OpenSorp -Open absorption storage systems for heating of residential buildings and for air drying applications

Short description

The research in the OpenSorp project is based on liquid desiccant technology in an open absorption cycle for air drying, air conditioning, and heating of buildings. The project can be divided into different sub-categories; those are: 1. evaluation of different system concepts, 2. design, construction, and experimental analysis of components and systems, 3. development of hygroscopic fluids (desiccants), 4. detailed modelling, and 5. detailed experimental investigation of heat and mass transfer. An open absorption system consists of the main components: absorber, regenerator, storage tanks, and heat exchangers. Humid air is dried in the absorber with help of a desiccant (for example, LiBr-H2O, LiCl-H2O, or CaCl2-H2O, a salt-water mixture) and is simultaneously heated by the heat release during the condensation of water vapor. Regarding the aimed application, the air can be used for drying and/or heating purposes. The diluted soultion is re-concentrated in the regenerator, where it is heated to increase its water vapor pressure. The heating water for the regeneration process can be supplied from solar flat-plate collectors or by a waste heat source. In that way, the energy can be stored for a long-term as a concentrated desiccant solution in a thermochemical energy storage form. In the case of heat demand, the stored energy can be extreacted in the absorber through water vapour absorption process.

 

Within this project, a new test environment was set up in the laboratory. Three handling units were installed to control the required conditions of all circulated fluids for the absorption and the regeneration experimental setup. The handling units emulated predefined boundary conditions (flow rates, temperatures, and mass fractions) in order to study the dynamic behavior of the sorption systems. In addition, the test facility is equipped with an infrared thermal imaging camera and test-rig for detailed information on the temperature distribution over the absorber and regenerator exchange surface. Furthermore, high precision calorimetry is utilized for the development of new sorbents.

 

A mobile demonstration plant was accomplished for drying applications and namely for drying hay bales. In the demonstration plant was installed in an agricultural Domain in Frankenhausen- North Hesse in Germany. The target of this demonstration plant was to dry baled hay from the neighborhood.  The hay is baled with a moisture content of about 26 %. The moisture content needs to be reduced to about 10-12% before stored so that it can be processed and safely stored for increased periods of time.

A detailed numerical model (finite difference method) as well an effectiviness model was developed for the description of the heat- and mass transfer in the absorber and the regenerator. The project is financed by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) in the framework of the subsidy initiative “Energy Storage”.

 

Duration

09.2012 - 09.2017


Support

Supported by Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung

Förderkennziffer: 03SF0444