Experimental assessment of a single-effect absorption cooling system operating with the NH3-H2O-LiBr mixture and its comparison with NH3-H2O

Absorption cooling systems present an appealing alternative to conventional compression systems as they can leverage low-grade heat sources to generate a cooling effect. The choice of the working fluid in the absorption system plays a crucial role in its performance and applications, making it a critical factor in the system's design and operation. While specific hypotheses in the literature propose advantages of using ternary mixtures over typical binary working fluids, existing experimental studies lack conclusive evidence. Therefore, further research on this topic is imperative. This study experimentally assesses the performance of a single-effect absorption cooling system using the ternary NH₃-H₂O-LiBr mixture. The results are then compared to those of the binary NH₃-H₂O mixture. The assessment and comparison cover a wide range of operating conditions and similar concentration values. The results indicate that, from an operational standpoint, the ternary mixture offers significant advantages regarding system pressures and operational stability. However, from a performance perspective, at least within the tested mixture concentrations, the ternary mixture generally appears less attractive than the binary mixture. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that when driven by heat sources at higher temperatures, the ternary mixture could exhibit relevant performance characteristics.