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Comparative analysis of a solar‐driven novel salt‐based absorption chiller with the implementation of nanoparticles
Author(s) -
Modi Nishant,
Pandya Bhargav,
Patel Jatin
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
international journal of energy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.808
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1099-114X
pISSN - 0363-907X
DOI - 10.1002/er.4405
Subject(s) - absorption refrigerator , nanofluid , coefficient of performance , evaporator , chiller , materials science , absorption (acoustics) , thermodynamics , heat transfer coefficient , heat transfer , refrigeration , nanoparticle , composite material , nanotechnology , heat pump , heat exchanger , physics
Summary The present study exemplifies the comprehensive thermal analysis to compare and contrast ammonia‐lithium nitrate (NH 3 ‐LiNO 3 ) and ammonia‐sodiumthiocynate (NH 3 ‐NaSCN) absorption systems with and without incorporation of nanoparticles. A well‐mixed solution of copper oxide/water (CuO/H 2 O) nanofluid is considered inside a flat‐plate collector linked to an absorption chiller to produce 15‐kW refrigeration at −5°C evaporator temperature. Enhancements in heat transfer coefficient, thermal efficiency, and useful heat gain of the collector are evaluated, and the effect of these achievements on the performance of both absorption chillers have been determined for different source temperatures. A maximum 121.7% enhancement is found in the heat transfer coefficient with the application of the nanofluid at 2% nanoparticle concentration. The maximum coefficient of performance observed for the NH 3 ‐NaSCN chiller is 0.12% higher than that for the NH 3 ‐LiNO 3 chiller at 0°C evaporator temperature. Contradictory to this, the average system coefficient of performance of the NH 3 ‐LiNO 3 absorption system has been found 5.51% higher than that of the NH 3 ‐NaSCN system at the same evaporator temperature. Moreover, the application of the nanofluid enhanced the performance of the NH 3 ‐NaSCN and NH 3 ‐LiNO 3 systems by 2.70% and 1.50%, respectively, for lower generator temperature and becomes almost the same at higher temperatures, which altogether recommends the flat‐plate collector–coupled NH 3 ‐LiNO 3 absorption system be integrated with a nanofluid.