Refrigerants bromide

Absorption Systems. Absorption refrigeration cycles employ a secondary fluid, the absorbent, to absorb the primary fluid, refrigerant vapor, which has been vaporized in the evaporator. The two materials that serve as the refrigerant—absorbent pair must meet a number of requirements however, only two have found extensive commercial use ammonia—water and water—Hthium bromide. 

The high solubility of the salt and resultant low water vapor pressure (58) of its aqueous solutions ate usehil ia absorption air conditioning (qv) systems. Lithium bromide absorption air conditioning technology efficiencies can surpass that of reciprocal technology usiag fluorochlorocarbon refrigerants. 

Absorption Refrigeration Systems Two main absorption systems are used in industrial application lithium bromide-water and ammonia-water. Lithium bromide-water systems are hmited to evaporation temperatures above freezing because water is used as the refrigerant, while the refrigerant in an ammonia-water system is ammonia and consequently it can be applied for the lower-temperature requirements. 

Absorber is a component where strong absorber solution is used to absorb the water vapor flashed in the evaporator. A solution pump sprays the lithium bromide over the absorber tube section. Cool water is passing through the tubes taking refrigeration load, heat of dilution, heat to cool condensed water, and sensible heat for solution coohng. 

The ammonia-water absorption system was extensively used until the fifties when the LiBr-water combination became popular. Figure 11-103 shows a simplified ammonia-water absorption cycle. The refrigerant is ammonia, and the absorbent is dilute aqueous solution of ammonia. Ammonia-water systems differ from water-lithium bromide equipment to accommodate major differences Water (here absorbent) is also volatile, so the regeneration of weak water solution to strong water solution is a fractional distillation. Different refrigerant (ammonia) causes different, much higher pressures about 1100-2100 kPa absolute in condenser. 

Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (cetrimonium bromide, CTAB) [57-09-0] M 364.5, m 227-235"(dec). Crystd from EtOH, EtOH/ benzene or from wet acetone after extracting twice with pet ether. Shaken with anhydrous diethyl ether, filtered and dissolved in a little hot MeOH. After cooling in the refrigerator, the ppte was filtered at room temperature and redissolved in MeOH. Anhydrous ether was added and, after warming to obtain a clear soln, it was cooled and crystalline material was filtered. [Dearden and Wooley J Phys Chem 91 2404 7957 Hakemi et al. J Am Chem Soc 91 120 1987.]... 

Absorption type refrigeration using water as a refrigerant and lithium-bromide salts as an absorber. 

Refrigerant temperatures greater than 32°F suggest the steam jet or lithium bromide absorption system. Between 30°F and —40°F, the ammonia-water absorption or a mechanical compression system is indicated. At less than —40°F, a mechanical compression is used, except in special desiccant situations. The economics of temperature level selection will depend on utility (steam, power) costs at the point of installation and the type of pay-out required, because in some tonnage ranges, the various systems are competitive based on first costs. 

The two most common industrial absorption-type refrigeration systems are (1) aqua ammonia and (2) lithium bromide-water, with ammonia and water respectively the refrigerant for each system. 

Figure 11-18. Lithium bromide absorption refrigeration system concept water is the refrigerant. Actual commercial and industrial process flows reflect various heat recovery arrangements.

Figure 11-19. Lithium bromide hermetic absorption refrigeration system, double effect, liquid chiller/heater. As shown in chilling mode, water is the refrigerant under low absolute pressure (boiling at 40°F) (Used by permission Cat. 521-606, form 16DF-1 PD, 1994. Carrier Corporation, a United Technologies Company.)...

Figure 11-20. Sectional view of lithium bromide absorption refrigeration industrial unit. (Used by permission 1956. Carrier Corporation, a United Technologies Company.)...

Absorption-type refrigerators operating with strong lithium bromide solutions can also be inhibited by a number of chemicals. Thus, a mixture of lithium hydroxide -I- BTA -I- sodium molybdate has been reported . 

Absorption refrigeration (ammonia to -30°F, lithium bromide to -h45°F) Is economical when waste steam Is available at 12 psig or so. 

Opening an unused but old commercial ampoule of the ice-cooled bromide led to eruption of the decomposed contents [1]. Similar occurrences on 2 occasions were reported later [2], though on both occasions hexabromonaphthalene was identified in the residue (suggesting contamination of the bromide by naphthalene as an additional source of internal pressure). Sulfinyl bromide is of limited stability, decomposing to sulfur, sulfur dioxide and bromine, and so should be stored under refrigeration and used as soon as possible. 

Lithium bromide is used in absorption, refrigeration and air-conditioning systems. A highly concentrated solution of the salt is an efficient absorbent of water vapor. The vapor pressure of such solution is very low. Other applications include the use of the salt as a swelling agent for wool, hair and other organic fibers as a catalyst in dehydrohalogenation reactions and as a sedative and hypnotic in medicine. 

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