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In an absorption refrigerator, the energy driving the process is supplied not as work, but as heat from a gas flame. (Such refrigerators commonly use propane as fuel, and are used in locations where electricity is unavailable.* ) Let us define the following symbols, all taken to be positive by definition:
Qf= heat input from flame
Qc= heat extracted from inside refrigerator
Qr= waste heat expelled to room
Tf= temperature of flame
Tc= temperature inside refrigerator
Tr= room temperature

(a) Explain why the "coefficient of performance" (COP) for an absorption refrigerator should be defined as Qc / Qf.
(b) What relation among Qf, Qc, and Qr is implied by energy conservation alone? Will energy conservation permit the COP to be greater than 1 ?
(c) Use the second law of thermodynamics to derive an upper limit on the COP, in terms of the temperatures Tf, Tc, and Tr alone.

Short Answer

Expert verified

a)COP=QcQf

b) COP=QcQr-Qc, COP can be greater than 1.

c) The value is COP=TcTf-TrTfTr-Tc

Step by step solution

01

Part(a): Step 1: Given Information

Qf= heat input from flame
Qc= heat extracted from inside refrigerator

Explain why COP for an absorption refrigerator should be defined as Qc/Qf

02

Part(a): Step 2: Explanation

In an absorption refrigerator electrical energy is transformed into the heat from a gas flame.

Since the heat extracted is the benefit and the fuel is the cost in operating the refrigerator therefore the coefficient of performance is

So input energy is Qf and output is Qc so COP is written as
COP=QcQf

03

Part(b): Step 1: Given information

Qf= heat input from flame
Qc= heat extracted from inside refrigerator
Qr= waste heat expelled to room

and COP=QcQf

Find relationship among Qf, Qc, and Qr ?

Will energy conservation permit the COP to be greater than 1 ?

04

Part (b): Step 2 : Explanation

In an absorption refrigerator heat from a gas flame is transformed into electrical energy

We have COP=QcQf..........................(1)

Rewrite the expression to include the waste heat QR expelled to room, we get

Qr=Qf+Qc

Rearrange the equation and Substitute this in the equation (1)

COP=QcQr-Qc

Simplify this by dividing by Qc

role="math" localid="1647272341714" COP=1QrQc-1.............................(2)

From the equation(2) Qr/Qcis greater than 2, so COP can be greater than 1.


05

Part(C): Step 1:Given

Tf= temperature of flame
Tc= temperature inside refrigerator
Tr= room temperature

COP=QcQr-Qc

Find the upper limit of COP

06

Part(c): Step 2: Explanation

In an absorption refrigerator exchanges the electrical energy with the heat energy.

Use the second law of thermodynamics write the expression of the condition

QfTf+QcTc=QrTr

Substitute Qf=Qr-Qcin the above equation

Qr-QcTf+QcTc=QrTr

Rearrange the above equation,

QrQc=TrTc-TfTcTr-Tf

Substitute QrQc=TrTc-TfTcTr-TfintheCOPformulaCOP=1QrQc-1

COP=TcTf-TrTfTr-Tc

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