Integration of Solar Energy into Absorption Refrigerators and Industrial Processes

Abstract

Absorption refrigeration is gaining increasing attention in industrial facilities to use process heat for partially or completely driving a cooling cycle. This paper introduces a systematic approach to the design of absorption refrigeration systems for industrial processes. Three sources of energy are considered to drive absorption refrigerators: excess process heat, solar energy, and fossil fuels. To handle the dynamic nature of solar energy, hot water tanks are used for energy storage and dispatch. Thermal pinch analysis is performed to determine the amount of available excess heat and the required refrigeration duty. Next, a multiperiod optimization formulation is developed for the entire system. The procedure determines the optimal mix of energy forms (solar versus fossil) and the dynamic operation of the system. Three case studies are solved to demonstrate the effectiveness and applicability of the devised procedure.

Synthesis of integrated absorption refrigeration systems involving economic and environmental objectives and quantifying social benefits

“…The next two examples have been previously addressed by Tora and El-Halwagi [52], Ponce-Ortega et al [53] and El-Halwagi [68].…”

“…In addition, Tora and El-Halwagi [52] proposed a systematic approach based on the pinch technology for the energy integration of systems that require refrigeration including different sources of energies, and Ponce-Ortega et al [53] introduced a sequential formulation based on targets for solving this problem, where the capital costs of the heat exchanger units are not considered. Nonetheless, these methodologies have not considered simultaneously the overall refrigeration system with the configuration synthesis of the heat exchange network including the transfer of heat from the hot process streams to the absorption refrigeration system.…”

Optimal design and integration of solar thermal collection, storage, and dispatch with process cogeneration systems

“…On the other hand, Lenzen (1999) estimated that thermal solar powergeneration systems emit about 90 g CO 2 -eq/kW h e . Tora and ElHalwagi (2009, 2010 developed multi-period optimization approaches for the design of power generation, absorptive refrigeration, and trigeneration systems that employ a combination of solar and fossil energies. Parvareh et al (2014) reviewed the research efforts in the area of integrating solar energy in coalfired power plants and the use of post-combustion carbon capture.…”

Multiobjective design of interplant trigeneration systems

“…Particularly, several approaches have been reported for the optimal integration of process streams to cooling water systems (e.g., Mixed Integer Non Linear Programming (MINLP) synthesis of cooling networks, detailed design of cooling networks, optimization models for recirculating cooling water systems, effluent cooling systems, involving multiple cooling towers, subambient conditions, for retrofitting, involving pressure drops considerations, and for targetting). Furthermore, some approaches for the optimal integration of process streams to refrigeration systems through absorption refrigeration cycles (ARCs) have been recently reported (integrating solar energy or renewable energy and involving economic and environmental objectives). Additionally, several approaches for the optimal integration of process streams with a steam Rankine cycle (SRC) have been reported (identifying optimal pressure levels, generating sustainable electric energy, involving multiobjective optimization, for targeting, and considering the environmental impact); this integration usually involves the electric power production and the energy recovery from the condenser of the SRC to heat cold process streams (cogeneration).…”