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Solid-Vapor Sorption Refrigeration Systems
Date
1991-06Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Complex compound sorption reactions
are ideally suited for use in refrigeration
cycles as an economically viable
alternative to CFC refrigerants. Complex
compound refrigeration provides a number of
energy-saving advantages over present
refrigeration systems beyond the
elimination of CFCs. The elimination of
moving parts in complex compound equipment
lowers maintenance cost. Also, when ammonia
is used as the refrigerant, the replacement
of the compressor by the complex compound
allows for direct modular integration into
existing refrigeration plants. The
availability of waste heat at a user's site allows for the further potential of substantially reduced energy costs.
To use complex compounds in a
commercial refrigeration cycle, several
criteria must be met:
1. Practical reaction rates must be
achievable with economical heat exchanger
hardware.
2. Reactions must proceed without the need
for excessive driving temperatures or large
pressure differences.
3. A significant fraction of the
coordination sphere of the complex compound
(refrigerant sorption capacity) must be
useable.
4. The compounds must be stable and the
adsorption/desorption must be repeatable
over a large number of cycles.
5. Compounds with appropriate vapor
pressures for the particular refrigeration
temperature must be available.
Recent investigations conducted at
Rocky Research on the reactivities,
coordination, vapor pressure, stability,
availability, and cycleability of a large number of complex compounds have shown
that, through the use of proprietary heat
exchanger configurations, all of these
criteria can readily be met. We have
achieved rates of reaction which are nearly
an order of magnitude faster than have been
reported using conventional means employed
in zeolite and activated carbon cycles.
Reaction rates have been measured for
refrigeration cycles down to -70°F and
found to be satisfactory for commercial use. The achievement of refrigeration at almost any desired firing-reject-cooling
temperature combination is possible either
through proper selection of the complex
compound or through staging of several complex compounds. Cost estimates show
appreciable savings over electric drive
systems, the savings increasing as the
refrigeration temperature is lowered.
In this paper we present data for a
single effect complex compound
refrigeration cycle. Realistic estimates of
COP, first cost, operating costs, and
payback time are made for a typical
commercial installation.
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Citation
Graebel, W.; Rockenfeller, U.; Kirol, L. (1991). Solid-Vapor Sorption Refrigeration Systems. Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.eslwin.tamu.edu). Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /92224.