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Session: Volumetric expanders II
Session starts: Tuesday 08 October, 10:00
Presentation starts: 10:00
Room: Van Beuningen Zaal

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Luis Merndoza (University Rovira i Virigili)
Dereje Ayou (University Rovira i Virgili)
Joan Carles Bruno (University Rovira i Virgili)
Joaquín Navarro (Universitat Jaume I)
Alberto Coronas (University Rovira i Virgili)

Abstract:
The expander is the most vital component on the combined absorption systems for power and cooling production. The mechanical power is strongly related to the expander’s behavior and cannot be accurately predicted with just a simplified estimation of the expander’s performance. Further, it is difficult to find on the market an expander with a high efficiency at the low capacity range and also built with materials compatible with ammonia (steel or aluminum). These expanders are expensive and barely available in the market. However, several authors suggested the use of scroll compressors working in a reverse mode as expander for small to medium capacity applications [1-6]. A semi-empirical model has been developed using experimental data of the expansion process of ammonia in an open-drive scroll expander [7]. This model uses some semi-empirical parameters (such as built-in volume ratio, leakage area and mechanical losses) obtained through experimentation to calculate the scroll expander performance maps in terms of power production, mass flow rate and exhaust temperature of the expander. Later, the optimal expansion configuration is selected regarding the supply temperature, high pressure and pressure ratio of the system. This optimal configuration is included in a complete absorption cycle model build using the Engineering Equation Solver (EES) Software.