Influential factors and optimization analysis of adsorption refrigeration system performance

This paper reviews recent research on adsorption refrigeration systems. Common and new-type adsorbent–adsorbate working pairs for adsorption refrigeration are summarized and classified. The performance evaluating parameters such as the coefficient of performance and specific cooling power are analyzed for an adsorption refrigeration system, and the influential factors of adsorption refrigeration system performance are investigated from the adsorbent and adsorption bed, respectively. The factors from the adsorbent include the following: the adsorbent particle size, size of micropores inside the adsorbent, total porosity of the adsorbent, and adsorbent stability. Optimization methods for improving adsorbents’ stability are proposed, and four preparation methods for composite adsorbents are summarized. Methods for improving the performance of an adsorption refrigeration system from the adsorption bed are illustrated by examples, including increasing the heat exchange area, improving the surface coating technology, utilizing the heat pipe technology, and designing the multiple adsorption bed system. Among these factors, the working pairs of adsorption refrigeration play the most important role for the system performance, and developing the new type of composite adsorbent to improve the performance and stability is the effective strategy to optimize the system performance. This article also provides suggestions on recent progress and the innovation directions for an adsorption refrigeration system.