Multi-effect absorption chillers
Abstract Multi-effect absorption heat pump cycles are promising to yield cooling performances which far exceed the performance of single-stage cycles. In this paper, several types of cycles are analysed. For this purpose, the respective multi-effect cycle is decomposed into elementary building blocks of single-stage absorption cycles with known performance. The multi-effect cycle is a superposition of the elementary cycles. Its performance is predicted by using the performance of the elementary cycles as parameters. The flexibility which is attained by the construction of multi-effect cycles from single-stage building blocks allows the design of highly efficient cycles according to the specific properties of competing working fluids. So, out of a wide range of possibilities, a quick choice of efficient cycles which fit the requirements of a specific application with today's working pairs can be made. A preliminary selection of the optimal cycle configuration can be made. Also, the potential of new working pairs can be validated. Out of a wide range of highly efficient absorption chiller cycles several promising machines are discussed.