10 Thermodynamic Analysis of Activated Carbon–Ethanol …
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In early years, focus of research was on the performance of the working pairs.
The main objective was to use this technology to practical applications. Adsorbents
which were studied are silica gel, activated carbon, zeolite, CaCl 2 , hydride and the
refrigerants under focus were methanol, ammonia, water, hydrogen (Critoph and
Vogel 1986). Initial research work suggested improvements in adsorption refrigeration cycles are required especially to address the intermittent behaviour of the
cycle, and low COP and SCP issues. Other major issue was low heat and mass transfer performance inside the adsorption bed. For solving the above stated problems,
researchers mainly focused on aspects like adsorption properties, heat and mass transfer, and advanced adsorption refrigeration cycles were proposed e.g. heat recovery
cycle, mass recovery cycle, thermal wave cycle (Wang 2001b), convective thermal
wave cycle (Critoph 1994) and cascading cycle (Douss and Meunier 1989). In some
references (Wang et al. 2004; Aristov et al. 2002; Mauran et al. 1993) working pairs
with good adsorption characteristics e.g. composite adsorption working pairs were
proposed and adsorption cycles were analysed for the proposed working pairs.
Till 1992, most of the work was based on theoretical analysis of different adsorption cycles and mainly on the effect of cycle parameters on the performance of
adsorption cycle (Luo and Feidt 1992; Hajji et al. 1991; Cacciola and Restuccia
1995). Based on the theoretical and experimental analysis researchers focused on
the design of an adsorbent bed which enhances the heat and mass transfer performance (Restuccia et al. 1988).
In the 1990s, European Union listed a project on the adsorption (JOULE0046F)
into their research and the members of the research group for this project were
Meunier from France (zeolite–water), Cacciola from Italy (zeolite–water), Critoph
from England (activated carbon–ammonia), Groll from German (metal hydridesHydrogen), Spinner from France, Zigler from German (nickel chloride-ammonia).
In 1999, International Journal of Refrigeration published the results of the JOULE
research plan (Wang et al. 2014).
10.3 Current Research on Adsorption Refrigeration
Countries like Italy, France, USA, UK, and India are working on adsorption heat
pump and cooling systems, and, the main focus is on the heat and mass transfer
performance of adsorbent beds, working pairs, and adsorption cycles. The development in this field can be summarized as working pairs; structure of cooling system;
enhancement in the heat and mass transfer performance of adsorbent bed.
A. Adsorption working pairs: Working pair used in adsorption refrigeration is a
key element for the system. Coefficient of performance of the system is influenced by the thermal properties of the working pair. For the better performance
of the system selection of a suitable working pair is required and this selection
must be based on the available heat source temperature and application requirements. Commonly used working pairs are activated carbon–ammonia, activated
181
In early years, focus of research was on the performance of the working pairs.
The main objective was to use this technology to practical applications. Adsorbents
which were studied are silica gel, activated carbon, zeolite, CaCl 2 , hydride and the
refrigerants under focus were methanol, ammonia, water, hydrogen (Critoph and
Vogel 1986). Initial research work suggested improvements in adsorption refrigeration cycles are required especially to address the intermittent behaviour of the
cycle, and low COP and SCP issues. Other major issue was low heat and mass transfer performance inside the adsorption bed. For solving the above stated problems,
researchers mainly focused on aspects like adsorption properties, heat and mass transfer, and advanced adsorption refrigeration cycles were proposed e.g. heat recovery
cycle, mass recovery cycle, thermal wave cycle (Wang 2001b), convective thermal
wave cycle (Critoph 1994) and cascading cycle (Douss and Meunier 1989). In some
references (Wang et al. 2004; Aristov et al. 2002; Mauran et al. 1993) working pairs
with good adsorption characteristics e.g. composite adsorption working pairs were
proposed and adsorption cycles were analysed for the proposed working pairs.
Till 1992, most of the work was based on theoretical analysis of different adsorption cycles and mainly on the effect of cycle parameters on the performance of
adsorption cycle (Luo and Feidt 1992; Hajji et al. 1991; Cacciola and Restuccia
1995). Based on the theoretical and experimental analysis researchers focused on
the design of an adsorbent bed which enhances the heat and mass transfer performance (Restuccia et al. 1988).
In the 1990s, European Union listed a project on the adsorption (JOULE0046F)
into their research and the members of the research group for this project were
Meunier from France (zeolite–water), Cacciola from Italy (zeolite–water), Critoph
from England (activated carbon–ammonia), Groll from German (metal hydridesHydrogen), Spinner from France, Zigler from German (nickel chloride-ammonia).
In 1999, International Journal of Refrigeration published the results of the JOULE
research plan (Wang et al. 2014).
10.3 Current Research on Adsorption Refrigeration
Countries like Italy, France, USA, UK, and India are working on adsorption heat
pump and cooling systems, and, the main focus is on the heat and mass transfer
performance of adsorbent beds, working pairs, and adsorption cycles. The development in this field can be summarized as working pairs; structure of cooling system;
enhancement in the heat and mass transfer performance of adsorbent bed.
A. Adsorption working pairs: Working pair used in adsorption refrigeration is a
key element for the system. Coefficient of performance of the system is influenced by the thermal properties of the working pair. For the better performance
of the system selection of a suitable working pair is required and this selection
must be based on the available heat source temperature and application requirements. Commonly used working pairs are activated carbon–ammonia, activated