DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND TESTING OF A ZEOLITE-WATER SOLAR ADSORPTION REFRIGERATOR
DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND TESTING OF A ZEOLITE-WATER SOLAR ADSORPTION REFRIGERATOR
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Date
2008-06
Authors
ITYONA, AMBER
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Abstract
A simple solar energy powered intermittent adsorption refrigeration system was
designed,
fabricated and tested. The system uses a Zeolite as the adsorberand water as the
working fluid. The heat sourceis a parabolic trough concentratorwhich is to collect and
concentrate solar thermal energy onto a black bodycoated copper absorber. The
generator drives the refrigerant around the system through a condenser and an
evaporatorto complete the refrigeration cycle. Two set of test were carried out and
different times of the year, one in January 2008 a month with the lowest solar
irradiation and the second set in May 2008. The system was evaluated by leaving it
outside under solar radiation and monitoringtemperatures at various points on the the
generator, condenser and the evaporator through the useof thermocouple sensors. The
first test carried out revealed that the average highest and lowest temperaturesonthe
solar collector were57.2oC and 11.5°C respectively. The average lowestrefrigeration
temperature was 18°C. No cooling effect was actually produced due to the period
testing was carried out and imperfection in the fabrication process. The Zeolite was
produced in locally with a pore size of 4
and a regenerative temperature of 250oC. The second test carried out in May 2008 produced a cooling effect by making small changes
on the system. An evaporator temperature of 9oC was attained which linearly increased
to a maximum of 28oC as the day advanced. Maximum absorber temperature of 64oC
was attained over the test period.TGA and DTA confirmed the regenerative temperature
to be at 200oC and to be thermally stable at 600oC.
Description
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
NIGERIA
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
NIGERIA
JUNE, 2008
Keywords
DESIGN,, CONSTRUCTION,, TESTING,, ZEOLITE,, WATER,, SOLAR,, ADSORPTION,, REFRIGERATOR,