Continuous sorption cooling in activated carbon-nitrogen system using metal foam as regenerator

[摘要] In compressor driven solid sorption process, cooling obtained from a desorbing bed (equivalent to an evaporator), is intermittent in nature. Intermittency can be avoided using multiple adsorbent columns. However, connecting a desorbing bed to heat source and adsorbing beds to heat sink in alternate cycles enhances operational complexity and constructional disadvantages. In a recent development, it has been seen that rapid and successive pressurization and depressurization of an adsorbent (solid) bed with adsorbate (gas) creates temperature differential across the column length. The presence of an orifice at the end opposite to gas entrance enhances the temperature gradient. By connecting the hot end to heat sink and the cold end to heat source permanently, one can substantially reduce the operational hazards associated with the intermittent sorption cooling processes. More recently, it has seen that the introduction of a regenerator in the process makes the cooling process more effective. Though the proposed sorption cooling process apparently looks similar to orifice type 'pulse tube' cooler, the former is intrinsically different than the other. In the present manuscript, experimental sorption cooling studies using of metal foam as regenerator has been discussed. Tests have been conducted near room temperature in activated carbon-nitrogen system.

[发布机构] Cryogenic Engineering Centre, IIT Kharagpur, India^1

[效力级别] 物理学 [学科分类] 材料科学（综合）

[关键词] Adsorbent columns;Compressor driven;Depressurizations;Near room temperature;Operational complexity;Operational hazards;Sorption cooling;Temperature differential