The jet-pump cycle—A low cost refrigerator option powered by waste heat

Abstract

A perennial problem with waste heat is the capital cost of plant required to make its utilisation justifiable. A good example of this is the use of waste heat to power absorption refrigerators. The capital cost of absorption refrigerators rises sharply as the temperature of the heat source falls, making waste heat recovery and use uneconomic. This paper describes and evaluates the potential of the jet-pump cycle as a low capital cost option for providing refrigeration utilising low grade waste heat. A brief literature review is provided. An experimental jet-pump refrigerator is described, experimental results are presented and evaluated and the cost benefits of jet-pump refrigerators compared with vapour compression systems are discussed.