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Solar adsorption refrigeration system using different mass of adsorbents

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Abstract

In this investigation, a prototype model of the solar adsorption refrigeration system was constructed and its performance was evaluated with different mass ratios of adsorbents in the laboratory for possible field application. The main components of the solar-driven cooling system were vacuum tube collector, adsorption bed, condenser, evaporator, chilling chamber, and temperature data logger. The experimental study was conducted to analyze the performance of solar cooling unit using different mass ratios of activated carbon–methanol from 0.250 to 2.50. A minimum cooling temperature of 12.2 °C was obtained with the manually prepared activated carbon–methanol with mass ratio of 1.00. The cooling coefficient of performance and specific cooling potential was also evaluated from performance calculations.

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Abbreviations

Q :

Energy (kJ)

M :

Mass (kg)

C p :

Specific heat J kg−1 K−1

x :

Adsorption capacity (kg-adsorbate/kg-adsorbent)

L E :

Latent heat of evaporation (kJ kg−1)

T :

Temperature (°C)

H D :

Heat of adsorption (kJ kg−1)

c:

Condensation

E:

Evaporation

D:

Desorption

r:

Adsorbate

ad:

Adsorbent

max:

Maximum

min:

Minimum

cool:

Cooling

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the MNRE, Government of India under PDRF-National Renewable Energy fellowship program at IIT Delhi.

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  1. Centre for Energy Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, 110016, India

    A. Mahesh & S. C. Kaushik

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  1. A. Mahesh
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  2. S. C. Kaushik
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Correspondence to A. Mahesh.

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Mahesh, A., Kaushik, S.C. Solar adsorption refrigeration system using different mass of adsorbents. J Therm Anal Calorim 111, 897–903 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-012-2264-z

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