Absorptionskühlungen

Absorptionskühlungen, also known as absorption refrigeration, is a process that uses a heat source to provide refrigeration. Instead of a mechanical compressor like in conventional vapor-compression refrigeration systems, absorption systems rely on a thermodynamic cycle involving a refrigerant and an absorbent. The fundamental principle involves the absorption of a refrigerant vapor into a liquid absorbent, followed by the separation of the refrigerant from the absorbent by heating.

The main components of an absorption refrigeration system are the generator, condenser, evaporator, and absorber. In the generator, a heat source is used to boil the refrigerant out of the absorbent solution. The refrigerant vapor then travels to the condenser, where it is cooled and liquefied. The liquid refrigerant then flows to the evaporator, where it absorbs heat from the space to be cooled, causing it to evaporate. The refrigerant vapor then returns to the absorber, where it is reabsorbed by the absorbent solution, completing the cycle.

Common working fluid pairs include ammonia as the refrigerant and water as the absorbent, or water as the refrigerant and lithium bromide as the absorbent. The heat source can be waste heat from industrial processes, solar thermal energy, or even natural gas combustion. Absorptionskühlungen are often favored in applications where waste heat is readily available or where electricity is expensive or unreliable, as they can significantly reduce electricity consumption compared to compressor-based systems. Their application ranges from industrial cooling and air conditioning to gas refrigerators.