from
evaporator pressure to condenser pressure without much changing its volume it is possible
to reduce the shaft-work substantially (Refer Example 5.1). In order to achieve this, in the
vapour absorption system, the refrigerant vapour is dissolved in an inert liquid at the same
pressure as the evaporator and the solution so formed is pumped to a container at
condenser pressure. Thus, liquid which is practically incompressible and undergoes
practically no change in specific volume requires very little work for raising its pressure.
After raising the pressure, the refrigerant is separated from solution by heating. This
vapour which is at condenser pressure goes to the condenser, expansion valve and
evaporator just as in vapour compression cycle.

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Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning
School of Engineering
Department of mechanical engineering
RK University
Simple Water-NH3 vapour absorption system:
Refer Fig. 1 for a simple vapour absorption system. It consists of an absorber, a
pump, a generator and a pressure reducing valve to replace the compressor of vapour
compression system. The other components of the system are condenser, expansion valve
and evaporator as in the vapour compression system.
The ammonia vapour leaving the evaporator at point '1' is readily absorbed in the
low temperature hot solution in the absorber, releasing the latent heat of condensation. The
temperature of the solution tends to rise, while the absorber is cooled by the circulating
water, absorbing the heat of solution (QA)' and maintaining a constant temperature.
Strong solution, rich in ammonia, is pumped (pump increases the pressure of the
solution up to l0 bar) to the generator where heat (QG) is supplied from an external source
(steam, electricity, gas flame, etc.) Since the boiling point of ammonia is less than that of
water, the ammonia vapour is given off from the aqua-ammonia solution at high pressure,
and the weak solution returns to the absorber through a pressure reducing valve.
The high pressure ammonia vapour from the generator is condensed in the
condenser to high pressure liquid ammonia.
This liquid ammonia is throttled by the expansion valve, and then evaporates,
absorbing the heat of evaporation from the surroundings or brine to be chilled. This
completes the simple vapour absorption cycle.
Practice Water-NH3 vapour absorption system:
Although a simple vapour absorption system can provide refrigeration yet its
operating efficiency is low (and not very economical). In order to improve the performance
and working of the plant following accessories are fitted
 Analyser
 Rectifier
 Heat exchangers
In driving the ammonia vapour out of the solution in the generator, it is impossible
to avoid evaporating some of the water. This water vapour going to the condenser along

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Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning
School of Engineering
Department of mechanical engineering
RK University
with the ammonia vapour after condensation may get frozen to ice and block the expansion
valve. So an analyser-rectifier combination (Fig. 2) is used to eliminate water vapour from
the ammonia vapour going into the condenser.
1. Analyser:
The analyser (may be built as an integral part of the generator or made as a separate
piece of equipment) is a direct heat exchanger consisting of a series of trays mounted
above the generator. The strong solution from the absorber flows downward over the trays
to coo the outgoing vapours. Since the saturation temperature of water is higher than that
of ammonia at a given pressure, it is the water vapour which condenses first. As the vapour
passes upward through the analyser, it is cooled and enriched by ammonia, and the liquid
is heated. Thus the vapour going to the condenser is lower in temperature and richer in
ammonia, and the heat input to the generator is decreased.
2. Rectifier:
A rectifier is a water-cooled .heat exchanger which condenses water vapour (and
some ammonia) and sends back (by a drip return pipe) to the generator. Thus final
reduction or elimination of the percentage of water vapour takes place in the rectifier.
3. Heat exchangers:
The heat exchanger provided between the pump and the generator is used to cool
the weak hot solution returning from the generator to absorber. The heat removed from the
weak solution raises the temperature of the strong solution leaving the pump and going to
analyser and generator. This operation reduces the heat supplied to the generator and the
amount of cooling required for the absorber. Thus the plant economy is enhanced.
The heat exchanger provided between the condenser and the evaporator may also
be called sub cooler. In this heat exchanger, the liquid refrigerant leaving the condenser is
sub-cooled by the low temperature ammonia vapour from the evaporator (Ref. Fig. 5.2).
This sub-cooled liquid is now passed to the expans.ion valve and then to the evaporator.
The coefficient of performance of the system is given by:
Heat extracted from the evaporator
COP = --------------------------------------------
Heat supplied in the generator + Work done by the pump

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Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning
School of Engineering
Department of mechanical engineering
RK University
Lithium Bromide absorption system:
In such a system lithium bromide salt (highly hygroscopic) is employed as the
absorbent and water as the refrigerant. The lithium bromide solution has a strong affinity
for water vapour because of its very low pressure. Since water is the refrigerant, the
refrigerant operating temperature in the evaporator has to be above the freezing point (0C)
of water. Lithium bromide solution is corrosive, as such, inhibitor like lithium chromate is
often used to protect the metal parts of the system against corrosion.
Fig. 3 shows a schematic arrangement of lithium bromide absorption refrigeration
system. The absorber and evaporator are housed in one cylindrical shell as they operate at
about the same pressure. The genera/or and condenser are enclosed in another cylindrical
shell as their operating pressures are near about the same. The evaporator contains
refrigerant (water) and the absorber has a charge of lithium bromide solution. The solution
from the absorber is pumped to the generator by the solution pump. Chilled water tube
bundle passes through the evaporator section of the shell, carrying the Water to be cooled.
The absorber and condenser sections have water tube bundles passing through, in which
cooling tower water is circulated. The condenser portion of the generator shell has tube
bundle to circulate cooling tower water to cool (and condensate) the refrigerant (water)
vapour. Refrigerant water is sprayed (through nozzles) over the chilled water tube bundle
by the evaporator pump. A heat exchanger is added to improve the cycle efficiency.
Since water is used as a refrigerant in lithium bromide water absorption system, it
can be used where the temperatures required are above 4°C. Hence major fields of
applications are:
 Air-conditioning;
 Chilling of drinking water;
 Chilling of beverages and fruit juices
Advantage of vapor absorption system over vapor compression system:
The following are the advantages of vapour absorption system over a mechanical
vapour compression refrigeration system,

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Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning
School of Engineering
Department of mechanical engineering
RK University
  No moving part in the system except the aqua pump-motor. The pump-motor is
quite small as compared to .the compressor-motor in vapour compression system.
 Quiet in operation, very little wear, and low maintenance cost.
 Any readily source of thermal energy (process steam, hot exhaust from furnaces,
solar energy) may be used for the generator. Hence can be used in places where
electrical energy is not available, or is costly.
 Can be built in capacities much larger than that for compressor unit (The vapour
absorption system can be built in capacities well above 1000 tonnes of refrigeration
each of which is the largest size for single compressor units).
 Steam which is used for winter heating, same can be used in summer for heating in
the generator.
 In practice the temperature of vapour leaving the generator is of the order 340 K
against about 420 K in case of vapour compression system. Therefore smaller
condenser is required in the former than in the latter.
 The capacity of the absorption system is controlled (and maintained) by adjusting
the steam or generator temperature even if the evaporator pressure falls. On the
other hand the capacity of the compression system decreases rapidly with the
reduced evaporator pressure
 The absorption system can be operated at the designed C.O.P. even at part loads or
reduced evaporator conditions by the appropriate control of generator temperature.
 The load variations do not affect the performance of a vapour absorption system.
The load variations are met by controlling the quantity of aqua circulated and the
quantity of steam supplied to the generator. The performance of vapour
compression system is poor at partial loads.
 The absorption system is much more compact and less bulky than the compression
system for large capacity

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Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning
School of Engineering
Department of mechanical engineering
RK University