Amilcar Ramos

Abstract

A significant amount of low temperature (between 60C and 99C) heat is wasted annually in industrial processes. This wasted heat has the potential to drive absorption regrigeration systems with the penalty of lowering the COP (Coefficient of Performance) of the absorption regrigeration system. An absorption refrigeration system with a vortex generator, permits the use of low temperature waste heat as an energy source with improved generator capacity and COP. The vortex generator is a device that consists of two chambers (lower and upper chamber) and is used to separate the refrigerant from the absorbent in absorption refrigeration system by a cavitation process caused by the strong swirling flow within the chamber. The scope of this project is to predict, by CFD analysis, the pressure drop toward the center of the chamber, and observe how the free surface area generated by the strong swirling flow is influenced by the inlet velocity and vortex chamber configuration. Also, based on the results of the investigation, determine the optimized design. It can be concluded that the free surface area generated by the swirling flow increases when the inlet velocity increases and when the vortex chamber aspect ratio (diameter/height, D/H) decreases. Also, by placing the inlet of the vortex chamber at the mid-height of the vortex chamber will increase the size of the free surface area. The free surface area can be optimized when the vortex chamber dimensions are D = 16.12 cm , H = 16.12 cm (aspect ratio = 1), with inlet placed at the mid-height of the chamber. For optimum results, the inlet velocity of the solution should be 30 m/sec.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Refrigeration and refrigerating machinery--Mathematical models; Electric generators--Mathematical models; Heat--Radiation and absorption--Mathematical models

Publication Date

2-1-2001

Document Type

Thesis

Department, Program, or Center

Mechanical Engineering (KGCOE)

Advisor

Ghosh, Amitabha

Advisor/Committee Member

Venkataraman, P.

Advisor/Committee Member

Hensel, Edward

Comments

Note: imported from RIT’s Digital Media Library running on DSpace to RIT Scholar Works. Physical copy available through RIT's The Wallace Library at: TK4035.R4 R366 2002

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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