Energy and Exergy Assessment of a Solar Driven Single Effect H2O-LiBr Absorption Chiller Under Moderate and Hot Climatic Conditions

This work mainly focuses on the energy and exergy analysis of a single-effect absorption cooling system operating with the couple H2O-LiBr, under different climatic conditions in Senegal and France. A simulation model was developed, using the Engineering Equation Solver V10 (EES) software. Results indicate that the system can achieve a maximum COP of 0.76 and an exergy efficiency of 56%, which decreases as the generator temperature increases. Increasing the generator temperature from 87 to 95 °C significantly improves COP, but gains become marginal beyond 100 °C. The highest exergy destruction occurs in the generator, followed by the absorber, condenser, and evaporator. A temperature difference above 44 °C between the generator and the absorber is required to maintain H2O-LiBr solution stability. Optimal temperatures for hot climates like Senegal are 90 °C (generator), 42 °C (absorber/condenser), and 7 °C (evaporator), while maximum exergy efficiency (56%) is reached at 81 °C, typical of moderate climates (France). Evaporator exergy efficiency increases from 16 to 52% with rising ambient temperature, while absorber and condenser efficiencies drop. Increasing the cooling water flow rate from 0.2 to 1.4 kg/s reduces exergy losses in the absorber and the condenser by up to 36%. The solution heat exchanger (SHE) optimal effectiveness of 0.75 reduces exergy consumption in the absorber and the generator.