Copper foam coated with CPO-27(Ni) metal–organic framework for adsorption heat pump: Simulation study using OpenFOAM. (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pinheiro, Joana M.; Salústio, Sérgio; Geraldes, Vítor; Valente, Anabela A.; Silva, Carlos M.
• Is Part Of: Applied thermal engineering. Volume 178(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: Adsorbent coating -- Adsorption heat pump -- Copper foam -- Modeling -- MOF CPO-27(Ni) -- OpenFOAM simulation; Heat engineering -- Periodicals; Heating -- Equipment and supplies -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 621.40205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2020.115498
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-4311

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: First-time evaluation of MOF CPO-27(Ni) for heat pumps by rigorous simulations. Developed solver/methodology to simulate adsorption cycles in OpenFOAM. Slower intraparticle mass transfer kinetics for MOF than benchmark zeotype. For copper foam/adsorbent composites, zeotype outperformed the MOF for heating. Abstract: The performance of the metal–organic framework (MOF) CPO-27(Ni) for adsorption heat pumps using water as adsorbate was investigated through modeling and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. A customized solver and methodology to simulate adsorption cycles were developed in OpenFOAM and strictly validated using literature data, since OpenFoam lacks specific tools for these processes and applications. Due to the potential of adsorbent coatings and metal fibers and foams for improving the performance of such processes, a metal tube of copper surrounded by a composite of copper foam and CPO-27(Ni) coating, was considered in this study. For evaporation, condensation and bed regeneration temperatures of 278.15 K, 308.15 K and 368.15 K, respectively, the obtained coefficients of performance and specific heating powers for the composite coating CPO-27(Ni)/copper foam were in the range 1.16–1.39 and 1922–5130 W kg −1 . Under similar conditions, the MOF was outperformed by the well-known adsorbent AQSOA TM FAM-Z02, essentially due to the faster intraparticle mass transfer kinetics for the latter.