Aqua-Ammonia based Thermally Activated Combined Power and Cooling System

Abstract

The use of aqua-ammonia-based power generating system is a promising way to utilise low temperature heat sources originating either from a renewable energy resource or industrial process waste heat up to a temperature of 150°C. A thermally activated combined power and cooling system to produce electricity and refrigeration effect simultaneously has been modelled and analysed. The proposed system is a Kalina cycle-based power generating system that utilises aqua-ammonia as working fluid. Refrigeration effect is produced by the working fluid from the turbine exit. The combined system produces mechanical power and as well as cooling effect simultaneously. A simulation study has been conducted to analyse the performance of the proposed system and to develop the optimum operating parameters. Result shows thermal efficiency of 18.20% operating with the source fluid temperature at 135°C. This research work provides a new approach to produce cooling effect from low temperature heat sources.