Immersed Heat Exchanger Research Articles

An Experimental Study of an Autonomous Heat Removal System Based on an Organic Rankine Cycle for an Advanced Nuclear Power Plant

The present study focuses on the recovery of waste heat in an autonomous safety system designed for advanced nuclear reactors. The system primarily relies on passive safety condensers, which are increasingly integrated into the design of advanced Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs). These condensers are typically immersed in large water tanks that serve as heat sinks and are placed at sufficient heights to ensure natural circulation. Such a heat removal system can operate for an extended period, depending on the size of the tank. This research is driven by the potential to recover part of the energy stored in the boiling water volume, using it as a heat source for an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) system via an immersed heat exchanger. The electricity generated by the ORC engine can be used to power the system components, thereby making it self-sufficient. In particular, a pump replenishes the water tank, ensuring core cooling for a duration no longer limited by the water volume in the tank. An experimental test setup, including a boiling water pool and an ORC engine with an electrical output of approximately several hundred watts, along with an immersed evaporator, was constructed at CEA (Grenoble, France). Several test campaigns were conducted on the experimental test bench, exploring different configurations: two distinct ORC working fluids, cold source temperature variation effects, and relative positioning of the submerged evaporator and heat source within the water tank impact. These tests demonstrated the reliability of the system. The results were also used to validate both the ORC condenser and evaporator models. This article presents this innovative system, which has recently been patented. Moreover, to the best of our knowledge, the investigated configuration of an ORC that includes an immersed evaporator is original.

Theoretical perfection and application of entransy analysis method on absorption systems

In thermal energy utilization scenarios, absorption systems have been widely and effectively utilized as heat exchange devices. However, existing thermal research methods on absorption systems for these scenarios have limitations. Therefore, the entransy parameter, which is applicable for analyzing the heat exchange process is chosen to study. The entransy balance relationship of the absorption system is theoretically analyzed, and the entransy analysis method is further perfected to break through the limitations. First, the entransy imbalance of the reversible absorption cycle is proved, and the reason for this imbalance is clarified that two heat-work conversion processes at different temperatures occur inside the cycle. Then, the working fluid's entransy change during the conversion process is theoretically derived and defined, and a new parameter: conversion entransy is defined based on it. Moreover, the comprehensive entransy balance equation and comprehensive entransy analysis method of absorption systems are further proposed. Finally, a specific case study is carried out, and this method is compared with the existing exergy analysis method and entransy analysis method without considering the conversion entransy respectively. By using this method, the optimal process form of the absorption heat exchanger can be directly obtained without numerical simulation calculations, demonstrating significant advantages.

Process design, performance comparison and operating test of the multi-stage vertical absorption heat exchanger realizing independent heating in three zones

Absorption heat exchangers applied in district heating systems can significantly reduce the outlet water temperature of the primary network, thereby expanding the heating scale and promoting low-temperature waste heat recovery. However, nearly 50% of the existing heating systems in high-rise buildings are divided into three independent zones. At present, there is a lack of research for absorption heat exchangers in this scenario. The main task of this paper is to address this issue to expand the application range of absorption heat exchangers. Firstly, two different processes are designed in this paper. The first process is to add a plate heat exchanger in the existing two-stage process, while the second process is a novel three-stage vertical process, consisting of three absorption heat pumps with different pressures and three sets of plate heat exchangers. Then, the operating performance, self-adjustment ability and the system cost of different processes are compared based on the simulation method. Although the price of Process 2 is 26.4% higher than that of Process 1, the efficiency of Process 2 is 20.3%-27.7% higher, and the self-regulation ability is significantly better. Thus, Process 2 has better overall performance. Moreover, the system development and operating test of Process 2 are conducted. Throughout the whole heating season, the overall efficiency of the system is 1.17–1.23. Without manual intervention, the relative standard deviations of the inlet water temperature of the secondary network and the actual heat supply rate ratio are less than 5% and 16% respectively, which proves that the system has great self-adjustment ability. The conclusions in this paper can guide the design and application of the absorption heat exchanger in three-zone independent heating scenarios.

Hybrid solar hydrothermal carbonization by integrating photovoltaic and parabolic trough technologies: Energy and exergy analyses, innovative designs, and mathematical Modelling

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is an excellent process for transforming biomass into solid fuels. Evaluating HTC's environmental benefits requires addressing substantial energy needs for reactant heating. In this regard, two innovative solar systems for powering HTC were investigated: a parabolic trough collector (PTC) that heats a heat transfer fluid (HTF) circulating through a heat exchanger surrounding a batch reactor and photovoltaic panels (PV) that powers a heating collar. Experimental results reveal that the PV system efficiently attains subcritical conditions, whereas the PTC system faces challenges. Exergetic analysis identifies heat transfer as a primary irreversibility factor, resulting in a recorded maximum entropy of nearly 100 W/K. This caused the exergy efficiency to decrease to a minimum of 0.07, dropping the accumulated exergy below 82 W. To address this issue, a validated mathematical model was employed to investigate three optimized configurations: an immersed heat exchanger, a jacketed system, and a hybrid system combining both. The results demonstrated achieving desired HTC conditions at mixing temperatures of 185 °C, 195 °C, and 230 °C, respectively. In contrast, the PV system rapidly attains 220 °C and 40 bar in 70 min. This study proposes innovative solar HTC designs for sustainable hydrochar production using PV and PTC technologies.

Experimental study of erosion in heat exchangers immersed in fluidized beds

Fluidized beds can be used as solar energy receivers in beam-down concentrated solar power plants. The fact that solid particles can withstand temperatures over 1,000°C is promising because it would mean higher thermal efficiencies than conventional concentrated solar power plants (CSP, that use molten salts, whose maximum operating temperature is limited to about 560°C). Nonetheless, immersed heat exchangers are exposed to erosion because fluidized particles impinge on their surfaces. The multiple variables of a multiphase flow and the uncertainties of the material detachment process make erosion a complex problem that stills not fully solved.The aim of this study is to conceive an experimental procedure to measure erosion on cylindrical probes immersed in a lab-scale high temperature fluidized bed (able to operate up to 1,000°C and atmospheric pressure), simulating a tube of a heat exchanger in a fluidized bed working at expected temperatures in CSP applications.Preliminary results at ambient temperature are presented in this study. Silica sand particles were fluidized with air and erosion was measured on cylindrical probes made of aluminium 5027. Silica sand was characterized with a microscope before and after each test to determine its size distribution and shape. Several parameters (diameter, mass, and circumferential profile) of each probe were also studied before and after each test. Different fluidization velocities were implemented to assess the influence of the flow rate on erosion.

Dynamic simulation of CHL at SNS

A dynamic simulation model of Central Helium Liquefier (CHL) has been developed by the process simulation software; EcosimPro™. CHL consists of 4 K and 2 K cold boxes to sustain the operation of LINear ACcelerator (LINAC) which is composed of Superconducting Radio Frequency (SRF) cavities installed in the Cryomodules. 4 K cold box is a modified Claude cycle refrigerator, having LN2 precooler with two Brayton Cycle turbines, followed by the series connected Turbines (Tu3 and Tu4), and a Supercritical Helium (SHe) turbine (Tu5) for high thermodynamic efficiency. The product of 125 g/s of SHe is subcooled at the LHe immersed Heat eXchanger (HX) before supplying to Cryomodules, which has its own precooled HX for He II vapor vs. SHe, to have high liquid yield for He II at 2.1 K. Four series connected Cold Compressors (CCs) keep the LINAC pressure at 0.04 bar for the proton beam acceleration. The paper discusses the modeling of CHL, including four CCs. The benchmark of the model against a design specification of CHL and the validation of CC model is also described in detail.

Design of solar thermal absorption air conditioning system using CO2 with synthetic building load

Traditional air conditioning and refrigeration solutions rely on compressor-driven systems, leading to increased electricity consumption and intensified greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These systems primarily utilize synthetic refrigerants such as CFCs, HCFCs, and HFCs. Despite their advantages, these refrigerants are either banned or subject to restricted permissions under the Montreal Protocol (1987) and the Kyoto Protocol (1997) due to environmental concerns. According to the Paris Accord, ratified by 196 parties as of 2017, there is a global shift towards low global warming refrigerants and eco-friendly alternatives. COP27 reaffirmed global commitments to limit temperature rise to 1.5 °C, emphasizing urgent action and stronger climate plans to combat global warming. CO2 envisaged by ASHRAE is resurrected as a promising natural refrigerant with the advent of high-pressure technologies the design employs a solar evacuated glass tube collector (EGTC) with U-shaped copper tubes and flat plate collector (FPC) to harness solar thermal energy. An immersed heat exchanger's (HX) based thermal storage tank is incorporated to address the intermittency of solar energy. The CO2 refrigerant offers advantages over other natural refrigerants due to its low critical point.This research conducts a TRNSYS® simulation of a 35.2 kW absorption cooling system with synthetic building load driven by energy captured through FPC and EGTC using R-744, additionally supported by a supplementary boiler for traditional office timing. The system design comprises two solar collectors, the EGTC and FPC, integrated with two different cooling loop configurations (C1 and C2). In C1, the hot water that exits the generator of the absorption chiller is forwarded toward the immersed HX-based hot storage tank, which is connected to the solar and absorption cooling loop. In C2, the working fluid leaving the absorption chiller is diverted directly toward the auxiliary boiler/furnace, if the temperature in the storage tank falls below the necessary level (108.89 °C) and if the tank temperature is greater than this set point temperature, then the flow passes through the storage tank. Both system designs have been developed using TRNSYS, with dynamic simulations conducted throughout the summer.The solar fraction and collector efficiency are considered as key performance indicators to evaluate and compare the system's effectiveness. Then the optimization of system parameters is performed for all four cases (EGTC C1 & C2 and FPC C1 & C2) based on these key performance indicators, all configurations integrated with a fixed synthetic building cooling load. The optimum parameters are found for all four cases, and the optimum parameters for EGTC C1 & C2 are 100 m2, 4 m3, and 11° for collector area, storage tank volume, and collector slope respectively. Similarly, for FPC based configurations, these parameters are 200 m2, 32 m3 for C2 and 4 m3 for C1, and 20° respectively. The results revealed better C2 performance than C1, with EGTC outperforming FPC. The final results were computed for the EGTC based designs due to their high solar fractions, with EGTC C2 emerging as the optimal configuration, achieving a seasonal solar fraction of 0.649.

Allocation optimization of two-stage compression-absorption heat exchanger

Space heating demand of buildings is a significant component of global energy consumption. Lowering the operating temperatures can increase the overall energetic and exergetic efficiencies. To obtain a lower return water temperature, researchers have proposed a variety of approaches. Absorption heat exchanger is an effective way to reduce return water temperature. However, in two-stage absorption heat exchanger and compression-absorption heat exchanger, extra temperature difference exists in evaporator of absorption heat pump. To eliminate the extra temperature difference, optimized compression-absorption heat exchanger is put forward in the article. Based on the typical case, the energy saving rate of optimized compression-absorption heat exchanger can reach 17.9 %, and the principle of energy saving is analyzed in the article, the key point is the extra temperature difference and the cooling capacity of evaporator of absorption heat pump. Further, the energy savings of the optimized heat changer in different supply and return temperature of primary and secondary network is analyzed. Main factors affecting the energy saving rate are primary network supply temperature and secondary network supply-return temperature difference. As the result, when primary network supply temperature is 130 °C and secondary network supply and return temperature is 50 °C and 40 °C, energy saving rate can reach 28.4 %.

AbSolut - Integration of Absorption Technologies in District Heating and Cooling Systems for Enhanced Economic and Ecological Impact

District heating (DH) systems play a crucial role in meeting heating demands across the European Union (EU) and Austria, with significant potential for energy efficiency improvements and decarbonization. However, the transition towards climate neutrality by 2040 poses significant challenges, particularly in decarbonizing existing DH systems and integrating renewable energy sources. This work explores the application of absorption technologies, specifically absorption heat exchangers (AHX), absorption chillers (AC), and absorption heat pumps (AHP), in optimizing DH systems. The study investigates the utilization of AHX as transfer substations to increase heat capacity within existing grids by up to 30%, facilitating the integration of renewables and reducing distribution heat losses. Additionally, AC implementation for cooling supply demonstrates efficiency improvements through dynamic operation modes, renewable energy integration, and reduced electricity demand. Furthermore, AHP for waste heat utilization in DH power plants showcases environmental benefits, cost savings, and enhanced energy security. Through detailed techno-economic analyses and case studies, the paper evaluates the viability and economic feasibility of absorption technologies in DH applications. Challenges such as system integration, spatial requirements, and driving energy optimization are addressed, offering insights into overcoming barriers to adoption. Overall, the research highlights the transformative potential of absorption technologies in enhancing the efficiency, sustainability, and resilience of DH systems. By leveraging these technologies, DH operators and stakeholders can navigate the transition towards climate neutrality, while ensuring reliable and cost-effective heating and cooling solutions for urban areas.

Transient evolution of thermal stratification and passive flow guidance inside a heat exchanger immersed thermal energy storage tank

Thermal stratification is being studied globally for thermal storage tanks while natural convection motion has a high impact on the phenomenon. Therefore, in this work, a conical guide geometry is introduced as a passive flow modifier to enhance the thermal stratification inside a cylindrical tank that is used for thermal storage purposes. The tank also has an immersed spiral coil heat exchanger in it. Transient evolution of thermal stratification inside the thermal storage tank is monitored for different charge flowrates and temperatures. The experimental data is used to benchmark a commercial computational fluid dynamics code relying on finite volume method. After seeing that the code simulates the transient thermal stratification with acceptable discrepancies, a conical guide geometry above the immersed heat exchanger is examined via the computational code for dimensional variations. The dimensions of the cone guide are defined based on thermal storage tank dimensions in order to have some degree of universality. The best performing cone guide in the simulations is then tested experimentally. It is validated that the proposed cone guidance enhanced thermal stratification evolution in the tank. An increase of 3.85 °C is obtained in the average tank temperature with the use of the cone guide after 3 h of charging. Approximate effectiveness of the heat exchanger coil is found about 90 % while a 7.6 % increase is realized by the utilization of the guide.

Effects of an Annular Baffle on Heat Transfer to an Immersed Coil Heat Exchanger in Thermally Stratified Tanks

Abstract The effect of a cylindrical baffle on heat transfer to an immersed heat exchanger is investigated in initially thermally stratified tanks. The heat exchanger is located in the annular region created by the baffle and the tank wall. Three different cases of initial thermal stratification are explored, and in each case, experiments are conducted with and without the baffle in the stratified tank and in a comparable isothermal tank with the same initial energy, enabling exploration of the role of the baffle in a stratified tank and the role of stratification in tanks with or without the baffle. The baffle maintains the high initial temperature of the upper zone of the stratified tank for 10–16 min, as cool plumes that form on the heat exchanger are confined to the annular baffle region until they exit at the bottom of the tank. Regardless of stratification, the baffle always improves heat transfer to the immersed heat exchanger. In the isothermal tanks, the baffle increases total energy extracted in the first 30 min of discharge by over 20%. In stratified tanks, the baffle increases total energy extracted in 30 min of discharge by 9–16%. Initially, improvement in heat transfer in stratified tanks is due to the higher driving temperature differences around the heat exchanger. Later, after all the water from the hot zone has entered and flowed through the baffle, the tank is basically isothermal, and velocity increases as the fluid temperature drops, maintaining rates of heat transfer higher than that in the tank without the baffle. Stratification improves heat transfer in tanks without a baffle because, by design, the driving temperature difference between the heat exchanger wall and the surrounding fluid is considerably higher. However, in tanks with the baffle, stratification has only a modest positive effect on heat transfer to the immersed heat exchanger.

"3E" Analysis and Working Fluid Selection for a Cogeneration System for Geothermal Large Temperature Difference Utilization.

Widespread utilization of geothermal energy as a clean energy source can reduce the use of fossil fuels and thereby protect the environment. Previous combined heat and power (CHP) systems using low-temperature geothermal heat as a heat source have limited utilization of geothermal heat. In this study, a cogeneration system based on organic Rankine cycle (ORC) and absorption heat exchanger (AHE) is designed. We analyzed the thermal efficiency, exergy efficiency, and economics of the proposed system utilizing 85 °C low-temperature geothermal heat, and the optimal operating fluid for this system is discussed. The results show that the optimal working fluid for the proposed system is R245fa. Using R245fa as the working fluid, the proposed system can achieve an exergy efficiency of 61.39%, when the heat source outlet temperature can be as low as 23 °C, while the proposed system can achieve the lowest LCOE of 0.082 ($/kW ·h) when using R22 as the working fluid.

Modeling and Simulation Analysis of Operation Characteristics of Supplemental Fired Absorption Heat Exchanger

Based on a general single-segment absorption heat exchange unit, a series complementary lithium bromide absorption heat exchange unit was constructed by adding a direct combustion unit, which can achieve a lower backwater temperature on the primary side, thereby increasing the heating capacity. Based on the analysis of the thermodynamic cycle and heat-transfer process, the mathematical model was built and solved using an iterative numerical method. Based on satisfying heating load, the impact of the temperature of supply water on the primary side on the operating characteristics of the unit under different load conditions was quantitatively analyzed. The result shows a negative correlation between backwater temperature on the primary side and supply water temperature on the primary side when other parameters are unchanged. If the supply water temperature on the primary side remains unchanged, the temperature of the backwater on the primary side decreases with the increase of heating load, and the ratio of heat exchange of plate heat exchange unit to total heat exchange decreases with the increase of heating load. For example, when the supply water temperature is 120°C, the proportion of water-water plate heat exchange capacity to total corresponding to 100% heat load, 90% heat load, and 75% heat load is 0.465, 0.580, and 0.772, respectively.

Experimental analysis of energy consumption of building roof energy-saving technologies based on time difference comparison test

The roof plays a pivotal role as it directly engages with solar radiation absorption and external heat exchange, significantly influencing the building’s overall energy dynamics. To assess the performance of green roofs and cool roofs, a roof performance test facility was established in Nanjing. Time-difference comparison experiments were conducted to measure and analyze the energy-saving effects of cool roofs, green roofs, and conventional roofs during both summer and winter conditions. The study aimed to investigate how their thermal performance impacts building energy consumption. The study’s findings reveal that under summer conditions, the incorporation of a cool roof system leads to a substantial enhancement in energy efficiency, achieving an impressive 13.2% energy savings compared to conventional roofing solutions. In contrast, the implementation of a green roof system results in a more modest energy-saving rate of 4.1%. Transitioning to winter conditions, the adoption of a cool roof system shows a marginal increase of 2.8% in energy consumption compared to conventional roofs. Interestingly, the green roof system stands out as an energy-efficient option during winter, demonstrating a significant 4.9% reduction in energy consumption. This approach ensured reliable and valid results to provide a comprehensive view of how different roof types respond to varying climatic conditions.

A novel district heating system based on absorption heat exchange and water-heat combined supply

Considering the challenges posed by long transportation distances and poor heating economy in large-scale heating systems based on conventional steam extraction cogeneration in nuclear power plants, a novel district heating system is proposed. This novel system is based on absorption heat exchange and water-heat combined supply. It offers significant improvements in heating and transportation capacity, while reducing the required investment in pipelines and transportation power consumption. In this study, an example of an AP1000 nuclear power turbine unit was used to construct a novel system. Additionally, a comprehensive energy efficiency evaluation model was established for this system. A comparison with the conventional district heating system based on cogeneration revealed several notable advantages of the novel system: (1) the comprehensive equivalent electricity decreased from 45.3 kWh/GJ to 31.2 kWh/GJ, representing a 31.1% reduction; (2) the unit heating cost decreased from 51.1 CNY/GJ to 42.0 CNY/GJ, resulting in potential savings of 10,726.17 × 104 CNY during a heating season; and (3) the emissions of CO2, SO2, and NOx were reduced by approximately 117.78 × 104 tons, 3.55 × 104 tons, and 1.77 × 104 tons, respectively.

An Antimicrobial, Environmental Protection, and High‐Efficiency Solar Steam Generator Based on Carbonized Sawdust

Solar‐powered desalination technology offers a promising solution to the global scarcity of freshwater resources. Recently, researchers have become interested in solar‐powered steam generators utilizing biomass materials. Herein, wood waste (sawdust) is recycled and subjected to high‐temperature treatment to obtain carbonized sawdust (CSd), which is sprayed onto the surface of a sponge to assemble a sponge‐based light absorber. The impact of sawdust carbonization temperature on water evaporation performance is examined, and it is found that a sponge‐based light absorber with a sawdust carbonization temperature of 600 °C exhibits a photothermal conversion efficiency of 87.7% while maintaining low‐energy consumption. Incorporating metal Ag into the light absorber improves water evaporation performance (photothermal conversion efficiency of 92.3%) and provides antibacterial properties. This photothermal evaporator maintains 89% photothermal conversion efficiency after 24 h of operation under 1 sun irradiation in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. The antibacterial, efficient solar steam generator is expected for practical seawater desalination.

Thermal Storage: From Low‐to‐High‐Temperature Systems

Different technologies of cold and heat storages are developed at Fraunhofer ISE. Herein, an overview of ongoing research for sensible and latent thermal energy storages is provided. Phase change emulsions are developed supported by molecular dynamic simulations. A narrow temperature range of the phase change is crucial for the applicability. By the simulations, a nucleation additive is identified that reduces supercooling by up to 9 K. The long‐term stability of phase change material is investigated by degradation experiments. Thermal cycling and ageing of materials at elevated temperature are applied. The change of melting enthalpy and characteristic temperatures are evaluated. Among erythritol, adipic acid, and myristic acid, the smallest degradation is observed for the latter. For sensible storage, the reduction of thermal oil by low‐cost filler materials and their compatibility is investigated at elevated temperature. It can be concluded that the materials are compatible up to 320 °C. At the component level, different macroencapsulations and immersed heat exchangers are tested for phase change materials. The investigated configurations achieve similar values of thermal power during (dis‐)charge. Compared to water as storage medium, the capacity increases by a factor of 2.2 and 4.1 for the macroencapsulation and the immersed heat exchanger, respectively.

Comparative analysis and optimization of waste-heat recovery systems with large-temperature-gradient heat transfer

Efficient utilization of waste heat is crucial for reducing waste heat emissions and minimizing environmental impact. Organic Rankine cycle (ORC) systems are commonly employed for waste heat recovery. However, conventional ORC systems have limitations in effectively harnessing waste heat resources because of differences in the pinch point temperature and the relatively small temperature difference between the heat source inlet and outlet. To address this issue, we designed two absorption organic Rankine cycle (AORC) systems in this study based on absorption heat exchangers. We analyzed the energy, exergy, and economy of three ORC system models with heat source temperatures within the range from 363.15 K to 413.15 K. The results indicated that the AORC system represented a optimal waste heat recovery system, capable of reducing the outlet temperature to 298.70 K and achieving a high temperature efficiency of 1.037. Thus, an AORC system can facilitate heat exchange with substantial temperature differences, enabling the efficient utilization of heat sources. The AORC system in this study exhibited a high net power of up to 151.8 kW, and an electrical exergy efficiency of 55.45%. Additionally, the AORC consistently outperformed other systems in terms of economy, as evidenced by its electricity production cost, which was the lowest among all three systems with heat source temperatures lower than 398.15 K.

Resurrection of carbon dioxide as refrigerant in solar thermal absorption cooling systems

The existing air conditioning and cold storage systems use conventional compressor based systems, compelling more electricity and greenhouse gasses (GHG) emissions. The incumbent cooling system uses synthetic refrigerants (CFCs, HCFC, and HFCs) that outperform natural refrigerants but are banned or under time bared permission due to their harmful effects. The global community of (196 parties till 2017) has ratified Paris Accord to limit GHG emissions and use low Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants, and after the ban on existing synthetic refrigerants, quested for suitable natural working fluids and retrofitting in the existing system. Among ASHRAE envisaged natural refrigerants, CO2 has resurrected as an emerging refrigerant after the availability of high pressure technologies. The proposed design of solar assisted absorption chiller employing CO2 as a heat transfer fluid for a commercial dwelling is simulated for a dwelling in the hot and humid, moderate and sun adverse region (Lahore, 31.5204° N, 74.3587° E) to assess the thermal properties of the proposed design. A thermal storage tank with immersed heat exchangers augmented to meet the intermittency of solar energy. A solar evacuated glass tube collector (EGTC) with U-shaped copper tubes is used to collect solar heat energy. Integration of renewable energy (RE) systems is inevitable due to the persistent energy crisis and climate change situations. Solar energy is a promising source of energy abundantly available in hot areas. CO2 is a natural refrigerant that outperforms ASHRAE envisaged natural refrigerants due to the low critical point. A solar thermal cooling system employing a 35.2 kW absorption chiller driven via heat energy harnessed with EGTC using R-744 supported by an auxiliary furnace is simulated in a TRNSYS® Simulation environment. The simulated system covers the cooling requirements of a large three-room dwelling in Lahore, Pakistan. The proposed design comprises an R-744-based solar heating system combined with a hot water-fired absorption chiller. The results were dynamically simulated for the hot climate of Lahore, Pakistan, with average yearly maintained temperatures of 23 °C, 26 °C, and 21 °C for the three rooms and 0.21 solar fraction for the whole year.

Simulation studies on GAX based absorption cooling and power cycle using a mixture of ammonia-water working fluid and aluminium oxide nano particles

The present work is focused on analyzing the influence of nano material aluminium oxide on the performance of generator absorber heat exchange ammonia-water absorption refrigeration system. Matlab code has been used to simulate the performance of the combined cycle. The effect of refrigeration, absorber and condenser temperatures on the combined cycle performance have been studied. The results of the analysis indicate that the performance of the combined cycle is higher by 15 to 20% when Al2O3 nano particles were added when compared to the same cycle without the addition of nano particles.