Previous work on the heat and mass transfer problems in a falling film absorber is extended to include the coolant-side flow. The solution for all the relevant design parameters, such as length, flow rate, outlet mass fraction, and temperature of the solution and coolant, is subject only to the specification of a single coolant-side heat transfer coefficient. The coolant-side heat transfer coefficient may be calculated using standard correlations since the geometry is usually a cylinder or annulus. Results are calculated for a range of parameters typical of operation of a heat pump; comparison with experimental data is found to be good.

KEYWORDS: year 1995, heat transfer fluids, refrigerants, fluid flow, performance, absorbers, heat transfer coefficient, calculating, heat pumps, comparing, experiment, flow rate