Alkalinity reduction in an absorption refrigeration system

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 further including the step of periodically sampling the solution during normality reduction to determine the normality of the solution.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 wherein the solution is sampled by filtering the solution through a non-cellulosic material having approximately three micron openings, and titrating the filtered solution to the phenolphthalein end point with an acid.

Claim 5

The method of claim 2 wherein the flow rate is metered according to the following schedule to bring the alkalinity level to a predetermined end point: Alkalinity Level CO.sub.2 [(CFH)] (Cubic Feet/Hour) ______________________________________ >0.05 ≦ 25 0.05 - 0.03 ≦ 15 0.03 - 0.005 ≦ 7. ______________________________________

Claim 6

An absorbent solution for a refrigeration system comprising an aqueous solution containing lithium bromide, a primary inhibitor of lithium hydroxide and a carbonate formed by a reaction of carbon dioxide with the primary inhibitor to maintain the normality of the solution at a predetermined level.

Claim 7

An absorbent solution for a refrigeration system comprising an aqueous solution containing lithium bromide, a primary inhibitor of lithium hydroxide and a carbonate formed by a reaction of carbon dioxide with the primary inhibitor to maintain the normality of the solution at a predetermined level.

Claim 8

An absorbent solution of claim 5 wherein the concentration of the lithium bromide is approximately 54% by weight and the primary inhibitor is approximately 0.2% by weight.

Claim 9

An absorbent solution of claim 5 further including a secondary inhibitor of lithium nitrate and the normality of the solution being maintained at about 0.09N.

Claim 10

An absorbent solution of claim 5 further including a secondary inhibitor of lithium chromate and the normality of the solution being maintained at about 0.005N.

Claim 11

An absorbent solution of claim 5 wherein the carbonate in the solution forms a precipitate having a 10 to 15 micron particle size.

Claim 12

A solution for use in an absorptive refrigeration system having an alkaline normality within a predetermined range such that the corrosive effect of the solution upon the wetted surfaces of the system are minimized, said solution formed by the process including introducing carbon dioxide into a lithium bromide solution inhibited with lithium hydroxide, periodically sampling said solution to determine its normality, and terminating said first-mentioned step when said normality is at a predetermined level.

Claim 13

A solution for use in an absorptive refrigeration system having an alkaline normality within a predetermined range such that the corrosive effect of the solution upon the wetted surfaces of the system are minimized, said solution formed by the process including introducing carbon dioxide into a lithium bromide solution inhibited with lithium hydroxide, periodically sampling said solution to determine its normality, and terminating said first-mentioned step when said normality is at a predetermined level.

Claim 14

The solution of claim 10 wherein the solution formed by the process contains carbonates having a particular size of between 10 and 15 microns.

Claim 15

The solution of claim 10 wherein the lithium bromide solution contains a second inhibitor comprising lithium nitrate and the introduction step is terminated when the normality of the solution is at about 0.09N.

Claim 16

The solution of claim 10 wherein the lithium bromide solution contains a second inhibitor comprising lithium chromate and the introduction step is terminated when the normality of the solution is at about 0.005N.

Claim 17

A solution for use in an absorption refrigeration machine having an alkaline normality within a predetermined range wherein corrosion upon the wetted surfaces of the machine is minimized, said solution being formed by the process including introducing carbon dioxide into a lithium bromide solution inhibited with lithium hydroxide, controlling the flow rate at which carbon dioxide is introduced into the lithium bromide solution in relation to the reaction rate of the carbon dioxide and lithium hydroxide whereby free carbon dioxide is prevented from leaving the solution, and regulating the amount of carbon dioxide introduced into said solution whereby the alkaline normality is reduced to a predetermined level.

Claim 18

A solution for use in an absorption refrigeration machine having an alkaline normality within a predetermined range wherein corrosion upon the wetted surfaces of the machine is minimized, said solution being formed by the process including introducing carbon dioxide into a lithium bromide solution inhibited with lithium hydroxide, controlling the flow rate at which carbon dioxide is introduced into the lithium bromide solution in relation to the reaction rate of the carbon dioxide and lithium hydroxide whereby free carbon dioxide is prevented from leaving the solution, and regulating the amount of carbon dioxide introduced into said solution whereby the alkaline normality is reduced to a predetermined level.