In an absorption chiller powered by steam or hot water, what is the refrigerant typically used?

In an absorption chiller powered by steam or hot water, water is commonly used as the refrigerant due to its effective thermodynamic properties and the role it plays in the absorption cycle. In this setup, water serves not only as the refrigerant but also as a vital component in the absorption process, where it absorbs heat and facilitate the cooling effect.

The absorption chiller operates by using steam or hot water to drive the cycle, which typically involves a refrigerant that is absorbed in a solution. In this case, lithium bromide is often used as the absorbent, and it works efficiently with water as the refrigerant. The unique properties of water, including its high specific heat and favorable boiling point, make it ideal for transferring heat in this process.

Other refrigerants, such as Freon and ammonia, are commonly used in different types of refrigeration systems but are either not compatible with the specific mechanisms of absorption chillers or do not utilize steam or hot water as the driving energy source effectively. Propylene glycol is primarily used as an antifreeze agent and wouldn’t be suitable in an absorption chiller context where the goal is to utilize water’s thermodynamic characteristics to produce cooling.