Numerical analysis of heat and mass transfer characteristics of ethanol adsorption heat pump composed of Plate Super Activated Carbon (PSAC) and heat transfer sheet

Heat and mass transfer characteristics of an adsorber, composed of an ethanol Adsorption Heat Pump (AHP) of Plate Super Activated Carbon (PSAC), and a heat transfer sheet, are evaluated numerically. The relation of ethanol adsorption range and cycle time for effective AHP operation are also studied. Numerical results of temperature change and amount adsorbed, by use of a proposed model of one -dimensional mass balance and two-dimensional heat balance, are well fitted to the results of experiments on account of a contact resistance between PSAC and sheet. Cold heat output under several temperature conditions can be estimated by use of this model. Cycle time for maximum output under several ethanol operation ranges are found. An AHP with PSAC has high cold heat generating power as much as silica-gel/water AHP, which is enough for practical use, more than 0.3 kW.kg(-1).