Pre-industrial development and experimental characterization of new air-cooled and water-cooled ammonia/lithium nitrate absorption chillers

Abstract Two pre-industrial prototypes of a new ammonia/lithium nitrate absorption chiller, a water-cooled one and an air-cooled one, have been built and experimentally characterized. The single-effect configuration of the absorption refrigeration cycle was selected for both prototypes in which brazed plate heat exchangers were used in all thermal components. These prototypes, designed for air conditioning applications, were tested under various operating conditions to assess their performance. The water-cooled prototype yields 12.9 kW of cooling capacity and an electrical COPelec of 19.3, when operating at a 15 °C chilled water temperature, 90 °C hot water temperature and a 35 °C cooling water temperature. In the case of the air-cooled prototype, at a 15 °C chilled water temperature, 90 °C hot water temperature and a 35 °C ambient air temperature, the cooling capacity is 9.3 kW and the electrical COPelec is 6.5.