Adsorption properties of a natural zeolite–water pair for use in adsorption cooling cycles

The equilibrium adsorption capacity of water on a natural zeolite has been experimentally determined at different zeolite temperatures and water vapor pressures for use in an adsorption cooling system. The Dubinin–Astakhov adsorption equilibrium model is fitted to experimental data with an acceptable error limit. Separate correlations are obtained for adsorption and desorption processes as well as a single correlation to model both processes. The isosteric heat of adsorption of water on zeolite has been calculated using the Clausius–Clapeyron equation as a function of adsorption capacity. The cyclic adsorption capacity swing for different condenser, evaporator and adsorbent temperatures is compared with that for the following adsorbent–refrigerant pairs: activated carbon–methanol; silica gel–water; and, zeolite 13X–water. Experimental results show that the maximum adsorption capacity of natural zeolite is nearly 0.12 kgw/kgad for zeolite temperatures and water vapor pressures in the range 40–150 °C and 0.87–7.38 kPa.