Modeling of ammonia absorption chillers integration in energy systems of process plants

Abstract A mathematical programming approach is proposed to study the integration of absorption chillers in combined heat and power plants. The aim of this work is to determine the economic viability of the introduction of ammonia absorption chillers in energy systems instead of using the more conventional compression cycles. This procedure selects the best refrigeration alternative taking into account both absorption and compression cycles. To select the most suitable refrigeration cycle for a given refrigeration load, it is not only necessary to model the performance of each cycle, but also to take into account the interactions between the energy system and the considered cycles, optimizing the performance of the global plant. This approach has been implemented in the computer program XV, and tested in an energy plant in the petrochemical complex of Tarragona (Catalunya, Spain). The refrigeration demands to be met are at 0 and −20°C. The results highlighted the benefit obtained with the simultaneous presence of ammonia absorption cycles and a cogeneration based energy plant.