Abstract
This paper compares the relative performances of three different thermally activated, environmentally friendly cooling systems, e.g. a silica-gel-water adsorption system, a LiBr-H2O absorption system and a desiccant air system. The adsorption and absorption systems in the current study employ water as the refrigerant, while the desiccant system cools atmospheric air directly. Each of these systems can be utilized at relatively low heat source temperatures such as achieved by flat plate solar collectors, but it is unclear which of these systems is best suited to what range of heat source temperature. Our study explores answers to this question by generating quantitative results comparing their relative thermal performance, i.e. COP and refrigeration capacity, and a qualitative comparison based on the size, maturity of technology, safe operation etc. In order to provide a fair comparison between the fundamentally different systems, a UA (overall heat transfer coefficient multiplied by the heat transfer area) value of 1.0 kW °C-1 is considered for the heat exchanger that transfers heat from the supplied hot water. Furthermore, to compare systems of similar size, the mass of silica-gel in the adsorption and desiccant systems and the mass of LiBr-H2O solution in the absorption system were specified such that each system provides the same amount of refrigeration (8.0 kW) at a source temperature of 90 °C. It is found that the absorption and adsorption cooling systems have a higher refrigeration capacity at heat source temperatures below 90 °C, while the desiccant air system outperforms the others at temperatures above 90 °C.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1091-1097 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Energy Conversion and Management |
| Volume | 49 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - May 2008 |
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Keywords
- Absorption
- Adsorption
- Desiccant
- Refrigeration
- Sustainable cooling
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Energy Engineering and Power Technology
- Fuel Technology
- Nuclear Energy and Engineering
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Cite this
Comparative analysis of thermally activated, environmentally friendly cooling systems. / Gupta, Y.; Metchop, L.; Frantzis, A.; Phelan, Patrick.
In: Energy Conversion and Management, Vol. 49, No. 5, 05.2008, p. 1091-1097.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Comparative analysis of thermally activated, environmentally friendly cooling systems
AU - Gupta, Y.
AU - Metchop, L.
AU - Frantzis, A.
AU - Phelan, Patrick
PY - 2008/5
Y1 - 2008/5
N2 - This paper compares the relative performances of three different thermally activated, environmentally friendly cooling systems, e.g. a silica-gel-water adsorption system, a LiBr-H2O absorption system and a desiccant air system. The adsorption and absorption systems in the current study employ water as the refrigerant, while the desiccant system cools atmospheric air directly. Each of these systems can be utilized at relatively low heat source temperatures such as achieved by flat plate solar collectors, but it is unclear which of these systems is best suited to what range of heat source temperature. Our study explores answers to this question by generating quantitative results comparing their relative thermal performance, i.e. COP and refrigeration capacity, and a qualitative comparison based on the size, maturity of technology, safe operation etc. In order to provide a fair comparison between the fundamentally different systems, a UA (overall heat transfer coefficient multiplied by the heat transfer area) value of 1.0 kW °C-1 is considered for the heat exchanger that transfers heat from the supplied hot water. Furthermore, to compare systems of similar size, the mass of silica-gel in the adsorption and desiccant systems and the mass of LiBr-H2O solution in the absorption system were specified such that each system provides the same amount of refrigeration (8.0 kW) at a source temperature of 90 °C. It is found that the absorption and adsorption cooling systems have a higher refrigeration capacity at heat source temperatures below 90 °C, while the desiccant air system outperforms the others at temperatures above 90 °C.
AB - This paper compares the relative performances of three different thermally activated, environmentally friendly cooling systems, e.g. a silica-gel-water adsorption system, a LiBr-H2O absorption system and a desiccant air system. The adsorption and absorption systems in the current study employ water as the refrigerant, while the desiccant system cools atmospheric air directly. Each of these systems can be utilized at relatively low heat source temperatures such as achieved by flat plate solar collectors, but it is unclear which of these systems is best suited to what range of heat source temperature. Our study explores answers to this question by generating quantitative results comparing their relative thermal performance, i.e. COP and refrigeration capacity, and a qualitative comparison based on the size, maturity of technology, safe operation etc. In order to provide a fair comparison between the fundamentally different systems, a UA (overall heat transfer coefficient multiplied by the heat transfer area) value of 1.0 kW °C-1 is considered for the heat exchanger that transfers heat from the supplied hot water. Furthermore, to compare systems of similar size, the mass of silica-gel in the adsorption and desiccant systems and the mass of LiBr-H2O solution in the absorption system were specified such that each system provides the same amount of refrigeration (8.0 kW) at a source temperature of 90 °C. It is found that the absorption and adsorption cooling systems have a higher refrigeration capacity at heat source temperatures below 90 °C, while the desiccant air system outperforms the others at temperatures above 90 °C.
KW - Absorption
KW - Adsorption
KW - Desiccant
KW - Refrigeration
KW - Sustainable cooling
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=40749143064&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=40749143064&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.enconman.2007.09.016
DO - 10.1016/j.enconman.2007.09.016
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:40749143064
VL - 49
SP - 1091
EP - 1097
JO - Energy Conversion and Management
JF - Energy Conversion and Management
SN - 0196-8904
IS - 5
ER -