Experimental Investigation on Solar-Driven GAX-based Absorption Heat pump for Domestic Hot Water production
Abstract
In this work, a 25 kW ammonia-water absorption heat pump based on a Generator Absorber heat eXchanger (GAX) architecture is numerically and experimentally studied. The prototype bases on a novel configuration of the GAX elements in a perspective of performance, compactness and use of market-ready components to simultaneously increasing the absorption cycle efficiency and decreasing costs. The prototype is designed to address solar or waste heat fuelling for the production of Domestic Hot Water (DHW) > 60°C. The performance at varying heat source conditions is studied (110-170°C), as well as the heating capacity at varying operating conditions. The thermal Coefficient Of Performance (COP) obtained at nominal conditions with TE,IN=35°C at the evaporator inlet and TG,IN=170°C at the generator inlet is 1.52, while the best COP achieved is 1.72 at TE,IN=50°C and TG,IN=150°C.