Optimization of absorber temperature in a LiBr-H2O heat pump using renewable sources of energy

Abstract

Performance study and economic analyses of the operating costs of a vapour absorption cycle used for space heating has been carried out. The working fluid in the absorp tion cycle has been selected to be the LiBr-YO mixture and the sources of energy as solar collector, biogas and liquified petroleum gas (LPG), separately. The amount and cost of the solar collectors, biogas and LPG are evaluated for different values of the absorber temperature by fixing the other parameters. The energy costs are found to decrease with the absorber temperature, reach to minimum values and then again increase with further increase in the temperature. Thus, optimum a b sorber temperatures, corresponding to the minimum costs of the energy-sources are obtained iteratively. The analyses have been carried 011: for a wide range of the evaporator, condenser, generator and atmospheric temperatures. The optimum values of the absorber temperatures and performance coefficients along with the minimum values of the energy costs have been exhibited graphically for the different operating conditions.