Adsorptiokylmäkoneet

Adsorptiokylmäkoneet, also known as adsorption chillers, are refrigeration devices that utilize the physical process of adsorption to create cooling. Unlike conventional vapor-compression systems that rely on mechanical compressors, adsorption chillers use a solid adsorbent material and a refrigerant, typically water. The cooling cycle is driven by a heat source, often waste heat or solar energy, rather than electricity used for compression.

The fundamental principle involves a closed loop containing the adsorbent and refrigerant. In one stage, the refrigerant vapor is adsorbed onto the surface of the adsorbent material, creating a low-pressure environment. This evaporation of refrigerant from the liquid phase absorbs heat, thus producing the desired cooling effect. In the next stage, the adsorbent is heated, releasing the adsorbed refrigerant as vapor. This vapor is then condensed back into a liquid and returned to the evaporator, completing the cycle.

Key components of an adsorption chiller include an evaporator, an adsorbent bed, a condenser, and a heat exchanger. The adsorbent material is often a porous solid like silica gel or zeolite. The heat source is used to regenerate the adsorbent, making the process amenable to utilizing low-grade thermal energy.

Adsorption chillers offer several advantages, including quiet operation, environmental friendliness due to the use of natural refrigerants like water, and the ability to operate using waste heat or renewable energy sources. However, they typically have lower cooling coefficients of performance (COP) compared to vapor-compression systems and can be bulkier. Their applications range from industrial process cooling and air conditioning to waste heat recovery and solar cooling systems.