Experiment of Adsorption Refrigeration System Using Activated Carbon and Propane as the Working Pair

In this paper, the experiment is performed on adsorption refrigeration system by using activated carbon and propane as the working pair. Two adsorption beds are used to make the refrigeration system working continuously. Each adsorption bed is filled with activated carbon around 2 kg, and refrigerant 0.4 kg or 0.7 liters. Propane is the natural hydrocarbon have no toxicity, zero ozone depletion potential, lower global warming potential and very good compatibility with other components but it is very flammable refrigerant. One more thing, it can be classified as the R-290 and can be substituted R-502 and R-22 so that it is very suitable to be used as adsorbate (refrigerant). In heating and cooling processes of the adsorption beds, the heating water 100°C and cooling water 15°C are required. Based on the experimental data, the continuous adsorption refrigeration system provides coefficient of performance, specific cooling power, cooling capacity and cycle time around 0.15, 2.35 W/kg adsorbent, 50 kJ and 3h30 min, respectively. Moreover, experimental data indicates that it is very clearly to raise the performance or reduce the cycle time of the adsorption refrigeration system, the cooling water temperature should be lower to decrease adsorption temperature and the heating water temperature should be higher to increase desorption temperature in the same cycle time.