Study of different internal vapour transports for adsorption cycles with heat regeneration

Abstract

A ‘three-temperature’ model of the adsorption cycles with heat regeneration is used for investigating and analysing the influence of different parameters on the performance of such cycles. The influence of the heat source temperature on the thermodynamic efficiency (COP/COP Carnot) is investigated. The result is that the thermodynamic efficiency of the cycle is always limited. In order to reduce the internal irreversibilities, different internal vapour transports for pressurising (depressurisation) the adsorber are investigated: first, adiabatic direct pressurisation (depressurisation) with the condenser (evaporator) instead of pressure changes by heat transfer; second, adiabatic internal vapour recovery between the adsorbers (partial pressurisation/depressurisation); third, separation of the adsorber into separate compartments between which vapour cannot be redistributed during pressurisation or depressurisation. Results show that the first process significantly reduces the COP, while the second one enhances the cooling power, and the third one does not change the performance. Analysis gives satisfactory explanation of these results.