Predicted impact of collector and zeolite choice on the thermodynamic and economic performance of a solar-powered adsorption cooling system

Transient thermodynamic and capital cost models for an intermittent solar-powered adsorption cooling system are presented. The models are used to predict size and cost trends as the type of zeolite and collector, and maximum zeolite temperature (T-Z,T-Max), are varied. The best synthetic and natural zeolites considered have similar performance. The minimum cost system uses a flat plate collector for T-Z,T- Max < 160 degrees C and an evacuated tube collector for T-Z,T- Max > 160 degrees C. Collector costs dominate the system costs. In some cases, the zeolite's adsorption characteristics are predicted to exert a larger influence on system cost than the actual cost of the zeolite.