New technique for generating continuous sorption cooling in a single adsorbent column

摘要

This article describes a technique of continuous cooling production in a single adsorbent bed. Rapid successive pressurisation and depressurisation of activated carbon-filled adsorbent bed with gaseous nitrogen has been found to generate heating and cooling effects at the two ends of the adsorption column. Continuous sorption cooling is obtained when the hot and cold ends are thermally linked to heat sink and heat source respectively. While heat of adsorption is rejected continuously to the heat sink in one half of the adsorption bed, cooling is produced in the other half of the bed. All the existing sorption cooling processes, being intermittent in nature, suffer from the operational complexities associated with the use of multiple beds essential for continuous cooling production. Operational hazards of alternatively connecting the beds to heat sink and heat source is eliminated in the present technique. An experimental apparatus, as a proof of the concept, has been designed, fabricated and tested. Theoretical studies involving transient heat and mass transfer have also been performed. Dynamic simulation of adsorption and desorption with different periodicity has been found generating differential temperature across the length of the adsorbent column.