Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Optimization of solution circulation rate and heat transfer area distribution for hot-water driven LiBr/H2O absorption chillers

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The heat transfer area of an absorption chiller’s component deTermines the performance and manufacturing cost of the device. Therefore, optimizing the heat transfer area is critical in designing an absorption chiller. In this study, a new systematic optimization method for the solution circulation rate and the heat transfer area distribution was proposed to maximize the system performance of single-effect absorption chillers. The total performance improvement ratio (IRtotal) was introduced so that the improvement of the cooling capacity and the COP could be considered together. To validate the optimization method, an exemplar optimization process was carried out for a commercial single-effect absorption chiller. In this example, about 4 % improvement in the IRtotal was possible by just reducing the solution circulation rate and re-distributing the heat transfer area among the system components. The optimization method presented in this study is expected to play an important role in maximizing the system performance of single-effect absorption chillers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

U :

Overall heat transfer coefficient

A :

Heat transfer area

ṁ :

Mass flow rate

m 1 :

Solution circulation flow rate

h :

Enthalpy

ξ :

Concentration

LMTD :

Log mean temperature difference

LTD :

Least temperature difference

COP :

Coefficient of performance

Qcc :

Cooling capacity

IR cop :

Performance improvement ratio of COP

IR cc :

Performance improvement ratio of cooling capacity

IR total :

Total performance improvement ratio

References

  1. T. Avanessian and M. Ameri, Energy, exergy, and economic analysis of single and double effect LiBr-H2O absorption chillers, Energy and Buildings, 73 (2014) 26–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. R. Gomri, Investigation of the potential of application of single effect and multiple effect absorption cooling systems, Energy Conversion and Management, 51(8) (2010) 1629–1636.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. A. A. V. Ochoa, J. C. C. Dutra, J. R. G. Henríquez and C. A. C. dos Santos, Dynamic study of a single effect absorption chiller using the pair LiBr/H2O, Energy Conversion and Management, 108 (2016) 30–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. A. Shirazi, R. A. Taylor, G. L. Morrison and S. D. White, Solar-powered absorption chillers: A comprehensive and critical review, Energy Conversion and Management, 171 (2018) 59–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. G. P. Xu and Y. Q. Dai, Theoretical analysis and optimization of a double-effect parallel-flow-type absorption chiller, Applied Thermal Engineering, 17(2) (1997) 157–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. R. Gomri, Second law comparison of single effect and double effect vapour absorption refrigeration systems, Energy Conversion and Management, 50(5) (2009) 1279–1287.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. M. D. Azhar and M. Altamush Siddiqui, Optimization of operating temperatures in the gas operated single to triple effect vapour absorption refrigeration cycles, International Journal of Refrigeration, 82 (2017) 401–425.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. H. Wang, H. Li, X. Bu and L. Wang, Optimum performance of a double absorption heat transformer, Energy Conversion and Management, 122 (2016) 350–356.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. T. Zhao, X. Chen and Q. Chen, Heat current method-based modeling and optimization of the single effect lithium bromide absorption chiller, Applied Thermal Engineering, 75 (2020) 115–345.

    Google Scholar 

  10. B. Safarnezhad Bagheri, R. Shirmohammadi, S. M. S. Mahmoudi and M. A. Rosen, Optimization and comprehensive exergy-based analyses of a parallel flow double-effect water-lithium bromide absorption refrigeration system, Applied Thermal Engineering, 152 (2019) 643–653.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. R. D. Misra, P. K. Sahoo and Gupta, Thermoeconomic optimization of a LiBr/H2O absorption chiller using structural method, ASME. J. Energy Resour. Technol., 127(2) (2005) 119–124.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. V. Jain and G. Sachdeva, Energy, exergy, economic (3E) analyses and multi-objective optimization of vapor absorption heat transformer using NSGA-II technique, Energy Conversion and Management, 148 (2017) 1096–1113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. J. H. Lee, D. H. Kim, S. M. Kim, M. S. Kim, I. G. Kim, S. M. Woo, S. J. Hong and C. W. Park, Heat transfer characteristics of a falling film generator for various configurations of heating tubes in an absorption chiller, Applied Thermal Engineering, 148 (2019) 1407–1415.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Y. W. Han and S. Y. Jeong, Optimization of solution circulation flow rate and heat transfer area distribution for the performance improvement of single-effect absorption chiller, SAREK Summer Conference Symposium (2022).

  15. S. Klein, EES-Engineering Equation Solver, F-Chart Software (2005).

  16. Samjung Tech, Design Document for 240RT Absorption Refrigerator (2016).

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) and the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy (MOTIE) of the Republic of Korea (No. 20212020800050).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Graduate School, Sogang University, Seoul, 04107, Korea

    Yongwook Han

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, 04107, Korea

    Siyoung Jeong

Authors
  1. Yongwook Han
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Siyoung Jeong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Siyoung Jeong.

Additional information

Yongwook Han has been M.S. student at the Dept. of Mech. Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, Korea from 2022 to present. His current research topics is cycle optimization for single-effect and hybrid absorption chillers.

Siyoung Jeong Dr. — Ing. (1991, Institute for Technical Thermodynamics, RWTH Aachen) has been a Professor at Dept. of Mech Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, Korea from 1994 to present. His current research topics include cycle optimization and heat transfer enhancement techniques for absorption heat pumps.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Han, Y., Jeong, S. Optimization of solution circulation rate and heat transfer area distribution for hot-water driven LiBr/H2O absorption chillers. J Mech Sci Technol 37, 1531–1537 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-023-0238-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-023-0238-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation