Solar driven double-effect absorption cycles for sub-zero temperatures

This paper presents a theoretical study of a solar driven double-effect absorption system with ammonia lithium nitrate for sub-zero evaporation temperatures. The performance of a double-effect parallel flow ammonia based absorption system with lithium nitrate as absorbent is investigated. This includes the determination of the effect of the strong solution distribution on performance. A ratio of 0.65 appears to be the most advantageous. The paper also presents the dynamic performance of a double-effect ammonia-lithium nitrate absorption system driven by solar energy under Mediterranean summer conditions. The solar energy is obtained by horizontal N-S parabolic trough solar collectors because they can deliver high temperatures that are required to drive the double-effect absorption system. Simulations of the solar absorption systems with a hot storage are performed in order to supply the cooling load of a pork slaughterhouse with maximum cooling load of 600 kW. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd and HR. All rights reserved.