What is it about?
In cooling systems that use a water and lithium bromide mix, the desorber plays a key role in separating the refrigerant from the mixture, directly impacting efficiency. Traditional desorbers are bulky, requiring constant heat and vacuum pressure, making them impractical for compact setups. This study explored a membrane desorber, which operates at normal atmospheric pressure with a 49.6% lithium bromide solution. Researchers tested how factors like solution temperature, flow rate, and cooling water temperature affected performance. They found the highest separation rate—6.1 kg/m²h—when the solution was hottest (95.2°C), flowed fastest (0.04 kg/s), and cooling water was coolest (30.1°C), while the lowest rate—1.1 kg/m²h—occurred at cooler (80.2°C), slower (0.025 kg/s), and warmer (45.1°C) conditions. Efficiency, measured as how much heat was used to evaporate refrigerant compared to total heat input, ranged from 8% to 30%. Higher temperatures and flow rates boosted separation, but slower flows improved energy efficiency. This membrane desorber could be a game-changer for compact cooling systems, especially in hot climates where traditional desorbers struggle.
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Why is it important?
This research is important because it introduces a membrane desorber that operates at atmospheric pressure, offering a more compact and energy-efficient alternative to traditional, bulky boiling desorbers in lithium bromide absorption cooling systems. By achieving high desorption rates and improved thermal energy efficiency, especially under conditions suitable for warm climates, it addresses challenges in designing efficient cooling systems for compact applications or regions with high condensation temperatures. This could lead to more sustainable, cost-effective cooling technologies with reduced environmental impact.
Perspectives
This research into membrane desorbers for lithium bromide cooling systems is a big step toward greener, more efficient air conditioning, especially for hot climates. Unlike traditional desorbers, which are clunky and need vacuum conditions, this new approach uses a compact membrane that works at normal pressure, making it perfect for smaller or portable cooling units. The study showed that hotter solutions, faster flow rates, and cooler water boost the system’s ability to separate refrigerant, with top performance at 95.2°C and a flow of 0.04 kg/s, hitting a separation rate of 6.1 kg/m²h. Slower flows, though, saved more energy, with efficiency ranging from 8% to 30%. This tech could revolutionize cooling in homes, industries, or even solar-powered systems, cutting energy use and making sustainable comfort more accessible in sweltering regions.
Professor Rosenberg J Romero
Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Morelos
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Experimental Performance of a Membrane Desorber Operating under Simulated Warm Weather Condensation Temperatures, Membranes, June 2021, MDPI AG,
DOI: 10.3390/membranes11070474.
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