Potential energy benefits of integrated refrigeration system with microturbine and absorption chiller

Abstract

This paper presents and analyzes the performance potential of a refrigeration system that is integrated with a microturbine and an absorption chiller (RMA). The waste heat from the microturbine operates the absorption chiller, which provides additional cooling. This additional cooling capacity can be utilized either to subcool the liquid exiting the condenser of the refrigeration system or to precool the air entering the condenser in the refrigeration system. Moreover, any surplus cooling capacity not utilized in the subcooler can be utilized to precool the microturbine intake air. The additional assistance to the refrigeration system enhances the efficiency of the refrigeration cycle, which in turn reduces the required microturbine size. The smaller size of the microturbine enhances the part load efficiency, especially in lower ambient temperatures. With increased microturbine efficiency, RMA with subcooler, RMA with subcooler and microturbine intake air precooler, and RMA with condenser air precooler can reduce the annual energy consumption by 12, 19, and 3%, respectively, as compared to a refrigeration system operating without any waste heat utilization from the microturbine. Therefore, RMA with subcooler and microturbine intake air precooler has the best potential of energy savings. The payback period of RMA with subcooler and microturbine intake air precooler is estimated in 3 years, which facilitates it as an economically feasible solution among the options investigated.