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Experimental study of the absorption refrigeration using ocean thermal energy and its under-lying prospects

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  • Hu, Zheng
  • Deng, Zilong
  • Gao, Wei
  • Chen, Yongping

Abstract

The construction of a maritime cold chain network with islands as node is an important avenue for the economic development of the island, in which efficient refrigeration technology is essential to the development of the marine industry. Motivated by the substantial resources of tropical ocean, an absorption-compression refrigeration device is constructed and its technical feasibility is firstly demonstrated by experiment, achieving a refrigerating capacity of 6.8 kW and 10.2 kW at the evaporation temperature of −24.5 °C and −18 °C, respectively. The pressure rise by the compressor has been reduced by 185 kPa when compared to traditional vapor-compression refrigeration. The energy-saving potential of different refrigeration methods is also summarized, with the proposed refrigeration achieving the highest level of energy-efficient ratio, EER = 6.57. Especially, the proposed refrigeration can be cascaded with power generation, desalination, chilled-soil agriculture, and aquaculture to realize the gradient utilization of ocean thermal energy and hence improve the overall economy. This work opens up a new path for promoting and developing the use of ocean thermal energy for blue ocean economy in tropical oceans with bathymetry depths of 300 m or higher.

Suggested Citation

  • Hu, Zheng & Deng, Zilong & Gao, Wei & Chen, Yongping, 2023. "Experimental study of the absorption refrigeration using ocean thermal energy and its under-lying prospects," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 213(C), pages 47-62.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:213:y:2023:i:c:p:47-62
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2023.05.086
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    1. Xiao, Chenglong & Hu, Zheng & Chen, Yongping & Zhang, Chengbin, 2024. "Thermodynamic, economic, exergoeconomic analysis of an integrated ocean thermal energy conversion system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    2. Li, Deming & Deng, Zilong & Zhang, Chengbin, 2024. "Thermodynamic process control of compression-assisted absorption refrigeration using ocean thermal energy," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    3. Lin, Yao & Xiao, Fu & Wang, Lingshi & Wang, Shengwei, 2024. "Experimental investigation and performance evaluation of a closed three-phase absorption thermal energy storage system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    4. Zhou, Qian & Li, Yafang & Peng, Zhou & Hu, Jinhua, 2025. "Policy-anchored sustainability: Decarbonizing the food cold chain," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 223(C).
    5. Hu, Zheng & Zhang, Chengbin & Chen, Yongping, 2025. "Spray-enhanced flash desalination using ocean thermal energy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    6. Hu, Zheng & Zhang, Chengbin & Chen, Yongping, 2024. "Experimental study of an absorption-based refrigeration driven by ocean thermal energy," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 236(C).

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