Absorption chiller system with a transport membrane heat exchanger

An absorption chiller system comprising:

• a generator section, a condenser section, an evaporator section and an absorber section all in fluid communication with each other and which operate to circulate a refrigerant therethrough;
• the evaporator section comprising a transport membrane heat exchanger comprising a first and a second flow path,
• the first flow path operable to flow the refrigerant therethrough under a vacuum pressure that is low enough to vaporize the refrigerant within the first flow path,
• the second flow path operable to pass a fluid having water therethrough;
• wherein the fluid in the second flow path comprises a flow of exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine, the second flow path operable to flow the exhaust gas therethrough under a vacuum pressure, the vacuum pressure in the second flow path being greater than the vacuum pressure in the first flow path;
• and
• wherein both water and heat are transferred from the fluid in the second flow path to the refrigerant in the first flow path through a membrane-based material of the transport membrane heat exchanger, such that the fluid passing through the second flow path has at least a portion of the water included in the fluid having water is removed and is cooled;
• wherein the refrigerant comprises water;
• wherein the water transferred from the fluid in the second flow path mixes with the water functioning as a refrigerant in the first flow path to form a total flow of water;
• wherein:
• a portion of the total flow of water in the first flow path flows as a flow of evaporated water to the absorber section, and
• a portion of the total flow of water in the first flow path flows a flow of condensed water out of the evaporator section;
• and
• wherein:
• a portion of the flow of condensed water out of the evaporator section is pumped into the absorber section.