Performance of a Hybrid TEG/Single Stage Ammonia-Water Absorption Refrigeration Cycle with a Combined Effect of Rectifier and Condensate Precooler

Abstract

In this article, a single stage ammonia-water absorption refrigeration cycle integrated with thermoelectric power generators driven by evacuated tube solar collectors is presented and investigated. The working fluid is ammonia-water solution, and the hybrid system was modeled, and analyzed using EES software. The system coefficient of performance (COP) was found to increase with increasing the generator temperature. From the results obtained, when the cycle operated with 0.99 ammonia mass fraction, it was found that the best location of the thermoelectric generators is at the rectifier between the generator and the condenser where the value of COP exceeds 0.82 at temperature difference across the TEG of 60°C. The other locations, between condenser-evaporator and evaporator-absorber, show similar performance.