Simplified model of a membrane-based rectangular micro-desorber for absorption chillers

Abstract

The simulation of the heat and mass transfer in a H2O–LiBr microchannel desorber endowed with a microporous membrane is presented. The heat and mass transfer processes are modelled by means of selected correlations gathered from the open literature. The simulation provides the evolution along the channels of the parameters involved in the process: heat and mass transfer coefficients, solution concentration, temperatures of the working fluids and pressure potential. The calculated values of the desorption rate are compared to experimental data gathered from the open literature. For the case considered in this study, the maximum ratio between cooling capacity of the chiller and desorber volume is 2312 kW m−3. This value is more than one order of magnitude higher than the ones found in conventional small-size absorption cooling chillers.