Absorption refrigerator

An absorption refrigerator is a refrigerator that uses a heat source (e.g., solar energy, a fossil-fueled flame, waste heat from factories, or district heating
systems) to provide the energy needed to drive the cooling process. The system uses two coolants, the first of which performs evaporative cooling and is then
absorbed into the second coolant; heat is needed to reset the two coolants to their initial states. The principle can also be used to air-condition buildings
using the waste heat from a gas turbine or water heater. Using waste heat from a gas turbine makes the turbine very efficient because it first produces
electricity, then hot water, and finally, air-conditioning—trigeneration. Absorption refrigerators are commonly used in recreational vehicles (RVs), campers,
and caravans because the heat required to power them can be provided by a propane fuel burner, by a low-voltage DC electric heater (from a battery or
vehicle electrical system) or by a mains-powered electric heater. Unlike more common vapor-compression refrigeration systems, an absorption refrigerator
can be produced with no moving parts other than the coolants.

Contents
History
Principles
Simple salt and water system
Water spray absorption refrigeration
Single pressure absorption refrigeration
See also
References
Further reading
External links

History
In the early years of the twentieth century, the vapor absorption cycle using water-ammonia systems was popular and widely used, but after the
development of the vapor compression cycle it lost much of its importance because of its low coefficient of performance (about one fifth of that of the vapor
compression cycle). Absorption refrigerators are a popular alternative to regular compressor refrigerators where electricity is unreliable, costly, or
unavailable, where noise from the compressor is problematic, or where surplus heat is available (e.g., from turbine exhausts or industrial processes, or from
solar plants).

In 1748 while in Glasgow, William Cullen invented the basis for modern refrigeration, although is not credited with a usable application. More on history of
refrigeration can be found in the paragraph Refrigeration Research on page Refrigeration.
Absorption refrigeration uses the same principle as adsorption refrigeration (note that the second letter is different), that was invented by Michael Faraday
in 1821, but instead of using a solid adsorber, in an absorption system, an absorber absorbs the refrigerant vapour into a liquid.

Absorption cooling was invented by the French scientist Ferdinand Carré in 1858.[1] The original design used water and sulphuric acid. In 1922 Baltzar von
Platen and Carl Munters, while they were still students at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden, enhanced the principle with a three-fluid
configuration. This "Platen-Munters" design can operate without a pump.

Commercial production began in 1923 by the newly formed company AB Arctic, which was bought by Electrolux in 1925. In the 1960s, absorption
refrigeration saw a renaissance due to the substantial demand for refrigerators for caravans (travel trailers). AB Electrolux established a subsidiary in the
United States, named Dometic Sales Corporation. The company marketed refrigerators for recreational vehicles (RVs) under the Dometic brand. In 2001,
Electrolux sold most of its leisure products line to the venture-capital company EQT which created Dometic as a stand-alone company. Dometic still sells
absorption fridges in 2021.[2]

In 1926, Albert Einstein and his former student Leó Szilárd proposed an alternative design known as the Einstein refrigerator.[3] At the 2007 TED
Conference, Adam Grosser presented his research of a new, very small, "intermittent absorption" vaccine refrigeration unit for use in third world countries.
The refrigerator is a small unit placed over a campfire, that can later be used to cool 15 liters of water to just above freezing for 24 hours in a 30  °C
environment.[4]

Principles
Common absorption refrigerators use a refrigerant with a very low boiling point (less than −18 °C (0 °F)) just like compressor refrigerators. Compression
refrigerators typically use an HCFC or HFC, while absorption refrigerators typically use ammonia or water and need at least a second fluid able to absorb
the coolant, the absorbent, respectively water (for ammonia) or brine (for water). Both types use evaporative cooling: when the refrigerant evaporates
(boils), it takes some heat away with it, providing the cooling effect. The main difference between the two systems is the way the refrigerant is changed from
a gas back into a liquid so that the cycle can repeat. An absorption refrigerator changes the gas back into a liquid using a method that needs only heat, and
has no moving parts other than the fluids.

The absorption cooling cycle can be described in three phases:

1. Evaporation: A liquid refrigerant evaporates in a low partial pressure environment, thus extracting heat from its surroundings (e.g. the refrigerator's
compartment). Because of the low partial pressure, the temperature needed for evaporation is also low.
2. Absorption: The second fluid, in a depleted state, sucks out the now gaseous refrigerant, thus providing the low partial pressure. This produces a
refrigerant-saturated liquid which then flows to the next step:
3. Regeneration: The refrigerant-saturated liquid is heated, causing the refrigerant to evaporate out.

a. The evaporation occurs at the lower end of a narrow tube; the bubbles of refrigerant gas push the refrigerant-depleted liquid into a higher
chamber, from which it will flow by gravity to the absorption chamber.
b. The hot gaseous refrigerant passes through a heat exchanger, transferring its heat outside the system (such as to surrounding ambient-
temperature air), and condenses at a higher place. The condensed (liquid) refrigerant will then flow by gravity to supply the evaporation phase.
The system thus silently provides for the mechanical circulation of the liquid without a usual pump.
A third
fluid, gaseous, is usually added to avoid pressure concerns when condensation occurs (see below).

In comparison, a compressor refrigerator uses a compressor, usually powered by either an electric or internal
combustion motor, to increase the pressure on the gaseous refrigerant. The resulting hot, high-pressure gas is
condensed to a liquid form by cooling in a heat exchanger ("condenser") that is exposed to the external
environment (usually air in the room). The condensed refrigerant, now at a temperature near to that of the
external environment but at higher pressure, then passes through an orifice or a throttle valve into the
evaporator section. The orifice or throttle valve creates a pressure drop between the high pressure condenser
section and the low pressure evaporator section. The lower pressure in the evaporator section allows the liquid
refrigerant to evaporate, which absorbs heat from the refrigerator food compartment. The now-vaporized
refrigerant then goes back into the compressor to repeat the cycle.

Simple salt and water system

A simple absorption refrigeration system common in large commercial plants uses a solution of lithium bromide
or lithium chloride salt and water. Water under low pressure is evaporated from the coils that are to be chilled.
The water is absorbed by a lithium bromide/water solution. The system drives the water out of the lithium bromide solution with heat.[5]

Water spray absorption refrigeration

Another variant, uses air, water, and a salt water solution. The intake of warm, moist air is passed through a sprayed
solution of salt water. The spray lowers the humidity but does not significantly change the temperature. The less humid,
warm air is then passed through an evaporative cooler, consisting of a spray of fresh water, which cools and re-
humidifies the air. Humidity is removed from the cooled air with another spray of salt solution, providing the outlet of
cool, dry air.

The salt solution is regenerated by heating it under low pressure, causing water to evaporate. The water evaporated
from the salt solution is re-condensed, and rerouted back to the evaporative cooler.
Water spray absorption system

Single pressure absorption refrigeration

A single-pressure absorption refrigerator takes advantage of the fact that a liquid's evaporation rate depends upon the partial pressure of the vapor above
the liquid and goes up with lower partial pressure. While having the same total pressure throughout the system, the refrigerator maintains a low partial
pressure of the refrigerant (therefore high evaporation rate) in the part of the system that draws heat out of the low-temperature interior of the refrigerator,
but maintains the refrigerant at high partial pressure (therefore low evaporation rate) in the part of the system that expels heat to the ambient-temperature
air outside the refrigerator.
The refrigerator uses three substances: ammonia, hydrogen gas, and water. The cycle is closed, with all
hydrogen, water and ammonia collected and endlessly reused. The system is pressurized to the pressure
where the boiling point of ammonia is higher than the temperature of the condenser coil (the coil which
transfers heat to the air outside the refrigerator, by being hotter than the outside air.) This pressure is
typically 14–16 atm at which pressure the dew point of ammonia will be about 35 °C (95 °F).

The cooling cycle starts with liquid ammonia at room temperature entering the evaporator. The volume of
the evaporator is greater than the volume of the liquid, with the excess space occupied by a mixture of
gaseous ammonia and hydrogen. The presence of hydrogen lowers the partial pressure of the ammonia gas,
thus lowering the evaporation point of the liquid below the temperature of the refrigerator's interior.
Ammonia evaporates, taking a small amount of heat from the liquid and lowering the liquid's temperature. It
continues to evaporate, while the large enthalpy of vaporization (heat) flows from the warmer refrigerator
interior to the cooler liquid ammonia and then to more ammonia gas.

In the next two steps, the ammonia gas is separated from the hydrogen so it can be reused.

1. The ammonia (gas) and hydrogen (gas) mixture flows through a pipe from the evaporator into the
absorber. In the absorber, this mixture of gases contacts water (technically, a weak solution of ammonia
in water). The gaseous ammonia dissolves in the water, while the hydrogen, which doesn't, collects at Domestic absorption refrigerator.

the top of the absorber, leaving the now-strong ammonia-and-water solution at the bottom. The hydrogen 1. Hydrogen enters the pipe with liquid ammonia

is now separate while the ammonia is now dissolved in the water. 2. Ammonia and hydrogen enter the inner
compartment. Volume increase causes a
2. The next step separates the ammonia and water. The ammonia/water solution flows to the generator
decrease in the partial pressure of the liquid
(boiler), where heat is applied to boil off the ammonia, leaving most of the water (which has a higher
ammonia. The ammonia evaporates, taking heat
boiling point) behind. Some water vapor and bubbles remain mixed with the ammonia; this water is
from the liquid ammonia (ΔHVap) lowering its
removed in the final separation step, by passing it through the separator, an uphill series of twisted pipes
temperature. Heat flows from the hotter interior of
with minor obstacles to pop the bubbles, allowing the water vapor to condense and drain back to the
the refrigerator to the colder liquid, promoting
generator.
further evaporation.

3. Ammonia and hydrogen return from the inner

The pure ammonia gas then enters the condenser. In this heat exchanger, the hot ammonia gas transfers its compartment, ammonia returns to absorber and
heat to the outside air, which is below the boiling point of the full-pressure ammonia, and therefore dissolves in water. Hydrogen is free to rise.

condenses. The condensed (liquid) ammonia flows down to be mixed with the hydrogen gas released from 4. Ammonia gas condensation (passive cooling).

the absorption step, repeating the cycle. 5. Hot ammonia gas.

6. Heat insulation and distillation of ammonia gas

See also from water.

7. Electric heat source.

8. Absorber vessel (water and ammonia solution).

Adsorption refrigeration
Icyball
Quantum absorption refrigerator
RV Fridge
References
1. Eric Granryd & Björn Palm, Refrigerating engineering, Stockholm Royal Institute of Technology, 2005,
see chap. 4-3
2. https://www.dometic.com/en-us/food-and-beverage/refrigerators?
v_skuproductgroupdisplay=Absorption+Refrigerators
3. "US Patent 1781541" (http://www.google.com/patents?q=1781541).
4. Adam Grosser (Feb 2007). "Adam Grosser and his sustainable fridge" (http://www.ted.com/talks/adam_g
rosser_and_his_sustainable_fridge.html). TED. Retrieved 2018-09-18.
5. Sapali, S. N. "Lithium Bromide Absorption Refrigeration System". Textbook Of Refrigeration And Air-
Conditioning. New Delhi: PHI learning. p. 258. ISBN 978-81-203-3360-4.

Further reading
Levy, A.; Kosloff, R. (2012). "Quantum Absorption Refrigerator". Phys. Rev. Lett. 108: 070604.
arXiv:1109.0728 (https://arxiv.org/abs/1109.0728). Bibcode:2012PhRvL.108g0604L (https://ui.adsabs.har Thermal image of a Domestic absorption
vard.edu/abs/2012PhRvL.108g0604L). doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.070604 (https://doi.org/10.1103%2 refrigerator of a comparable type to the one in
FPhysRevLett.108.070604). PMID 22401189 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22401189). the labelled image above. Colour indicates
relative temperature: blue=cold, red is hottest.
The heat source (7) is contained entirely within
External links the insulation section (6).

Absorption Heat Pumps (https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/heat-pump-systems/absorption-heat-pump

s) (Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy).
Arizona Energy (http://www.arizonaenergy.org/AltEnergyClub/SMALL%20AMMONIA%20REFRIGERATOR.htm) Explanation with diagrams
Lithium-Bromide / Water Cycle (http://apmonitor.com/che436/index.php/Main/BYUHeatingPlant) – Absorption Refrigeration for Campus Cooling at BYU.
American National Standards Institute. "AHRI standard 560–2000 for absorption refrigerators" (https://web.archive.org/web/20121031112012/http://ahrin
et.org/App_Content/ahri/files/standards%20pdfs/ANSI%20standards%20pdfs/ANSI%20ARI560-2000.pdf) (PDF). Archived from the original (http://www.
ahrinet.org/App_Content/ahri/files/standards%20pdfs/ANSI%20standards%20pdfs/ANSI%20ARI560-2000.pdf) (PDF) on 2012-10-31. Retrieved
2012-03-31.

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