Characterization of Zeolite-based Coatings for Adsorption Heat Pumps

This book proposes a radically new approach for characterizing thermophysical and mechanical properties of zeolite-based adsorbent coatings for Adsorptive Heat Transformers (AHT). It presents a developed standard protocol for the complete characterization of advanced coated adsorbers. Providing an in-depth analysis of the different procedures necessary for evaluating the performance of adsorbers, it also presents an analysis of their stability under the hydrothermal and mechanical stresses during their entire life cycle.

Adsorptive Heat Transformers (AHT), especially adsorption chillers and heat pumps, are considered to be promising technologies to increase thermal energy efficiency. Nevertheless, an overall increase in performance of this apparatus is necessary for them to be considered a mature technology to be used commercially. Development of innovative coated adsorbers can be perceived as a key issue for the enhancement of AHT technology. This procedure relies on the deposition, either by means of a binder or by direct crystallization, of the adsorbent material over a metallic heat exchanger, aiming at the improvement of the heat transfer between the external heat source and the adsorbent itself.

This book offers a valuable resource to those working on the development of novel adsorbent materials and advanced adsorbent beds for heating and cooling applications. It is also intended for researchers interested in renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Dr.-Eng. Angelo Freni graduated in Materials Engineering at the University of Messina in 1998. He holds a Ph.D. in Materials and Chemical engineering from the University of Messina. He has been at the Italian National Council of Research - Institute for Advanced Energy Technologies (CNR-ITAE), Messina, since 1998. He has worked on thermally-driven heat pumps, heat and hydrogen storage, has published more than 130 printed papers in the field, plus 3 patents. He has been carrying out and leading scientific activities in the framework of National and International programs, in co-operation with industries and research groups. Currently, he is Head of the research group on “Thermally Driven Heat Pumps” at CNR ITAE. He is the Italian alternate delegate in the Executive Committee of the Heat Pump Programme of the International Energy Agency. He is member of the commission “E2 - Heat pumps, energy recovery” of the IIR – International Institute of Refrigeration.

 Dr.-Eng. Belal Dawoud graduated and got his M.Sc. degree in mechanical power engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, El-Menoufiya University, Egypt in 1993. He received his Dr.-Ing. Degree in energy engineering from RWTH-Aachen University, Germany in 1999. Till December 2005, he worked as a post doctor and research group leader for thermal applications of solar and sorption technologies at the institute of technical thermodynamics of RWTH-Aachen University. He has been an ASHRAE-Member since 2005 and since January 2006 he has been working at the Viessmann Werke in Allendorf/Eder, Germany as a project leader, group leader and since 2009 as a manager of research and development of thermally driven heat pumps (TDHPs). He published a book (VDI project final report) on the development of a gas driven zeolite adsorption heat pump in 2011 and more than 34 printed papers in the fields of adsorption and absorption heat pumps as well as greenhouse desalination and energy systems’analysis. In addition he has filed 34 patents in the field of TDHPs. He has been carrying out and leading scientific activities in the framework of National and International programs, in co-operation with industries and research groups. He is a member of the expert group responsible for issuing the European standard EN12309;2013 for evaluating the seasonal performance of gas-driven heat pumps. He has been participating in the IEA-Task 34 for TDHPs

 Dr.-Eng. Lucio Bonaccorsi graduated with an M.D.in Chemical Engineering from the University of Pisa, PhD in "Chemistry of Materials for Special Applications". He worked five years as process engineer for the UOP Molecular Sieves Spa, a partnership company of the UOP LLC group (1995-2000). M.D. “Six Sigma Process Improvement” on statistic methodologies for industrial experimentation (1997). In July 2000 he started working as Researcher Engineer in Material Science at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Messina. He is “associated professor” at the CNR-ITAE institute. The scientific activity of Dr.-Ing. Bonaccorsi mainly concerns the synthesis and characterization of microporous materials with conventional and microwave methodologies. He is author of more than 50 printed papers.

 Dipl.-Eng. Stefanie Chmielewski (Stefanie Lohmöller) studied energy engineering and graduated from RWTH-Aachen University, Germany in 2006. Her diploma thesis concerned the investigation of the evaporator size as well as the zeolite mixture and their influence on the potential of a two modular adsorption heat pump working with the thermal wave concept. Since 2006 she is working at the Viessmann Werke in Allendorf/Eder, Germany as a development engineer and since 2009 as a team leader for the development of a zeolite-water adsorption heat pump module. She contributed on several papers and patents in the field of TDHPs and co-authored a book (VDI project final report) on the development of a gasdriven zeolite adsorption heat pump in 2011. She has been participating in the IEA-Annex 34 for TDHPs

 Dr.-Eng. Andrea Frazzica graduated in Material Engineering at the University of Messina, Italy, in 2008. He completed his PhD in Chemical and Materials Engineering at the University of Messina in 2012. Currently he is working as post-doctor researcher at the Italian National Council of Research - Institute for Advanced Energy Technologies (CNR-ITAE), Messina. The scientific activity of Dr.-Eng. Andrea Frazzica is mainly focused on the development and characterization of adsorbent materials and components for TDHPs and on advanced materials and systems for thermal energy storage. He published more than 30 printed papers.

 Dr.-Eng. Luigi Calabrese is a researcher at the University of Messina. He graduated in Material Engineering, Messina, Italy in 1998, received a PhD in Materials Chemistry and Engineering from University of Messina, in 2002. Currently he is researcher in Material Science and technology area at the Department of Electronic, Industrial Chemistry and Engineering of the University of Messina. His major research interests are in the field of Materials Science and Technology, mainly in the composite coating area. Currently he is the author or co-author of more than 100 articles, including 34 articles in reviewed scientific journals and 40 articles in international conferences.

 Dr.-Eng. Giovanni Restuccia graduated in engineering. He is a researcher of the National Council of Research (CNR) Institute of Advanced Technologies for Energy (ITAE) since its establishment in the early 80 years. From 1997 to 2012 he managed the research group of ITAE on thermally driven heat pumps developing research projects supported by European Commission, international organisations and national public organizations or supported by private companies. He was component of the scientific committee of the national Department “Energyand Transportation” of the CNR. He is the Italian representative in the Executive Committee of the Heat Pump Programme of the International Energy Agency. Now he is director of ITAE. He is the author of more than 180 printed papers and 6 patents.