DESALINATION

ELSEVIER Desalination 168 (2004) 137-144 www.elsevier.com/|ocate/desal

Solar cooling with the absorption principle: First and Second Law analysis of an ammonia-water double-generator absorption chiller
N. Ben Ezzine*, M. Barhoumi, Kh. Mejbri, S. Chemkhi, A. Bellagi
Unit6 de Recherche Thermique et Thermodynamique des Proc6d6s Industriels, D~partement Energ6tique, Ecole Nationale d 'Ing6nieurs de Monastir, lbn El Jazzar 5019 Monastir, Tunisie Tel. +216 (97) 256585; Fax +216 (73) 500514 ; email: n_benezzine@yahoofr

Received 16 February 2004; accepted 24 February 2004

Abstract

This article deals with the modelling, thermodynamic simulation and Second Law analysis of an ammonia-water double-effect, double-generator absorption chiller. The analysis of the unit established a simulation thermodynamic model as well as the limits of the operating conditions. Computer simulation was carried out in order to determine its stream properties and the amount of heat and work exchanged with the surroundings. Simulation results were then used to study the influence of the various operating parameters on the performance coefficient of the chiller. To quantify the irreversibility of each component of the chiller and to determine the potential for each component to contribute to overall system energy efficiency, the Second Law analysis of thermodynamicswas applied, Results indicated that the absorber, solution heat exchangers, and condenser have the most potential to improve chiller energy efficiency.
Keywords:

Solar cooling; Refrigeration; Double-effectabsorption chiller; Modeling; Simulation; Ammonia-water; Exergy; Entropy; Second Law

1. Introduction

Today energy research pursues the double goal o f the resolution o f better energy management and research for new sources. Indeed, the *Corresponding author.

possibility o f producing cold by direct use of the primary energy, in particular solar and natural gas, created interest in absorption equipment for air-conditioning. In addition, the improvement of the performance o f industrial processes is an ongoing objective o f researchers.

Presented at the EuroMed 2004 conference on Desalination Strategies in South Mediterranean Countries: Cooperation between Mediterranean Countries of Europe and the Southern Rim of the Mediterranean. Sponsored by the European Desalination Society and Office National de l'Eau Potable, Marrakech, Morocco, 30 May-2 June, 2004.

0011-9164/04/$- See front matter 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

doi;10.1016/j.desal.2004.06.179

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N. Ben Ezzine et al. / Desalination 168 (2004) 137-144

Absorption refrigerators and heat pumps have been for a long time limited to very specific and marginal uses (regeneration, engineeringdevices) [ 1] because of their low performance coefficient (PC) compared to that of vapor compression equipment. Over the last few decades, however, the field has experienced a resurgence of interest which is largely market-driven by low-grade heat or solar energy. Unfortunately, simple cycles are not able to produce PCs necessary for competition with vapor compression cycles even when the differential cost for heat and electric power is considered [2]. This means that the energy advantage of this kind of chillers remains insignificant unless modified structures are developed. This is why most studies on absorption chillers were concerned with multiple-effect structures designed by combining single-stage components and cycles [2,3]. The present work is part of our research on absorption chilling and solar refrigeration [4-6]. It is concerned with a particular structure: the double-effect, double-generator absorption chiller, operating with an ammonia-water mixture. The common way to specify the operating energy efficiency of an absorption chiller is to provide the PC, determined by the First Law of Thermodynamics. This parameter, however, makes no reference to the best possible performance or gives any information regarding where inefficiencies occur in the chiller. Also, it cannot be used to determine the potential for each component of the chiller to contribute to the overall efficiency of the system. The Second Law analysis addresses the energy balance and the entropy balance for the system. It can be used to analyze entropy generation and the irreversibility (or exergy destruction) of each component, and provides much more information than a First Law analysis [7-9]. This work applied thermodynamic analysis, including First and Second Law analyses, to an ammonia-water double-effect, double-generator

absorption chiller. The irreversibility of each component in the chiller was quantified and the potential of each component to contribute to the overall system's energy efficiency was determined.

2. Cycle description
Fig. 1 shows schematically an ammonia-water double-effect, double-generator absorption chiller forming an extension for the single effect cycle [4,5]. It is composed essentially of two condensers; an evaporator; two steam generators, each one provided with a boiler and distillation column; an absorber; four expansion valves; two pumps and an adjustable three-way valve. The steam (3), flowing from the evaporator to the absorber, is absorbed by the weak solution (9). The absorption heat is rejected towards the environment (cooling water or air) which also receives energy released by the first condenser. The strong solution (4) is distributed by an adjustable three-way valve between the two stages of the unit, each one with a generator, a condenser and a solution heat exchanger. The fraction t~ of strong solution (4) is sent towards the first generator. Evaporation of the refrigerant is performed at two temperature levels: the energy needed in the first boiler is supplied by the second condenser (Cond2). Large temperature differences between heat exchanging streams are thus avoided. The sum refrigerants thus formed and accumulated in the first condenser (Condl) are forwarded to the evaporator. The strong solution (16) supplying the second generator is a cold source of distillation column that determines the purity limit of the refrigerant (23), leaving the last stage of this column. This solution is seen insufficient to be a rather pure refrigerant. To this end an internal rectifier was incorporated in the chiller. For a rational use of energy, three counter-current heat exchangers (HEX1, HEX2, HEX3) were used.

N. Ben Ezzine et al. / Desalination 168 (2004) 137-144

139

2O Distillation ~_~___~ column 21 ' EV4

,o

LI5 ~14

Qco~a

17>>~__

:"
11; ,

DistillatiO~column --n
;

-[
EV3<
k ,

6" Adjustable tee-wayvalve

~ 19 !

Mixe:13' - / ?
: ; ~rtEX2 8 5

HEXl1 ~ 12!

EVlX

: :

EV8~ ~l?ump 1

QEv
3. Methodology of simulation

se. s

Fig. 1. Principles of the solar-driven, double-effect, doublegenerator absorption chiller. simulation model of the chiller. To solve the large set of nonlinear equations simultaneously in the chiller thermodynamic model, the CONLES algorithm available as a FORTRAN 77 code [10] was used. Computer simulation was carried out in order to determine the various stream properties and the amount of heat and work exchanged by main equipments of the chiller.

The establishment of the simulation chiller model followed three steps: calculation of the chiller variance (number of freedom degrees), specification of the operating fundamental conditions: cooling effect, driving heat source temperature, useful cold temperature and that of the environment (utility of cooling), formulation of the mass and energy balance equations governing the various chiller components. With these equations the relations characterizing the thermal transfers in the various heat exchangers and those deduced from the Second Law of Thermodynamics were added. Mass and energy balance equations and the various complementary relations constitute the

4. Thermodynamic analysis
4.1. Component analysis

The governing equations used to evaluating the irreversibility in each component follow. * Mass balance

mo=

m,

(1)

140
. Energy balance:

N. Ben Ezzine et al. /Desalination 168 (2004) 137-144

(2)
Entropy balance:

Sge.,~--E "LS.-E "~:,- OK rK

Irreversibility:

(3)

/= TOSgen,K

(4)

where QK is the heat added to component K at temperature TK, Tx is the entropic average temperature at which heat flows across the component, K [7,11 ] and Sge,,K is the entropy generation of each component K of the chiller.

with the same heat sinks (environment, air). Their entropic average temperatures are fixed equal to the environment temperature (Tco,dj = TAb~).A second boiler exchanges its heat at varying temperatures. Calculation of the exact entropic average temperature for this desorbing process is complex, and was therefore estimated as its high temperature of a weak solution. TEvapwas estimated as the numerical average of the entering and exiting temperatures. The error introduced by this estimation is minimal, as demonstrated by Alefeld [7,11 ]. When Eq. (7) is multiplied by TAb~and subtracted from Eq. (6), the following equation is produced:

Qs2-

TAb~_TEva p

s2

Ts2 )

4.2. Cycle analysis

The PC of the chiller is defined as

rAb~- rEv"p)
(5) TEvap

Q.2 )
is the PCrev for a

P C - Qcv~p

Q~2

/ (,2-,bs)

For the chiller, direct Second Law analysis begins by applying the First and Second Law to the entire system, with only heat crossing the chiller, as shown in Fig. 1. (6)

thermally-driven refrigerator operating among three temperature reservoirs. Eq. (8) may thus be rewritten as follows:

PC

= PCre v - ~

PCdeg radiation, K

(9)

where

OEv., +

+ 0cod,

0Abs

- -E

ge.,K (7)

(10) Eq. (10) shows how much the entropy generation of each component K of the chiller degrades the reversible PC to the actual irreversible

rEvap , TB2 , TCond 1 and TAb are defined as the s entropic average temperatures at which heat flows across the defined component [7,1 ! ]. The first condenser and the absorber exchange heat

PC.

N. Ben Ezzine et al. / Desalination 168 (2004) 137-144

141

Second Law efficiency 1"1 is defined as the ratio of the actual PC to the maximum possible (reversible) PC under the same operating conditions:

0.79 0.77 0.75 0.73

COP

PC
r I - PCre v

(11)
0.71 0.69

5. Results of simulation

0.67 0.65

Mass and energy balance equations and the various complementary relations constitute the simulation model of the chiller. To solve the large set of nonlinear equations simultaneously in the chiller thermodynamic model, the Conies algorithm available as a FORTRAN 77 code [ 12] was used. Computer simulation was carried out in order to determine the various stream properties and the amount of heat and work exchanged by main equipments of the chiller. Table 1 presents the essential results of a study where we required a cooling effect of 17.5 kW at 12-7C. The pinches of all heat exchangers are equal to 5C, the absorber and the first condenser temperature is 40C and the two sub-cooling are both equal to 3C.

PE (bar)
....................................

T. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

i .

2.6

3.1

3.6

4.1

Fig. 2. Performance coefficient (COP) vs. evaporator pressure (Pc).

1.8 1.7 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.2 1.1 1

m f(mol/s)

5.1. Effect of the evaporator pressure

Fig. 2 shows the evolution of the chiller's PC with the evaporator pressure. We note the existence of a maximum value of roughly 0.761 corresponding to a pressure of 3.5 bar. Such behavior, encountered also in the case of simple effect chillers [4], is due to the existence of two opposite effects. When the evaporator pressure increases, the evaporation temperature increases too. The temperature T2 being fixed, the average evaporation temperature increases and increases the chiller's PC. Fig. 3 shows that the refrigerant flow rate increases with the evaporator pressure (which has a positive effect on the amount of heat to offer to the boilers) and thus the PC decreases.

0.9 0.8 2.5 3 3.5 4

PE (bar)
4.5

Fig. 3. Total refrigerant flowrate vs. evaporatorpressure (PE).

5.2. Effect of the partition coefficient, tr, between generators

Fig. 4 shows the PC of the chiller as a function of the partition coefficient, a, for various evaporator pressure values, PE. To respect the Second Law of Thermodynamics, this coefficient then has a lower limit, which corresponds to a value from which the temperature T7 driving the first boiler exceeds the steam temperature T2o

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N. Ben Ezzine et al. / Desalination 168 (2004) 137-144

Table 1 Results of analysis of the First and Second Law for the chiller Component First Law~ Q, kW Evaporator HEX 1 EV 1 1st condenser(Cond 1) Absorber EV2 HEX2 Mixer HEX3 EV3 2nd boiler (B2) Rectifier Coupling (Cond2-1 st boiler) aPCr~ = 2.292; PC = 0.761. bt) = 0.332. 17.5 2.544 0.00 - 18.31 - 25.925 0.00 30.311 0.00 30.374 0.00 22.9965 3.535 3.514
Second Law b

St~,,Ic,W/K
0.461 0.436 0.181 1.915 3.854 0.165 2.591 0.168 2.216 0.454 1.361 0.975 0.208

], W 141.982 134.257 55.707 589.823 1186.95 50.971 797.98 51.863 682.587 139.929 419.27 300.183 64.21

PCa~,,adi=io,, ,r
0.040 0.038 0.016 0.167 0.337 0.014 0.226 0.015 0.194 0.039 0.119 0.085 0.018

]/]to~, % 3.076 2.909 1.207 12.78 25.72 1.104 17.288 1.124 14.79 3.031 9.084 6.504 1.391

0.8 COP 0.78 0.76 O.74 0.72

0.7

, 3.5bar -- 3.8 bar

1 m~(mol/s) 0.98 0.96 0.94 0.92

0.9

1~11~.~.,~~,~...~ . _ ~

0.68 0.66
5%

,
15% 25% 35% 45%

o~(%)

0.88 . . . . 5% 15%

. 25%

~(%) 35/, 45%

Fig. 4. Performance coefficient (COP) vs. partition coefficient 0cor different evaporator pressures (PE). supplying the second condenser (Cond2). The increase in coefficient a is accompanied b y a more important flow o f refrigerant leaving the second generator, represented in Fig. 5, and thus a more significant amount o f heat to offer to the second boiler.

Fig. 5. Second stage refrigerant flow rate vs. partition coefficient ct.

The increase in the refrigerant flow (Fig. 5) is completely normal since a more significant amount o f strong solution to desorb in the first generator necessitates a more significant amount o f heat released b y the second condenser (Cond2).

N. Ben Ezzine et al. / Desalination 168 (2004) 137-144

143

o.81 COP

[ I

~~

given on the basis of the fundamental data. Simulation enabled the study of the influence of the
various operating parameters on chiller performance. An analysis o f the Second Law of Thermodynamics was applied to quantify the irreversibility of each component. Results indicate that the absorber, solution heat exchangers, and condenser have the greatest potential to

O' ~30"69 770~650'7 ~ ]

0.61 I /
0.57 0.53

~Sl:' I "~f bar ~ 3"~ : 5

3.8 bar
T17(K)

420

440

460

480

500

improvethe chiller's energy efficiency. Also they

indicate that focusing on irreversibility is a more direct way of analyzing the potential for improving the efficiency of an ammonia-water absorption chiller.

Fig. 6. Performance coefficient (COP) vs. chiller driving temperature for different values ofP e.

5.3. Effect o f temperature 1"17driving the chiller

The evolution of the P C as a function of the driving temperature for various values of PE, given by Fig. 6, is monotonous. When the cooling effect QE is fixed, the steam amount produced by generators is calculated too. Then the increase in this temperature starting from a certain limit is only used to overheat the steam refrigerant. Then the PC becomes increasingly slow after having a significant evolution. Further examining the irreversibility of each component of the chiller reveals that the absorber, solution heat exchangers, first condenser, and second boiler represent most of the total irreversibility of the chiller (Table 1). For the ideal process, the reversible P C is 2.292. Inclusion of the degradations o f all the components results in an actual PC of 0.761. The absorber generator contributes the largest irreversible d e g r a d a t i o n 0.337. Therefore, the absorber had the greatest potential to improve the chiller energy efficiency.

References

6. Conclusions

In this work we developed a thermodynamic simulation model of an anamonia-water doubleeffect, double-generator absorption chiller. The limits of the various operating parameters are

[1] M. Duminil, Syst~mes ~ absorption, h adsorption et thermochimiques en vue de la climatisation, Revue g6n6rale de thermique, 362 (1992) 19-25. [2] L.A.Shaefer and S.V. Shelton, Modelling and analysis of the air cooled ammonia-water triple effect cycle, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1998. [3] K. Nasri, Frigo-pompes/t absorption multi-6tag6esde haute performance, Th6se, Institut National Polytechnique de Lorraine, 1997. [4] N. Ben Ezzine, A. Snoussi, M. Barhoumi and A. Bellagi, Simulation thermodynamique d'un climatiseur ~ absorption, Revue G6n6rale Froid, 1036 (2003) 23-27. [5] N. Ben Ezzine, A. Snoussi, M. Barhoumi and A. Bellagi, Optimisation du fonctionnement d'un climatiseur ~ absorption, Revue G6n6rale Froid, 1038 (2003) 15-19, [6] N. Ben Ezzine, Kh. Mejbri, A. Snoussi and A. Bellagi, Simulation thermodynamique des machines frigorifiques ~ absorption op6rant au couple ammoniac/eau: mod61isationet optimisation, Congr6s frangais de thermique SFT2003, Grenoble, 2003. [7] L.A. Schaefer, A. Delano and S.V. Shelton, Second Law Study of the Einstein Refrigeration Cycle, GWW School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1999. [8] T.J. Kotas, The Exergy Method of Thermal Plant Analysis, Lavoisier, Paris, 1987.

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[9] J. Jeong, K. Saito and S. Kawai, Optimum design method for a single effect absorption refrigerator based on the First and Second Law analysis, 21 st IIR International Congress of Refrigeration, Washington, DC, 2003. [10] J.L. Cauchepin, Les pompes h ehaleur h absorption: recherches, drveloppement et perspectives. PYC, 1983.

[11] K.E Herold, R. Radermaeher and S.A. Klein, Absorption Chillers and Heat Pumps, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1996. [ 12] M. Shacham, A Fortran subroutine for the numerical solution of systems of nonlinear equations, with and without constraints, Intern. J. Numerical Methods Engn., 23 (1986) 1455-1481.