Zeolite heat pump for domestic heating

Various applications are discussed for the civil use of a device based on the adsorption/desorption of water vapour in a zeolite. Experimental work carried out with a testing system is described. Technical and economical development of such a system depends mainly on the solution of heat- and mass-transfer problems. To assess these problems, a special heat exchanger was designed and tested in a small-scale demonstration unit. We also describe the design procedure for a prototype heat exchanger and provide a description of a shell and finned-tube heat exchanger located in a zeolite bed. Details of plant assembly and experimental results are included. © 1988.