Mass recovery four-bed adsorption refrigeration cycle with energy cascading

The study investigates the performance of a four-bed, silica gel-water mass recovery adsorption refrigeration cycle with energy cascading. In an adsorption refrigeration cycle, the pressures in adsorber and desorber are different. The mass recovery cycle utilizes the pressure difference to enhance the refrigerant mass circulation. Proposed cycle has three main characteristics; (1) The cycle consists of two single-stage cycles. (2) Hot and cooling water is used in each single-stage cycle with cascading. (3) Adsorber/desorber heat exchanger of one cycle is connected with another adsorber/desorber heat exchanger of other cycle. Specific cooling power (SCP) and coefficient of performance (COP) were calculated by cycle simulation computer program to analyze the influences of operating conditions. The proposed cycle was compared with the single-stage cycle in terms of SCP and COP. The results show that SCP and COP of proposed cycle with cascading chilled water are superior to that of conventional, single-stage cycle and the proposed cycle has high advantage at low heat source temperature.