LAUSR

Abstract An experimental study of ammonia-water desorption in compact counter-flow geometries was conducted. Two novel vapor generation units, comprising integrated desorber, analyzer, and rectifier segments that use microchannel geometries, were conceptualized. The branched-tray concept features a desorber that uses pool-boiling mechanisms, while the vertical column desorber relies on falling-film evaporation mechanisms. Both concepts rely on falling-film mechanisms in the analyzer and rectifier sections. The vapor generation unit test sections were evaluated across a range of concentrated solution mass fractions (0.400 – 0.550), desorber coupling-fluid inlet temperatures (170 – 190°C), and concentrated solution flow rates (0.70 – 1.3 g s−1). This paper, Part I, reports the experimental methodology and results while in Part II, flooding limits of these geometries and heat and mass transfer models that accurately predict component-level performance are presented.