Absorption Cooling: A Review of Lithium Bromide-Water Chiller Technologies

Lithium bromide-water absorption cooling technologies is underpinned by the continual circulation of water, which is the refrigerant, powered by the hygroscopic nature of aqueous lithium bromide solution. The present energy and global warming crises engender a renewed interest in thermally driven cooling systems, for which lithium bromide-water absorption chiller is an archetypal example forming the focus of this review. We review more than 100 patents dated mainly from 1985 and later that offer panoply of solutions to better this genre of timely technologies. We classify the surveyed patents into four main categories: (1) absorption system developments, (2) machine components developments, (3) working fluid modifications and additives, and (4) novel applications of absorption cooling systems. Finally we also map out several important directions for future research and development.