Optimization of adsorption cooling in tropics employing genetic algorithm

• Main Author: Lai, Yat Wang
• Other Authors: Anutosh Chakraborty
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Mechanical engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/72158
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

There has been much research with regards to Adsorption Cooling (AC) and Adsorption Cooling Cum Desalination (ACCD) systems, due to advantages like low electrical consumption, the elimination of moving parts and the ability to use waste heat as the system’s driving force, as compared to common cooling and desalination methods. The performances of these adsorption systems, like Coefficient of Performance (COP) and Specific Cooling Power (SCP), depend on the thermodynamic properties of the adsorbent/adsorbate pair used, namely the isoteric heat of adsorption and maximum uptake at equilibrium conditions. However, the operation parameters of these systems such as the hot water inlet temperature, the cooling water inlet temperature, the cycle time and the switching time play a part in affecting the COP and SCP. An optimization technique called genetic algorithm was used in this project to find out the optimal operation parameters that gives the best COP and SCP for a 2-bed AC system, when different adsorbent/adsorbate pairs are used in conjunction with it. The results show that the lower the cooling water temperature is, the better the COP and SCP of the 2-bed AC system and that the optimal operation parameters from the optimized results are only valid when the other operation parameters such as the inlet temperature of the chilled water, mass flow rates of the heat transfer fluids are kept constant. Since the operation parameters that gives the maximum COP may not give the maximum SCP, it may be a better choice to use SCP as a deciding factor to determine the appropriate adsorbent/adsorbate pair for use in a 2-bed AC system.