Project Report on

Vapor Absorption Refrigeration System Using

Engine Exhaust Gases

ABSTRACT
An automobile air conditioning system generally works on vapor compression cycle
comprising of compressor, condenser, expansion device and evaporator.The objective of project
is to use vapor absorption system instead of vapor compression system having
ammonia as the refrigerant and water as the absorbent . T h e r e f r i g e r a t i o n s y s t e m
c o m p r i s e s o f a generator, a drier, a condenser, an evaporator, an absorber. The improvement
is characterized in utilizing the residual heat from the exhaust pipe of an engine by helically
winding a coil tube around the main portion of the exhaust pipe so that the
liquidized refrigerant ammonia from the generator will flow through and be heated
into a mixture of the vapor and water and enter into the generator for a process of separation.
Then, the vapor enters into the condenser via a capillary tube and from there enters into the
evaporator for a process of vaporization. The vapor from the evaporator will then go
to the absorber and re-enter the generator after it is mixed with water which is
returned from the segregator after being processed. Whereby, a cooling circulation
for this system is therefore completed.
By implementing this absorption system, the compressor is eliminated there by
reducing the power consumption of the system. This results in higher overall efficiency and less
fuel consumption of the engine. Further an analysis is made between vapor
compression and vapor absorption system and various parameters are studied.The main aim of
the project is to study implementation of vapour absorption system for air conditioning and make
a working model.

Submitted By:
Sarthak Agarwal -50
Prantik Biswas - 51
Kapil Saraswat - 52
Umang Bhatia - 53

INDEX OF CONTENTS

Sl. No.

Title

Pg. No.

Abstract

List of Figures

Introduction

Need

Absorption refrigeration System

3.1 Working Principle

3.2 Operating Stages

List of Components

Comparision between VCR and VAR

Advantages

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Conclusion

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2. LIST OF FIGURES

Figure No:

Name

Pg. No.

Schematic of the ammoniawater

absorption refrigeration system

Evaporator

Condensor

Absorber

Receiver Drier

Schematic of Receiver Drier

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Pump

10

Glass cloth tape

11

Insulation foam tube

12

Globe Valves

12

10

Heating Coil

13

11

Drier

13

12

Generator

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13

Connecting tubes

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1. INTRODUCTION
The vapour absorption refrigeration system is one of the oldest methods of producing refrigerating effect. The
principle of vapour absorption was first discovered by MichaelFaraday in 1824 while performing a set of
experiments to liquefy certain gases. The firstmachine was based on Vapour Absorption Refrigeration machine
was developed by aFrench scientist, Ferdinand Carry, in 1860. This system may be used in both the domesticand
large industrial refrigerating plants. The refrigerant commonly used in vapourabsorption system is Ammonia.
This system uses Heat energy instead of mechanical energy as in vapour compressionsystem, in order to change
the condition of refrigerant required for the operation of the refrigeration cycle.
This idea of refrigeration system is being utilized in our project for the purpose of air conditioning. Like other air
conditioning systems, the automobile air conditioner must provide adequate comfort cooling to the passenger in
the conditioned space under a wide variety of ambient conditions. In automobile air conditioning load factors are
constantlyand rapidly changing as the automobile moves over highways at different speeds and through different
kind of surroundings. As the car moves faster there is greater amount of infiltration into the car and the heat
transfer between the outdoor air and the car surface is increased. The sun baking down on a black top road will
raise its temperature to 35o C 45o C approximately and thus increases the amount of heat transmitted into car.
When driving through a grassy terrain, much less radiant heat is experienced than when passing through sandy
flats or rocky hills. Therefore, the car is subjected to varying amounts of heat load when its orientation changes
during the journey.

2. NEED

An automobile engine utilizes only about 35% of available energy and rests are lost to cooling and exhaust system.
If one is adding conventional air conditioning system to automobile, it further utilizes about 5% of the total energy.
Therefore automobile becomes costlier, uneconomical and less efficient. Additional of conventional air conditioner
in car also decreases the life of engine and increases the fuel consumption. For very small cars compressor needs 3
to 4 bhp , a significant ratio of the power output. Keeping these problems in mind, a car air conditioning system is
proposed using exhaust gases. The advantages of this system over conventional air-conditioning system are that it
does not affect designed efficiency life and fuel consumption of engine. And hence makes the running of the
engine efficient and economical. Thus to have the more economical air conditioning and more efficient engine in
the automobile the need of this system arises.

3. ABSORPTION REFRIGERATION SYSTEM

3.1 Working Principle
The underlying principle is the Practical Vapor Absorption System that uses a Generator, instead of
compressor (i.e. used in vapor compression system). This Generator requires a Heat Source to generate Ammonia
vapors from Aqueous Ammonia Solution received from Absorber. The above heat requirement is served by the
exhaust heat of the engine .Some power is also required to run the Pump, which is used to raise the pressure
of Aqueous Ammonia Solution as well as to transmit it from Absorber to Generator. As the pump consumes very
less amount of power in comparison to Compressor, it is quite comfortable to drive it from battery power or
directly from crank-shaft .Using the above setup, we can relieve the crank-shaft from excess load of compressor
;this will help in decreasing the fuel requirement of engine. Thus, increases the fuel efficiency.
So, without using any other equipment or source of energy besides the vehicle itself, it is possible to introduce this
air-conditioning system in existing automobiles/vehicles. Also it uses Ammonia as refrigerant, which do not affect
the ozone layer as well as it does not contribute to the greenhouse effect.

3.2 Operational Stages

Fig 1: Vapor Absorption Refrigeration Cycle

Stage 1-2:
The low pressure ammonia vapor leaving the evaporator enters the absorber where it is
absorbed by the cold water in the absorber.

The water has the ability to absorb very large quantity of ammonia vapor and the solution thus formed, is
known as aqua-ammonia.

Stage 2-3:
The strong solution thus formed in the absorber is pumped to the generator by the liquid pump to increase
the pressure of the solution up to 10 bar.
Stage 3-4:
The strong solution of ammonia is heated by some external source, in our system by the exhaust heat of
automobile.
During the heating process the ammonia vapor is driven off the solution at high pressure leaving behind
the hot weak ammonia solution in the generator.
Stage 4-5:
The weak ammonia solution flows back to the absorber at low pressure after passing through the pressure
reducing valve.
Stage 6-7:
The high pressure vapor from the generator is condensed in the condenser to high pressure liquid
ammonia.
Stage 7-8:
The condensed liquid ammonia from the condenser is stored in a vessel known as receiver valve, from
where it is supplied to the evaporator through the expansion valve.
Stage 8-9:
The liquid ammonia is passed to the expansion valve in which its high pressure and temperature is
reduced at a controlled rate after passing through it.
Stage 9-1:
The liquid vapor ammonia at low pressure and temperature is evaporated and changed into vapor
refrigerant. In evaporator, the liquid vapor ammonia absorbs its latent heat of vaporization from the
medium to be cooled.

4. LIST OF COMPONENTS
4.1 Evaporator

Fig 2 Evaporator
EVAPORATOR is a device used to turn (or allow to turn) the liquid form of a refrigerant into its gaseous form. An
evaporator is used in an air conditioning system to allow the compressed cooling refrigerant (ammonia) to
evaporate from liquid to gas while absorbing heat in the process. It is installed in the low pressure side of the cycle.
4.2 Condenser

Fig 3 Condensor
The condenser is a device used to change the high-pressure refrigerant vapor to a
liquid. It is mounted in front of the engine's radiator, and it looks very similar to a
radiator. The vapor is condensed to a liquid because of the high pressure that is driving
in it, and this generates a great deal of heat. The heat is then in turn removed from the
condenser by air flowing through the condenser on the outside.
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It is installed in the high pressure side of the cycle whose function is to remove the heat
of the hot vapor refrigerant discharged, which consists of heat absorbed by the
evaporator .The heat from the hot vapor refrigerant in a condenser is removed first by
transferring it to the wall of condenser tubes and then from the tubes to the condensing
or cooling medium which may water, air or combination of both.
4.3 Absorber

Fig 4 Absorber
Absorber is the part of the system where vapor ammonia at low pressure and weak solution from the generator
comes through pressure reducing valve and get accumulated.
Here the vapor ammonia gets dissolved into the water as per the solubility ratio of water and ammonia. This water
and ammonia vapor solution is known as aqua ammonia solution or strong solution which is pumped to the
generator at high pressure where it is heated from some external source of heat. Thus, Ammonia vapor gets
evaporated and the cycle continues.
4.4 Receiver-Drier

Fig 5 Receive Drier

The receiver-drier is used on the high side of systems that use a thermal expansion valve. This type of metering
valve requires liquid refrigerant. To ensure that the valve gets liquid refrigerant, a receiver is used .The primary
function of the receiver-drier is to separate gas and liquid. The secondary purpose is to remove moisture and filter
out dirt.
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Fig 6. Schematic of Receiver Drier

The receiver-drier usually has a sight glass in the top. This sight glass is often used to charge the system. Under
normal operating conditions, vapor bubbles should not be visible in the sight glass. This is a small reservoir vessel
for the liquid refrigerant, and removes any moisture that may have leaked into the refrigerant. Moisture in the
system causes havoc, with ice crystals causing blockages and mechanical damage
4.5 Pump

Fig 7 Pump

A pump is a device used to move fluids, such as liquids, gases or slurries.

A pump displaces a volume by physical or mechanical action.

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Pumps fall into three major groups: direct lift, displacement, and gravity pumps .Their names describe the method
for moving a fluid. Pump converts the mechanical energy from a motor to energy of a moving fluid; some of the
energy goes into kinetic energy of fluid motion, and some into potential energy, represented by a fluid pressure or
by lifting the fluid against gravity to a higher level
4.6 Glass Cloth Tape

Fig 8 Glass cloth tape

Glass cloth tube is an electrical insulator and the heat conductor i.e. it enables the heat to be transmitted but insulate
the system electrically. It is made from high grade heat resistant glass cloth coated with special silicone backing.
Characteristics:

Highly conformable and easy to install

Very flexible accommodating angles and turns

Aggressive adhesive system

Removes easily without leaving residue

High tensile strength and abrasion resistant

Repositionable

Excellent performance in temperatures up to 500F (260C)

Can be single-sided or double-sided

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4.7 Insulation Foam Tube

Fig9 Insulation foam tape

Insulation is a product that blocks transfer of heat, thus helps in maintaining the desired temperature by obstructing
the flow of heat.
Characteristics:

Low thermal conductivity (K value) makes it highly efficient and effective in the insulation of cooling or
heating systems.

The thermal blister close cell structure forms as impermeable layer which is in itself a good vapor barrier.

It is suitable for application within the temperature range of -40C to 125C.

The material has been specially compounded to self-extinguishing in nature.

It is CFC, asbestos, chlorine and fiber free and does not cause skin allergy.

It is inert to most chemical agent and neutral to pipe metals.

The extreme flexibility of the materials makes installation fast, easy and economical

4.8 Globe Valves

Fig 10 Globe Valves

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A globe valve is a type of valve used for regulating flow in a pipeline, consisting of a movable disk-type element
and a stationary ring seat in a generally spherical body.

4.9 Heating Coil (Nichrome)

Fig 11 Heating coil

Nichrome is a non-magnetic alloy of nickel, chromium, and often iron, usually used as a resistance wire. Patented
in 1905, it is the oldest documented form of resistance heating alloy. A common alloy is 80% nickel and 20%
chromium, by mass, but there are many others to accommodate various applications. It is silvery-grey in colour, is
corrosion-resistant, and has a high melting point of about 1400 C. Due to its relatively high electrical resistivity
and resistance to oxidation at high temperatures, it is widely used in electric heating elements, such as in hair
dryers, electric ovens, soldering iron, toasters, and even electronic cigarettes. Typically, Nichrome is wound in coils
to a certain electrical resistance, and current is passed through to produce heat.

4.10 Drier

Fig 12 Drier
Filter-driers play a pivotal role in the operation of air conditioning and refrigeration systems. At
the heart of the unit is the desiccant held in its cylindrical metal container. As important as
the filter-drier is, many actually do not understand how it works.
The word desiccate means to dry out completely and a desiccant is a material or substance that accomplishes the
moisture removal. Moisture in the mechanical refrigeration cycle is detrimental to the operation and life of the
system. The filter-drier is an accessory that performs the functions of filtering out particles and removing and
holding moisture to prevent it from circulating through the system.
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4.11 Generator

Fig.13 Generator

It is a kind of heat exchanger.

Collects Heat from Exhaust and Coolant to vaporize Ammonia from strong solution of Aq. Ammonia.

Supplies Vaporized Ammonia to Condenser.

4.12 Connection Tubes

Fig 14 Connection tubes

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5. Comparison of Vapor Absorption Refrigeration over Vapor Compression

Refrigeration
1) Method of compression of the refrigerant
One of the most important parts of any air conditioning cycle is the compression of the refrigerant since all the
further operations depend on it. In the vapor compression air conditioning system the compression of the
refrigerant is done by compressor which can be of reciprocating, rotating or centrifugal type. In the vapor
absorption air conditioning system, the compression of the refrigerant is done by absorption of the refrigerant by
the absorbent. As the refrigerant is absorbed, it gets converted from the vapor state to liquid state so its volume
reduces.
2) Power consumption devices
In the vapor compression cycle the compressor is the major power consuming device while in the vapor
absorption cycle the pump used for pumping refrigerant-absorbent solution is the major power consuming device.
3) The amount of power required
The compressor of the vapor compression cycle requires large quantities of power for its operation and it increases
as the size of the system increases. In case of the vapor absorption system, the pump requires very small amount of
power and it remains almost the same (or may increase slightly) even for higher capacities of air conditioning.
Thus the power consumed by the vapor absorption system is less than that required by the vapor compression
system.
4) Type of energy required
The vapor absorption system runs mainly on the waste or the extra heat in the plant. Thus one can utilize the extra
steam from the boiler, or generate extra steam for the purpose and also use the hot available water. Similarly the
waste heat from the diesel engine, hot water from the solar water heater, etc. can also be utilized. In case of the
vapor compression system, the compressor can be run by electric power supply only; no other types of energy can
be utilized in these systems.
5) Running cost
The vapor compression air conditioning system can run only on electric power, and they require large amount of
power. These days the electric power has become very expensive, hence the running cost of the vapor
compression air conditioning system is very high. In case of the absorption air conditioning system only small
pump requires electric power and it is quite low. In most of the process industries, where the absorption
refrigeration is used, there is some extra steam available from the boiler, which can be used for running the system.
Thus in absorption air conditioning system no extra power in the pure electric form is required and the energy that
would have otherwise gone wasted is utilized in the plant. Thus the running cost of the absorption air conditioning
system is much lesser than the vapor compression system.

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6. Advantages

Uses Engine heat as source of energy hence enhances the efficiency of engine.

Moving parts are only in the pump, which is a small element in the system hence operation becomes
smooth and also wearing and tearing is reduced.

The system works at low evaporator pressures without affecting the COP of the system.

Environmental friendly, no release of CFC derivatives.

Helps in protecting OZONE layer from depletion.

Helps engine to cool, as it extracts heat from engine.

Low running cost.

Higher engine power efficiency.

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7. Conclusion
As per our analysis and references, we have found that, it is possible to design a air conditioning system using
engine heat based on Vapor Absorption Refrigeration System. Also from the Environmental point of view this
system is Eco-friendly as it involves the use of Ammonia as a refrigerant which is a natural gas and is not
responsible for OZONE layer Depletion. Furthermore, it also saves the power of engine as it replaces the
compressor by the four components i.e. Absorber, Pump, Generator & Pressure Reducing Valve out of which only
the pump consumes some power that too is very feeble as compared to that of the Compressor, and thus helps in
saving of fuel. Also this system can be employed to commercial heavy vehicles including those which are
involved in the transportation of refrigerated products, as this system can easily provide the refrigeration/airconditioning of cabin as per the requirements by using the exhaust heat of the vehicles engine (which is in
abundance in such vehicles) thus will not add any additional engine to run the air-conditioning/refrigerating unit in
vehicle and hence reduces the operational cost.
All in all, it can be a very well and economical asset for the automobile and can completely change the scenario of
air conditioning systems.

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