Absorption Cooling Optimizes Thermal Design for Cogeneration

摘要

Contrary to popular concept, in most cases,thermal energy is the real VALUE in cogenerationand not the electricity. The proper considerationof the thermal demands is equal to or more important than the electrical demands. High efficiencytwo-stage absorption chillers of the type used atRice University Cogen Plant offer the most attractive utilization of recoverable thermal energy.With a coefficient of performance (COP) up to1.25, the two-stage, parallel flow absorptionchiller can offer over fifty (50) percent moreuseful thermal energy from the same waste heatsource--gas turbine exhaust, I.C. engine exhaustand jacketwater, incinerator exhaust, or steamturbine extraction.