Comparison of numerical and experimental performance criteria of an ammonia–water bubble absorber using plate heat exchangers

• Published in: International journal of heat and mass transfer Vol. 53; no. 17; pp. 3379 - 3386
• Main Authors: Cerezo, Jesús, Best, Roberto, Bourouis, Mahmoud, Coronas, Alberto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Absorption; Acceptability; Ammonia–water; Applied sciences; Bubble absorber; Bubbles; Criteria; Devices using thermal energy; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Flux; Heat exchangers (included heat transformers, condensers, cooling towers); Heat transfer; Mass absorption flux; Mass transfer; Mathematical models; Plate heat exchangers; Pleat heat exchanger; Simulation; Theoretical studies. Data and constants. Metering; Bubble absorber; Mass absorption flux; Absorption; Pleat heat exchanger; Ammonia–water; Water; Plate heat exchanger; Absorber; Thermal load; Modeling; Ammonia; Bubble; Experimental result; Heat exchanger; Mathematical model; Performance; Comparative study; Mass flow; Heat transfer
• ISSN: 0017-9310; 1879-2189
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2010.02.031

A mathematical model for ammonia–water bubble absorbers was developed and compared with experimental data using a plate heat exchanger. The analysis was performed carrying out a sensitive study of selected operation parameters on the absorber thermal load and mass absorption flux. Regarding the experimental data, the values obtained for the solution heat transfer were in the range 0.51–1.21 kW m −2 K −1 and those of the mass absorption flux in the range 2.5–5.0 × 10 −3 kg m −2 s −1. The comparison between experimental and simulation results was acceptable being the maximum difference of 11.1% and 28.4% for the absorber thermal load and the mass absorption flux, respectively.