Entropy generated and exergy destroyed in lithium bromide thermal compressors driven by the exhaust gases of an engine

This work is devoted to the study of the entropy generated and the exergy d estroyed in the lithium bromide absorption thermal compressors of single an d multiple effects, driven by the heat of the exhaust gases of an engine, w hen the absorption hear is directly transferred either to water or to air. Air-cooled systems work with temperature and pressure gradients higher than those cooled by water. The absorption temperature in air-cooled systems ca n reach and even exceed 50 degreesC. Under these conditions, boiling temper ature within the high desorber of the double and triple effect systems can exceed 200 and 300 degreesC, respectively. Maximum pressures reach values o f 1.7 and 15 bar, respectively. The thermal compressor cooled by air genera tes more entropy and destroys more exergy than the one cooled by water. The triple-effect thermal compressor destroys less exergy than the one of doub le effect and the latter destroys less exergy than the one of single effect . The lithium bromide thermal compressor of single effect cooled by air is no t feasible when working with absorption temperatures around 50 degreesC. Th e one of double effect is feasible since the high-pressure desorber can wor k at higher temperatures. Under these conditions, the solution cycle descri bed within the high-pressure desorber remains out of the zone of crystals f ormation, and offers the possibility of producing more refrigerant than the one of single effect. Also, in the double-effect compressor less entropy i s generated, and therefore less exergy is destroyed than in the single effe ct. The triple-effect compressor cooled by air offers the possibility of pr oducing more refrigerant than the one of double effect, but at higher expen ses of temperatures and boiling pressures of the solution. This creates cor rosion and control problems, which do not have an easy solution yet. Less e xergy destruction does not compensate for the increase of these problems. I n any case, the compression process of the cooling steam occurs with entrop y reduction. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.