×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Steam Absorption Chiller Efficiency
2

Steam Absorption Chiller Efficiency

Steam Absorption Chiller Efficiency

(OP)
Does anyone know where I can find information on absorption chiller efficiency based on *non* design conditions? I'm looking to estimate (calculate) the energy benefit of implementing a condenser water reset routine.

It loos like I'm getting full capacity out of the unit on the CHW side but I want to optimize the cooling tower operation.

(600-T unit, 2-speed fans on the CT, P/S CHW)

RE: Steam Absorption Chiller Efficiency

The best thing to do is an energy balance. Steam input and the actual refrigerating effect become the heat input to the system and heat absorbed by cooling water becomes heat output from the system. Ideally heat input should equal heat output. I did this type of calculation in the past and reduced cooling water flowrates without problem.

However, care should be taken and your observation is critical for, absorption systems are not good for capacity control and lower cooling water flowrates result in flooding of evaporator. This is a trial and error method worth giving a try.

RE: Steam Absorption Chiller Efficiency

(OP)
Thanxs quark, that makes sense but what if I don't have steam flow? Are there any 'generally accepted' rules-of-thumb?

RE: Steam Absorption Chiller Efficiency

Collect the condensate from economizer or from any suitable place. This will give you a fair idea about steam flowrate. You can ignore inaccuracy due to flashing.

RE: Steam Absorption Chiller Efficiency

A couple of outfits manufacture condensate meters - Cadillac, and Lincoln. If you're anywhere near a district heating operation, they frequently have a bunch of old condenate meters laying around. You could likely borrow/rent/buy one. The technology has been around forever but it's dead accurate with literally an infinite turndown, and very simple.

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources