Development of adsorption steam generator from warm water

Abstract

Reducing CO 2 emissions and restraining dependence on nuclear power generation are serious concerns in the prevention of global warming since the Great East Japan Earthquake. To do so, it is necessary to use and expand green energy such as solar energy and to promote energy conservation. However in high-latitude regions, it is difficult to directly and effectively use solar power due to on insufficient amount of solar radiation. If steam can be generated from warm water at less than 373 K, it is possible to obtain steam by solar water heaters from weak solar radiation, hot springs and industrial waste warm water without the consumption of any fossil fuels. In this study, the authors have been developing a system which generates steam over 423K from warm water at less than 373 K using an adsorption heat pump with a zeolite. Therefore, improved bench-scale equipment which generates steam continuously and the experimental results are mentioned.