Performance of an adsorption cooling system using MOF-303 adsorbent: Mathematical modelling using experimentally measured properties

Adsorption cooling systems (ACS) offer several advantages over traditional vapor compression systems, primarily due to their sustainability and compatibility with renewable energy sources. As published previously, Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), particularly MOF-303, present superior sorption properties in water-related applications compared to conventional adsorbents like silica gel. Key benefits of MOFs include higher surface area, tunable pore sizes, and enhanced adsorption capacities, which help in enhancing the efficiency and overall cooling system performance. MOF-303, in particular, has demonstrated high water vapor adsorption capacity under atmospheric conditions and rapid diffusion rates, making it a promising candidate for (ACS) applications. This study experimentally investigates the water vapor diffusion rates of MOF-303 and theoretically evaluates the performance of a two-bed adsorption cooling cycle using cyclic lumped modeling. The experimental results indicate that MOF-303 exhibits an adsorption rate approximately seven times greater than that of silica gel. A comparative analysis shows that MOF-303 has a significantly higher capacity for both the adsorption and desorption of water vapor, which directly enhances the cooling cycle performance. Operating at heating water temperatures between 75 °C and 90 °C, MOF-303 achieves a maximum coefficient of performance (COP) of 0.62, increasing by 13 % compared to silica gel. Specific cooling power (SCP) also improves significantly, rising from 440 W/kg to 970 W/kg as the heating water temperature increases. Chilled water mass flow rate enhancements further increase COP and SCP, with values reaching 0.63 and 952 W/kg, respectively, at 2.5 kg/s.