Automobile Absorption Conditioner

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to develop a circuit for an automobile air conditioner, which will reduce the consumption of power developed by the engine. This paper proposes the design of an automobile absorption air conditioner. A description of the principle of operation of an automobile absorption air conditioner operating on a cycle of a one-stage absorption refrigeration machine has been given in the paper. It consists of a stripper (generator), a condenser, an absorber, an evaporator. Lithium bromide (LiBr) solution has been used as an absorbent, which has a low boiling point, is non-toxic and safe. 3D-models of the absorber and generator of an automobile absorption air conditioner has been developed in the course of the research. The absorber is designed to form a weak absorbent solution. This solution is supplied to the generator heat exchanger using a liquid pump. There it is heated by the exhaust gases to the boiling point. The solution evaporates and water vapor enters the condenser (evaporator). In the generator, the solution is concentrated from 52 to 60 %. After that, water vapor is supplied to the absorber from the condenser, and a concentrated absorbent solution is supplied from the generator. It should be noted that the generator is a key element of an automobile absorption air conditioning system. Inside it is a strong LiBr solution that feeds the absorber. The design of the air conditioning system does not provide for the use of a compressor and allows to reduce the power loss of the power plant to the drive of the liquid pump. According to calculations, the pump drive power was 0.17 kW. For comparison, the compressor of a modern car air conditioner consumes 7–11 kW. An absorption car air conditioner provides the following advantages: additional engine cooling, environmental friendliness, fuel economy, efficient use of the heat of vehicle exhaust gases. A distinctive feature of this design is that it is proposed to use the heat of the exhaust gases for the process of heating the absorbent. This design can fully compete with the existing modern car air conditioners.