IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v91y2015icp517-530.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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

Author

Listed:
  • 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
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544215010889
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2015.08.018?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Asfand, Faisal & Bourouis, Mahmoud, 2015. "A review of membrane contactors applied in absorption refrigeration systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 173-191.
    2. 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.
    3. Bigham, Sajjad & Yu, Dazhi & Chugh, Devesh & Moghaddam, Saeed, 2014. "Moving beyond the limits of mass transport in liquid absorbent microfilms through the implementation of surface-induced vortices," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 621-630.
    4. Ali, Ahmed Hamza H., 2010. "Design of a compact absorber with a hydrophobic membrane contactor at the liquid-vapor interface for lithium bromide-water absorption chillers," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(4), pages 1112-1121, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    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.
    8. Sui, Zengguang & Wu, Wei, 2023. "AI-assisted maldistribution minimization of membrane-based heat/mass exchangers for compact absorption cooling," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PC).
    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.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. 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.
    2. 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).
    3. Nasr Isfahani, Rasool & Bigham, Sajjad & Mortazavi, Mehdi & Wei, Xing & Moghaddam, Saeed, 2015. "Impact of micromixing on performance of a membrane-based absorber," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 90(P1), pages 997-1004.
    4. Venegas, M. & de Vega, M. & García-Hernando, N. & Ruiz-Rivas, U., 2016. "A simple model to predict the performance of a H2O–LiBr absorber operating with a microporous membrane," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 383-393.
    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. 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.
    7. Zhai, Chong & Wu, Wei, 2022. "Energetic, exergetic, economic, and environmental analysis of microchannel membrane-based absorption refrigeration system driven by various energy sources," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PB).
    8. 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.
    9. Asfand, Faisal & Bourouis, Mahmoud, 2015. "A review of membrane contactors applied in absorption refrigeration systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 173-191.
    10. Mortazavi, Mehdi & Nasr Isfahani, Rasool & Bigham, Sajjad & Moghaddam, Saeed, 2015. "Absorption characteristics of falling film LiBr (lithium bromide) solution over a finned structure," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 270-278.
    11. Michel, Benoit & Le Pierrès, Nolwenn & Stutz, Benoit, 2017. "Performances of grooved plates falling film absorber," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 103-117.
    12. 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.
    13. 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.
    14. Jesús Cerezo & Roberto Best & Jorge Jesús Chan & Rosenberg J. Romero & Jorge I. Hernandez & Fernando Lara, 2017. "A Theoretical-Experimental Comparison of an Improved Ammonia-Water Bubble Absorber by Means of a Helical Static Mixer," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-14, December.
    15. Cola, Fabrizio & Hey, Jonathan & Romagnoli, Alessandro, 2018. "Characterization of the droplet formation phase for the H2OLiBr absorber: An analytical and experimental analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C), pages 885-897.
    16. 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.
    17. Mortazavi, Mehdi & Schmid, Michael & Moghaddam, Saeed, 2017. "Compact and efficient generator for low grade solar and waste heat driven absorption systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 173-179.
    18. Balghouthi, M. & Chahbani, M.H. & Guizani, A., 2012. "Investigation of a solar cooling installation in Tunisia," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 138-148.
    19. Wu, Xi & Xu, Shiming & Jiang, Mengnan, 2018. "Development of bubble absorption refrigeration technology: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3468-3482.
    20. Yazid, Muhammad Noor Afiq Witri Muhammad & Sidik, Nor Azwadi Che & Yahya, Wira Jazair, 2017. "Heat and mass transfer characteristics of carbon nanotube nanofluids: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 914-941.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:91:y:2015:i:c:p:517-530. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.