A non-lumped dynamic simulation method of sorption compressor for sorption cryocooler

•Set up a non-lumped dynamic model of sorption compressor.•The model is simulated based on Fluent and goes well with Prakash’s experimental results.•Detailed study of thermal gradient and non-equilibrium adsorption/desorption conditions is carried out.

A dynamic analysis of sorption compressor is motivated by the design of a practical sorption compressor. In this paper a non-lumped dynamic simulation method based on a non-isothermal parameter has been developed. An algorithm for simulating the dynamic behaviors of sorption compressor involving mass and energy transport is described and is calculated using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The calculated time-dependent pressure and temperature across the sorption compressor are obtained and verified by experiments. Then, the effects of thermal gradient and non-equilibrium adsorption–desorption on the net gas outflow from the sorption compressor are also investigated. It is shown that thermal gradient and non-equilibrium adsorption–desorption can significantly affect the net gas outflow with the same total heat input.