STUDY OF THE INFLUENCE OF MASS TRANSFER FACTOR k OF EVAPORATOR ON THE PERFORMANCE OF SOLAR ADSORPTION REFRIGERATOR OPERATING WITH SILICAGEL/WATER COUPLE

The objective of this study is to determine the influence of the mass transfer coefficient k of the evaporator on the performance of an adsorption solar refrigerator operating with silica gel/water couple. Indeed, this intrinsic parameter of the evaporator, related to its geometry and thermo-physical parameters, plays a very important role in the cold production process. This study shows that for a higher value of k, the temperatures of the refrigerant and the adsorbent are lower, proof that cooling is more efficient. In addition, the COP is higher and the refrigerant fraction in the adsorbent is larger, reflecting the fact that a large amount of refrigerant could be evaporated and thus the cooling is better. Also, the parameter k directly depends on the characteristic length of the evaporator and the difference in mass concentration of the refrigerant in the evaporator and the adsorbent.