Myth Busters Absorption Cooling Technology: Rajesh Dixit
Myth Busters Absorption Cooling Technology: Rajesh Dixit
Myth Busters Absorption Cooling Technology: Rajesh Dixit
1
Acknowledgements
2
Learning Objectives
3
Outline
5
Myth # 1
Absorption Chillers Are Less Efficient
1. Electric Water-Cooled Centrifugal Chiller COP is ~ 6.5
2. Absorption Chiller COP is ONLY 0.7 ~ 1.4
6
Myth # 1
Absorption Chillers Are Less Efficient
Facts
1. Driving input energy for an absorption chiller is different than an electric chiller
1. Electricity for electric chiller
2. Thermal energy for absorption chiller (generally waste heat so relatively low cost)
2. COP of an electric chiller does not account for generation, transmission and
distribution losses (60% ~ 70%) for the electricity
7
Myth # 1
Absorption Chillers Are Less Efficient
1. Typical Chiller COPs Assumed
Electric Direct Natural Gas Fired Double Effect Steam Single Effect Steam
Centrifugal Chiller Absorption Chiller Absorption Chiller Absorption Chiller
2. Natural Gas $ 5/MMBTU, Electricity $ 0.15/kWh, Steam $4 per 1,000 lb (450 Kg)
3. Ton-hour Operational Costs (US Cents/ton-hour)
Electric Direct Natural Gas Fired Double Effect Steam Single Effect Steam
Centrifugal Chiller Absorption Chiller Absorption Chiller Absorption Chiller
8.12 5.00 3.43 6.86
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Myth # 2
Absorption Chillers Are Very Expensive
1. 500 Cooling Tons
2. Assumed Chiller Prices
1. Electric Centrifugal $ 150,000 (not considering the cost of electric infrastructure)
2. Direct Fired Absorption $ 300,000
3. Double Effect Steam Absorption $ 275,000
4. Single Effect Steam Absorption $ 250,000
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Myth # 2
Absorption Chillers Are Very Expensive
Recollect our example from slide # 8
1. Average US City, Process Cooling Application, 500 Cooling Tons
2. Electricity $ 0.15/kWh, Natural Gas $ 5/MMBTU, Steam $ 4 per 1,000 lb
Electric Centrifugal Direct Natural Gas Double Effect Steam Single Effect Steam
Chiller Fired Absorption Absorption Chiller Absorption Chiller
Chiller
Chiller COP 6.5 1.2 1.4 0.7
Chiller cost of $ 253,714 $ 169,451 $ 135,181 $ 235,513
operation
(Input Energy)
Plant cost of $ 330,330 $ 256,071 $ 222,152 $ 316,044
operation
(Chiller + Pumps +
Tower)
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Myth # 2
Absorption Chillers Are Very Expensive
1. Even though initial capital cost of an electric chiller is much lower than an
absorption chiller, the fact is annual cost of operation of an electric chiller is
not necessarily lower than an absorption chiller
2. Simple Payback Compared to Electric Chiller (not considering utility rebates)
for this particular example
Direct Fired Double Effect Steam Single Effect Steam
2 years 1 year 7 years
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Myth # 3
Absorption Chillers Not Flexible In Operation
1. Chilled Water Leaving Temperature Must Be Higher Than 5°C (41°F)
2. Chilled Water and Condenser Water Flow Rates Should Not Vary
3. Full And Steady Loads Must Be Maintained
4. Always Operate Closer to the Design Condenser Water Inlet Temperature
Typically 29.4°C (85°F)
5. Never Design An Absorption Chiller With Low Chilled/Condenser Flows
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Myth # 3
Absorption Chillers Not Flexible In Operation
FACTS
1. Chilled water leaving temperature can be as low as 4°C (39°F) or even
minus 5°C (23°F)
2. Chilled/Condenser water flow rate design range
1. Flow rate can be changed at 5% per minute up to 50% per 10 minutes
2. Evaporator 1.3 ~ 2.9 gpm/ton (0.29 ~ 0.65 m3/hour/ton)
3. Absorber-Condenser
1. Single Effect 3.0 ~ 8.0 gpm/ton (0.68 ~ 1.81 m3/hour/ton)
2. Double Effect 2.2 ~ 6.0 gpm/ton (0.49 ~ 1.36 m3/hour/ton)
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Myth # 4
Crystallization – A Common Problem
120 200
濃度( %) 0 40 45 50 55 60 65
Salt %
100 LiBr Salt Solution 70
100
Concentration Lines
75
50 冷
冷 80
Saturation
Temperature
Pressure
媒 媒
Refrigerant
飽 Refrigerant 飽
和 和
温 60
Water Line 20 圧
度 力
( ℃) 10 ( kPa)
40
5
20 CRYSTALLIZATION ZONE 2
1
0 DUHRING
0. 5
DIAGRAM –
0. 2
-20 PRESSURE
180 0. 1
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 200 TEMPERATURE
Solution Temperature 溶液温度( ℃) CONCENTRATION
Myth # 4
Crystallization – A Common Problem
1. Most Common Causes of Crystallization
- Low condenser water temperature at high cooling loads
- Air leakage (improper vacuum)
- Loss of electric power
Absorber2
Absorber
Absorber1
54% 57%
Crystallization Temperature -16.1°C/3.02°F Crystallization Temperature -3°C/26.6°F
Absorber2
Absorber
Absorber1
54.5% 57%
Crystallization Temperature -16.1°C/3.02°F Crystallization Temperature -3°C/26.6°F
G Steam for
Heating
Gas turbine WHRB
2MW
Condenser Water
40°C/104°F 7°C/44.6°F
SYSTEM INVOLVES STEAM ABSORPTION CHILLERS Chilled Water
32°C/89.6°F 15°C/59°F
Absorption Chillers
5,000 Tons×3
2,500 Tons×2
1,250 Tons×2
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DISTRICT COOLING APPLICATION
17,100 TONS STEAM + ELECTRIC
Steam for Heating
32℃
SYSTEM INVOLVES STEAM ABSORPTION AND Centrifugal 550 Tons×2
ELECTRIC CENTRIFUGAL CHILLERS 6.5°C/43.7°F 13.5°C/56.3°F
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DISTRICT COOLING APPLICATION
8250 TONS STEAM+ELECTRIC+HEAT STORAGE
Steam for Heating
Boilers
12,000 kg/hr x 2
2,000 kg/hr x 4 Steam for Cooling
8 bar(g) 115 psig
7°C/44.6°F
Condenser 40°C/104°F
13°C/55.4°F
Water 32°C/89.6°F
Absorption 1,500 Tons×4
Electric power
7°C/44.6°F Chilled
32°C/89.6°F
13°C/55.4°F Water
Centrifugal 1,000 Tons×1
Electric power 750 Tons×1
(night-time)
SYSTEM INVOLVES STEAM ABSORPTION, 4°C/39.2°F
ELECTRIC CENTRIFUGAL CHILLERS
32°C/89.6°F
AND LOW TEMPERATURE WATER HEAT STORAGE Centrifugal
500 Tons×1
24 Low Temperature Water
Heat Storage Tank
DISTRICT COOLING APPLICATION
61,000 TONS HYBRID SYSTEM
Steam for Heating
Gas turbines 10 bar(g) 145 psig
4MW×1 G
4.5MW×1 WHRB
Boilers Steam
66,000 kg/hr×2 39 bar(g)
33,000 kg/hr×1 565 psig
4°C/39.2°F
32°C/89.6°F 12°C/53.6°F
Steam Centrifugal 10,000 Tons×3
SYSTEM INVOLVES STEAM CENTRIFUGAL, 4,000 Tons x 1
STEAM ABSORPTION AND ELECTRIC CENTRIFUGAL CHILLERS 4°C/39.2°F
Steam Centrifugal 2,870 Tons×1
32°C/89.6°F
Steam 2.7 bar(g) 39 psig
12°C/53.6°F
32°C/89.6°F Electric power
Absorption 2,065 Tons×2
4°C/39.2°F
32℃ 12°C/53.6°F
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Centrifugal 5,000 Tons×4
DISTRICT COOLING APPLICATION
The waste disposal center Steam 8 bar(g) 115 psig 80°C/176°F
H-EX 60°C/140°F
Boiler
30,000 kg/h×3
Steam 8 bar(g) 115 psig
40°C/104°F 7°C/44.6°F
Condenser
Water 32°C/89.6°F
Absorption 2,600 Tons×5
Electric power
7°C/44.6°F
Chilled
32°C/89.6°F
Centrifugal 3,000 Tons×1, 800 tons×1
Water
Electric power (night-time)
32°C/89.6°F 14°C/57.2°F
Centrifugal 2,400 Tons×1
Heat reject
20
Heat reject
20
Innovative Absorption Heat Pump (Type I) Application
Heating COP 1.7
1.7 Units
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