Experimental investigation of adsorption water desalination/cooling system using CPO-27Ni MOF

Although many adsorbent materials have been used in adsorption systems, only silica-gel was tested experimentally for desalination applications. This work experimentally and numerically investigates the use of CPO-27(Ni) an advanced Metal Organic Framework-MOF adsorbent material in a 1-bed adsorption system for water desalination and cooling applications. Operating parameters as switching time, half cycle time, evaporator and condenser water inlet temperatures were studied to investigate their effects on cycle water production and cooling. Moreover, a mathematical simulation model is developed, validated and used to predict cycle outputs at other operating conditions. Results showed that as evaporator temperature increases and condenser temperature decreases, cycle outputs increase. Also, it was shown that adsorption desalination cycles can work with condenser pressure lower than evaporator pressure as the cycle is an open loop one (i.e. no refrigerant is flowing back from condenser to evaporator). A water production of 22.8 m3/tonne·ads/day was achieved using 40 °C evaporator temperature, 5 °C condenser temperature and 95 °C desorption temperature. Similar water production can be achieved using 30 °C condensing temperature but at 120 °C desorption temperature. For space cooling applications (Tevap < 20 °C), cycle cooling produced was found to be 65 Rton/tonne·ads. This work highlights the potential of using advanced MOF materials for water desalination/ cooling applications.