Identificador: TDX:1689
Autores: Mestra Rodríguez, Alvaro Miguel
Resumen:
This thesis presents a theoretical-experimental study of a mechanical vapour compression heat pump with solution circuit (also known as absorption/compression) for upgrading heat at temperatures between 120 and 140ºC recovering waste heat between 80 and 90ºC and working with a mixture of organic fluids.<br/><br/>The thermodynamic study has been made for a simple cycle including an absorber, a desorber, a compressor, a solution pump and a solution heat exchanger. As a working fluid, it was used a mixture of organic fluids in that the refrigerant is an alcohol (Methanol, Trifluoroethanol or Hexafluoroisopropanol) and the absorbent was a chemical of the family of the n-EthyleneGlycol DiMethylEthers. The cycle was analysed initially for the absorbent TetraEthyleneGlycol DiMethylEther (TEGDME) and for different operation conditions taking into account the variables that affect its operation: strong solution composition, temperature lift of the solution in the absorber, type of compression, outlet solution temperature in the absorber and outlet solution temperature in the desorber. The analysed parameters were the following: compression ratio, vapour volumetric flow, weak solution mass flow, thermal power of the solution heat exchanger, and COP. The results show that the most suitable refrigerant for this application is Methanol in combination with TEGDME. For this mixture it was obtained moderate compression ratios, from 4,4 to 7,5, low volumetric flow of vapour, from 35 to 50 m3/h and values of COP between 3,8 and 5,6.<br/><br/>The compressor selected for this application was a rotary vane compressor that habitually is used for air compression applications. The lubricant of this compressor was selected in such a way that plays also the role of absorbant. The absorbent selected was PEGDME 500, commercial product mixture of different n-EGDME compounds. To verify the technical viability of this choice, tests of air compression were made with the rotary vane compressor selected and the absorbent fluid proposed working as a lubricant. The cycle working with the Methanol/PEGDME 500 mixture was also analysed by means of a thermodynamic simulation program. The results show that COP and pressures are similar to the results obtained with the absorbent fluid TEGDME. However, the solution mass flow necessary for the same thermal power in the absorber was double that the corresponding value for TEGDME.<br/><br/>In order to evaluate the operating conditions of the proposed heat pump, it was constructed an experimental set-up of 15 kW of thermal power with a rotary vane compressor of 4,5 kW and brazed heat exchangers for the absorber, the desorber and the solution heat exchanger. A nozzle located in the inlet port of the absorber plate heat exchanger makes the distribution of the solution into the absorber channels. This type of heat exchangers has been selected to compensate the poor transport properties of the absorbent. The tests made show the technical feasibility of using as a lubricant the same fluid playing the role of the absorbent, although best results were obtained if different products, PEGDME 1500 as lubricant and PEGDME 500 as absorbent were used.<br/><br/>Results show that it is possible to obtain thermal efficiencies higher than 70% with this type of plate heat exchangers and a good distribution of the solution in the absorber channels. Nevertheless, the problems detected in the compression stage have limited the levels of compressor ratio reached and the thermal power of the heat pump.
Repositori URV