An absorption apparatus for cooling a fluid comprising:
- first and second absorption cooling devices, each device respectively having a water heat exchanger in addition to an evaporator and absorber, which are in fluid communication, and a generator, wherein a pressure substantially less than atmospheric is maintained in the evaporator of each said device and in the absorber of each said device and wherein water is present in the evaporator of each said device, from which the water is withdrawn to be returned to the evaporator of each said device after passing through the water heat exchanger of each said device in which the water absorbs heat,
- a steam absorbent liquid located in the absorber of each said device, from which the steam absorbent liquid is withdrawn to be returned to the absorber after at least partly passing into said generator of each said device in which the pressure is higher than that in the corresponding evaporator and absorber,
- a heating member located in each said device for boiling said absorbent liquid and forming steam which is withdrawn and then condensed in a steam condensing heat exchanger after which the condensed steam is returned to said evaporator of each said device, and wherein a concentrated absorbent liquid is returned to the absorber of each said device after passing through a first heat exchanger in each said device in which heat is transferred to the absorbent liquid from the absorber, and wherein each said device including a heat exchanger located in the absorber of each said device for cooling the absorbent liquid,
- said water heat exchanger of the first device comprising a heat exchanger through which the air to be cooled passes, whereas in the second device, said water heat exchanger comprises a heat exchanger for cooling the absorbent liquid of the first device, wherein the heat exchanger for cooling the absorbent liquid of the second device comprises a heat exchanger for transferring heat to a fluid external to the first and second devices,
- the heating member for the absorbent liquid in the generator of the first device comprising the heat exchanger for condensing the steam from the generator of the second device whereas in the generator of the second device the heating member comprises a burner, the pressure and the temperature in the evaporator and absorber of the first device being less than that of corresponding components of the second device wherein the heat exchanger for cooling the absorbent liquid of the second device is in series with the steam condensing heat exchanger of the first device;
- wherein said steam condensing heat exchanger of the first device and said heat exchanger for cooling the absorbent liquid of the second device are cooled with air which is first forced through the steam condensing heat exchanger of the first device and thereafter through the heat exchanger for cooling the absorbent liquid of the second device, and wherein the pressures and temperatures in the generators of each said device are of such a value that the saturation temperature of the steam in the steam condensing heat exchanger of the first device enables condensation of steam by the air cooling said steam condensing exchanger of the first device.