Design And Fabrication Of A Refrigerating System Using Waste Heat Energy From Internal Combustion Engines

ABSTRACT

 This paper provides a literature review, design analysis and calculations on the fabrication of an improved vapour absorption refrigeration system. The study shows that energy from the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine can be used to power an absorption refrigeration system to produce cooling in a refrigerator. In vapour absorption refrigeration system, a physicochemical process replaces the mechanical process of the vapour compression refrigeration system. In the design, Aqueous-ammonia and hydrogen gas mixture is used because it is the best combination of absorbent-refrigerant having no adverse effect on the environment. The Coefficient of performance of the system is dependent on the engine speed, the temperature of the waste heat generated and the nature of refrigerant used. The design was run using an engine speed range 1600 - 2000rpm and a steady time of three (3) hours at each successive speed range. The average coefficient of performance of absorption refrigeration systems obtained was bout 0.15 - 0.3. The low COP value is an indication that further improvement to the cycle/s (if possible) arc necessary