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Direct-Fired Absorption Chiller COP Calculator

Direct-fired double-effect water/lithium bromide (H₂O/LiBr) absorption chillers burn natural gas directly in a high-temperature desorber generator to produce chilled water without mechanical vapor compressors.

Net cooling output delivered to the building.

Thermal firing rate of the natural gas burner.

Evaporator outlet chilled water temperature.

Building return chilled water temperature.

Condenser/absorber cooling water temperature differential.

Lower Heating Value of the fuel gas supply.

Calculated Result
1.273

Absorption Chiller COP

Refrigeration Tons

199 TR

Heat Rejection Duty

1250 kW

Gas Consumption

55 Nm³/h

Cooling Water Flow

179.3 m³/h

Chilled Water Flow

120.5 m³/h

Calculation Breakdown

  1. Coefficient of Performance & Cooling DutyCOP = Qe / Qfuel = 1.273 (199 refrigeration tons)
  2. Total Heat Rejection to Cooling TowerQ_reject = Qe + Qfuel = 1250 kW; Required Tower Flow = 179.3 m³/h at ΔT = 6°C
  3. Natural Gas Fuel Burn RateGas Burn = (Qfuel · 3600) / (LHV · 1000) = 55 Nm³/h

Absorption Chiller Energy Balance

Interactive visualization based on your current inputs

Value
0.0316394125Cooling Qe (kW/10)Fuel Input (kW/10)Tower Reject (kW/10)Gas (Nm³/h)ParameterValue

What Is the Direct-Fired Absorption Chiller COP Calculator?

Direct-fired double-effect water/lithium bromide (H₂O/LiBr) absorption chillers burn natural gas directly in a high-temperature desorber generator to produce chilled water without mechanical vapor compressors.

Because refrigerant water vaporization and LiBr absorbent recombining occur thermally, the cooling tower must reject both the building evaporator heat and the full fuel combustion energy.

This calculator determines thermal COP, refrigeration capacity in tons, fuel consumption (Nm³/h), and required cooling water flow rate.

How Does the Direct-Fired Absorption Chiller COP Calculator Work?

The calculation evaluates user-provided measurements using recognized domain equations, converts between measurement units, and adjusts for real-world efficiency factors.

Direct-Fired Absorption Chiller COP Calculator Formula & Variables

The core mathematical equation utilized by this calculator is expressed as:

COP = \frac{Q_e}{Q_{fuel}}, \quad Q_{reject} = Q_e + Q_{fuel}, \quad \dot{V}_{gas} = \frac{Q_{fuel} \cdot 3600}{\text{LHV} \cdot 1000}

Thermal COP divides cooling output by fuel firing rate. Cooling tower rejection combines both evaporator load and fuel thermal input.

How to Use the Direct-Fired Absorption Chiller COP Calculator

  1. Enter your primary measurements in the input fields above.
  2. Select your preferred units (e.g. metric or imperial) if applicable.
  3. Review or adjust operational assumptions such as field efficiency.
  4. Click Calculate to instantly generate the full results breakdown and visual chart.
  5. Use the Reset button at any time to clear the form and test a new scenario.

Step-by-Step Example Calculation

Hospital 200 TR Direct-Fired Chiller

Input Values:

chilledWaterCapacityKW:700.0
fuelGasHeatInputKW:550.0
chilledWaterSupplyTempC:7.0
chilledWaterReturnTempC:12.0
coolingWaterTempRiseC:6.0
fuelGasLhvMJPerNm3:36.0
Worked Steps: Delivers 199 TR at COP = 1.27, consuming 55.0 Nm³/h natural gas and rejecting 1,250 kW heat to the cooling tower.

Understanding Your Result

Your calculated result represents the realistic operational capacity or baseline output under the specified conditions. Comparing theoretical and effective outputs reveals the direct impact of turns, overlap, and practical downtime.

Factors That Affect the Result

Field terrain, operator experience, equipment maintenance, overlap margin, and weather conditions can significantly influence real-world output.

When Should You Use This Calculator?

Use this calculator whenever you need quick, verified estimates for job planning, budgeting, equipment sizing, or project timelines.

Assumptions & Limitations

  • Double-effect direct-fired machines typically achieve thermal COPs between 1.10 and 1.35.
  • Cooling tower duty is approximately 2.0x higher per ton than electric centrifugal chillers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Calculation Accuracy & Reference Note

This calculator implements verified, deterministic mathematical equations based on published standards. Results should be treated as professional engineering estimates; always verify critical operations with local equipment manuals and site inspections.

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