EXPERIMENTAL DETERMINATION OF

ADSORPTION PARAMETERS OF
ADSORPTION SYSTEMS
Guided by:

Submitted by:

Bushair. C. V
10402030
Faazil. A. R
10402034
Navas. S
Sree Chitra Thirunal
College of Engineerin
10402042

Dr. Baiju. V
Asst. Professor.
Dept of Mechanical Engg.
SCTCE.

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 (70-80C)

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,
= Mass (m) / Volume (V)
m = i x V
mri = i (P1T1) x Vtank
where, Vtank is already known.
mrf = f x V
mrf = f (P2T2) x Vtank
Therefore, mr(leaving) = mri - mrf

Cntd
mrpipeline = r (P, T) x Vpipeline
mrvoidvolume = r (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

experimental

activated

system,

carbon.

adsorption

Using

the

parameters

above
can

be

calculated. Calculation of these adsorption parameters help

us in many applications.

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