Design and thermodynamic analysis of an H2O–LiBr AHP system for naval surface ship application

• An exhaust gas-driven seawater cooled H2O–LiBr AHP system is investigated.
• The analysis of the diesel engine exhaust recovery on board a naval ship is presented.
• The dual use of absorption technology to produce heating and cooling is investigated.
• An AHP system is compared with a vapour–compression heat pump.
• The saved diesel fuel, reduced CO2 emissions and profitability of AHP system are calculated.

Absorption heat pump (AHP) systems are cleaner and more efficient energy solutions than vapour–compression heat pump systems for heating and cooling on board naval surface ships. Thermal management is a critical requirement for naval surface ships and submarines as well as commercial vessels and land-based industrial plants. Approximately 25% of a ship's thermal load is removed through the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. In this study, design and thermodynamic analysis of a water-lithium bromide (H2O–LiBr) AHP as an HVAC system for a naval surface ship application are presented and compared with those of a vapour–compression heat pump.