Experimental Investigation of Crystallization-Free Water–Ethylene Glycol Vapor Absorption Refrigeration System
Keywords:
Vapor absorption refrigeration; Water–ethylene glycol system; Cooling capacity evaluation; Coefficient of performance.Abstract
Thermally activated vapor absorption refrigeration technologies provide an environmentally benign and energy-efficient pathway for cooling, particularly when utilizing low-grade industrial waste heat or renewable solar thermal resources. This manuscript evaluates the experimental performance of a 0.5 TR prototype absorption cooling system employing an alternative binary working fluid mixture: water (H2O) serving as the volatile refrigerant and ethylene glycol (EG) functioning as the absorbent. The experimental test rig incorporates a generator, absorber, condenser, evaporator, and a liquid-to-liquid solution heat exchanger alongside specialized thermal instrumentation. A systematic parametric investigation was conducted to map the impact of critical operational temperatures on key thermodynamic metrics, including the system's coefficient of performance (COP), component thermal loads, and evaporator temperature differentials. Methodical trials were executed by varying the generator hot water inlet temperature (Thi)from 75°C to 95°C, while selectively modulating the condenser (Tc) and absorber (Ta) operating thresholds across the ranges of 20.7–45.1°C and 20.3–45.2°C, respectively. The empirical data demonstrates that the H2O–ethylene glycol working pair achieves highly stable operational equilibria and displays performance trajectories that fundamentally mirror those of conventional H2O –LiBr systems. Elevating the generator thermal input optimizes the COP up to a peak value of 0.351 at Thi = 85°C, beyond which intensified sensible heat dissipation triggers a performance decline. Conversely, incremental adjustments in either the condenser or absorber temperatures markedly reduce the COP and degrade the evaporator cooling capacity (Qe). Although the peak thermal efficiency of the H2O–EG mixture remains lower than the baseline lithium bromide cycle—with COP reductions spanning 4.01% to 36.42% depending on the operating regime—this organic working pair successfully mitigates the severe crystallization risks and aggressive metallic corrosion characteristic of aqueous salt solutions. Ultimately, these experimental insights validate the viability of water–ethylene glycol absorption cycles as reliable, maintenance-free solutions for sustainable waste-heat recovery.
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