General

The absorption cycle uses a heat-driven concentration difference to move refrigerant vapors
(usually water) from the evaporator to the condenser. The high concentration side of the cycle
absorbs refrigerant vapors (which, of course, dilutes that material). Heat is then used to drive off
these refrigerant vapors thereby increasing the concentration again. Lithium bromide is the most
common absorbent used in commercial cooling equipment, with water used as the refrigerant.
Smaller absorption chillers sometimes use water as the absorbent and ammonia as the refrigerant.
As you can probably guess, the absorption chiller must operate at very low pressures (about
l/l00th of normal atmospheric pressure) for the water to vaporize at a cold enough temperature
(e.g., at ~ 40°F) to produce 44°F chilled water.

The simplified diagram here illustrates the overall flow path. Starting with the evaporator, water
at about 40°F is evaporating off the chilled water tubes, thereby bringing the temperature down
from the 54°F being returned from the air handlers to the required 44°F chilled water supply
temperature. One ton of cooling evaporates about 12 pounds of water per hour in this step. This
water vapor is absorbed by the concentrated lithium bromide solution due to its hygroscopic
characteristics. The heat of vaporization and the heat of solution are removed using cooling
water at this step. The solution is then pumped to the concentrator at a higher pressure where
heat is applied (using steam or hot water) to drive off the water and thereby re-concentrate the
lithium bromide. The water driven off by the heat input step is then condensed (using cooling
tower water), collected, and then flashed to the required low temperature (40°F in our
illustration) to complete the cycle. Since water is moving the heat from the evaporator to the
condenser, it serves as the refrigerant in this cycle. There are also absorption chillers in use (e.g.
in motor homes) that use ammonia as the refrigerant in the same cycle. The absorbent is the
material that is used to maintain the concentration difference in the machine. Most commercial
absorption chillers use lithium bromide. Lithium bromide has a very high affinity for water, is
relatively inexpensive and non-toxic. However, it can be highly corrosive and disposal is closely
controlled. Water of course is extremely low cost and safety simply isn't an issue.
Absorption chillers are available in two types:

1. Single Effect (Stage) Units using low pressure (20 psig

or less) as the driving force. These units typically have a
COP of 0.7 and require about 18pph per ton of 9 psig
steam at the generator flange (after control valve) at ARI
standard rating conditions.
2. Double Effect (2-Stage) Units are available as gas-fired
(either direct gas firing, or hot exhaust gas from a gas-turbine or engine) or steam-driven
with high pressure steam (40 to 140 psig). These units
typically have a COP of 1.0 to 1.2. Steam driven units
require about 9 to 10 pph per ton of 114 psig input steam
at ARI standard rating conditions. Gas-fired units require
an input of about 10,000 to 12,000 Btuh HHV per ton of
cooling at ARI standard rating conditions. To achieve
this improved performance they have a second generator
in the cycle and require a higher temperature energy
source.

Links to more detail

Absorption Chillers - Maintenance Considerations

Applications

Single Stage Steam Absorption Chillers

Provide chilled water for cooling when low pressure steam, cooling tower (or other water for
heat rejection), and electric power is available.

Two Stage Absorption Chillers

Provide chilled water for cooling when high pressure steam, high temperature hot water
(HTHW) or natural gas, as well as electric power and cooling tower (or other water for heat
rejection) is available.

Waste Heat Fired Absorption Chillers

Provide chilled water for cooling when clean, hot exhaust gas, cooling tower (or other water for
heat rejection), and electric power is available.
Best Applications

Single Stage Steam Absorption Chillers

When steam in the 12 to 20 psig range from a process or other steam use is available at little or
no cost (i.e. steam would otherwise be wasted).

Two Stage Absorption Chillers

 When steam in the 40 to 140 psig range from a process or other steam use is available at
little or no cost (i.e. steam would otherwise be wasted),
 When natural gas is available at low cost relative to the cost of electric power,
 When the heating load can not be readily served by an existing boiler and it can be served
from this chiller/heater, thus avoiding adding a boiler or where space is not available for a
boiler.
 When adequate electric power is not readily available for added and needed cooling
capacity,
 When emergency cooling capacity is needed and stand-by generation capacity is not
available to operate electric cooling. (Consider adding emergency generation capacity,
which may be lower in cost than absorption cooling capacity).

Waste Heat Fired Absorption Chillers

 Where exhaust from a gas turbine provides cooling for the intake air to improve turbine
performance in hot weather,
 Where cooling is required and clean exhaust gas is available, emitted from an industrial
process such as those related to printing, drying, or baking.

Possible Applications

Single Stage Steam Absorption Chillers

When steam in the 12 to 20 psig range from a process or other steam use is available at a
reasonable cost or where boilers must be operated for other reasons and the user is looking for
other steam uses to adequately load the boiler.

Two Stage Absorption Chillers

  When steam in the 40 to 140 psig range from a process or other steam use is available at
a reasonable cost or where boilers must be operated for other reasons and the user is
looking for other steam uses to adequately load the boiler,
 Replacement for existing inefficient single stage steam chiller without an electrical
service upgrade.

Waste Heat Fired Absorption Chillers

Where clean exhaust gas is available and there are cooling requirements.

Applications to Avoid

Single Stage Steam Absorption Chillers

 Skilled operating personnel will not be on duty during system operation,

 Operations are planned to use absorption chiller as a peak shaving unit. Absorption
chillers require added time and effort to bring on- and take off-line. Operators tend to end
up using absorption as a base chiller and peak with the electric chiller, thereby defeating
the purpose and actually adding to, rather than saving, operating cost.
 Extended operation at 30% and less of design capacity is likely.

Two Stage Absorption Chillers

 skilled operating personnel will not be on duty during system operation,

 operations are planned to use absorption chiller as a peak shaving unit. Absorption
chillers require added to time and effort to bring on- and take off-line. Operators tend to
end up using absorption as a base chiller and peak with the electric chiller, thereby
defeating the purpose, and actually adding to, rather than saving, operating cost.
 extended operation at 30% and less of design capacity is likely.

Waste Heat Fired Absorption Chillers

 skilled operating personnel will not be on duty during system operation,

 operations are planned to use absorption chiller as a peak shaving unit. Absorption
chillers require added to time and effort to bring on- and take off-line. Operators tend to
end up using absorption as a base chiller and peak with the electric chiller, thereby
defeating the purpose, and actually adding to, rather than saving, operating cost.
 Extended operation at 30% and less of design capacity is likely.

Technology Types (Resource)

Two Stage Absorption Chillers

The energy efficiency of absorption can be improved by recovering some of the heat normally
rejected to the cooling tower circuit. A two-stage or two-effect absorption chiller accomplishes
this by taking vapors driven off by heating the first stage concentrator (or generator) to drive off
more water in a second stage. Many absorption chiller manufacturers offer this higher efficiency
alternative.

Notice that two separate shells are used. The smaller is the first stage concentrator. The second
shell is essentially the single stage absorption chiller from before, containing the concentrator,
condenser, evaporator, and absorption chiller. The temperatures, pressures, and solution
concentrations within the larger shell are similar to the single-stage absorption chiller as well.

Steam at pressures typically in the l25 - 150 psig range is brought into the stainless steel tubes of
the first stage concentrator causing the solution there to boil. The pressure at which boiling
occurs and the pressure of the released refrigerant vapor is approximately 5 psig (20 psia). The
partially concentrated solution from this first stage flows through the high temperature heat
exchanger where it is cooled by the lower temperature dilute solution returning from the
concentrator. This concentrate then passes into the lower pressure second stage concentrator
where the vapors from the first stage take it to the final desired concentration levels. This second
stage operates at a pressure of 0.1 atmosphere (1.5 psia).
The reuse of the vapors from the first stage generator makes this machine more efficient than
single stage absorption chillers, typically by about 30%. Two-stage absorption chillers are
typically driven by high-pressure (60 to 130 psig) steam, direct-fired with natural gas or #2 fuel
oil, or using hot exhaust gas from combustion engines.

Steam-Fired 2-Stage Absorption Chillers

Steam at pressures typically in the l25 - 150 psig range is brought into the stainless steel tubes of
the first stage concentrator causing the solution there to boil. The pressure at which boiling
occurs and the pressure of the released refrigerant vapor is approximately 5 psig (20 psia). The
partially concentrated solution from this first stage flows through the high temperature heat
exchanger where it is cooled by the lower temperature dilute solution returning from the
concentrator. This concentrate then passes into the lower pressure second stage concentrator
where the vapors from the first stage take it to the final desired concentration levels. This second
stage operates at a pressure of 0.1 atmosphere (1.5 psia).

The reuse of the vapors from the first stage generator makes this machine more efficient than
single stage absorption chillers, typically by about 30%.

Direct-Fired Absorption Chillers

Direct-fired absorption chillers utilize a burner as the heat input for the absorption cooling cycle.
Most operate either on natural gas or No. 2 fuel oil. Since the heat input is at a very high
temperature, they achieve a very high efficiency for the absorption cycle...something
approaching 12,000 Btu of fuel input for each ton hour of cooling output. The absorption cycle
itself is virtually identical to that of the two-stage steam absorption chillers. However, unlike
most steam absorption chillers, the direct-fired absorption chiller lends itself fairly readily to
"chiller-heater" applications where both cooling and heating are achieved in the same unit. This
can result in a smaller footprint for the boiler room in some situations.

Advantages

Where a boiler can be eliminated by the dual heating and cooling capability of this machine, the
cost and space savings can be a significant. In addition, steam is not required, which can be
important in situations where local codes require licensed boiler operators for steam-driven units
but permit unmanned operation of direct-fired absorption chillers.

Disadvantages

Direct-fired absorption chillers require a stack to vent combustion products. This is not necessary
in a steam-fired unit. In addition, the first cost of direct-fired units are higher than steam driven
units. Maintenance costs on the heat rejection circuit tend to be higher due to more rapid scaling.
Also be careful to check warranted life of absorption chiller heat transfer surfaces (especially the
generator section) and the refrigerant and solution pumps. All absorption chillers use electric
power to operate these pumps, the condenser water pumps, and cooling tower fans. They also use
more water as they must reject more heat and require larger cooling towers.

Absorption chillers are more difficult than electric chillers to put on-line (start up) and to take
off-line (shut down) as they require a dilution cycle. All of these issues should be addressed in
discussions with manufacturers, designers, and mechanical contractors.

Waste Heat Fired Absorption Chillers

Most absorption chillers use either steam or fuel (natural gas, propane) for heat input. But, waste
heat from process, reciprocating engine, gas turbine, or a cogeneration system can also be used in
the absorption process. The exhaust should have a minimum temperature of about 550 °F and a
maximum of 1,500 °F. The most common application is using the exhaust from a gas turbine to
provide cooling for the intake air or other cooling requirements. The available cooling is a
function of the exhaust gas temperature and mass flow rate, using this formula:

Chilling capacity in tons = m x (Tg - 375) / 40,950

Where    m    =    mass flow rate in pound per hour

Tg   =   exhaust gas inlet temp (F) to absorption chiller
40,950   =   conversion factor

Links to more detail

Waste Heat Fired Absorption Chillers - Steam

Waste Heat Fired Absorption Chillers - Hot Air
Efficiency

 Single effect units typically have a COP of 0.6 to 0.75

 Double effect units typically have a COP of 1.0 to 1.2

The above COPs do not include auxiliary electric loads, which are typically higher than those of
a corresponding size electric chiller. Because of the added heat rejection load, larger towers and
condenser water pumps, plus the unit's solution pumps, are required.

Manufacturers

Gas Absorption Chillers

1. American Yakazi Corporation

13740 Omega Road
Dallas, TX 75244
(972) 385-8725

2. Broad Air Conditioning Ltd.

1 World Trade Center, Suite 7929
New York, NY 10048
(212) 775-0665

3. Carrier Corporation
P.O Box 4808
Syracuse, NY 13221
(315) 432-7152

4. Dunham-Bush Inc.
101 Burgess Road
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
(540) 434-0711

5. McQuay International
13600 Industrial Park Blvd.
Minneapolis, MN 55441
(612) 553-5330
6. Robur Corporation
2300 Lynch Road
Evansville, IN 47711-2951
(812) 424-1800

7. The Trane Company

3600 Pammel Creek Rd.
La Crosse, WI 54601-7599

8. York International Corporation

P.O Box 1592-361P
York, PA 17405-1592
(717) 771-6386