Conclusion
In this work, a single-stage H2O–LiBr absorption chiller of 14 kW was experimentally characterized and modeled. The machine performance, as described by cooling capacity and COP were measured at different temperatures of chilled, cooling and hot water and, different flow rates of cooling and hot water.
The results have shown that an AHP has almost a constant COP over a large hot water inlet temperature which makes such a device well suited for trigeneration or solar cooling applications. The COP is primarily influenced by the cooling stream temperature and flow rate. The heat pump cooling capacity is more sensitive to cooling stream and generator inlet temperature than it is to chilled stream temperature.
A model for analysis and design of H2O–LiBr absorption has also been developed. Good agreement of the experimental and simulation results was observed. The model has the capability to use either actual heat transfer coefficients computed experimentally or to estimate them by theoretical or empirical correlations. The model is capable of quick and reliable simulation and can be used as an aid to design of absorption cycles. It is shown how the developed model can be linked to the AHP implementation methodology for the design of an AHP to be implemented in an existing process. The design parameters are presented.
The development of economic data to complement the technical design capability of the model would constitute a very valuable tool for the optimal design of AHPs. It would assist engineering work for the implementation of such machines in industrial processes.