Energy analysis of waste heat-powered absorption cooling system for sustainable cooling

Abstract

Energy wastage from power plants, which typically dissipates into the atmosphere, poses a significant challenge. The environmental consequences of such wasteful practices are manifold, contributing to climate change and resource depletion. The inefficient use of this waste heat contributes to economic and environmental concerns. Harnessing waste heat through integrating heat recovery systems with power plants effectively repurposing untapped energy. Addressing this issue optimizes energy utilization and aligns with the growing need for sustainable practices in the power generation sector. This study aims to harness the available waste heat by integrating an absorption cooling system (ACS) from the flue gas exhaust of a pressurized pulverized combined cycle power plant. Additionally, the thermodynamic performance of ACS with a cooling capacity of 30 tons has been examined. Using waste heat for cooling purposes offers a sustainable and efficient solution, reducing energy consumption and environmental impact. The working fluid used in the ACS is a binary mixture comprised of ammonia and water. Modelling and simulation were conducted using cycle tempo software, followed by energy analyses to assess the ACS's thermodynamic performance. The thermodynamic analysis discloses that the ACS achieves a coefficient of performance (COP) of 0.595. Additionally, variations in the temperatures of the generator, absorber, condenser, and evaporator significantly impact the COP of the ACS. This promising COP indicates the effectiveness of the ACS in harnessing waste heat for practical cooling applications, marking a substantial step towards sustainable energy utilization.