Vapour-compression cycles with solution circuits (VCCSC) that are part of the absorption/compression cycle technology have been known in the literature for about 100 years. The first theoretical investigations were carried out by Altenkirch in 1950 and indicated a large energy savings potential. Based on this potential and the additional need to replace the ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), research activities regarding the VCCSC have increased rapidly since 1980 and several different experimental plants have been built. In most of these investigations the working pair ammonia/water was used. The results presented here were obtained by utilising the working pair CO2/acetone, which was introduced by the author in 1992. Steady-state simulation models for two different vapour-compression cycles with solution circuits have been developed. The results obtained with the computer programs were verified with experimental results from an earlier investigation. Additional simulation results are presented and discussed for two different refrigeration applications.

KEYWORDS: year 1997, Calculating, absorption, compression refrigeration, absorption refrigeration, cyclic, carbon dioxide, comparing