Energy Conversion and Management, Vol.39, No.10, 1015-1025, 1998
Improved energy efficiency in absorption heat pump through process modification. Part I: Solvents for liquid-liquid extraction of ammonia-water mixture
The isothermal liquid-liquid extraction process has been proposed as a feasible replacement for the non-isothermal separation process employed in the conventional ammonia-water absorption heal pump to improve the energy efficiency of the heat pump system. Of the two possible extraction schemes (based on which component of aqua ammonia is extracted), the ammonia-extracted scheme was found more suitable on the basis of availability of extract solvents whose use engender relatively lower energy consumption and loss. UNIQUAC was used to evaluate the relevant thermodynamic data, while capacity and selectivity diagrams were used to select appropriate extract solvents for separation of the ammonia-water mixture. Nitrobenzene, toluene, m-xylene, ethylbenzene and styrene were found to be suitable solvents in the extraction process.