Experimental investigation of adsorber (sorption bed) for cooling/ heat pump applications

• Main Author: Saravanan Munusamy
• Other Authors: Anutosh Chakraborty
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2020
• Subjects: Engineering::Mechanical engineering::Energy conservation
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/140795
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

As our energy resources are depleting with the increase of energy demands, energy sustainability is the key area of focus for the future. Cooling/heat pump application has become a major contributor to the increase in energy usage over the users. Thus, it is appropriate to investigate curbing the amount of energy used for these applications to resolve our energy sustainability issues. Adsorption cooling is a possible solution to address the problem as it utilises waste heat to bring about a cooling effect using water as the refrigerant. Additionally, adsorption chiller is free of moving parts and environmentally friendly. In this project, the performances of adsorption assisted cooling/heat pump systems are simulated employing the thermodynamic modelling of adsorption heat exchanger and experimentally confirmed isotherms and kinetics data of MOFs + water system. The system modelling is based on heat and mass balances in the adsorption beds, where both cooling and heat pumping results are generated by the combination of (i) adsorption-triggered-evaporation and (ii) desorption-resulted-condensation. The newly designed Al-MA MOFs are characterized by a) SEM (scanning electron micrography), b) the gravimetry analyser for thermal stability, and (c) differential scanning calorimetry methods. Later the water uptake levels under static and dynamic conditions are measured from 25 oC to 65 oC and pressures up to the saturated conditions. The water transfer after every cycle of adsorption-desorption are shown in the form of isotherms and kinetics. The isotherms and kinetics parameters are used to replicate the operating principles of an adsorption chiller. The performances are shown in terms of the coefficient of performance (COP) and the specific cooling power (SCP). This report shows promising results for the design and development of Al-MA MOFs + water-based adsorption chiller/heat pump. adsorption cooling/heat pump systems.