Performance study of a falling-film absorber with a film-inverting configuration

This paper describes the development of a novel film-inverting design concept for falling-film absorbers. The solid surface of the absorber is segmented so that both surfaces of the falling-film are alternatively cooled in a periodic manner. A conventional tubular absorber is modified by introducing film-guiding fins between tubes to produce a film-inverting arrangement. A maximum increase in vapour absorption rate of about 100% is obtained with the film-inverting design compared to the tubular absorber. The numerical simulation indicates that the vapour absorption rate can be increased by using a large number of film-inverting segments in the absorber.