Development of an Adsorption Heat Pump System Driven by Low-Temperature Waste Heat Using MOF Adsorbents
This study aimed to investigate thermal performance of an adsorption heat pump system regenerated at the low temperature of 55 ? using MOF (Metal-Organic Framework) adsorbents. MOFs can exhibit a higher Specific Cooling Power (SCP) compared to conventional adsorbents such as silica gel, making them a promising option for reducing the volume of adsorption heat pump systems. In this study, an aluminum-based MOF adsorbent was synthesized, and its adsorption–desorption isotherms were measured. The SCP was maximized using a technique of coating adsorbents on the reactor surface, and a falling film evaporator was employed to improve the heat transfer coefficient through thin-film evaporation. A cooling cycle was confirmed to form under desorption at 55 °C and cooling water at 30 °C, producing cooling at 20 °C. It is expected that adsorption heat pump systems operating with such low-temperature desorption heat sources can enable the utilization of lowgrade waste heat—such as that from data centers—for cooling purposes.