TY - JOUR
T1 - An efficient and compact integrated microchannel membrane-based absorption refrigeration system
AU - Zhai, Chong
AU - Xu, Mengjie
AU - Liu, Zexiao
AU - Han, Haibin
AU - Wu, Wei
PY - 2024/4/15
Y1 - 2024/4/15
N2 - Microchannel membrane-based absorption refrigeration system (MMARS) is an efficient and compact solution for delivering cooling capacity, driven by renewable and waste thermal energy. This study introduces a novel integrated MMARS (I-MMARS), featuring integrated evaporator-absorber and desorber-condenser, to further enhance the system compactness. By analyzing the influence of the gap distance within these two integrations on the system efficiency (COP) and compactness (volumetric cooling capacity, Rqv), the advantages of the new system are highlighted. The highest Rqv (136.765 kW/m3) and corresponding COP of 0.6994 are found to be achieved with a 0-mm gap in the evaporator-absorber integration and a 0.2778-mm gap in the desorber-condenser integration. The performance of the I-MMARS, with these optimal gap distances, is further examined under various operating conditions. Our findings indicate that the system COP can be enhanced by increasing both the heat source temperature and the chilled water temperature. Simultaneously, reducing the heat source and solution flow rates, or the cooling water temperature also contributes to COP improvements. Finally, a comparison with conventional MMARS shows that the novel I-MMARS can boost system compactness by 37.88 %. The innovative I-MMARS paves the way for the development of small-scale absorption refrigeration systems in a highly efficient and space-saving manner. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd.
AB - Microchannel membrane-based absorption refrigeration system (MMARS) is an efficient and compact solution for delivering cooling capacity, driven by renewable and waste thermal energy. This study introduces a novel integrated MMARS (I-MMARS), featuring integrated evaporator-absorber and desorber-condenser, to further enhance the system compactness. By analyzing the influence of the gap distance within these two integrations on the system efficiency (COP) and compactness (volumetric cooling capacity, Rqv), the advantages of the new system are highlighted. The highest Rqv (136.765 kW/m3) and corresponding COP of 0.6994 are found to be achieved with a 0-mm gap in the evaporator-absorber integration and a 0.2778-mm gap in the desorber-condenser integration. The performance of the I-MMARS, with these optimal gap distances, is further examined under various operating conditions. Our findings indicate that the system COP can be enhanced by increasing both the heat source temperature and the chilled water temperature. Simultaneously, reducing the heat source and solution flow rates, or the cooling water temperature also contributes to COP improvements. Finally, a comparison with conventional MMARS shows that the novel I-MMARS can boost system compactness by 37.88 %. The innovative I-MMARS paves the way for the development of small-scale absorption refrigeration systems in a highly efficient and space-saving manner. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd.
KW - Compactness and efficiency
KW - Desorber-condenser
KW - Evaporator-absorber
KW - Microchannel membrane-based
KW - Numerical modeling
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85184059172&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/pubmetrics.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85184059172&origin=recordpage
U2 - 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2024.122574
DO - 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2024.122574
M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal
SN - 1359-4311
VL - 243
JO - Applied Thermal Engineering
JF - Applied Thermal Engineering
M1 - 122574
ER -