Experimental investigation of adsorption water desalination/cooling system using CPO-27Ni MOF

Although many adsorbent materials have been used in adsorption systems, only silica-gel was tested experimentally for desalination applications. This work experimentally and numerically investigates the use of CPO-27(Ni) an advanced Metal Organic Framework (MOF) adsorbent material in a single bed adsorption system for water desalination and cooling applications. Operating parameters such as switching time, half cycle time, evaporator and condenser water inlet temperatures were studied to investigate their effects on cycle water production and cooling. In addition, a mathematical simulation is carried out and the model is validated and used to predict cycle outputs at other operating conditions. Results showed that as the evaporator temperature increases and condenser temperature decreases, cycle outputs increase. Also, it was shown that adsorption desalination cycles can work with condenser pressure lower than evaporator pressure as the cycle is an open loop one (i.e. no refrigerant is flowing back from condenser to evaporator). A water production of 22.8 m3/tonne ads/day was achieved using evaporator temperature of 40oC, condenser temperature of 5oC and desorption temperature of 95oC. Similar water production can be achieved using condensing temperature of 30oC but at desorption temperature of 122oC. For space cooling applications (Tevap<20oC), cycle cooling produced was found to be 65Rton/tonne adsorbent. This work highlights the potential of using advanced MOF materials for water desalination and cooling applications.