Monolithic Zirconium-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks for Energy-Efficient Water Adsorption Applications

Space cooling and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) accounts for roughly 10% of global electricity use and are responsible for ca. 1.13 gigatonnes of CO₂ emissions annually. Adsorbent-based HVAC technologies have long been touted as an energy-efficient alternative to traditional refrigeration systems. However, thus far, no suitable adsorbents have been developed which overcome the drawbacks associated with traditional sorbent materials such as silica gels and zeolites. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) offer order-of-magnitude improvements in water adsorption and regeneration energy requirements. However, the deployment of MOFs in HVAC applications has been hampered by issues related to MOF powder processing. Herein, three high-density, shaped, monolithic MOFs (UiO-66, UiO-66-NH₂ , and Zr-fumarate) with exceptional volumetric gas/vapor uptake are developed-solving previous issues in MOF-HVAC deployment. The monolithic structures across the mesoporous range are visualized using small-angle X-ray scattering and lattice-gas models, giving accurate predictions of adsorption characteristics of the monolithic materials. It is also demonstrated that a fragile MOF such as Zr-fumarate can be synthesized in monolithic form with a bulk density of 0.76 gcm^-3 without losing any adsorption performance, having a coefficient of performance (COP) of 0.71 with a low regeneration temperature (≤ 100 °C).

Four-Objective Optimizations of a Single Resonance Energy Selective Electron Refrigerator

According to the established model of a single resonance energy selective electron refrigerator with heat leakage in the previous literature, this paper performs multi-objective optimization with finite-time thermodynamic theory and NSGA-II algorithm. Cooling load (R¯), coefficient of performance (ε), ecological function (ECO¯), and figure of merit (χ¯) of the ESER are taken as objective functions. Energy boundary (E′/kB) and resonance width (ΔE/kB) are regarded as optimization variables and their optimal intervals are obtained. The optimal solutions of quadru-, tri-, bi-, and single-objective optimizations are obtained by selecting the minimum deviation indices with three approaches of TOPSIS, LINMAP, and Shannon Entropy; the smaller the value of deviation index, the better the result. The results show that values of E′/kB and ΔE/kB are closely related to the values of the four optimization objectives; selecting the appropriate values of the system can design the system for optimal performance. The deviation indices are 0.0812 with LINMAP and TOPSIS approaches for four-objective optimization (ECO¯−R¯−ε−χ¯), while the deviation indices are 0.1085, 0.8455, 0.1865, and 0.1780 for four single-objective optimizations of maximum ECO¯, R¯, ε, and χ¯, respectively. Compared with single-objective optimization, four-objective optimization can better take different optimization objectives into account by choosing appropriate decision-making approaches. The optimal values of E′/kB and ΔE/kB range mainly from 12 to 13, and 1.5 to 2.5, respectively, for the four-objective optimization.

Experimental Study on a Multi-Evaporator Refrigeration System Equipped with EEV-Based Ejector

This study presents an experimental rig of a multi-evaporator refrigeration system, in which the pressure difference between two evaporators can be maintained by using both the pressure-regulating valve (PRV) and electronic expansion valve (EEV)-based ejector. The proposed EEV-based ejector that is used to partially recover the throttling losses of the PRV consists of an EEV and the main body of an ejector. The established experimental system can work in both PRV-based mode and ejector-based mode by switching the valves. Via experimental means, the performances of both modes were evaluated by varying the cooling loads. Moreover, the effects of the spindle-blocking area percentage of the EEV-based ejector and the condensing temperature on the system performance were identified. The results showed that: (1) the system performance of the ejector-based mode was 3.6% higher than the PRV-based mode; (2) both entrainment ratio and coefficient of performance dropped along with the increase in ejector spindle-blocking area percentage; (3) compared to ejector spindle-blocking area percentage, the condensing temperature had a more evident influence on the system performance.

Effect of a Heating System Using a Ground Source Geothermal Heat Pump on Production Performance, Energy-Saving and Housing Environment of Pigs

Simple Summary

A geothermal heat pump (GHP) was installed in a pig house, and production performance, housing environment, energy efficiency, noxious and carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas emissions, and economics were compared between GHP and the control (conventional heating). The CO₂ gas emission, usage, and cost of electricity were reduced in the GHP-installed pig house. The GHP also maintained the inside temperature of the pig house more effectively. Furthermore, the concentration of noxious gas (NH₃) was also lower during the growing and finishing phase in the GHP-installed pig house. Therefore, the results indicate that the GHP system can be used for sustainable pig production and food security as a climate-friendly renewable energy source for livestock.

Abstract

This study examined the effects of a heating system using a ground source geothermal heat pump (GHP). A GHP was installed in a pig house, and a comparative analysis was performed between the GHP and the control (conventional heating system) in terms of the production performance, housing environment, noxious gas emissions, electricity consumption, and economics. The geothermal system performance index, such as the coefficient of performance (COP), inlet, and outlet temperature, were also evaluated. The outflow temperature during each period (weaning, growing, and finishing) was significantly higher than the inflow temperature in all three components of the GHP system. Similarly, the average internal temperature of the GHP-connected pig house was increased (p < 0.05) during each period. The carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration, electricity usage, and cost of electricity during the 16-week experimental period were reduced significantly in the GHP system relative to the control. The concentrations of ammonia (NH₃) during the growing and finishing period and the concentrations of formaldehyde during the weaning phase were also lower in the GHP-installed pig house (p < 0.05). These results indicate that the GHP system can be used as an environmentally friendly renewable energy source in pig houses for sustainable pig production without harming the growth performance.

Application of a Clapeyron-Type Equation to the Volume Phase Transition of Polymer Gels

The applicability of the Clapeyron equation to the volume phase transition of cylindrical poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-based gels under external force is reviewed. Firstly, the equilibrium conditions for the gels under tension are shown, and then we demonstrate that the Clapeyron equation can be applied to the volume phase transition of polymer gels to give the transition entropy or the transition enthalpy. The transition enthalpy at the volume phase transition obtained from the Clapeyron equation is compared with that from the calorimetry. A coefficient of performance, or work efficiency, for a gel actuator driven by the volume phase transition is also defined. How the work efficiency depends on applied force is shown based on a simple mechanical model. It is also shown that the force dependence of transition temperature is closely related to the efficiency curve. Experimental results are compared with the theoretical prediction.

Screening of Covalent-Organic Frameworks for Adsorption Heat Pumps

Exploring high-performing adsorption-driven heat pumps (AHPs) remains a challenging task owing to the low working capacity, high regeneration temperature, and low energy efficiency of conventional adsorbents. Quick discovery of the novel promising adsorbents could help to improve the coefficient of performance of AHPs for heating (COP_H) and cooling (COP_C). Herein, we reported an approach to identify the high-performing covalent-organic frameworks (COFs) for heating, cooling, and ice making by high-throughput computational screening based on grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations and, for the first time, machine learning. It was demonstrated that compared with metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), COFs were more suitable adsorbents of AHPs for cooling because of their weak interaction toward ethanol that favors stepwise adsorption. Structure-property relationship analysis revealed that the average enthalpy of adsorption commensurate with the enthalpy of evaporation will benefit the performance of AHPs besides the high working capacity and low step positions of adsorption isotherms. In order to reduce the computational cost of screening, a random forest model was developed to successfully predict the COP_C of both COFs and MOFs.

Porous Metal-Organic Framework CUK-1 for Adsorption Heat Allocation toward Green Applications of Natural Refrigerant Water

The development of new water adsorbents that are hydrothermally stable and can operate more efficiently than existing materials is essential for the advancement of water adsorption-driven chillers. Most of the existing benchmark materials and related systems in this field suffer from clear limitations that must be overcome to meet global requirements for sustainable and green energy production and utilization. Here, we report the energy-efficient water sorption properties of three isostructural metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) based on the simple ligand pyridine-2,4-dicarboxylate, named M-CUK-1 [M₃(μ₃-OH)₂(2,4-pdc)₂] (where M = Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, or Mg²⁺). The highly hydrothermally stable CUK-1 series feature step-like water adsorption isotherms, relatively high H₂O sorption capacities between P/P₀ = 0.10-0.25, stable cycling, facile regeneration, and, most importantly, benchmark coefficient of performance values for cooling and heating at a low driving temperature. Furthermore, these MOFs are prepared under green hydrothermal conditions in aqueous solutions. Our joint experimental-computational approach revealed that M-CUK-1 integrates several optimal features, resulting in promising materials as advanced water adsorbents for adsorption-driven cooling and heating applications.

Performance of Introducing Outdoor Cold Air for Cooling a Plant Production System with Artificial Light

The commercial use of a plant production system with artificial light (PPAL) is limited by its high initial construction and operation costs. The electric-energy consumed by heat pumps, applied mainly for cooling, accounts for 15-35% of the total electric-energy used in a PPAL. To reduce the electric-energy consumption, an air exchanger with low capacity (180 W) was used for cooling by introducing outdoor cold air. In this experiment, the indoor air temperature in two PPALs (floor area: 6.2 m(2) each) was maintained at 25 and 20°C during photoperiod and dark period, respectively, for lettuce production. A null CO2 balance enrichment method was used in both PPALs. In one PPAL (PPALe), an air exchanger (air flow rate: 250 m(3)·h(-1)) was used along with a heat pump (cooling capacity: 3.2 kW) to maintain the indoor air temperature at the set-point. The other PPAL (PPALc) with only a heat pump (cooling capacity: 3.2 kW) was used for reference. Effects of introducing outdoor cold air on energy use efficiency, coefficient of performance (COP), electric-energy consumption for cooling and growth of lettuce were investigated. The results show that: when the air temperature difference between indoor and outdoor ranged from 20.2 to 30.0°C: (1) the average energy use efficiency of the air exchanger was 2.8 and 3.4 times greater than the COP of the heat pumps in the PPALe and PPALc, respectively; (2) hourly electric-energy consumption for cooling in the PPALe reduced by 15.8-73.7% compared with that in the PPALc; (3) daily supply of CO2 in the PPALe reduced from 0.15 to 0.04 kg compared with that in the PPALc with the outdoor air temperature ranging from -5.6 to 2.7°C; (4) no significant difference in lettuce growth was observed in both PPALs. The results indicate that using air exchanger to introduce outdoor cold air should be considered as an effective way to reduce electric-energy consumption for cooling with little effects on plant growth in a PPAL.