10 Thermodynamic Analysis of Activated Carbon–Ethanol …
185
Fig. 10.1 Schematic of two bed adsorption cooling system (basic cycle) and representative ideal
thermodynamic cycle for the beds
Cooling and Depressurization
This is the period from c to d as shown in Fig. 10.1. After the completion of desorption
process, the bed is at highest temperature and needs to be cooled for re-adsorption of
refrigerant. So the bed is sensibly cooled resulting in decrease in temperature from
T c to T d and pressure for P c to P e while the concentration of refrigerant remains
constant (x c = x d ).
Cooling, Adsorption and Evaporation
This is the period from d to a as shown in Fig. 10.1. During this process refrigerant
get evaporated inside the evaporator absorbing the heat from the surroundings. Then
refrigerant comes out of evaporator and enters into the adsorbent bed, where readsorption of refrigerant occurs and as adsorption is an exothermic process the bed
needs to be cooled simultaneously. This process continues until the cycle is completed
and the system is returned to its original temperature of T a .