Impact of recovery cycles on the cascade hybrid adsorption-vapor compression chillers

Abstract

This study analyzed a cascade-type hybrid adsorption-vapor compression chiller. This chiller is a combination of an adsorption chiller and a vapor compression chiller, where the amount of energy absorbed in the evaporator of the adsorption chiller is equal to the heat rejected in the condenser of the vapor compression chiller. The study examined three distinct recovery schemes: heat recovery, mass recovery, and a combined heat-mass recovery approach, applied to the hybrid chiller to assess their effect on the chiller's performance and potential energy savings. The study used MATLAB and CoolProp for mathematical modeling, and the model closely aligned with earlier research. The study found that implementing mass recovery significantly improved energy efficiency and coefficient of performance compared to the basic cascade hybrid system. However, heat recovery had a negative impact on the hybrid chiller. Additionally, the study proposed an optimal duration for mass recovery in the hybrid cascade system. This research offers valuable insights into the advantages of using hybrid chiller systems and emphasizes the significance of incorporating heat and mass recovery in their design and functioning.