Using Effective Heat and Mass Transfer Resistances and Characteristic Temperature Differences to Predict Performance of Adsorptive Heat Transformation Devices - a Simple and Robust Approach

Adsorptive heat transformation (AHT) devices can be used in thermal energy storage, thermally driven heat pumps and chillers, and heat upgrading applications. Usually, the prediction of efficiency and heat flow rates requires transient numerical modelling. This means a high effort for preliminary evaluations of AHT devices. To accelerate the design process we propose a simple and robust approach by linking methods from basic heat exchanger theory with a characteristic temperature difference and effective heat and mass transfer resistances for adsorption modules. With this approach the performance of AHT devices can be predicted for quick evaluation of their potential. In this study we demonstrate the applicability to adsorption modules for thermally driven heat pumps and chillers, thermal energy storage, and heat upgrading.