Examination of the performance of a compression-driven adsorption cooling cycle

A compression-driven adsorption cooling cycle (CDACC) is modeled and examined thermodynamically. Material and energy balances are developed for the system, and the cycle simulated for each of three different adsorbate/adsorbent pairs: CO2/NaX zeolite, CO2/activated and NH3/silica gel. The influence of various model parameters on the predicted performance examined. The model is then also used to simulate an analogous condensation/evaporation liquid cycle. The coefficient of performance of the system is found to be strongly influenced by both the capacity of the adsorbent and the shape of the isotherm. Results for the adsorption cycle suggest production of cooling requires a compression system capable of producing pressure ratios of at least Simulations also indicate that given the same temperature rise, the NH3/silica gel system provides coefficient of performance approximately 1/3 smaller than the condensation/evaporation system ammonia. An adsorbate/adsorbent pair with a high adsorption capacity, low heat capacity and an shaped' isotherm is desirable. Without such a pair, the development of the CDACC into economically viable system is not likely. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.