Ensay

Applied Thermal Engineering 27 (2007) 813–822 www.elsevier.com/locate/apthermeng

Review

Advances on multi-purpose solar adsorption systems for domestic refrigeration and water heating
M.A. Alghoul *, M.Y. Sulaiman, B.Z. Azmi, M.Abd. Wahab
Physics Department/Institute of Advanced Technology, University Putra Malaysia 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia Received 24 August 2005; accepted 15September 2006 Available online 28 November 2006

Abstract In this paper a review of the multi purpose solar adsorption systems is presented. Single solar adsorption system is normally designed for use as a refrigerator. Solar adsorption system can also be designed for dual purpose – as a refrigerator and a water heater. The system can also be operated intermittently or continuously. Inintermittent operation the cooling process takes place at night while in a continuous operation the process takes place in the day as well as at night. The various design of the solar adsorption systems reported in the literature thus far is presented. We begin by giving information on the vital components that make up the adsorption system. Ó 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Solarthermal; Adsorption refrigerator; Refrigeration cycles; Water heating; Dual system

Contents 1. 2. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adsorbate–adsorbent–adsorber bed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 2.1. Choice of adsorbate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2. Choice of adsorbent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.3. Adsorber bed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.3.1. Unconsolidated adsorbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.3.2. Coated adsorbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.3.3. Consolidated adsorbers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Solar adsorption refrigeration technology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.1. Single-purpose solar adsorption refrigeration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 3.1.1. Intermittent basic cycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.1.2. Activated carbon–methanol refrigeration systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.1.3. Commercial units of solar intermittent adsorption refrigeration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 3.1.4. Continuous adsorption refrigeration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.2. Dual-purpose solar adsorption systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.2.1. Intermittent adsorption system for domestic refrigeration and hot water . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.2.2. Continuous adsorption systems for domestic refrigeration and hot water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 814 814 814 814 815 815 815 816 816 816 816 816 817 818 818 819 820

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