the absorption process for heating, cooling and energy storage—an historical survey

Abstract

The principle of the absorption process is described and its versatility demonstrated. A wide range of applications, from household refrigerators to topping processes in power plants, are surveyed in an historical perspective. the production of mechanical energy and open systems are also included. Modern developments are reviewed, special attention being given to the aspets of thermal energy storage.

The early ice making systems in the nineteenth century

“…Due to such affinity, these substances remain strongly united or dissolved in liquid state but can be separated by applying heat (Bjurströ m and Raldow, 1981). The process bears some similarity with the above discussed vacuum evaporation systems regarding the removal of water by absorption in sulphuric acid, and with the compression system regarding the alternately liquefaction and vaporization of one volatile substance, but differed from the latter one in the presence of other compound from which it must to be repeatedly separated.…”

Exergetic efficiency of high-temperature-lift chemical heat pump (CHP) based on CaO/CO2and CaO/H2O working pairs

“…To derive the Carnot efficiency of a CHP, two cycles consisting of one heat pump (operating in the higher temperature interval) and one heat engine (operating in the lower temperature interval) may be considered [9,42]. To derive the Carnot efficiency of a CHP, two cycles consisting of one heat pump (operating in the higher temperature interval) and one heat engine (operating in the lower temperature interval) may be considered [9,42].…”

“…A low-temperature waste heat may be upgraded using a vapor compression heat pump, which requires electricity, and/or sorption heat pumps, which uses the heat of (de) sorption of a medium [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. In recent years, however, engaging reversible chemical reactions for recuperation of heat has gained significant interest because of the higher magnitude of reaction heat compared with that of the latent or sensible heat as retrieved in physical recovery techniques or vapor compression and sorption heat pumps [11].…”

Resorption system with simultaneous heat and cold production

“…Compared with the conventional vapour compression system's impact on global warming issue and its high electricity consumption, sorption system utilizes refrigerant with zero ozone depletion potential like water, ammonia or methanol, and can be driven by solar energy or with waste heat; and thus, helping reduce the CO 2 emissions. Among the categories of sorption system, liquid-gas absorption process used for heating and cooling production has been widely discussed for a long time (Bjurströ m and Raldow, 1981). However, absorption system will cause solution crystallization and metal corrosion because of the liquid using.…”