• Air Conditioning and Refrigeration

Absorption Chillers

Absorption Chillers

Covers the basic maintenance principles of absorption refrigeration as compared to mechanical refrigeration. The online course introduces absorption terminology and common absorption fluid pairs. Examines water/lithium bromide systems, ammonia/water systems, and evolving systems. Concludes with a discussion of chiller selection factors, cost of operation, and absorption system applications. This course has no prerequisites. Absorption Chillers is available in online maintenance training and course manual formats.

TPC Training is authorized by IACET to offer 0.6 CEUs for this program.

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TPC Training is authorized by IACET to offer 0.6 CEUs for Absorption Chillers online training.

Lesson 1 - Principles of Absorption Chiller Systems

Topics:

Mechanical vs. absorption refrigeration systems; Absorption terminology; Single-effect absorption cooling; Common absorption fluid pairs

Learning Objectives:
– Explain the differences between a mechanical refrigeration system and an absorption system.
– Describe the basic components in a simple absorption system and their functions in the refrigeration cycle.
– Distinguish between the characteristics of a weak solution and a strong solution and explain the function of each in the absorption cycle.
– Define the terminology associated with absorption systems.
– Describe the steps in a simple single-effect absorption cooling cycle.


Lesson 2 - Water/Lithium Bromide Absorption Systems

Topics:

Water/lithium bromide systems; Double-effect direct-fired system; Solution flow cycles; Operating characteristics; Crystallization

Learning Objectives:
– Discuss basic characteristics of water/lithium bromide absorption systems and name common industrial uses.
– Describe the differences between single-effect and double-effect absorption systems.
– Discuss the action of the solution and the refrigerant throughout a solution cycle within absorption systems used for heating only, cooling only, and
   simultaneous heating and cooling.
– Compare reverse, series, and parallel solution flow cycles.
– Discuss operating characteristics of various absorption machines and explain how the coefficient of performance (COP) is used in equipment selection.
– Describe the cause of crystallization and its effect on an absorption system.


Lesson 3 - Lithium Bromide Absorption

Topics:

Controls and Maintenance - Limitations; Control scheme; Start, run, and shut down sequence; Operating limits; Safety controls; Maintenance; Insulation; Noncondensables gases

Learning Objectives:
– Discuss the general operating limits of absorption units, including ASHRAE 15 machine room safety requirements.
– Describe the basics and benefits of today's microprocessor-based operation and capacity control.
– Describe the normal absorption unit start, run, and shutdown sequences.
 – Name various kinds of system operating controls and safety controls and explain their functions.
– Describe general setup and maintenance requirements and the procedures that keep the absorption chiller operating efficiently.
– Discuss the necessity for insulation and control of noncondensable gases, including air.


Lesson 4 - Ammonia/Water Absorption Systems

Topics:

Ammonia systems background and characteristics; Basic, industrial, and domestic ammonia/water absorption systems; Ammonia system advantages

Learning Objectives:
– Discuss the solubility of ammonia in water and other characteristics, including hazards, that affect ammonia absorption systems.
– Explain the function of the analyzer and rectifier in an ammonia absorption system.
– Define the terms strong aqua and weak aqua as related to the ammonia water solution and compare them with the terms strong solution and weak
   solution as related to a lithium bromide system.
– Describe typical applications for industrial ammonia absorption systems and small residential and commercial ammonia absorption systems.
– Explain the operation of the Platen-Munters ammonia/water/hydrogen system.
– Name reasons why ammonia absorption systems are likely to be used increasingly in the future.


Lesson 5 - Evolving Absorption Systems

Topics:

Improving COPs; GAX heat pump cycles; Triple-effect cycles; Single-effect system with heat recovery; Double-effect system with solar heating; Power plant heat recovery; Hybrid high-lift pump with mechanical compression

Learning Objectives:
– Discuss reasons for continuing testing and development of advanced absorption systems.
– Describe current developments in the GAX ammonia/water residential heat pump systems.
– Describe triple-effect systems and compare absorption and adsorption cycles.
– Explain how special-application absorption systems use recovered heat, waste heat, or a solar array to provide the energy for operation.
– Describe the properties of non-standard solution pairs.
– Explain how two kinds of hybrid arrangements incorporate the absorption system.


Lesson 6 - Absorption vs. Mechanical Compression

Topics:

Water/lithium bromide, ammonia/water absorption units; Mechanical compression systems; Chiller selection factors; Economic perspectives; Absorption system application

Learning Objectives: – Describe important characteristics of both single-effect and double-effect water/lithium bromide absorption chillers and ammonia/water absorption –
   units.
– Briefly describe the operation and characteristics of centrifugal chillers.
– Briefly describe the operation and characteristics of reciprocating and screw positive-displacement chillers.
– Name factors that must be considered in selecting air-conditioning equipment for specific applications and compare COPs for the various kinds of
   equipment.
– Discuss general cost criteria for the various types of energy used to drive the equipment and describe an appropriate absorption system application.