Campus · SteamGlobal reference
Columbia University, New York
6,676 kW (≈ 1,900 TR)
Two BROAD steam-driven absorption chillers supply campus cooling. BROAD Group reference project.
Overview
What is a Steam & Hot Water Absorption Chiller?
Steam & Hot Water Absorption Chiller
A steam or hot water absorption chiller is an indirect-fired vapour absorption machine (VAM) that uses steam or hot water, instead of electricity or a burner, to drive a lithium bromide-water cooling cycle. BROAD builds it in two forms: single-stage, for low-pressure steam (0.1–1.5 kg/cm²) or 70–95°C hot water at COP 0.7–0.8, and two-stage, for 4.2–10.5 kg/cm² steam or 138–180°C hot water at COP 1.1–1.4.
Most Indian plants that run boilers, turbines, engines or process lines already have steam or hot water to spare. A BROAD steam or hot water absorption chiller uses that heat to make chilled water, so the plant's cooling no longer depends on electric compressors. The only electricity drawn is for the solution and refrigerant pumps and the cooling water system.
Which model fits your heat source?
The choice between single-stage and two-stage depends on the temperature or pressure of the heat you have. Single-stage machines accept low-grade heat that a two-stage machine cannot use. Two-stage machines need hotter input but give 40–70% more cooling from the same heat.
| Heat source available | BROAD model | COP | Approx. steam use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low-pressure or waste steam, 0.1–1.5 kg/cm² | Single-stage steam chiller | 0.7–0.8 | ≈ 7.5–8.5 kg/h per TR |
| Hot water, 70–95°C (jacket water, process or solar) | Single-stage hot water chiller | 0.7–0.8 | - |
| Steam, 4.2–10.5 kg/cm² | Two-stage steam chiller (BS) | 1.1–1.4 | ≈ 4.5–5.5 kg/h per TR |
| Hot water, 138–180°C | Two-stage hot water chiller (BH) | 1.1–1.4 | - |
How much steam does it use?
One ton of refrigeration (TR) is 3.517 kW of cooling, so the heat a chiller needs per TR is 3.517 kW divided by its COP. A single-stage machine at COP 0.75 needs about 4.7 kW of heat per TR, roughly 7.5–8.5 kg/h of low-pressure steam. A two-stage machine at COP 1.25 needs about 2.8 kW per TR, roughly 4.5–5.5 kg/h of 8 kg/cm² steam. These are planning estimates; BROAD engineers confirm the figure for your steam conditions during sizing. To turn them into running cost and payback, use the VAM price and payback calculator.
Key specifications
What capacity and performance does it offer?
- Cooling capacity
- 30–3,300 TR
- Steam pressure
- 0.1–10.5 kg/cm²
- Hot water input
- 70–180°C
- Efficiency
- COP 0.7–1.4
Sizing & price
How is it sized and priced?
BROAD supplies the Steam & Hot Water Absorption Chiller from 30–3,300 TR. There is no list price: the cost depends on the capacity you need, the heat source or fuel conditions at your site, the cooling water system and the installation scope. BROAD quotes each project after a sizing study.
For a sizing study, share:
- Peak and average cooling or heating load
- Heat source or fuel, with its pressure, temperature and flow
- Operating hours per year and your electricity tariff
How it works
How does an absorption chiller work?
- 1
Heat input
Steam, hot water, exhaust gas or a gas/oil burner heats the generator. No compressor is needed.
- 2
Generator
The heat boils water vapour (the refrigerant) out of the lithium bromide solution.
- 3
Condenser & evaporator
The vapour condenses, then evaporates under deep vacuum, pulling heat out of the chilled-water circuit.
- 4
Absorber
Concentrated lithium bromide re-absorbs the vapour and the solution returns to the generator.
- 5
Chilled water out
Chilled water leaves for process cooling or air conditioning, with water as a zero-ODP, zero-GWP refrigerant.
Model finder
Which model fits your heat source?
Any
30 TR3,300 TR
| Model | Cooling Capacity | Dimensions (L×W×H) | Energy Input |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-Stage Steam | 100–3,300 TR | Varies by capacity | Steam (0.1–1.5 kg/cm²) |
| Single-Stage Hot Water | 100–3,300 TR | Varies by capacity | Hot Water (70–95°C) |
| BS Model (Two-Stage Steam) | 30–3,300 TR | Varies by capacity | Steam (4.2–10.5 kg/cm²) |
| BH Model (Two-Stage Hot Water) | 30–3,300 TR | Varies by capacity | Hot Water (138–180°C) |
Engineering
What makes the BROAD design different?
Runs on Low-Grade Heat
Single-stage models use steam from 0.1 kg/cm² and hot water from 70°C, heat that most plants vent or send to cooling towers.
Two-Stage Efficiency
BS and BH two-stage models reach COP 1.1–1.4, giving 40–70% more cooling than single-stage from the same steam.
Anti-Crystallisation Controls
Control logic protects the lithium bromide solution when steam pressure or hot water temperature fluctuates.
Natural Refrigerant
Water is the refrigerant and lithium bromide the absorbent: zero ODP, zero GWP and no refrigerant phase-down risk.
Few Moving Parts
No mechanical compressor in the cooling cycle, so wear and vibration are low and service life runs beyond 25 years.
Business case
What are the benefits of a Steam & Hot Water Absorption Chiller?
Cooling From Heat You Already Pay For
At Kejriwal Geotech, Surat, 1,200 TR of steam chillers avoid about 850 kW of electrical load and paid back in roughly 7 months.
Lower Peak Demand
Moving cooling off electric compressors cuts the plant's peak electrical demand and frees grid or captive power for production.
Lower Scope 2 Emissions
Less grid electricity for cooling means lower Scope 2 emissions, with no synthetic refrigerants to report.
Where it’s used
Which industries use it?
- Textile & Polyester Plants
- Pharmaceutical & Chemical Plants
- Power Plants & Cogeneration
- Steel & Process Industry
- Hospitals & Campuses
- Hotels & Commercial Buildings
Case studies
Proven in the field
Real-world implementations of this technology across industrial facilities.
TextileSurat, Gujarat· 2019–20
Kejriwal Geotech Pvt Ltd
1,200 TR · 7-month payback
1,200 TR of process cooling from waste CP steam
Read case studyCampus · Steam
Steel · Hot waterGlobal reference
BMZ Steel Works, Belarus
8,800 kW (≈ 2,500 TR)
Ten BROAD hot water absorption chillers run on heat recovered from the steel plant. BROAD Group reference project.
Steam & Hot Water Absorption Chiller: frequently asked questions
What is a steam absorption chiller?
A steam absorption chiller is a vapour absorption machine that uses steam as its heat source to produce chilled water. Steam heats a lithium bromide solution, driving off water vapour that acts as the refrigerant. BROAD single-stage steam chillers run on 0.1–1.5 kg/cm² steam at COP 0.7–0.8, and two-stage (BS) models run on 4.2–10.5 kg/cm² steam at COP 1.1–1.4.
Should I choose a single-stage or two-stage steam chiller?
Choose by steam pressure. Below about 1.5 kg/cm², including waste or flash steam, use a single-stage chiller. If you have steam at 4.2–10.5 kg/cm², a two-stage chiller gives 40–70% more cooling from the same steam, so it costs less to run per TR.
How much steam does a vapour absorption chiller consume per TR?
Heat needed per TR is 3.517 kW divided by the chiller's COP. That works out to roughly 7.5–8.5 kg/h of low-pressure steam per TR for a single-stage machine (COP about 0.75) and roughly 4.5–5.5 kg/h of 8 kg/cm² steam per TR for a two-stage machine (COP about 1.25). BROAD confirms the exact figure for your steam conditions during sizing.
What is the minimum hot water temperature for an absorption chiller?
BROAD single-stage hot water chillers operate from about 70°C, with nominal capacity rated at 90–95°C. Below the rated temperature the chiller derates, which is allowed for at the design stage. Two-stage BH models need hot water at 138–180°C.
Can an absorption chiller run on waste or zero-pressure steam?
Yes. At Kejriwal Geotech in Surat, two BROAD single-stage chillers (800 TR and 400 TR) run only on zero-pressure steam left over from a continuous polymerisation line, delivering 7°C chilled water for yarn production.
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