A REFRIGERATION SYSTEM FOR AN AUTOMOBILE BASED ON VAPOR ABSORPTION REFRIGERATION CYCLE USING WASTE HEAT ENERGY FROM THE ENGINE

Considering the environmental changes and the atmospheric depravation, including the factors such as excessive energy loss and cost factors, the emission from the exhaust of a vehicle is emphasized on heavily. Out of all the available sources, the internal combustion engines are the major consumers of fossil fuel around the globe. Carbon dioxide coming out of every car’s tailpipe is a greenhouse gas [1]. Recently, the total heat energy supplied to the engine in the form of combustible fuel, approximately, 35% to 40% is converted into productive mechanical work; the remaining energy in the form of heat is expelled by the exhaust gases and engine cooling systems, resulting in the rise of entropy and serious environmental pollution, thus there is a demand to utilize this waste heat from the vehicle into useful work output. The refrigerating units which are being currently employed in the vehicle are of Vapor Compression Refrigeration system (VCRS). The main drawback of this system is that it uses power directly from the engine shaft to power and run the drive of the compressor of the refrigeration system; hence the engine has to produce extra power to run the compressor of the unit, thus utilizing fuel. The energy loss from the vehicle can be utilized to operate the Vapor Absorption Refrigeration System (VARS), hence reducing the excessive work done by the engine. Keeping this in mind, this paper explores the possibilities of utilizing the VAC in moving vehicles.