Experimental study of an innovative absorption heat transformer using partially miscible working mixtures

Absorption heat pumps are a suitable solution for a rational use of waste heat. In this field of application, absorption heat transformers can use low temperature level heat to produce useful thermal energy at higher temperature level. Nevertheless, their performances are still limited, which leads...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of thermal sciences 2003-06, Vol.42 (6), p.631-638
Main Authors: Alonso, Dominique, Cachot, Thierry, Hornut, Jean-Marie
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Absorption
Applied sciences
Devices using thermal energy
Energy
Energy. Thermal use of fuels
Exact sciences and technology
Heat pump
Heat pumps
Heat transformer
Partial miscibility
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Summary:Absorption heat pumps are a suitable solution for a rational use of waste heat. In this field of application, absorption heat transformers can use low temperature level heat to produce useful thermal energy at higher temperature level. Nevertheless, their performances are still limited, which leads to too long payback periods. This article describes the principle of an innovative heat transformer cycle using a working mixture partially miscible at low temperature. Hence, the separation step, classically done by distillation in absorption heat pump, is replaced by an energy costless one obtained by simply cooling down the mixture. Results of the operation of a laboratory scale pilot unit are presented. The machine operating over the n-heptane–DMF mixture has allowed to observe a 8 °C temperature lift with thermal efficiency varying from 30 to 40%. Hence, the practical feasibility of such a cycle has been demonstrated.
ISSN:1290-0729
1778-4166
DOI:10.1016/S1290-0729(03)00028-0