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Discuss this article (0 Comments)Absorbing energy
by ArabianBusiness.com staff writer on Tuesday, 26 August 2008
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The tri-generation system designed for Le Meridien Dubai will provide up to 4,000 tonnes of air conditioning and 4.5MW of electricity for the hotel. It will use three gas generators producing 4.8MW nominal capacity, with four absorption chillers producing 1,323TR each.
This enables room for future expansion, the net available air conditioning load allowing for ambient temperatures being 4,128 tonnes. The 22 month project is scheduled to begin in September.
Growing options
In Egypt meanwhile, Egypt Kuwait Holding subsidiary Gas Chill established in late 2007 in order to cover the demand for absorption chillers in the country. The firm provides solutions that rely primarily on natural gas as an energy source, however it has also supplied systems using solar energy, steam and high temperature industrial waste as the primary energy source.
The firm offers standard packaged absorption systems in addition to bespoke systems. Projects it has undertaken to date include the British Egyptian Hospital and Misr University.
Further firms such as McQuay International offer absorption chillers in direct and steam-fired versions. The firm's 100-1,500 tonne chillers include advanced PID controls and inverter drive solution pumps.
As the need to provide environmentally friendly building solutions increases along with a reduced availability of electrical power supplies, absorption chillers could prove to be one of the more successful technologies of the future in the region.
ABSORPTION CHILLERS: The technology explained
Absorption chillers use heat to provide cooling, using gas rather than electricity as the source of energy to produce chilled water. The absorption cycle uses a heat-driven concentration difference to move refrigerant vapours (normally water) from an evaporator to a condenser.
The high concentration side of the cycle absorbs refrigerant vapours, heat is then used to drive off the vapours, hence increasing the concentration.
Two types of absorption chillers are available: single-effect (one-stage) and double-effect (two-stage). The first operates under low pressure; the two-stage units are available as gas-fired or steam-driven with high pressure steam.
Lithium bromide is the most common absorbent used in such commercial cooling plant, with water used as the refrigerant. Smaller absorption chillers may use water as the absorbent and ammonia as the refrigerant.
The process involves four main stages:
• Evaporator - the water refrigerant absorbs heat from the chilled water and evaporates;
• Absorber - the lithium bromide absorbs the water vapour;
• Generator - the water is separated from the lithium bromide solution at normal pressure;
• Condenser - the cold water produced from cooling towers cools the hot water vapour, condenses then returns to the evaporator.
Absorption chillers can save more than 65% of the operating costs compared to a standard electrically-operated chiller. As there are no compressors or major moving mechanical parts, maintenance costs are reduced and life spans are long. The chillers also have very low noise and vibration levels.
Absorption chillers use heat to provide cooling, using gas rather than electricity as the source of energy to produce chilled water. The absorption cycle uses a heat-driven concentration difference to move refrigerant vapours (normally water) from an evaporator to a condenser.
The high concentration side of the cycle absorbs refrigerant vapours, heat is then used to drive off the vapours, hence increasing the concentration.
Two types of absorption chillers are available: single-effect (one-stage) and double-effect (two-stage). The first operates under low pressure; the two-stage units are available as gas-fired or steam-driven with high pressure steam.
Lithium bromide is the most common absorbent used in such commercial cooling plant, with water used as the refrigerant. Smaller absorption chillers may use water as the absorbent and ammonia as the refrigerant.
The process involves four main stages:
• Evaporator - the water refrigerant absorbs heat from the chilled water and evaporates;
• Absorber - the lithium bromide absorbs the water vapour;
• Generator - the water is separated from the lithium bromide solution at normal pressure;
• Condenser - the cold water produced from cooling towers cools the hot water vapour, condenses then returns to the evaporator.
Absorption chillers can save more than 65% of the operating costs compared to a standard electrically-operated chiller. As there are no compressors or major moving mechanical parts, maintenance costs are reduced and life spans are long. The chillers also have very low noise and vibration levels.
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