Performance prediction on a resorption cogeneration cycle for power and refrigeration with energy storage

Energy conversion technologies, especially for power generation and refrigeration, driven by the low temperature heat source are gathering the momentum recently. This paper presents a novel cogeneration cycle combining power and refrigeration with energy storage function. MnCl2-CaCl2-NH3 is selected as the working pair. Phase change materials of "50 wa NaNO3 + 50 wt% KNO3" and "65 mol% capric acid + 35 mol% lauric acid" are chosen for heat and cold storage, respectively. Heat and mass transfer property of composite adsorbents are investigated, and isentropic efficiency of scroll expander is tested by compressed air. Based on experimental results, a cogeneration system with power of 300 W maximum and cooling power of 2 kW is designed and analyzed. Analysis shows that total energy efficiency of cogeneration system increases from 0.316 to 0.376 and energy efficiency decreases from 0.402 to 0.391 when evaporation temperature increases from -10 to 20 degrees C. Cold releasing process is able to last 91 mm with cold storage function. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.