Ramp Wave Analysis of the Solid/Vapor Heat Pump

A theramlly driven heat pump using a solid/vapor adsorption/desorption compression process in a vapor compression cycle is thermodynamically analyzed. The cycle utilizes a simple heat transfer fluid circulating loop for heating and cooling of two solid adsorbent beds. This heat transfer fluid loop also serves to transmit heat recovered from the adsorbing bed being cooled to the desorbing bed being heated. This heat recovery process greatly improves the efficiency of the single-stage solid/vapor adsorption process without the complication of a two-stage cycle. During the heating and cooling processes a thermal wave profile travels through the beds. Previous studies of this cycle used a square wave model to simulate the thermal wave front. This paper utilizes a more physically realistic ramp wave model to overcome the shortcomings of the square wave model. The ramp wave model is integrated into a thermodynamic cycle which provides detailed information on the performance of the beds as well as the COP and the heating and cooling outputs of the heat pump system. Significant cycle design and operating parameters are varied to determine their effect on cycle performance.