Simulation of a Reverse Electrodialysis–Absorption Refrigeration Integration System for the Efficient Recovery of Low-Grade Waste Heat

The absorption refrigeration system (ARS) stands as a remarkable device that is capable of efficiently harnessing low-grade thermal energy and converting it into cooling capacity. The reverse electrodialysis (RED) system harvests the salinity gradient energy embedded in two solutions of different co...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xi Wu, Linjing Yan, Xiaojing Zhu, Mingjun Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Membranes
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/15/1/2
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832588017913561088
author Xi Wu
Linjing Yan
Xiaojing Zhu
Mingjun Liu
author_facet Xi Wu
Linjing Yan
Xiaojing Zhu
Mingjun Liu
author_sort Xi Wu
collection DOAJ
description The absorption refrigeration system (ARS) stands as a remarkable device that is capable of efficiently harnessing low-grade thermal energy and converting it into cooling capacity. The reverse electrodialysis (RED) system harvests the salinity gradient energy embedded in two solutions of different concentrations into electricity. An innovative RED–ARS integration system is proposed that outputs cooling capacity and electric energy, driven by waste heat. In this study, a comprehensive mathematical simulation model of a RED–ARS integration system was established, and an aqueous lithium bromide solution was selected as the working solution. Based on this model, the authors simulated and analyzed the impact of various factors on system performance, including the heat source temperature (90 °C to 130 °C), concentrated solution concentration (3 mol∙L⁻<sup>1</sup> to 9 mol∙L⁻<sup>1</sup>), dilute solution concentration (0.002 mol∙L⁻<sup>1</sup> to 0.5 mol∙L⁻<sup>1</sup>), condensing temperature of the dilute solution (50 °C to 70 °C), solution temperature (30 °C to 60 °C) and flow rate (0.4 cm∙s⁻<sup>1</sup> to 1.3 cm∙s⁻<sup>1</sup>) in the RED stacks, as well as the number of RED stacks. The findings revealed the maximum output power of 934 W, a coefficient of performance (COP) of 0.75, and overall energy efficiency of 33%.
format Article
id doaj-art-c8691c57f29f4b2fbdb6c3e6e4aa8e75
institution Kabale University
issn 2077-0375
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Membranes
spelling doaj-art-c8691c57f29f4b2fbdb6c3e6e4aa8e752025-01-24T13:40:58ZengMDPI AGMembranes2077-03752024-12-01151210.3390/membranes15010002Simulation of a Reverse Electrodialysis–Absorption Refrigeration Integration System for the Efficient Recovery of Low-Grade Waste HeatXi Wu0Linjing Yan1Xiaojing Zhu2Mingjun Liu3Key Laboratory of Ocean Energy Utilization and Energy Conservation of Ministry of Education, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, ChinaKey Laboratory of Ocean Energy Utilization and Energy Conservation of Ministry of Education, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, ChinaKey Laboratory of Ocean Energy Utilization and Energy Conservation of Ministry of Education, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, ChinaSonyo Refrigeration (Dalian) Co., Ltd., Dalian 116699, ChinaThe absorption refrigeration system (ARS) stands as a remarkable device that is capable of efficiently harnessing low-grade thermal energy and converting it into cooling capacity. The reverse electrodialysis (RED) system harvests the salinity gradient energy embedded in two solutions of different concentrations into electricity. An innovative RED–ARS integration system is proposed that outputs cooling capacity and electric energy, driven by waste heat. In this study, a comprehensive mathematical simulation model of a RED–ARS integration system was established, and an aqueous lithium bromide solution was selected as the working solution. Based on this model, the authors simulated and analyzed the impact of various factors on system performance, including the heat source temperature (90 °C to 130 °C), concentrated solution concentration (3 mol∙L⁻<sup>1</sup> to 9 mol∙L⁻<sup>1</sup>), dilute solution concentration (0.002 mol∙L⁻<sup>1</sup> to 0.5 mol∙L⁻<sup>1</sup>), condensing temperature of the dilute solution (50 °C to 70 °C), solution temperature (30 °C to 60 °C) and flow rate (0.4 cm∙s⁻<sup>1</sup> to 1.3 cm∙s⁻<sup>1</sup>) in the RED stacks, as well as the number of RED stacks. The findings revealed the maximum output power of 934 W, a coefficient of performance (COP) of 0.75, and overall energy efficiency of 33%.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/15/1/2absorption refrigerationreverse electrodialysisLiBrenergy conversionwaste heat
spellingShingle Xi Wu
Linjing Yan
Xiaojing Zhu
Mingjun Liu
Simulation of a Reverse Electrodialysis–Absorption Refrigeration Integration System for the Efficient Recovery of Low-Grade Waste Heat
Membranes
absorption refrigeration
reverse electrodialysis
LiBr
energy conversion
waste heat
title Simulation of a Reverse Electrodialysis–Absorption Refrigeration Integration System for the Efficient Recovery of Low-Grade Waste Heat
title_full Simulation of a Reverse Electrodialysis–Absorption Refrigeration Integration System for the Efficient Recovery of Low-Grade Waste Heat
title_fullStr Simulation of a Reverse Electrodialysis–Absorption Refrigeration Integration System for the Efficient Recovery of Low-Grade Waste Heat
title_full_unstemmed Simulation of a Reverse Electrodialysis–Absorption Refrigeration Integration System for the Efficient Recovery of Low-Grade Waste Heat
title_short Simulation of a Reverse Electrodialysis–Absorption Refrigeration Integration System for the Efficient Recovery of Low-Grade Waste Heat
title_sort simulation of a reverse electrodialysis absorption refrigeration integration system for the efficient recovery of low grade waste heat
topic absorption refrigeration
reverse electrodialysis
LiBr
energy conversion
waste heat
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/15/1/2
work_keys_str_mv AT xiwu simulationofareverseelectrodialysisabsorptionrefrigerationintegrationsystemfortheefficientrecoveryoflowgradewasteheat
AT linjingyan simulationofareverseelectrodialysisabsorptionrefrigerationintegrationsystemfortheefficientrecoveryoflowgradewasteheat
AT xiaojingzhu simulationofareverseelectrodialysisabsorptionrefrigerationintegrationsystemfortheefficientrecoveryoflowgradewasteheat
AT mingjunliu simulationofareverseelectrodialysisabsorptionrefrigerationintegrationsystemfortheefficientrecoveryoflowgradewasteheat