Bubble-Pump-Driven Solar Absorption Air Conditioning for Residential Applications
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University of Windsor Scholarship at UWindsor Electronic Theses and Dissertations Theses, Dissertations, and Major Papers 4-25-2018 BUBBLE-PUMP-DRIVEN SOLAR ABSORPTION AIR CONDITIONING FOR RESIDENTIAL APPLICATIONS Julia Aman University of Windsor Follow this and additional works at: https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/etd Recommended Citation Aman, Julia, "BUBBLE-PUMP-DRIVEN SOLAR ABSORPTION AIR CONDITIONING FOR RESIDENTIAL APPLICATIONS" (2018). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 7424. https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/etd/7424 This online database contains the full-text of PhD dissertations and Masters’ theses of University of Windsor students from 1954 forward. These documents are made available for personal study and research purposes only, in accordance with the Canadian Copyright Act and the Creative Commons license—CC BY-NC-ND (Attribution, Non-Commercial, No Derivative Works). 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BUBBLE-PUMP-DRIVEN SOLAR ABSORPTION AIR CONDITIONING FOR RESIDENTIAL APPLICATIONS by Julia Aman A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies through the Department of Mechanical, Automotive & Materials Engineering in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Windsor Windsor, Ontario, Canada Windsor, Ontario, Canada 2018 ©2018 Julia Aman Bubble-Pump-Driven Solar Absorption Air Conditioning for Residential Applications by Julia Aman APPROVED BY: ______________________________________________ I. Beausoleil-Morrison, External Examiner Carleton University ______________________________________________ R. Carriveau, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering ______________________________________________ A. Sobiesiak Department of Mechanical, Automotive & Materials Engineering ______________________________________________ B. Zhou Department of Mechanical, Automotive & Materials Engineering ______________________________________________ P. Henshaw, Co-Advisor Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering ______________________________________________ D. S.-K. Ting, Co-Advisor Department of Mechanical, Automotive & Materials Engineering April 4, 2018 DECLARATION OF PREVIOUS PUBLICATION I. Previous Publication This thesis includes seven original papers that have been previously published/submitted for publication in peer reviewed journals, as follows: Thesis Chapter Publication title/full citation Publication status* Chapter 2 Aman, J., Henshaw, P. Ting, D. S-K., Solar Published sorption cooling for residential air-conditioning applications, International Journal of Renewable Energy Technologies, 9 (1/2) (2018) 136-157. Chapter 3 Aman, J., Ting, D. S-K., Henshaw, P., Published Residential solar air conditioning: energy and exergy analyses of an ammonia-water absorption cooling system, Applied Thermal Engineering, 62 (2014) 424-432. Chapter 4 Aman, J., Henshaw, P. Ting, D. S-K., Modelling Published and Analysis of Bubble Pump Parameters for Vapor Absorption Refrigeration Systems, Proceedings of ASHRAE Annual cofference 2016, St. Louis, MO, June 25-29, 2016. Aman, J., Henshaw, P. Ting, D. S-K., Chapter 5 Published Performance characterization of a bubble pump for vapor absorption refrigeration systems, International Journal of Refrigeration, 85 (2018) 58–69. Aman, J., Henshaw, P. Ting, D. S-K., Bubble- Chapter 6 Published pump-driven LiBr-H2O and LiCl-H2O absorption air-conditioning systems, Thermal Science and Engineering Progress, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsep.2017.10.022. ii Chapter 7 Aman, J., Henshaw, P. Ting, D. S-K., Advanced Under review exergy analysis of a bubble-pump-driven LiCl- H2O absorption air-conditioning system, International Journal of Exergy. APPENDIX A Aman, J., Henshaw, P. Ting, D. S-K., Energy Published efficiency and economic feasibility of an absorption air-conditioning system using wet, dry and hybrid heat rejection methods, International Journal of Environmental Studies, 75 (1) (2018) 68-85. I certify that I have obtained a written permission from the copyright owner(s) to include the above published material(s) in my thesis. I certify that the above material describes work completed during my registration as a graduate student at the University of Windsor. II. General I declare that, to the best of my knowledge, my thesis does not infringe upon anyone’s copyright nor violate any proprietary rights and that any ideas, techniques, quotations, or any other material from the work of other people included in my thesis, published or otherwise, are fully acknowledged in accordance with the standard referencing practices. Furthermore, to the extent that I have included copyrighted material that surpasses the bounds of fair dealing within the meaning of the Canada Copyright Act, I certify that I have obtained a written permission from the copyright owner(s) to include such material(s) in my thesis. I declare that this is a true copy of my thesis, including any final revisions, as approved by my thesis committee and the Graduate Studies office, and that this thesis has not been submitted for a higher degree to any other University or Institution. iii ABSTRACT Large-scale heat-driven absorption cooling systems are currently available in the marketplace for industrial applications. The high temperature is required in the generator for driving this absorption chiller. For this reason, this type of chiller was originally designed to use direct-fired gas. However, the low efficiency of this cooling cycle restricts its use in small-scale applications. The concept of a solar- driven absorption chiller can satisfy the increasing demand for air conditioning without contributing greenhouse gases to the global environment. This research contributes to providing an efficient air conditioning driven by low temperature solar heat and independent of grid electricity, which may be useful in remote residential communities. The performance of 10 kW absorption and adsorption cooling systems were compared for the selection of a suitable cooling technology that can be driven by low temperature heat source such as a flat plate solar collector. Analysis revealed that under any operating conditions, the coefficient of performance (COP) of the absorption cooling system is higher. However, absorption chillers have a lower efficiency than traditional compression refrigeration systems, when used for small scale applications. Hence, energy and exergy analyses were conducted to evaluate the performance of a solar-driven air-cooled ammonia-water absorption chiller for residential air conditioning. Low driving temperature heat sources were optimized (70~80℃) and the efficiencies (COP=0.6, exergetic efficiency=32%) of the system were evaluated. The highest exergy losses were identified in the absorption process (63%) followed by the generator (13%) and the condenser (11%). iv In order to replace the only electrical component (pump) in an absorption chiller and make it independent of grid electricity, a solar-thermal-driven bubble pump was introduced in a vapor absorption refrigeration (VAR) cycle. This solar- thermal-driven pump can circulate the solution to the absorber and the generator to create the necessary refrigerant vapor for cooling. An analytical model of a bubble pump was developed and experimental work was conducted. Furthermore, a dimensional analysis was performed, considering bubble pump geometry and the solution properties. The bubble pump performance was defined in terms of non- dimensional parameters which can be used in all bubble-pump-driven absorption refrigeration systems. Experimental and theoretical results for a new refrigerant- absorbent solution (LiCl-H2O) were compared, and the flow regime (slug flow) was determined for the highest pump efficiency. Moreover, in order to employ the advantages of high performance, the bubble pump was incorporated into a simulation of a water-based vapor absorption refrigeration cycle. A new absorbent- refrigerant pair (LiCl-H2O) for a bubble-pump-operated VARS was proposed and a thermodynamic comparison was made between LiBr-H2O and LiCl-H2O systems. Finally, energy, exergy and advanced exergy analyses were performed on this proposed refrigeration cycle, and the exergy losses due to the internal irreversibilities of each component and the effect of the irreversibilities of the other components were determined. The avoidable exergy destruction was identified pertaining to the potential improvement of the overall system structure. The highest avoidable endogenous exergy losses occurred in the generator. v DEDICATION To my parents, my husband, my children and family. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Completing this PhD and becoming a Doctor is the blessing of Almighty for me. Words cannot express how He guided me in this journey and led me to meet these great people at the University of Windsor. Through my father’s encouragement and my husband’s dedication and enthusiasm, I embarked on my journey to complete my PhD 8 years after finishing my Master’s degree. When Dr. David Ting and Dr. Paul Henshaw accepted me to be their graduate student, I could not fathom how incredible their leadership