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An adsorption refrigeration system (ARS) working on silica-gel/methanol pair has been investigated analytically and experimentally. By applying the mass balance in the adsorber bed the mechanism of adsorption in the thermal compressor with respect to time and bed length was determined. An experimental analysis was performed using a thermal gravimetric analyzer (TGA) to evaluate the mass transfer coefficient and optimum cycle time for silica-gel/methanol pair at different working temperatures. The Diffusion coefficient Ds and Activation energy Ea for silica-gel/methanol pair were found 2.55 × 10-4 m2/s and 83.08 KJ/mol. Further, the results of variation of regeneration temperature on the performance of the system in terms of COP (Coefficient of Performance) and SCP (Specific Cooling Power) was evaluated; the maximum average theoretical COP and SCP achieved by the system was 0.5 and 102 W/kg near about 127°C regeneration temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As adsorption refrigeration systems are powered by waste heat from automobile/industries and run by environment-friendly refrigerants, they have very promising cooling technology compared to vapor compression and absorption cooling systems. But due to large size, less performance and high installation cost, adsorption cooling systems have not yet been commercially popular. Literature review shows the physical adsorbent has poor adsorption capacity as compared to the chemical adsorbent. However, the salt swelling and agglomeration are the phenomenal challenges associated with chemical adsorption systems leading to reduction in the heat and mass transfer performances. To overcome the demerits of the physical and the chemical adsorbents, composite adsorbent systems have been developed to harness the potentiality of the adsorption capacity and increase the heat and mass transfer performances of adsorbent. In the present work the performance of different adsorption refrigeration system working on physical and chemical adsorbent has been discussed and compared on the basis of COP (Coefficient of Performance) and SCP (Specific cooling Power). A detailed comparative analysis has been provided between different composite adsorbents developed by using Silica-gel, Activated Carbon, Expanded Natural Graphite and Zeolite as a parent material. The performance of different composite adsorbents has been compared on the basis of thermal conductivity and adsorption capacity (of water, methanol, ethanol and CO2). Also, a novel composite adsorbent using polymeric binder (silica-gel and expanded natural graphite bound with polyvinyl alcohol) has been proposed and their physical properties are also discussed. In addition to this, three different methods of composite adsorbent materials preparation using silica-gel, activated carbon, zeolite with expanded natural graphite have been discussed. It is observed from the present study that the composite adsorbent of Metal Organic Frameworks shows better heat and mass transfer properties as compared to the conventional adsorbent. It is also observed that the performance of the adsorption refrigeration system can be improved significantly by developing high-performance composite adsorbents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adsorption refrigeration, being a unique and eco-friendly technology, has gained popularity over conventional refrigeration systems. The present study is aimed at developing an annular finned tube adsorber model which serves as a thermal compressor in adsorption refrigeration systems. The mathematical model is addressed numerically using finite difference discretization method and explicit scheme was used for the solution. The generalized model has been simulated for activated carbon-methanol working pair. The system has an optimum cycle time of 1800s. It was found to have a highest refrigeration capacity of 260.66 kJ/kg at a regeneration temperature of 393 K and evaporator temperature of 283 K. The highest COP (Coefficient of Performance) achieved by the system is 0.3706 at a regeneration temperature of 353 K and evaporator temperature of 283 K. A highest SCP (Specific Cooling Power) of 144.8 W/kg was obtained at an evaporator temperature of 283 K and regeneration temperature of 393 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]