Thermodynamic and exergoeconomic analysis of a solar-assisted LiBr/H₂O ejector–absorption refrigeration system with triple-layer thermal storage

The rapid increase in global cooling demand, particularly in regions with high solar potential, has emphasized the urgent need for sustainable and electricity‑independent refrigeration technologies. In response to this challenge, this work proposes a novel solar‑assisted single‑effect Lithium Bromide–Water (LiBr/H₂O) absorption refrigeration system incorporating a supersonic ejector and a triple‑layer solar thermal storage unit. The design aims to maximize energy recovery and reduce operating cost through combined thermodynamic and thermoeconomic optimization. Governing mass and energy conservation equations are established and solved using the Engineering Equation Solver (EES). Energy, exergy, and cost assessments are performed for both ejector‑assisted and conventional configurations to quantify improvements in the Coefficient of Performance (COP), exergy efficiency, and component cost rate under various solar irradiation and generator temperatures. Results reveal that ejector integration enhances COP by 12.7% and exergy efficiency by 11.3%, while reducing total investment cost by 9% compared to the baseline cycle. The optimized configuration achieves coefficient of performance of 0.74 and solar coefficient of performance of 0.58 under solar irradiation of 973 W/m², confirming marked enhancements in thermodynamic efficiency, cost effectiveness, and overall system sustainability.