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Design and Analysis of a Solar Driven Vapour Absorption Refrigeration System as an Alternative to Solar PV Powered Refrigerators

Received: 11 March 2019    Accepted: 26 April 2019    Published: 20 May 2019
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Abstract

There exists an immense need around the world for refrigeration capabilities where the infrastructure of dependable power does not exist. In this study, the concept of a flat plate collector for an intermittent ammonia absorption refrigeration system is analyzed. The design is juxtaposed against a solar photo-voltaic powered refrigerator to evaluate its feasibility. Relevant design equations, codes, standards and procedures were integrated to develop a system that would boil off approximately 0.34kg of ammonia from 0.553kg of calcium chloride capable of producing 0.91kg of ice. The results showed that a collector area of 0.93m2 was needed to produce the 782.4kJ of heat required, the required condenser volume was calculated to be 28.4 liters, and the evaporator volume to hold the ammonia calculated to be 0.51 liters (Length = 0.4 m, D = 40 mm). The copper fin – steel pipe stress due to thermal expansion of the system was calculated to be 59.159 MPa which was below, 249.944 MPa, the maximum allowable stress of the material. The system was designed to have a maximum operating pressure of 9653 kPa. In a test, the final prototype attained consistent generator temperatures in the 364 - 378K range and once switched to the “night cycle” attained evaporator temperatures in the 0°C to -7°C range thus confirming the concept of the flat design (the primary objective) as well producing consistent evaporator temperatures below 0°C (the secondary objective).

Published in Science Journal of Energy Engineering (Volume 7, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.sjee.20190701.11
Page(s) 1-12
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Refrigeration, Ammonia, Calcium-Chloride, Flat Plate Collector, Condenser, Evaporator

References
[1] Coulomb, D., Dupon, J. L., & Pichard, A. (2015). The Role of Refrigeration in the Global Economy—29th Informatory Note on Refrigeration Technologies. International Institute of Refrigeration, Paris, France.
[2] Koronaki, I. P., Cowan, D., Maidment, G., Beerman, K., Schreurs, M., Kaar, K., and Cazauran, X. (2012). Refrigerant emissions and leakage prevention across Europe–Results from the RealSkillsEurope project. Energy, 45(1), 71-80.
[3] Africa Energy Outlook (2014). A focus on energy prospects in Sub-Saharan Africa. World Energy Outlook Special Report, International Energy Agency IEA.
[4] Nkwetta, D. N., Smyth, M., Van Thong, V., Driesen, J., & Belmans, R. (2010). Electricity supply, irregularities, and the prospect for solar energy and energy sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of renewable and sustainable energy, 2(2), 023102.
[5] Subin, R. (2011). Country: India's cold chain industry. Indo-American Chamber of Commerce, available at https://www.iaccindia.com/userfiles/files/India’s%20Cold, 20.
[6] International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR), (2009). The Role of Refrigeration in Worldwide Nutrition–5th Informatory Note on Refrigeration and Food.
[7] United Nations, World Economic and Social Survey 2013: Sustainable Development Challenges, United Nations publication. Retrieved April 14, 2019 from https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/ content/documents/2843WESS2013.pdf.
[8] Pearson, A. (2008). Refrigeration with ammonia. International journal of refrigeration, 31(4), 5.
[9] Vanek, S., Vanek, J., Green, M. (1996). A Solar Ammonia Adsorption Icemaker. Homepower Magazine: Issue #53.
[10] Bhatkar, V. W., Kriplani, V. M., & Awari, G. K. (2013). Alternative refrigerants in vapour compression refrigeration cycle for sustainable environment: a review of recent research. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 10(4), 871-880.
[11] Zeyghami, M., Goswami, D. Y., & Stefanakos, E. (2015). A review of solar thermo-mechanical refrigeration and cooling methods. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 51, 1428-1445
[12] Cengel, Y. A., & Boles, M. A. (2015). Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach. 8th Edition, McGraw-Hill, New York.
[13] Cota, A., & Foster, R. (2010). Photovoltaics for Rural Development in Latin America: A Quarter Century of Lessons Learned. Solar Collectors and Panels, Theory and Applications, 55-78.
[14] Goyal, P., Baredar, P., Mittal, A., & Siddiqui, A. R. (2016). Adsorption refrigeration technology–An overview of theory and its solar energy applications. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 53, 1389-1410.
[15] Wang, D. C., Li, Y. H., Li, D., Xia, Y. Z., & Zhang, J. P. (2010). A review on adsorption refrigeration technology and adsorption deterioration in physical adsorption systems. Renewable and sustainable energy reviews, 14(1), 344-353.
[16] Guerrero, L., and Pascua, Y. (2008). Solar Ice Maker: A solar energy adsorption-refrigeration system. San Jose State University.
[17] Farshi, L. G., Ferreira, C. I., Mahmoudi, S. S., & Rosen, M. A. (2014). First and second law analysis of ammonia/salt absorption refrigeration systems. International journal of refrigeration, 40, 111-121.
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  • APA Style

    Ogbonda Douglas Chukwu, Fubara Ibinabo, Raphael Okosiemiema. (2019). Design and Analysis of a Solar Driven Vapour Absorption Refrigeration System as an Alternative to Solar PV Powered Refrigerators. Science Journal of Energy Engineering, 7(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjee.20190701.11

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    ACS Style

    Ogbonda Douglas Chukwu; Fubara Ibinabo; Raphael Okosiemiema. Design and Analysis of a Solar Driven Vapour Absorption Refrigeration System as an Alternative to Solar PV Powered Refrigerators. Sci. J. Energy Eng. 2019, 7(1), 1-12. doi: 10.11648/j.sjee.20190701.11

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    AMA Style

    Ogbonda Douglas Chukwu, Fubara Ibinabo, Raphael Okosiemiema. Design and Analysis of a Solar Driven Vapour Absorption Refrigeration System as an Alternative to Solar PV Powered Refrigerators. Sci J Energy Eng. 2019;7(1):1-12. doi: 10.11648/j.sjee.20190701.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.sjee.20190701.11,
      author = {Ogbonda Douglas Chukwu and Fubara Ibinabo and Raphael Okosiemiema},
      title = {Design and Analysis of a Solar Driven Vapour Absorption Refrigeration System as an Alternative to Solar PV Powered Refrigerators},
      journal = {Science Journal of Energy Engineering},
      volume = {7},
      number = {1},
      pages = {1-12},
      doi = {10.11648/j.sjee.20190701.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjee.20190701.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjee.20190701.11},
      abstract = {There exists an immense need around the world for refrigeration capabilities where the infrastructure of dependable power does not exist. In this study, the concept of a flat plate collector for an intermittent ammonia absorption refrigeration system is analyzed. The design is juxtaposed against a solar photo-voltaic powered refrigerator to evaluate its feasibility. Relevant design equations, codes, standards and procedures were integrated to develop a system that would boil off approximately 0.34kg of ammonia from 0.553kg of calcium chloride capable of producing 0.91kg of ice. The results showed that a collector area of 0.93m2 was needed to produce the 782.4kJ of heat required, the required condenser volume was calculated to be 28.4 liters, and the evaporator volume to hold the ammonia calculated to be 0.51 liters (Length = 0.4 m, D = 40 mm). The copper fin – steel pipe stress due to thermal expansion of the system was calculated to be 59.159 MPa which was below, 249.944 MPa, the maximum allowable stress of the material. The system was designed to have a maximum operating pressure of 9653 kPa. In a test, the final prototype attained consistent generator temperatures in the 364 - 378K range and once switched to the “night cycle” attained evaporator temperatures in the 0°C to -7°C range thus confirming the concept of the flat design (the primary objective) as well producing consistent evaporator temperatures below 0°C (the secondary objective).},
     year = {2019}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Design and Analysis of a Solar Driven Vapour Absorption Refrigeration System as an Alternative to Solar PV Powered Refrigerators
    AU  - Ogbonda Douglas Chukwu
    AU  - Fubara Ibinabo
    AU  - Raphael Okosiemiema
    Y1  - 2019/05/20
    PY  - 2019
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjee.20190701.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.sjee.20190701.11
    T2  - Science Journal of Energy Engineering
    JF  - Science Journal of Energy Engineering
    JO  - Science Journal of Energy Engineering
    SP  - 1
    EP  - 12
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2376-8126
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjee.20190701.11
    AB  - There exists an immense need around the world for refrigeration capabilities where the infrastructure of dependable power does not exist. In this study, the concept of a flat plate collector for an intermittent ammonia absorption refrigeration system is analyzed. The design is juxtaposed against a solar photo-voltaic powered refrigerator to evaluate its feasibility. Relevant design equations, codes, standards and procedures were integrated to develop a system that would boil off approximately 0.34kg of ammonia from 0.553kg of calcium chloride capable of producing 0.91kg of ice. The results showed that a collector area of 0.93m2 was needed to produce the 782.4kJ of heat required, the required condenser volume was calculated to be 28.4 liters, and the evaporator volume to hold the ammonia calculated to be 0.51 liters (Length = 0.4 m, D = 40 mm). The copper fin – steel pipe stress due to thermal expansion of the system was calculated to be 59.159 MPa which was below, 249.944 MPa, the maximum allowable stress of the material. The system was designed to have a maximum operating pressure of 9653 kPa. In a test, the final prototype attained consistent generator temperatures in the 364 - 378K range and once switched to the “night cycle” attained evaporator temperatures in the 0°C to -7°C range thus confirming the concept of the flat design (the primary objective) as well producing consistent evaporator temperatures below 0°C (the secondary objective).
    VL  - 7
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Electrical Electronics Engineering Technology, School of Engineering Technology, Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

  • Department of Electrical Electronics Engineering Technology, School of Engineering Technology, Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

  • Department of Electrical Electronics Engineering Technology, School of Engineering Technology, Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

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