A Better Way of Chilling

With the threat of global warming looming ever closer, it comes as no surprise that more and more organizations and individuals are looking for ways to leave behind as fewer carbon footprint as possible. One of the most common way that this can be done is with the use of naturally occurring heat. This is the same principle being used in an absorption chiller.

What is An Absorption Chiller?

Unlike a traditional compressor, an absorption chiller makes use of a naturally occurring heat source in order to generate cold water. This means that very little electricity is used  to get the whole process going. Some of the most common sources of heat used in this machine would include steam and hot water. An absorption chiller also does not make use of a compressor. Instead, it uses an evaporator, a condenser, and a throttling valve.

How It Works

An absorption chiller follows three basic scientific principles, namely the principle of evaporation and condensation, the relationship between boiling point and pressure, and the flow of heat from warmer to cooler surface. These principles rely on the interaction of two items: the refrigerant and the absorbent. Aside from being able to dissolve each other easily, you also have to keep in mind that the refrigerant has the ability to change states, from liquid to steam or vapor, quite easily. Afterwards, the absorbent causes the refrigerant to boil at a lower temperature and pressure. This, in turn, causes the heat to transfer from one place to another.