Heat Transfer in Adsorption Chillers with Fluidized Beds of Silica Gel, Zeolite, and Carbon Nanotubes

One of the main disadvantages of conventional fixed-bed adsorption chillers is the low coefficient of performance due to the high voidage of the sorbent beds. The common method, which can help to handle this problem, is modifying the beds' design, including the application of fluidization. An innovative idea, shown in the article, constitutes in the use of the fluidized bed of sorbent, instead of the conventional, fixed-bed, commonly used nowadays in the adsorption chillers. Bed-to-wall heat transfer coefficients for fixed and fluidized beds of adsorbent are determined in the study. Effects of Sorbent particles diameters and velocities of fluidizing gas are discussed in the study. The calculations confirmed that the bed-to-wall heat transfer coefficient in the fluidized bed of adsorbent is much higher than that in a conventional bed. The proposed idea allows significantly reducing the size of a chiller and overcome the main reason for the limited dissemination of the adsorption cooling technology.

Automated summary

One of the main drawbacks of conventional fixed-bed adsorption chillers is the low coefficient of performance due to high voidage of the sorbent beds. By using a fluidized bed of sorbent, improvements in heat transfer coefficient can be achieved, leading to a reduction in chiller size and overcoming limitations in the dissemination of adsorption cooling technology.