Progress in the development of solid gas sorption refrigeration thermodynamic cycle driven by low-grade thermal energy

Heat-powered solid gas sorption refrigeration technology has been regarded as one of the effective methods for reutilization of low-grade thermal energy such as industrial waste heat, renewable energy, and exhaust gases from engines. A number of advanced solid sorption refrigeration systems have been developed to improve energy efficiency by reducing the primary energy consumption as the recognition of energy saving. These advanced solid sorption refrigeration cycles mainly include heat recovery sorption cycle, mass recovery sorption cycle, mass and heat recovery sorption cycle, double/multi-effect sorption cycle, combined double-way sorption cycle, double-effect and double-way sorption cycle, two/multi-stage sorption cycle, etc. In this paper, the progress in the development of solid gas sorption refrigeration thermodynamic cycle is reviewed. The operating principles of these advanced solid gas sorption refrigeration cycles are introduced in detail, and the representative working performances of different sorption refrigeration cycles are presented and compared. Moreover, the key problems of advanced sorption refrigeration cycles are described and discussed. Finally, the future development of solid gas sorption refrigeration cycle is also proposed. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.