The effect of non-condensable gases on the performance of film absorbers in vapour absorption systems

A method of calculating the detrimental effects of the presence of non-cond ensable gases on the performance of the absorber of the vapour absorption r efrigeration systems is presented using data for the lithium bromide/water system with air as a contaminant gas in a film absorber. It is shown that t he reduction in the heat and mass transfer as a result of the non-condensab le gas can be offset by introducing turbulence into the vapour/gas mixture in the absorber. A calculation of the reduction in the COP, due to a non-co ndensable gas in the absorber, of a LiBr/ H2O system is also presented. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.