Open Access
ARTICLE
VAPOUR ABSORPTION PROCESS IN AN NH3/LINO3 BUBBLE ABSORBER USING AN OPTIMIZED CFD MODEL
Andrés Zapataa
, Carlos Amarisb,*, Alexis Sagastumea, Andrés Rodrígueza
a Energy Department, Universidad de la Costa, Barranquilla, Atlántico, 080002, Colombia
b School of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad Industrial de Santander, Bucaramanga, Santander, 680002, Colombia
* Corresponding author. Email: Cfamacas@uis.edu.co
Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer 2022, 19, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.5098/hmt.19.33
Abstract
The present study aims to assess the vapour bubble absorption into the ammonia/lithium nitrate (NH
3/LiNO
3) solution by using an optimized CFD
model. A detailed methodology to build up the CFD model is presented, as well as its validation using experimental data. The operating conditions set
corresponds to an absorption chiller driven by low-temperature heat sources such as solar energy in warm environments. Results evidenced that the
Volume of Fluid and Mixture models are adequate to be used in the CFD model to predict the absorption process in the bubble absorber assessed
depending on the mesh density refinement. Moreover, the heat transfer coefficient from the solution side and the absorption mass flux are the variables
needed for reliable validation of the model. Finally, the absorbed flux estimated from the CFD model ranged between 3.2×10
−3 kg.m
−2
.s
−1 and 4.4×10
−3 kg.m
−2
.s
−1
, while the solution side heat transfer coefficient varied between 457 W.m
−2
.K
−1 and 786 W.m
−2
.K
−1
, under the conditions considered.
Keywords
Cite This Article
Zapata, A., Sagastume, A., Rodríguez, A. (2022). VAPOUR ABSORPTION PROCESS IN AN NH
3/LINO
3 BUBBLE ABSORBER USING AN OPTIMIZED CFD MODEL.
Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, 19(1), 1–9.