Sorption systems are one of the laboratory's strong points, whether for the conversion of thermal energy (heat or cold production) or for energy storage. The LOCIE has developed for its needs various experimental benches enabling it to study transfer phenomena and the characterization of components or systems. Developed to provide generic experimental tools for the study of absorption machines, they are currently being redesigned to reduce their number and increase their versatility.
The "Absorption" bench, developed as part of an industrial project, is dedicated to the study of absorbers for LiBr/H2O sorption systems. The 1 m diameter main enclosure can accommodate elementary plates or components whose size does not exceed 50 cm on each side. The operating pressure is set by a plate and film flow evaporator. The concentration of the solution is adjusted to the desired value by a flooded desorber coupled to a condenser. The power of the absorbers that can be studied is limited to 3 kW. The side doors are equipped with viewing windows that can be fitted with calcium fluoride sightglasses for infrared thermography.
The "desorber/condenser" bench developed as part of an industrial project with PSA is dedicated to the study of highly compact industrial desorber/condenser exchangers dedicated to the automotive industry. It will soon be equipped with a cell for the characterization of desorption in confined space in order to carry out studies of an academic nature within the framework of the ANR FRAISE. The power of the components is limited to 6 kW.
The "evaporation" bench developed within the framework of ANR ECOSS is dedicated to the study of plate evaporators / condensers and dripping films operating with water as refrigerant fluid at low temperatures (7°C) and low pressure (10 mb). The 0.7 m diameter main enclosure can accommodate elementary plates or components whose size does not exceed 40 cm. The power of the evaporators / condensers that can be studied is limited to 2 kW. The side doors are equipped with viewing windows that can be fitted with calcium fluoride sightglasses for infrared thermography.
The absorption heat storage bench developed within the framework of the ANR PROSSIS 2 is dedicated to the study of low-temperature (up to 100°C), medium (monthly) or long-term (inter-seasonal storage) solar energy storage for the heating of buildings. The storage of the concentrated solution can be accompanied by a crystallisation of the solution. Two couples were tested: LiBr/H2O and KHCOO/H2O
The hydrodynamic film bench is a modular elementary bench dedicated to the study of the hydrodynamics of films flowing on vertical or inclined plates.
These generic benches are complemented by prototype machines such as the prototype absorption air conditioning for automotive applications or the prototype water ammonia thermal transformer under development.
The laboratory is equipped with dry vacuum pumps, a helium leak detector and various thermal units for the operation of its facilities. Concentration measurements of the solutions are carried out by high-precision Coriolis effect flowmeters. The laboratory is equipped with a fast Photron FASTCAM x1024 camera and a STIL CCS Prima confocal microscope for the study of the hydrodynamics of falling films. The interface temperature of the falling films is measured by FLIR SC 7000 infrared thermography.