Satish Maurya et al Int.

Journal of Engineering Research and Applications

ISSN : 2248-9622, Vol. 4, Issue 2( Version 4), February 2014, pp.60-63

RESEARCH ARTICLE

www.ijera.com

OPEN ACCESS

Combined Refrigeration Cycle for Thermal Power Plant Using

Low Grade Waste Steam
Satish Maurya*, Dharmendra Patel**
Deptt. Of Mech. Engg. (DSITM, Gzb)
Deptt. Of Mech. Engg. (NGFCET, Palwal)

Abstract
Now a days, In most of the thermal power plant, where low-pressure steam is being exhausted to the atmosphere
as a waste steam. This waste heat could be use to operate many small preheating or cooling equipments or small
scale plants. There are many refrigeration systems present for refrigeration and air condition purpose. Such as
air refrigeration, vapour compression, vapour absorption etc. In this paper we have presented the concept of
combined vapour absorption and vapour compression refrigeration system. We present about the idea discuss
here that how a vapour absorption and vapour compression can be used together as one complete working
refrigeration plant. By using such concept of refrigeration we can improve the co-efficient of performance of
whole plant by minimizing the input. We can also named the system as waste heat recovery refrigeration
system.
Keywords: waste
heat
recovery;
Combined
cooling
plant;
combined
absorptioncompression refrigeration; Primary energy.

I. Introduction
There are wide range of low-grade recovery
technologies and design options for the recovery of
low grade heat, including heat pump, organic
Rankine cycle, energy recovery from exhaust gas,
absorption refrigeration and boiler feed water
heating. Simulation models have been developed for
techno-economic analysis of the design options for
each technology and to evaluate the performance of
each with respect to quantity and quality of low
grade heat produced on the site. [1] In order to utilize
the waste heat efficiently for a steam turbine driven
heat pump running in cooling mode, this paper
studied two combined vapour absorption and vapour
compression refrigeration cycle using ammonia and
water as a working fluid. By analyzing the operating
characteristics of the combined cycle that make
efficient use of waste heat output of the turbine in
any steam turbine power plant. Analysis of result
indicates that optimization can make the combined
cycle fully achieve the saught-after energy saving
advantage. It was also found that the PERs (primaryNeed. As we discuss above that from a thermal
power station a large amount of heat is rejected to the
atmosphere which is generally useless, on other hand
there a possible way to utilise this waste heat i.e
waste heat powered refrigeration system. Because of
requirement of various cooling application in the
plant such as office cabines, drinking water etc. The
waste heat obtained from various sections of the
plant could be used to operate the small scale
refrigeration systems. In this way it might be
www.ijera.com

energy ratio) of the combined cycles increase

considerably compared with a conventional engine
driven compression cycle working with pure
ammonia. The combined cycle, with two solution
circuits, is the best.
In large installations particularly where high
pressure steam is available for power generation and
heat is rejected in the condenser to circulating
cooling water, it is advantageous to harness the
objectable heat for vapour absorption refrigeration
system in combination high grade energy from the
steam prime mover being used for vapour
compression refrigeration system as shown in figure.
[2]
The high pressure steam first expand in a turbine
which supplies the power for the compressor of
vapour compression refrigeration system. The
exhaust steam from the turbine goes to the generator
of the vapour absorption system. The water to be
chilled to provide refrigeration goes in series through
the evaporators of the two refrigeration systems. This
concept is similar to the concept of co-generation or
combined heat power system.
possible to run refrigeration systems without any
additional investment. Hence waste heat recovery in
such a way give additional advantage in a large scale
thermal power station.

II. System Description

The figure shows the arrangement of
various components used in combined vapour
absorption/compression refrigeration system. The
first part of cycle consists of a vapour compression
60 | P a g e

Satish Maurya et al Int. Journal of Engineering Research and Applications

ISSN : 2248-9622, Vol. 4, Issue 2( Version 4), February 2014, pp.60-63
cycle powered by the high pressure steam turbine
(this steam is bled from the main power generating
high pressure steam turbine). [3] Rest of the part is
working in same manner as normal compression
cycle. In vapour compression refrigeration cycle
compressor is the main part which required work
input to operate the whole system. There are two
possible ways to run the compressor with minimum
input. One is thermo-compressor and other one is
compressor driven by low grade high pressure waste
steam of a large scale thermal plant. Thermo-

www.ijera.com

compressor uses high pressure steam to compress

low or intermediate pressure waste steam into
medium pressure steam. Figure shows a thermocompressor where high pressure steam enters as a
high velocity fluid, which entrains the low pressure
steam by suction. The resulting mixture is
compressed and discharged as a medium pressure
steam from the divergent section of the thermocompressor. The main advantage of thermo
compressor is high reliability and less compression
power requirement.

Figure : Thermo-compressor.
In second way, Vapour is passed through
turbine for generation of electricity. Vapour is
condensed in condenser at lower temperature and
releases heat to the outside atmosphere. Organic fluid
is raised from lower pressure to high pressure in the
pump. The amount of energy consumed in pumping
the fluid is considerably low. During operation of a
thermal power plant, blade steam from high pressure
turbine and medium pressure turbine being used for

drive the small scale turbine which is used to drive

the compressor of vapour compression refrigeration
unit. The steam for this purpose might also be obtain
from the condenser of the plant because in condenser
low pressure steam lost its latent heat and get
condensed. This latent heat is used to vaporize the
water which is supplied to condenser for
condensation process. From these ways, obtained
steam is sufficient to drive the turbine of vapour
compression unit.

Figure: Combined vapour absorption/compression system

www.ijera.com

61 | P a g e

Satish Maurya et al Int. Journal of Engineering Research and Applications

ISSN : 2248-9622, Vol. 4, Issue 2( Version 4), February 2014, pp.60-63
In a Rankine cycle, after expansion of steam
in turbine, a low pressure steam is obtained. This low
pressure steam operates the vapour absorption system
(shown in fig). [4,5] Ammonia vapour at high pressure
transfers heat to neighborhood in the condenser.
Liquid ammonia from the condenser is passed
through an expansion valve to reach the evaporator
pressure. Heat is transferred from the low
temperature heat source to convert liquid ammonia to
vapour state. Ammonia vapour is absorbed by a weak
solution of water and ammonia to form a
concentrated solution of ammonia-water at the
bottom of absorber. This concentrated solution is
passed to the generator for the production of
ammonia vapour while the lean solution from the
generator is passed back to the absorber unit. Low
grade heat is used in the generator for the production
of ammonia vapour. Lean ammonia solution from the
generator exchanges heat with the high concentration
ammonia solution from the absorber. [6] The given by
the low pressure steam is sufficient to operate the
generator of the absorption cycle. After the generator
the steam is supplied to the condenser and passed
towards the power generation cycle.
Key features of the system:
Compressor is operated by steam turbine.
Generator is operated by low pressure
steam, obtained after expansion in steam
turbine.
Both the
evaporators
gives
more
refrigerating effect comparatively.
In this way it can be concluded that whole
cycle is operated by the heat which was waste heat
before using such refrigeration cycle. As there is a
waste heat recovery system hence getting maximum
co-efficient of performance.
Refrigerant Background.
For vapour compression system: 134a (1,1,1,2Tetrafluoroethane)
1-1-1-2-tetrafluoroethane (R134a) is one of the most
commonly used refrigerants. Its thermo physical
properties are important for evaluating the
performance of refrigeration cycles. These can be
obtained via computer simulation, with an insight
into the microscopic structure of the liquid, which is
not accessible to experiment. [7]
Physical Properties.
Chemical Formula
CH2FCF3
Molecular Weight
102.03
Boiling Point at
One Atmosphere 14.9F (26.06C)
Critical Temperature
213.9F (101.08C)
Critical Pressure 588.9 psi (4060.3 kPa [abs])
Critical Density 32.17 lb/ft3
(515.3 kg/m3)
www.ijera.com

www.ijera.com

Critical Volume 0.031 ft3/lb (0.00194 m3/kg)

III. For vapour absorption system

Ammonia-water. Anhydrous ammonia is a
clear liquid that boils at a temperature of -28F. In
refrigeration systems, the liquid is stored in closed
containers under pressure. When the pressure is
released, the liquid evaporates rapidly, generally
forming an invisible vapour or gas. The rapid
evaporation causes the temperature of the liquid to
drop until it reaches the normal boiling point of 28F, a similar effect occurs when water evaporates
off the skin, thus cooling it. This is why ammonia is
used in refrigeration systems. Ammonia has a
number of benefits, which has been proven by many
decades of application of ammonia refrigeration
systems.
1. Energy Efficiency
Ammonia is one of the most efficient
applications out there, with the application range
from high to low temperatures. With the ever
increasing focus on energy consumption, ammonia
systems are a safe and sustainable choice for the
future. Typically a flooded ammonia system would
be 15-20 % more efficient than a DX R404A
counterpart. Recent developments of NH3 and CO2
combination contributed to increase the efficiency
further. NH3/CO2 cascaded is extremely efficient for
low and very low temperature applications (below 40C), while NH3/CO2 brine systems are around
20% more efficient than traditional brines. [8]
2.Environment
Ammonia is the most environmentally
friendly refrigerant. It belongs to the group of so
called natural refrigerants, and it has both GWP
(Global Warming Potential) and ODP (Ozone
Depletion Potential) equal to zero. [9]

IV. Conclusion
It is an approach towards energy saving by
utilization of waste heat of any thermal power plant.
This paper represents the concept of waste heat
recovery and use it to obtain some useful work
output. As we discuss previous that the refrigeration
system operated by high pressure steam blade from
the high pressure steam turbine. This system can also
be operated by the exhaust low pressure steam
obtained from low pressure steam turbine of a
thermal power plant or waste heat (latent heat) obtain
from the condenser. The waste heat obtained from
various sections of the plant could be used to operate
the small scale refrigeration systems. By using such
refrigeration system there is no need to supply any
external power or heat to operate it and hence
increase the COP of the refrigeration system
62 | P a g e

Satish Maurya et al Int. Journal of Engineering Research and Applications

ISSN : 2248-9622, Vol. 4, Issue 2( Version 4), February 2014, pp.60-63
Drinking water chilling and air conditioning are the
advantageous applications of such combined
refrigeration system.

[5]
[6]

References
[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

http://research.ncl.ac.uk/pro-tem/component
s/pdfs/EPSRC_Thermal_Management_CPI_
Interim_Report_16Feb.pdf
http://books.google.co.in/books?id=EuBRP
AAACAAJ&dq=p.l.ballaney&hl=en&sa=X
&ei=Ji4LUonBGI2higelsYCwDQ&ved=0C
DMQ6AEwAQ
http://nptel.iitm.ac.in/courses/IIT-MADRAS
/Applied_Thermodynamics/Module_6/6_Si
mple_Vapor_Compression_RS.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vapor-compres
sion_refrigeration.

www.ijera.com

[7]

[8]
[9]

www.ijera.com

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2F
BF00502366#page-1
https://cdm.unfccc.int/filestorage/8/J/K/8JK
OV024N9F16TYGISCUZAEM3P5XDW/A
nnex%202.pdf?t=bnV8bXJpYnc4fDBR1Bo
DRPg_60xz4aPlYNlR
https://www.google.co.in/#bav=on.2,or.r_qf.
&fp=eb14fbdaf759dd73&q=thermophysical
%20properties%20of%201%201%201%202
-tetrafluoroethane%20%28%20r134a%20%
29
https://www1.eere.energy.gov/manufacturin
g/tech_assistance/pdfs/steam14_chillers.pdf
http://www.alephzero.co.uk/ref/vapcomcyc.
htm

63 | P a g e