DEVELOPMENT OF THE WORLD’S FIRST SMALL-SCALE TWO-STAGE ABSORPTION CHILLER/HEATER/HOT-WATER SYSTEM
Ever since the Carrés first introduced absorption refrigeration technology to the world in the 1850s, efforts have been made to successfully develop residential and light commercial absorption heating and cooling systems. There have been some successes, like the ammonia/water systems developed and sold in the U.S. during the 1970s, but they were largely eclipsed by eve- improving vapor compression systems. There have also been failures in trying to overcome today’s market price and performance and reliability requirements that have relegated absorption systems to micro-niche markets. Development of the world’s first small-scale two-stage absorption chiller/heater/hot-water system seeks to provide constrained energy markets with viable solution to growing electricity demand problems. This paper describes the development of this new technology.