Membrane-based absorption cooling and heating: Development and perspectives

Membrane-based absorption cycle is a novel technology to provide excellent heat and mass transfer performance in the main components for the convenience of small-scale applications. An overview is provided to summarize its progress and gives insights and possibilities for future development. A development trends analysis shows that the membrane-based absorption cycle is an emerging technology and attracts increasing attention in recent decades. Plate-and-frame module and hollow-fiber module are two common membrane-based modules that can improve the heat and mass transfer of absorber, desorber, and solution heat/mass exchanger. Besides, integrated components, including integrated evaporator-absorber and integrated condenser-desorber, have been proposed for further system size reduction. A thorough review of the cycle configurations indicates that the closed-type membrane-based absorption cycles could provide stationary cooling or heating capacity with better cycle performance, while the open cycles are more suitable for waste heat recovery and gas dehumidification. Apart from the conventional H2O–LiBr and NH3–H2O working fluids, ionic-liquid-based mixtures are promising candidates to overcome the existing constraints. But they also face some shortcomings, including high cost and possible high viscosity. This work is expected to facilitate the development and application of the membrane-based absorption cycle towards compact and efficient renewable/waste energy utilization.