Heat transfer design in adsorption refrigeration systems for efficient use of low-grade thermal energy

Adsorption refrigeration and heat pump systems have been considered as important means for the efficient use of low-grade thermal energy of 60–150 °C. Sorption systems are merely thermodynamic systems based on heat exchangers, and therefore a good design to optimize heat and mass transfer with reaction or sorption processes is very important, for which the notable technique is the use of expanded graphite to improve both heat and mass transfer in the chemisorption beds. Studies have also shown the need to enhance the heat transfer in adsorption bed by matching with the efficient heat transfer of thermal fluids. Heat pipes and good thermal loop design coupled with adsorption beds could yield higher thermal performance of a sorption system. A novel design with passive evaporation, known as rising film evaporation coupled with a gravity heat pipe was introduced for high cooling output. It has also been shown that the performance of traditional heat and mass recovery in the sorption systems is limited, and novel arrangement of thermal fluid and refrigerant may improve the performance of sorption systems. Based upon the above researches, various sorption systems have been developed, and high performances have been reached.