Investigating the performance of adsorption chiller operating under fluctuating heat-source conditions

Adsorption refrigerators are crucial for recovering low-grade waste heat and enhancing energy efficiency. The heat source temperature significantly influences the performance of adsorption refrigerators, which can vary in practical applications. In this study, a double-bed adsorption refrigerator wa...

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Main Authors: Zhipeng Hua, Shanshan Cai, Hongyang Xu, Song Li, Zhengkai Tu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-04-01
Series:Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25001637
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author Zhipeng Hua
Shanshan Cai
Hongyang Xu
Song Li
Zhengkai Tu
author_facet Zhipeng Hua
Shanshan Cai
Hongyang Xu
Song Li
Zhengkai Tu
author_sort Zhipeng Hua
collection DOAJ
description Adsorption refrigerators are crucial for recovering low-grade waste heat and enhancing energy efficiency. The heat source temperature significantly influences the performance of adsorption refrigerators, which can vary in practical applications. In this study, a double-bed adsorption refrigerator was constructed using a silica/copper-chip composite as the adsorbent. Experimental investigations were conducted to evaluate how various operation parameters affect the cooling performance of this silica/copper-chip adsorption refrigerator. The sensitivity analysis revealed that the cooling capacity is most sensitive to changes in cooling water, followed by chilled water, and then hot water. For the coefficient of performance (COP), the order of sensitivity is chilled water, cooling water, and finally hot water. Considering the operational temperature range of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), the changes in heat source temperature were categorized into two types: non-monotonic fluctuations and no fluctuation variations. Experiments analyzed the impact of these two types on performance. Specifically, for non-monotonic fluctuations within ±2.5 °C, ±3 °C, ±3.5 °C, and ±4 °C, it was found that fluctuations should be limited to ±3 °C to maintain optimal performance. In the three non-fluctuating cases examined (Mode 1: 70–76 °C, Mode 2: 70-73-76 °C, Mode 3: 70-72-74-76 °C), Mode 2 was identified as having the best control temperature, achieving a COP that is 4.6 % higher than Mode 1.
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spelling doaj-art-eae71b77b1a543fcbc631da818d97ae82025-08-20T01:57:40ZengElsevierCase Studies in Thermal Engineering2214-157X2025-04-016810590310.1016/j.csite.2025.105903Investigating the performance of adsorption chiller operating under fluctuating heat-source conditionsZhipeng Hua0Shanshan Cai1Hongyang Xu2Song Li3Zhengkai Tu4School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, ChinaCorresponding author.; School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, ChinaSchool of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, ChinaSchool of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, ChinaCorresponding author.; School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, ChinaAdsorption refrigerators are crucial for recovering low-grade waste heat and enhancing energy efficiency. The heat source temperature significantly influences the performance of adsorption refrigerators, which can vary in practical applications. In this study, a double-bed adsorption refrigerator was constructed using a silica/copper-chip composite as the adsorbent. Experimental investigations were conducted to evaluate how various operation parameters affect the cooling performance of this silica/copper-chip adsorption refrigerator. The sensitivity analysis revealed that the cooling capacity is most sensitive to changes in cooling water, followed by chilled water, and then hot water. For the coefficient of performance (COP), the order of sensitivity is chilled water, cooling water, and finally hot water. Considering the operational temperature range of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), the changes in heat source temperature were categorized into two types: non-monotonic fluctuations and no fluctuation variations. Experiments analyzed the impact of these two types on performance. Specifically, for non-monotonic fluctuations within ±2.5 °C, ±3 °C, ±3.5 °C, and ±4 °C, it was found that fluctuations should be limited to ±3 °C to maintain optimal performance. In the three non-fluctuating cases examined (Mode 1: 70–76 °C, Mode 2: 70-73-76 °C, Mode 3: 70-72-74-76 °C), Mode 2 was identified as having the best control temperature, achieving a COP that is 4.6 % higher than Mode 1.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25001637Waste heat utilizationAdsorption refrigerationExperimental testingHeat-source temperature changes
spellingShingle Zhipeng Hua
Shanshan Cai
Hongyang Xu
Song Li
Zhengkai Tu
Investigating the performance of adsorption chiller operating under fluctuating heat-source conditions
Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
Waste heat utilization
Adsorption refrigeration
Experimental testing
Heat-source temperature changes
title Investigating the performance of adsorption chiller operating under fluctuating heat-source conditions
title_full Investigating the performance of adsorption chiller operating under fluctuating heat-source conditions
title_fullStr Investigating the performance of adsorption chiller operating under fluctuating heat-source conditions
title_full_unstemmed Investigating the performance of adsorption chiller operating under fluctuating heat-source conditions
title_short Investigating the performance of adsorption chiller operating under fluctuating heat-source conditions
title_sort investigating the performance of adsorption chiller operating under fluctuating heat source conditions
topic Waste heat utilization
Adsorption refrigeration
Experimental testing
Heat-source temperature changes
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25001637
work_keys_str_mv AT zhipenghua investigatingtheperformanceofadsorptionchilleroperatingunderfluctuatingheatsourceconditions
AT shanshancai investigatingtheperformanceofadsorptionchilleroperatingunderfluctuatingheatsourceconditions
AT hongyangxu investigatingtheperformanceofadsorptionchilleroperatingunderfluctuatingheatsourceconditions
AT songli investigatingtheperformanceofadsorptionchilleroperatingunderfluctuatingheatsourceconditions
AT zhengkaitu investigatingtheperformanceofadsorptionchilleroperatingunderfluctuatingheatsourceconditions