Experimental study of silica gel/water adsorption cooling system using a modified adsorption bed

In the present work, an experimental study of a modified adsorption refrigeration unit is obtained. Silica gel and water are used as a working pair in the adsorption refrigeration unit. Hot air is used for silica gel regeneration. The effect of evaporator pressure, evaporator inlet water temperature, initial silica gel temperature, and hot air regeneration temperature and mass flow rate on the unit coefficient of performance is studied. It has been found that increase of hot air regeneration temperature and inlet evaporator temperature increases the unit refrigeration capacity and coefficient of performance. On the other hand, a decrease of silica gel temperature and evaporator pressure increases the unit refrigeration capacity and coefficient of performance. The results confirm that this kind of adsorption chiller is an effective refrigerating machine; it can be used for air conditioning or producing chilling water since it makes a reduction in the chilling water temperature more than 10 degrees C in minutes.