Trane TRG-TRC011-EN manual Steam or Hot waterrefrigerant vapor Generator

period one

Absorption Refrigeration Cycle

notes

steam or

hot waterrefrigerant vapor

generator

concentrated solution

dilute solution

Figure 12

Starting on the high-pressure side of the cycle, the purpose of the generator is to deliver the refrigerant vapor to the rest of the system. It accomplishes this by separating the water (refrigerant) from the lithium bromide-and-water solution.

In the generator, a high-temperature energy source, typically steam or hot water, flows through tubes that are immersed in a dilute solution of refrigerant and absorbent. The solution absorbs heat from the warmer steam or water, causing the refrigerant to boil (vaporize) and separate from the absorbent solution. As the refrigerant is boiled away, or “generated,” the absorbent solution becomes more concentrated.

The concentrated absorbent solution returns to the absorber and the refrigerant vapor migrates to the cooler condenser. Physically, the generator and condenser are contained inside of the same shell. The pressure in the condenser section is less than the pressure in the generator section. This is because the temperature of the cooling water flowing through the tubes of the condenser is less than the temperature of the steam or hot water flowing through the tubes of the generator.

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