Design and construction of a low capacity pump-less absorption system

Abstract

In this investigation, a low capacity absorption system has been designed and constructed where the mechanical pump has been replaced with a bubble pump, reducing the cost and eliminating the electrical power. Initially, a test rig bubble pump has been built with a single Pyrex tube to test the effect of different parameters on pumping flow rate. An absorption refrigeration system with a capacity of 2.5 kW has been designed and constructed. Results have shown that a bubble pump with five horizontal tubes with 2.5 mm diameter and submergence ratio of 0.4 has the best performance for this low capacity absorption refrigeration system. The COP of this structure was about 0.51 and mathematical modeling shows that increasing the solution concentration at generator outlet decreases the COP of the system.