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CFD simulation to investigate heat and mass transfer processes in a membrane-based absorber for water-LiBr absorption cooling systems

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  • Asfand, Faisal
  • Stiriba, Youssef
  • Bourouis, Mahmoud

Abstract

Absorption cooling systems employing membrane based components provide an interesting opportunity to use the technology for small scale applications. Steady-state heat and mass transfer analyses of a water-lithium bromide membrane based absorber are performed. CFD (computational fluid dynamics) tool ANSYS/FLUENT 14.0 is used to perform the simulation and investigate the behaviour of the heat and mass transfer mechanisms at local levels in the channels. Results show that the solution film thickness is an important parameter which significantly affects the mass transfer mechanism. It was observed that the absorption rate increased by a factor of 3 when the solution channel thickness was reduced from 2 mm to 0.5 mm. In addition, the absorption rate was increased by a factor of 2.5 when the solution inlet flow velocity was increased from 0.00118 m/s to 0.00472 m/s. The solution film thickness and velocity can be independently controlled in plate-and-frame membrane based absorbers. Therefore to design a compact and efficient plate-and-frame membrane absorber with water as a refrigerant, an optimum value of 0.5 mm for the solution channel thickness is suggested and a solution inlet velocity of about 0.005 m/s is recommended to achieve high absorption rates with acceptable pressure drop along the solution channel.

Suggested Citation

  • Asfand, Faisal & Stiriba, Youssef & Bourouis, Mahmoud, 2015. "CFD simulation to investigate heat and mass transfer processes in a membrane-based absorber for water-LiBr absorption cooling systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 517-530.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:91:y:2015:i:c:p:517-530
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2015.08.018
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Amaris, Carlos & Bourouis, Mahmoud & Vallès, Manel, 2014. "Passive intensification of the ammonia absorption process with NH3/LiNO3 using carbon nanotubes and advanced surfaces in a tubular bubble absorber," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 519-528.
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    Cited by:

    1. Junhyeok Yong & Junggyun Ham & Ohkyung Kwon & Honghyun Cho, 2021. "Experimental Investigation of the Heat Transfer Characteristics of Plate Heat Exchangers Using LiBr/Water as Working Fluid," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-15, October.
    2. Zhai, Chong & Wu, Wei & Coronas, Alberto, 2021. "Membrane-based absorption cooling and heating: Development and perspectives," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 663-688.
    3. Sui, Zengguang & Sui, Yunren & Wu, Wei, 2022. "Multi-objective optimization of a microchannel membrane-based absorber with inclined grooves based on CFD and machine learning," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    4. Mustapha, Rasha & Zoughaib, Assaad & Ghaddar, Nesreen & Ghali, Kamel, 2020. "Modified upright cup method for testing water vapor permeability in porous membranes," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    5. Zhai, Chong & Wu, Wei, 2021. "Performance optimization and comparison towards compact and efficient absorption refrigeration system with conventional and emerging absorbers/desorbers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    6. Sui, Zengguang & Wu, Wei, 2022. "A comprehensive review of membrane-based absorbers/desorbers towards compact and efficient absorption refrigeration systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 201(P1), pages 563-593.
    7. Sui, Zengguang & Zhai, Chong & Wu, Wei, 2022. "Parametric and comparative study on enhanced microchannel membrane-based absorber structures for compact absorption refrigeration," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 109-122.
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    9. Asfand, Faisal & Stiriba, Youssef & Bourouis, Mahmoud, 2016. "Performance evaluation of membrane-based absorbers employing H2O/(LiBr + LiI + LiNO3 + LiCl) and H2O/(LiNO3 + KNO3 + NaNO3) as working pairs in absorption cooling systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 115(P1), pages 781-790.
    10. Alvaro A. S. Lima & Gustavo de N. P. Leite & Alvaro A. V. Ochoa & Carlos A. C. dos Santos & José A. P. da Costa & Paula S. A. Michima & Allysson M. A. Caldas, 2020. "Absorption Refrigeration Systems Based on Ammonia as Refrigerant Using Different Absorbents: Review and Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-41, December.
    11. Venegas, M. & de Vega, M. & García-Hernando, N. & Ruiz-Rivas, U., 2017. "Adiabatic vs non-adiabatic membrane-based rectangular micro-absorbers for H2O-LiBr absorption chillers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 757-766.
    12. Amaris, Carlos & Vallès, Manel & Bourouis, Mahmoud, 2018. "Vapour absorption enhancement using passive techniques for absorption cooling/heating technologies: A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C), pages 826-853.

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