Experimental investigation of an adsorption air-conditioner using silica gel-water working pair. (June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pan, Quanwen; Peng, Jiajie; Wang, Hongbin; Sun, Haiquan; Wang, Ruzhu
• Is Part Of: Solar energy. Volume 185(2019)
• Page Start: 64
• Page End: 71
• Publication Date: 2019-06
• Subjects: Adsorption refrigeration -- Air-conditioner -- Silica gel-water -- Residential solar cooling; Solar energy -- Periodicals; Solar engines -- Periodicals; 621.47
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2019.04.054
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0038-092X

Abstract

Highlights: A 3 kW silica gel-water adsorption air-conditioner is designed and manufactured. Cooling power and COP can reach 3.98 kW and 0.632, respectively. Small hot water flow rate can reduce unmatching between heating and cooling operation of adsorption bed. Adsorption air-conditioner can be used for cooling and heating cogeneration. Adsorption air-conditioner is suitable for residential solar cooling application. Abstract: Compared to adsorption chiller, adsorption air-conditioner can get significant benefit of less cost and complexity when it directly provides chilled air for air-conditioning. Hence, adsorption air-conditioner is suitable for residential solar cooling application. A 3 kW adsorption air-conditioner using silica gel-water working pair is designed and manufactured and its performance is fully tested under different conditions. The experimental results show that cooling power and COP can reach 3.98 kW and 0.632, respectively, without obvious periodic fluctuation of chilled air outlet temperature and relative humidity. Smaller hot water flow rate can help to reduce unmatching between heating and cooling operation of adsorption bed. Optimal half cycle time of this adsorption air-conditioner is found to be 750 s. COP of adsorption air-conditioner is generally larger than that of adsorption chiller which provides chilled water because of higher evaporation temperature. Besides, cooling water outlet temperature can reach 39.9 °C which can meet the requirement of domestic hot water use. So that adsorption air-conditioner can be used for cooling and heating cogeneration in a residential solar cooling application and achieve good performance.