There is a significant amount of heat being wasted (20-50 percentage) in industries which can be further converted to work. An adsorption compressor is a device that uses nano-porous materials and can convert low pressure gas to high pressure gas by reusing the low grade waste heat available in industries. The pressure achieved by using such adsorption compressor can be further utilized to produce compressed air in the industries that accounts for 10 % of the energy consumption. This thesis explores the development and optimization of a waste heat-driven adsorption compressor to maximize power output and thermal efficiency. Experimental investigations compare the performance of plate heat exchanger (PHEX) and shell and tube heat exchanger (STHEX)- type reactors undergoing isothermal and adiabatic thermodynamic cycles, as well as the effects of heating and cooling water flow rate and adsorption pressure on reactor performance. Results showed that increasing mass flow rate of water and adsorption pressure slightly increased net work, power output, and thermal efficiency while decreasing the cycle time. Enhanced heat transfer rates due to higher water flow rates accelerated reactions inside the reactor, boosting the power output. Moreover, increasing adsorption pressure led to higher desorption pressure and expansion volume, resulting in improved net work, power, and thermal efficiency. Comparisons between reactor types revealed that STHEX-type reactor achieved higher net work over longer duration with lower power, while PHEX-type reactor exhibited lower net work over shorter duration with higher power. The study underscores the importance of operational parameters in optimizing reactor performance and highlights the potential for further enhancements in system efficiency through design modifications and operational adjustments. Additionally, the thesis discusses the broader implications of adsorption compressors in waste heat recovery applications, offering insights into their advantages, limitations, and future research directions.
