Evaluation and Optimization of Single Stage Absorption Chiller Using (LiCl + H2O) as the Working Pair

The thermodynamic performance of the absorption chiller using (H2O + LiCl) as the working pair was simulated and compared with the absorption chiller using (H2O + LiBr). The effects of evaporation temperature on the performance coefficient, COP, generation temperature, concentration of strong solution, and flow rate ratio were also analyzed. At the same condensing and absorbing temperature, the simulating results indicated that the performance coefficient for (H2O + LiCl) is approximately equal to (H2O + LiBr) and the generation temperature was lower than that for (H2O + LiBr). On the other hand, the exergetic efficiency, ECOP, which is based on the second law of thermodynamics, for the absorption chiller using (H2O + LiCl), was more than the system using (H2O + LiBr) under the same operating conditions. The absorption chiller cycle was then optimized based on the coefficient of performance. The results show that the coefficient of performance of the absorption chiller, using (H2O + LiBr) at the optimum conditions, was around 1.5-2% higher than that of (H2O + LiCl).