EXPERIMENTAL DETERMINATION OF

ADSORPTION PARAMETERS OF
ADSORPTION SYSTEMS

Submitted by:
Guided by:
Bushair. C. V
Dr. Baiju. V
10402030
Asst. Professor.
Faazil. A. R
Dept of Mechanical Engg.
10402034
SCTCE.
Navas. S
Sree Chitra Thirunal College of Engineerin
10402042
Aim of Project

 To experimentally determine the adsorption parameters

of adsorption systems.
 To study the effect of heat source temperature on
adsorption and desorption processes.
 To plot P-T-x diagrams of activated carbon-methanol
working pair.
Introduction

 Adsorption is the adhesion of atoms, ions,

or molecules from a gas, liquid, or dissolved solid to
a surface.
 Adsorption differs from absorption; in absorption, a
fluid (the absorbate) permeates or is dissolved by a liquid
or solid (the absorbent).
 Absorption & Adsorption -
Comparison
ABSORPTION ADSORPTION

Bulk phenomenon Surface phenomenon

Less affected by temperature Favorable at low temperature

Uniform rate Steadily increases and reach equilibrium

 Adsorption
 Adsorption is a surface-based process while absorption involves
the whole volume of the material.
 Adsorption is usually described through isotherms, that is, the
amount of adsorbate on the adsorbent as a function of its
pressure (if gas) or concentration (if liquid) at constant
temperature.
 Adsorption is present in many systems such as:
 Physical

 Biological

 Chemical
Working pairs- Adsorbate &
Adsorbent
Adsorbate Adsorbent

Sulphur Dioxide Silica Gel

Water Silica Gel

Ammonia Silica Gel

Methanol Activated Carbon

Ammonia Activaed Carbon

Water Zeolite

Water Zeolite
Characteristics of Activated Carbon

 Form of carbon
 Most widely accepted
 High porous surface
 Low adsorption heat (1800 to 2000 kJ/kg)
 Low desorption temperature (70-80˚C)
 Schematic of experimental system for
the study of adsorption parameters
 The experimental setup used for determining the adsorption parameters is
as shown in figure.

Fig 1. Experimental Setup

 Experimental System
 The apparatus consists of mainly 3 parts – storage tank 1,
storage tank 2 and an adsorbent bed immersed in a water tank.
 Adsorbent bed is activated carbon and adsorbate or refrigerant
is methanol.
 The storage tanks are connected with each other with the help of
pipelines.
 Pressure gauges and thermocouples are connected in each
pipelines and tanks to note the pressure and temperature at
regular interval of time.
 There are valves connected to each pipeline to control the flow
of refrigerant to tanks.
 Working
 Methanol is charged into the adsorbent bed through the
charging lines provided. The refrigerant vapour is allowed to
enter into the storage tank 1, by opening valve 3 and keeping
all the other valves closed. After sufficient time, valve 1 is
opened for the refrigerant to flow to the storage tank 2.
 Note down P, T at storage tank 2. Open the valve V2, allowing
the refrigerant to enter into the adsorbent bed. Note down the
pressure and temperature at pipeline, void volume, inside the
storage tank 2, at regular intervals of time.
 Cntd…
 The mass of the refrigerant adsorbed by the bed will be equal
to the difference between the mass of refrigerant that leaving
the storage tank and the mass of refrigerant remaining in the
pipeline and the void volume.
 Density, ρ = Mass (m) / Volume (V)
m = ρi x V
mri = ρi (P1T1) x Vtank
where, Vtank is already known.
mrf = ρf x V
mrf = ρf (P2T2) x Vtank
Therefore, mr(leaving) = mri - mrf
Cntd…
mrpipeline = ρr (P, T) x Vpipeline
mrvoidvolume = ρr (P1T1) x Vvoidvolume

Therefore, madsorbed = mleaving - mrpipeline - mrvoidvolume

or madsorbed = mleaving – (mrpipeline + mrvoidvolume)
From this, the amount of refrigerant adsorbed in the bed for a
given period of time can be determined.
Material Selection

 Adsorbent bed can be made by stainless steel.

 Tank is made up of Galvanized Iron.
 Pipes are made of copper.
Application
 Absorbent bed is the key component of the adsorption
systems.
 For the design of adsorbent bed, concentration is the most
important parameter.
 The pressure-temperature-concentration diagram of the
selected working pair (activated carbon – methanol and
methanol) is essential for the design of adsorption
refrigeration systems.
Conclusions
This paper presents the adsorption characteristics of
methanol and activated carbon. Using the above
experimental system, adsorption parameters can be
calculated. Calculation of these adsorption parameters help
us in many applications.
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