NICC System application for VAM (Vapour Absorption Machine)

Absorption system employs heat and a concentrated salt solution (lithium-bromide) to produce
chilled water. In its simplest design the absorption machine consists of four basic components:
1. Generator
2. Condenser
3. Evaporator
4. Absorber

Just like the vapour-compression refrigeration cycle, the absorption machine operates under two
pressures one corresponding to the condenser-generator (high pressure refrigerant separation
side) and the other corresponding to evaporator-absorber (low pressure absorption process in
vacuum). For air-conditioning applications, the evaporator-absorber is at a pressure of 0.00867 bars
and temperature of about 4.45 C.
The pressure on the high-pressure side of the system (condenser) is approximately ten times greater
than that on the low-pressure side to allow the refrigerant to reject heat to water at normally
available temperatures. Typically the condensation of water in the condenser-generator takes place
at a pressure of 0.099 bars and temperature of about 45 C.

Function of Components
Generator:
The purpose of the generator is to deliver the refrigerant vapour to the rest of the system. It
accomplishes this by separating the water (refrigerant) from the lithium bromide-and-water
solution. In the generator, a high-temperature energy source, typically steam or hot water, flows
through tubes that are immersed in a dilute solution of refrigerant and absorbent. The solution
absorbs heat from the warmer steam or water, causing the refrigerant to boil (vaporize) and
separate from the absorbent solution. As the refrigerant is boiled away, the absorbent solution
becomes more concentrated. The concentrated absorbent solution returns to the absorber and the
refrigerant vapour migrates to the condenser.
Condenser:
The purpose of condenser is to condense the refrigerant vapours. Inside the condenser, cooling
water flows through tubes and the hot refrigerant vapour fills the surrounding space. As heat
transfers from the refrigerant vapour to the water, refrigerant condenses on the tube surfaces. The
condensed liquid refrigerant collects in the bottom of the condenser before travelling to the
expansion device. The cooling water system is typically connected to a cooling tower. Generally, the
generator and condenser are contained inside of the same shell.
Expansion Device:
From the condenser, the liquid refrigerant flows through an expansion device into the evaporator.
The expansion device is used to maintain the pressure difference between the high-pressure
(condenser) and low-pressure (evaporator) sides of the refrigeration system by creating a liquid seal
that separates the high-pressure and low pressure sides of the cycle. As the high-pressure liquid
refrigerant flows through the expansion device, it causes a pressure drop that reduces the
refrigerant pressure to that of the evaporator. This pressure reduction causes a small portion of the
liquid refrigerant to boil off, cooling the remaining refrigerant to the desired evaporator
temperature. The cooled mixture of liquid and vapour refrigerant then flows into the evaporator.
Evaporator:

The purpose of evaporator is to cool the circulating water. The evaporator contains a bundle of
tubes that carry the system water to be cooled/chilled. High pressure liquid condensate (refrigerant)
is throttled down to the evaporator pressure (typically around 0.00867 bars absolute). At this low
pressure, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the circulating water and evaporates. The refrigerant
vapours thus formed tend to increase the pressure in the vessel. This will in turn increase the boiling
temperature and the desired cooling effect will not be obtained. So, it is necessary to remove the
refrigerant vapours from the vessel into the lower pressure absorber. Physically, the evaporator and
absorber are contained inside the same shell, allowing refrigerant vapours generated in the
evaporator to migrate continuously to the absorber.
Absorber:
Inside the absorber, the refrigerant vapour is absorbed by the lithium bromide solution. As the
refrigerant vapour is absorbed, it condenses from a vapour to a liquid, releasing the heat it acquired
in the evaporator. The absorption process creates a lower pressure within the absorber. This lower
pressure, along with the absorbents affinity for water, induces a continuous flow of refrigerant
vapour from the evaporator. In addition, the absorption process condenses the refrigerant vapours
and releases the heat removed from the evaporator by the refrigerant. The heat released from the
condensation of refrigerant vapours and their absorption in the solution is removed to the cooling
water that is circulated through the absorber tube bundle.
As the concentrated solution absorbs more and more refrigerant; its absorption ability decreases.
The weak absorbent solution is then pumped to the generator where heat is used to drive off the
refrigerant. The hot refrigerant vapours created in the generator migrate to the condenser. The
cooling tower water circulating through the condenser turns the refrigerant vapours to a liquid state
and picks up the heat of condensation, which it rejects to the cooling tower. The liquid refrigerant
returns to the evaporator and completes the cycle.
System Design for 10 TR VAM:
LiBr-Water Systems:
Using water as a refrigerant limits the low temperature application of this system. As water is the
refrigerant, the system must be operated under vacuum conditions.COP of this system is high (0.7
to 0.9) as compared to (0.5 to 0.6) for Ammonia-Water systems.
THERMODYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF THE SYSTEM:
Thermodynamic analysis of the system involves finding important parameters like enthalpy,
mass flow rates, flow ratio, Heat and Mass Transfers for the whole system to finally calculate
the system Coefficient of Performance (COP). These values are to be then used for design of
the system. Thermodynamic analysis of the system is carried out with the following assumptions:

Steady state and steady flow

No pressure drops due to friction
Only pure refrigerant boils in the generator.

Let

m = mass flow rate of refrigerant, kg/s

mss= mass flow rate of strong solution, kg/s
mws= mass flow rate of weak solution, kg/s

Heat (Q) and Mass (m) balance for each component

Condenser
m7=m8=m
QC = m (h7-h8), kJ/s

Expansion Valve
m8=m9=m
h8=h9 (isenthalpic), kJ / kg
Evaporator
m9=m8=m
Qe =m (h9-h8), kJ/s
Absorber
From total Mass balance

m+mss=mws
Now Circulation Ratio,

=mss/m

Therefore, mws= (1+) m

From Mass balance of pure water

m+ (1+ss) mss= (1+ws) mws
Solving for we get,
And,

= ws/ (ss - ws)

Qa=mh10+mh6-(1+) mh1, KJ/s

Solution Pump
m1=m2=mws
Wp= (1+) m* Vsol * (pc-pE) kJ/s
Where Vsol. is specific volume of solution which can be taken as approx. 0.00055 m3/kg

Solution Heat Exchanger

m2=m3=mws
m4=m5=mss
QHX = (1+) m (h3-h2) = *m*(h4-h5), kJ/s
Generator
m3=m4+m7
Heat input to the Generator,

Qg=mh7+mh4-(1+)*m3, kJ/s

Coefficient of Performance (COP):

In this system the net refrigerating effect is the heat absorbed by the refrigerant in the evaporator.
The total energy supplied to the system is the sum of work done by the pump and the heat
supplied in the generator. Therefore, the Coefficient of performance (COP) of the system is given
by

COP= Heat Absorbed in the Evaporator /( Work done by pump +Heat Supplied in the
Generator )

Or,

COP =Qe/ (Qg+Wp)

Neglecting the Pump work

COP=Qe/Qg

Design Calculation for each Component:

The most favourable working temperatures for a Single effect lithium-bromide and water
refrigeration system (for a COP value between 0.7 and 0.9) are
Generator Temperature, Tg = 55 to 90
Condenser Temperature, Tc= 24 to 46
Absorber Temperature, Ta= 16 to 32
Evaporator Temperature, Te= 2.5 to 10

Let the operating temperatures chosen are

Generator Temperature, Tg=64
Condenser Temperature, Tc= 30
Absorber Temperature,

Ta=20

Evaporator Temperature, Te =4
Operating Pressures
Pc=Pg=0.0425bar (Assume)
Pa=Pe=0.0081bar (Assume)
Assume Capacity of the system or Refrigerating Effect (Qe) = 10 ton= 35 kW

Calculation of Enthalpy (h) at every designated point of the system:

Enthalpy of pure water and of superheated water vapours at any temperature can be
determined from steam tables. Enthalpies of solutions are calculated from LiBr-Water PressureTemperature-Concentration-Enthalpy (P-T--h) Chart.

Obtaining Heat transfers for each component:

Evaporator:

Applying the Energy balance

Qe = Refrigerating effect =5.25kW = m (h10- h9)

= m (2508.70 -125.70)
m= 35/(2508.70- 125.70)

or,

m = 0.015 kg/s = mass flow rate of refrigerant.

Now, Circulation Ratio,

=ws/ (ss- ws)

=0.48/ (0.56-0.48) = 6

Therefore,
And

Absorber:

mSS= m=0.09kg/s
mws= (1+ ) m= (1+6)*0.015= 0.105 kg/s

Applying the Energy balance

Qa=m h10+mss h6-mws h1
= (0.0152508.70) + (0.09 -195) - (0.105 -180)
=38.9805 KW

Heat Exchanger (HX): Writing the Energy balance for Heat Exchanger,
mws (h3-h2) =mss (h4-h5)
0.105 (h3+180) =0.09 (-120+195)
h3=-115.71 kJ / kg
Generator
Qg=m h7+mss h4-m ws h3
= (0.0152621.32) + (0.09-120)-(0.105-115.70)
= 41.22 kW
Condenser
Qc =m (h7-h8)
=0.015 (2616.50-125.70)
=37.4 KW
COP = QE / QG
=0.881

Result:
S.No.
1
2
3
4

Components
Evaporator
Absorber
Generator
Condenser

Heat Transfer Rate

Qe
Qa
Qg
Qc

Value(Kw)
35
38.9805
41.22
37.4

Calculation for Heat Input through Solar System:

Useful energy (energy absorbed by the collector plate) is given by
Qu= K S A
Where,
K=efficiency of NICC collector plate (assume k=0.85)
S=average solar heat falling on earths surface=6 kw- hr/m2/day
= 250 W/m2
A=Area of collector plates
Now
Heat req. in the generator,

Qg = 42 Kw
= 42000 watt

Hence approximate area of the collector plates required for providing this much amount of energy
= 42000 / (250 K)
= 42000 / (250 .85)
= 197.64 square meters (approx)
Total Area of collector plates=200 m2 (approx. considering other losses)

Manufacturer List in INDIA for VAM:

S.No.

Name of Manufacturer

Contact No. & Contact

Person

Email i.d.

Voltas Limited

navneetpandaya@voltas.com

Kirloskar Ltd.

09823276691,Navneet
Pandaya
02026727000

Hitachi

+91 (11) 30605252,Kamesh

kamesh@hitachi.co.in,

Snow Cool System India

Pvt. Ltd
Rufouz Hitek Engineers

(022) 41237770/71

sales@snowcoolsystems.com

+91-9820139905,Mr. Sunil B.
Bhosale
+91-2027125072/27125078/022253
36164
+91-07043330270, Mr.
Mitesh Ghadawala

sales@rufouzhitek.com

5
6

Transparent Energy
System Pvt. Ltd.

Ashray Engineers

vac@kpcl.net

mumbaioffice@tespl.com

sales@ashray.co.in