EXERGY ANALYSIS OF AN OPEN-MODE ADSORPTIVE HEAT STORAGE UNIT BASED ON COMPOSITE ADSORBENT ‘SILICA GEL – CRYSTALLINE HYDRATE’

Exergy analysis of an open-mode adsorptive heat storage unit has been performed when a composite ‘silica gel – crystalline hydrate’ used as an adsorbent. The crucial factors affecting the exergy efficiency factor are stated to be temperature and initial humidity of airflow supplied to the inlet of adsorbent layer, temperature of external air and methods of air flow humidification. Procedure of calculation of the operating characteristics of an open-mode adsorptive heat storage device was further developed. The suggested procedure involves determination of adsorption, specific adsorption heat and final airflow temperature, useful heat, heat inputs for operating heat storage device and its efficiency factor, then exergy recovered, exergy supplied and exergy efficiency are calculated. Exergy efficiency depends on characteristics of flow of humid air fanned into the adsorbent layer such as temperature and initial absolute humidity which strongly affect the adsorption and final airflow temperatures. Increase of initial temperature of the humid air leads to decreasing of the exergy efficiency. Maximal values of exergy efficiency are determined at the absolute humidity and temperatures of initial airflow within the ranges of 0.03 – 0.04 kg/m3 and 20 – 30ºC, respectively. These characteristics are corresponded to the maximal airflow temperatures after passing through the adsorbent layer which meet to the Sanitary Regulations. Dependence of exergy efficiency vs. external air temperature and initial airflow temperature is shown. The exergy efficiencies of the open-mode adsorptive heat storage unit with steam and ultrasonic humidification were compared. Ultrasonic humidification is shown to allow increasing the exergy efficiency by 7 % against steam humidification. The obtained results can be used when energy-efficient heat and ventilation systems for residential premises developed.