New Developments and Progress in Absorption Chillers for Solar Cooling Applications
Source abstract
Abstract
At present, novel, small-to-large capacity absorption chillers with unique technical features have emerged on the global market, and laboratory and pre-industrial prototypes have also been developed. These chillers have been designed for the efficient use of low-grade heat sources; some are air-cooled, small capacity systems; compact water/LiBr chillers; or solar-gas-fired single/double-effect chillers. Also, some advanced commercial absorption chillers have an extensive temperature glide in the driving heat stream (>30 K) which extracts approximately twice as much heat (~200%) as the single-effect chiller. This large temperature glide means that the chillers are well suited to solar thermal collector installations and district heating networks, and the extra driving heat increases cold production. Moreover, recent advances in R718 turbo compressor technologies have helped to solve the problems water/LiBr absorption chillers have in adapting to extreme operating conditions (e.g., high ambient temperature, >35 °C) by using a compressor-boosted absorption chiller configuration. This review paper presents and discusses the developments and progress in these absorption chiller technologies. In summary, the new absorption chillers may be useful for developing efficient, cost-effective, and robust solar cooling solutions that are needed to mitigate the unsustainable impact of the rising global demand for space cooling.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Thermodynamic and Exergetic Analyses of Power and Cooling Systems · Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technologies · Thermal Radiation and Cooling Technologies
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
CREVER–Group of Applied Thermal Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
Funding
Universitat Rovira i Virgili
References (100+)
Show source-provided references
1. OECD/IEA (2018). The Future of Cooling. Opportunities for Energy-Efficient Air Conditioning, OECD/IEA.
2. OECD/IEA (2020, April 25). News. Air Conditioning Use Emerges as One of the Key Drivers of Global Electricity-Demand Growth, IEA Publ.. Available online: https://www.iea.org/news/air-conditioning-use-emerges-as-one-of-the-key-drivers-of-global-electricity-demand-growth.
3. Weiss, W., and Spö;rk-Dür, M. (2019). Solar heat worldwide 2019 Edition: Global Market Development and Trends in 2018. Detailed Market Figures 2017, IEA Solar Heating & Cooling Programme.10.18777/ieashc-shw-2019-0001 ↗
4. International Energy Agency (IEA) (2019). Annual Report 2018 Solar Heating and Cooling Programme, International Energy Agency.
5. A review of solar thermal refrigeration and cooling methods10.1016/j.rser.2013.03.024 ↗
6. Review of solar thermal air conditioning technologies10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2013.11.028 ↗
7. Techno-economic review of solar cooling technologies based on location-specific data10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2013.09.033 ↗
8. An illustrated review on solar absorption cooling experimental studies10.1016/j.rser.2016.07.012 ↗
9. A review of solar absorption cooling systems combined with various auxiliary energy devices10.1007/s10973-018-7423-4 ↗
10. Solar-powered absorption chillers: A comprehensive and critical review10.1016/j.enconman.2018.05.091 ↗
11. COOLFACADE: State-of-the-art review and evaluation of solar cooling technologies on their potential for façade integration10.1016/j.rser.2018.11.015 ↗
12. Herold, K.E., Radermacher, R., and Klein, S.A. (2016). Absorption Chillers and Heat Pumps, CRC Press Inc.. [2nd ed.].10.1201/b19625 ↗
13. Petersen, S., Hansske, A., Hennrich, C., Stangl, J., Mittermaier, M., Helm, M., Zachmeier, P., Natzer, S., Lanser, W., and Ziegler, F. (2011). Development of a 50 kW Absorption Chiller, Int. Congr. Refrig.
14. Kühn, A. (2013). New Absorption Chillers for CHCP or Solar Cooling System Technology, Therm. Driven Heat Pumps Heat. Cool.. Available online: http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:83-opus4-39458.
15. (2020, April 10). BINE Information Service, Bee and Bumblebee Begin Field Tests. Available online: http://www.bine.info/en/topics/industrial-and-commercial/news/biene-und-hummel-gehen-in-den-feldtest.pdf.
16. Fujiia, T., Takeda, N., Miyauchi, H., Kawamura, M., and Uchida, M. (2017, January 15–18). Cycle simulation and prototyping of single-effect double-lift absorption chiller. Proceedings of the 12th IEA Heat Pump Conference, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
17. Development and Progress in Solar Cooling Technologies with Sorption Systems10.1002/cite.201100116 ↗
18. Sorption heat pumping technologies: Comparisons and challenges10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2009.03.007 ↗
19. Munkoe, L. (2014). Solar Cooling Unit. (WO 2014/174409 A2), WIPO|PCT Patent.
20. PURIX (2020, March 10). Solar Cooling System: Product Catalogue A25s. Available online: http://www.purix.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/PURIX-Catalogue-A25s-EN.pdf.
21. (2020, March 24). State of Green, Solar Cooling System. Available online: https://stateofgreen.com/en/partners/purix/solutions/solar-heat-pump/.
22. PURIX (2020, March 10). Case study|PURIX: Cut Electricity Demand with a Green Air Conditioning System. Available online: http://www.purix.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Danfoss-PURIX-case-EN.pdf.
23. (2020, March 25). PURIX ApS. Available online: https://www.purix.com/.
24. Performance of absorption chillers in field tests10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2018.02.013 ↗
25. Paitazoglou, C. (2020, February 11). Solar Cooling with Highly Efficient Absorption Chillers [Presentation]. Available online: http://www.renewables-made-in-germany.com.
26. W. Baelz & Sohn GmbH & Co. (2020, April 25). Model “Bee” 50 kW. Available online: https://www.baelz.de/en/theme-vorlagenseiten/bee/.10.22533/at.ed.6292026053 ↗
27. W. Baelz & Sohn GmbH & Co. (2020, April 12). Typ Hummel 160 kW. (In German).
28. W. Baelz & Sohn GmbH & Co. (2020, April 24). Typ Hornisse 500 kW. (In German).
29. Paitazogou, C., Petersen, S., and Ziegler, F. (2017, January 21). Energy efficient cooling with new absorption chiller technology in solar cooling systems and CHPC-plants [Presentation]. Proceedings of the EinB2017—6th Int. Conference “ENERGY Build. 2017” Energy, Athens, Greece.
30. Richter, L., Heinrich, C., Kemmerzehl, C., Safarik, M., Otto, M., Weidner, G., Burandt, B., and Herzog, R. (2019, January 24–30). Development of Water—Lithium Bromide Absorption Chillers Based on Asymmetric Plate Heat Exchangers. Proceedings of the 25th IIR Int. Congr. Refrig., International Institute of Refrigeration, Montréal, QC, Canada.
31. Safarik, M., and Kemmerzehl, C. (2020, February 14). WEGRACAL C—New Water/LiBr Absorption Chillers Based on Plate Heat Exchangers [EAW and ILK Dresden Presentation]. Available online: https://www.iea-shc.org/Data/Sites/53/media/events/meeting-09/workshop/15-safarik_wegracal-c-new-water-libr-absorption-chillers-based-on-plate-heat-exchangers.pdf.
32. EAW (2020, April 14). Energieanlagenbau GmbH, ABSORPTIONSKÄLTEANLAGE WEGRACAL Maral. (In German).
33. Schweigler, C., Riesch, P., Demmel, S., and Alefeld, G. (1996). A New Absorption Chiller to Establish Combined Cold, Heat, and Power Generation Utilizing Low-Temperature Heat, Winter Meet. Am. Soc. Heating, Refrig. Air Cond. Eng. Inc.
34. Schweigler, C., Preissner, M., Demmel, S., Hellmann, H., and Ziegler, F. (1998, January 17–21). Operation and Performance of a 350 kW (100 RT) Single-Effect/Double-Lift Absorption Chiller in a District Heating Network. Proceedings of the 1998 ASHRAE winter meeting, San Francisco, CA, USA.
35. Hitachi Johnson Controls Air Conditioning Co., Ltd. (2020, April 03). Development of an Absorption Chiller Capable of Recovering Heat from Industrial Waste Heat in the Low Temperature Range with a Temperature Difference of Approximately Twice. (In Japanese).
36. World Energy, Co. (2020, April 03). 2AB—Single Effect Double Lift Hot Water Driven Absorption Chiller for District Heating & Industrial Use. Available online: http://worldenergy.co.kr/en/portfolio-item/2ab-2/.
37. Yabase, H., and Hirai, A. (2012, January 16–19). Solar Cooling System Using Solar-Driven Hybrid Chiller. Proceedings of the International Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Conference, Purdue, IN, USA.
38. Yabase, H. (2013). Technology and Application of Absorption Chillers by Kawasaki Thermal Engineering Co., Ltd. [Presentation], Atmos. Technol. Summit United Nations Ind. Dev. Organ.
39. Nasruddin Solar-assisted single-double-effect absorption chiller for use in Asian tropical climates10.1016/j.renene.2016.07.055 ↗
40. Lubis, A. (2019). Optimal Operation of Solar Energy Driven Single-Double-Effect Absorption Chiller. [Ph.D. Thesis, Waseda University].10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.03.046 ↗
41. Nasruddin Operation performance enhancement of single-double-effect absorption chiller10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.03.046 ↗
42. (2020, March 26). Thermax Ltd, Multi-Energy Driven Chiller (2D Series). Available online: https://www.thermaxglobal.com/absorption-cooling/vapour-absorption-chillers/multi-energy-driven-chiller-2d-series/.
43. Kawasaki Thermal Engineering Co., Ltd. (2020, April 24). Absorption Chillers. Available online: http://www.khi.co.jp/corp/kte/EN/?_ga=2.237153856.1583288113.1591880702-1974263298.1587212439.
44. Mugnier, D., Mopty, A., Rennhofer, M., and Selke, T. (2017). IEA SHC TASK 53: State of the Art of New Generation Commercially Available Products, IEA Solar Heating and Cooling Programme.10.18777/ieashc-task53-2017-0001 ↗
45. World Energy Co., Ltd. (2020, April 24). Absorption Chiller Heat Pump (Cataloge). Available online: http://worldenergy.co.kr/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Catalogue_EN.pdf.
46. BINE Information Service (2020, March 26). Cooling with Heat. A new Generation of Compact Chillers Cools and Heats with Low-Temperature Heat, Bonn, 07 2012. Available online: http://www.bine.info/fileadmin/content/Presse/Projektinfos_2012/Projekt_07-2012/ProjektInfo_0712_engl_internetx.pdf.
47. W. Baelz & Sohn GmbH & Co. (2020, April 25). Save Energy? Baelz Has the Solution. Available online: https://www.baelz.de/index.php?eID=dumpFile&t=f&f=1431&token=6ac9f7e3822ebe362a8b88254c6ee8ec7ab39f31&download=&eht=1.
48. Part-load characteristics of a new ammonia/lithium nitrate absorption chiller10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2014.11.005 ↗
49. Parametric analysis on the experimental performance of an ammonia/water absorption cooling system built with plate heat exchangers10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2018.11.040 ↗
50. Development of a 5 kW cooling capacity ammonia-water absorption chiller for solar cooling applications10.1016/j.egypro.2012.11.006 ↗
51. Zamora, M. (2012). Industrial Optimization and Control Strategy of an Air-Cooled Ammonia/lithium Nitrate Absorption Chiller. [Ph.D. Thesis, Universitat Rovira i Virgili]. (In Spanish).
52. Vapor-liquid equilibrium of ammonia + lithium nitrate + water and ammonia + lithium nitrate solutions from (293.15 to 353.15) K10.1021/je7000045 ↗
53. Densities, viscosities, and heat capacities of ammonia + lithium nitrate and ammonia + lithium nitrate + water solutions between (293.15 and 353.15) K10.1021/je8003035 ↗
54. Thermodynamic and physical property data equations for ammonia-lithium nitrate and ammonia-sodium thiocyanate solutions10.1016/S0038-092X(84)80040-7 ↗
55. Thermal conductivity of ammonia + lithium nitrate and ammonia + lithium nitrate + water solutions over a wide range of concentrations and temperatures10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2013.08.010 ↗
56. First and second law analysis of ammonia/salt absorption refrigeration systems10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2013.11.006 ↗
57. Pre-industrial development and experimental characterization of new air-cooled and water-cooled ammonia/lithium nitrate absorption chillers10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2014.06.005 ↗
58. Zamora, A., Bourouis, M., Vallès, M., and Coronas, M. (2011, January 14–16). A new ammonia/lithium nitrate absorption chiller for solar cooling applications. Proceedings of the Int. Conf. Ammon. Refrig. Technol., Ohrid, Macedonia.
59. Bourouis, M., Coronas, A., Valles, M., and Zamora, M. (2011). Air/Water or Water/Water Absorption Water Cooler Using Ammonia and Lithium Nitrate. (WO/2011/039397), EPO: Patent.
60. Villar, N.M. (2015). Sistemas de Refrigeración Solar Basados en Máquinas de Absorción Para el Sector Residencial, Universidad de Málaga. (In Spanish).
61. Parametric analysis on the performance of an experimental ammonia/lithium nitrate absorption cooling system10.1002/er.4185 ↗
62. Experimental assessment of an absorption cooling system operating with the ammonia/lithium nitrate mixture10.1016/j.energy.2014.10.058 ↗
63. Experimental assessment of an absorption cooling system utilizing a falling film absorber and generator10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.05.014 ↗
64. Experimental assessment of an air-cooled absorption cooling system10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2019.03.104 ↗
65. Specific Heat Measurements on Aqueous Lithium Bromide10.1080/10789669.2005.10391143 ↗
66. Thermodynamic Properties of Aqueous Lithium Bromide Using a Multiproperty Free Energy Correlation10.1080/10789669.2005.10391144 ↗
67. Solubility of Lithium Bromide in Water Between −50 °C and 100 °C (45 to 70% Lithium Bromide)10.1021/je60044a030 ↗
68. A computationally effective formulation of the thermodynamic properties of LiBr–H2O solutions from 273 to 500K over full composition range10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2005.10.007 ↗
69. Farnós, J., Castro, J., Morales, S., Garcia-Rivera, E., Oliva, A., and Kizildag, D. (2014, January 16–19). Preliminary results of a 7 kW single-effect small capacity pre-Industrial LiBr-H2O air-cooled absorption machine. Proceedings of the EuroSun Int. Sol. Energy Soc., Aix-Les-Bains, France.
70. Modelling of the heat exchangers of a small capacity, hot water driven, air-cooled H2O–LiBr absorption cooling machine10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2007.05.019 ↗
71. Farnós, J., Papakokkinos, G., Castro, J., Morales, S., and Olivab, A. (2017, January 15–18). Dynamic modelling of an air-cooled LiBr-H2O absorption chiller based on heat and mass transfer empirical correlations. Proceedings of the 12th IEA Heat Pump Conference, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
72. Farnós, J., Castro, J., Papakokkinos, G., and Oliva, A. (2017, January 7–10). Towards industrialization of a small capacity direct air-cooled LiBr-Water absorption chiller. Proceedings of the Int. Sorption Heat Pump Conference, Tokyo, Japan.
73. Alefeld, G., and Radermacher, R. (1994). Heat conversion systems, CRC Press Inc.
74. Erickson, D.C. (1995). Waste-Heat-Powered Icemaker for Isolated Fishing Villages, ASHRAE Trans. 101(Part 1), American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).
75. Experimental and numerical analysis of an air-cooled double-lift NH3–H2O absorption refrigeration system10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2014.10.018 ↗
76. Guerra, M. (2012, January 25–27). Self adaptive refrigerant flow low temperature driven dual lift absorption cycle. Proceedings of the 10th IIR Gustav Lorentzen Conf. Nat. Refrig., Delft, The Netherlands.
77. Application of an adapted single-/half- effect NH3/H2O absorption chiller in tri-generation and solar cooling systems10.1016/j.solener.2018.08.010 ↗
78. Neyer, D., Ostheimer, M., Thür, A., Gritzer, F., Hauer, N., Neyer, J., Wolfgang, S., Focke, H., Kefer, P., and Kirchsteiger, H. (2017). Report of SolarHybrid Project, Universität Innsbruck. (In German).
79. Helm, M., Eckert, T., and Schweigler, C. (2018, January 10–13). Design and practical validation of a hybrid absorption/compression chiller driven by low-grade Heat. Proceedings of the 12th Int. Conf. Sol. Energy Build. Ind. EuroSun2018, International Solar Energy Society (ISES), Rapperswil, Switzerland.10.18086/eurosun2018.04.20 ↗
80. Helm, M., Eckert, T., and Schweigler, C. (2015, January 24–25). Hybrid water/LiBr absorption chiller boosted by high-speed turbo compressor. Proceedings of the 6th Int. Conf. Sol. Air-Conditioning, OTTI, Rome, Italy.
81. Eckert, T., Helm, M., Grassel, A., and Schweigler, C. (2015, January 16–22). Lithium Bromide/R718 Hybrid Sorption & Compression Cycle. Proceedings of the 25th IIR Int. Congr. Refrig., International Institute of Refrigeration, Yokohama, Japan.
82. Helm, M., Eckert, T., and Schweigler, C. (2019, January 24–30). Design and experimental results of a hybrid water/lithium bromide absorption-compression chiller. Proceedings of the 25th IIR Int. Congr. Refrig., International Institute of Refrigeration, Montréal, QC, Canada.
83. Flexible heat pump or chiller with hybrid water/LiBr absorption/compression cycle10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2018.03.003 ↗
84. Llena, O.A., Segarra, C.P.D., Serrano, J.R., González, J.C., Casasayas, C.O., Pérez, I.R., Barba, O.L., Miquel, X.T., Paramio, R.C., and Queipo, R.A. (2014). Machine for Air-Cooled Absorption. (WO/2014/198983 Al), WIPO|PCT Patent, (In Spanish).
85. State-of-the-art review on crystallization control technologies for water/LiBr absorption heat pumps10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2011.04.006 ↗
86. The influence of bromide-based ionic liquids on solubility of {LiBr (1) + water (2)} system. Experimental (solid + liquid) phase equilibrium data. Part 110.1016/j.molliq.2018.09.104 ↗
87. The influence of bromide-based ionic liquids on solubility of {LiBr (1) + water (2)} system. Experimental (solid + liquid) phase equilibrium data. Part 210.1016/j.molliq.2018.06.006 ↗
88. Performances of grooved plates falling film absorber10.1016/j.energy.2017.07.026 ↗
89. An investigation of the breakup of an evaporating liquid film, falling down a vertical, uniformly heated wall
90. Moving beyond the limits of mass transport in liquid absorbent microfilms through the implementation of surface-induced vortices10.1016/j.energy.2013.11.068 ↗
91. CFD simulation to investigate heat and mass transfer processes in a membrane-based absorber for water-LiBr absorption cooling systems10.1016/j.energy.2015.08.018 ↗
92. A review of membrane contactors applied in absorption refrigeration systems10.1016/j.rser.2015.01.054 ↗
93. Review of small-capacity single-stage continuous absorption systems operating on binary working fluids for cooling: Theoretical, experimental and commercial cycles10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2019.06.033 ↗
94. Adiabatic vs non-adiabatic membrane-based rectangular micro-absorbers for H2O-LiBr absorption chillers10.1016/j.energy.2017.06.068 ↗
95. Experimental characterisation of a novel adiabatic membrane-based micro-absorber using H2O-LiBr10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2018.10.046 ↗
96. Novel absorption refrigeration system with a hollow fiber membrane-based generator10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2016.04.012 ↗
97. Hong, S.J., Inoue, S., Taira, N., and Hihara, E. (2017, January 7–11). Membrane Based Generator-Condenser Unit for Compact Absorption Refrigeration System. Proceedings of the International sorption heat pump conference, ISHPC, Tokyo, Japan.
98. Theoretical and experimental study of the ammonia/water absorption process using a flat sheet membrane module10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2017.06.027 ↗
99. Study of the adiabatic absorption process in polymeric hollow fiber membranes for ammonia/water absorption refrigeration systems10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2018.04.004 ↗
100. Petersen, S., Hüls, W., Paitazoglou, C., and Albers, J. (2019, January 24–30). Active control of external volume flow rates for single effect absorption chillers. Proceedings of the 25th IIR Int. Congr. Refrig., Montreal, QC, Canada.