A novel dual pressure-temperature interpolation model for mathematically exact adsorption equilibrium for performance simulation of integrated absorption-adsorption refrigeration system using the MIL-101(Cr)/ water pair.

None of the adsorption equilibrium models for both conventional and non-conventional adsorbent materials reported so far in literature represent a close-to-exact correlation with the equilibrium isotherm measured via experimentation. This not only affects the accuracy of performance simulation of adsorption refrigeration system negatively but also the subsequent assessment of feasibility of the system in commercial applications. A dual pressure-temperature interpolation model resulting in a close-to-exact degree of correlation with experimentally acquired equilibrium isotherm greater than all the previously reported models has been proposed which is applicable to both conventional and non-conventional adsorbent materials. Based on the proposed experimentally validated model, the numerical performance prediction of an integrated absorption-adsorption refrigeration system with a hydrostable Metal Organic Framework, MIL-101(Cr), as adsorbent and water as refrigerant has been presented. In addition, a completely novel model to accurately predict the transient dynamics of mass recovery cycle has further been developed. Results demonstrate that the refrigeration system based on the proposed adsorption equilibrium model for the silica-gel/water pair is characterized by a coefficient of performance numerically predicted to be 152 % and 115 % greater than the corresponding system based on the MIL101(Cr)/water pair in the stand-alone and integrated configurations respectively. The outcome of the study suggests that MOFs can turn out to be outstanding potential adsorbents for adsorption refrigeration systems provided the intrinsic deficiency of lower thermal conductivity can be resolved without compromising their inherent water uptake.