OPEN GAS FIRED ADSORPTION HEAT PUMP FOR SPACE HEATING IN CONJUNCTION
WITH SOLAR COLLECTORS
A. Hauer and W. Dallmayer
ZAE Bayern, Center for Applied Energy Research, Munich, Germany, Tel: 089/356250-17, Fax: 089/356250-23
ABSTRACT
Zeolite adsorbs water in an exothermic reaction. Heat
of adsorption released in this process can be used for
space heating applications. An open gas fired adsorp-
tion heat pump based on this effect is able to utilize
solar gains in winter as well as latent heat of water
vapor produced in the building as low temperature
energy source. It can match the heating demand of a
low energy building and reduce the number of on/off
processes of a gas burner. The thermal coefficient of
performance of the system is between 1.05 and 1.63
depending on the availability of the low temperature
energy source. In addition the system can be used as a
solar desiccant cooling system in the summer with mi-
nor changes in construction.
1. Advantages of an Open Adsorption Heat Pump
The adsorption heat pump is based on the process of
water vapor adsorption on zeolite. The heat pump is
operated under ambient pressure in an open loop cou-
pled to the ambiance. During the sorption process an air
stream transports water vapor through a packed bed of
spherical zeolite pellets. This gas transports also heat in
and out of the zeolite bed. Heat delivered by a gas
burner drives the heat pump.
This system leads to a more effective use of primary
energy. The maximum thermal coefficient of perform-
ance is about 1.6. The adsorption heat pump can be
connected to a standard heating system.
Modern gas burners work very efficiently and produce a
small output of toxic combustion gases. This does not
hold, however, for the first minutes of their operation.
An adsorption heat pump reduces the number of on/off
processes, because of its integrated storage capacity.
Zeolite stores heat efficiently over long term. It im-
proves the performance of the heating system in spring
and autumn, when the climatic conditions cause an
intermittent heating demand.
Well insulated low energy buildings need gas burners
with low maximum thermal power of about 5 kW and
less (for single family houses). Minimum power of
available gas burners is about 10 kW. The power of
such a gas burner can be reduced without performance
losses by the proposed system.
In addition the components of the system can be used
for desiccant cooling. Since solar irradiation and cool-
ing demand are correlated, a solar operation of this
system is possible.
The adsorption heat pump is economically interesting.
All components are inexpensive, available and easy to
construct. Only a small amount (about 100 kg) of
Zeolite is necessary. The auxiliary energy demand for
ventilation is about 5 % of the thermal energy output.
2. The Heat Pump System
The heat pump system itself consists of four compo-
nents: The zeolite bed, the condensing heat exchanger,
the humidifier and the gas burner. In order to obtain a
realistic insight of the performance of the heat pump the
building and the heat recovery device should be also
considered. Figure 1 shows the heat pump system sche-
matically.
water
air
heating
system Zeolite
humidifier storage (solar)
heat
recovery gasburner building
ambience
Figure 1: Heat pump system
For the calculation of the COP the availability of the
low temperature energy source is crucial. In this context
it means, the solar installation - solar collectors and hot
water storage - is an integral part of the system consid-
ered.
In the following the building and the components of the
heat pump are introduced.
Building The adsorption heat pump is designed to
match the heating demand of a single-family house. The
maximum heat load is calculated for the meteorological
conditions of Munich/Germany (-16 °C for 24 hours).
Data of the building and the heating system are shown
in table 1.
Heated Building area 135 m²
Air Exchange rate 0.5 (ca. 140 m³/h)
Maximum Heat Load
Transmission Losses 25 W/m²
Ventilation Losses 16 W/m²
Averaged Heat Load 75 kWh/m² a
Heating System
Inlet/outlet Temperature 60 °C/ 40°C
Max. Heating Power 5.5 kW
Table 1: Building and heating system data
Zeolite Experiments with 20 kg zeolite 13X showed a
heating power of about 1 kW. In the application dis-
cussed here the heat pump contains 110 kg of zeolite
13X. The packed bed of zeolite pellets is located inside
a double walled steel column. The space between the
two walls is evacuated and filled with glass fiber
boards. Using this new insulation technique, the heat
losses are reduced by a factor of ten and the parasitic
heat capacity is four times smaller compared to conven-
tional insulation. The cylindrical tube has a diameter of
0.4 m and a height of 1 m.
Condensing Heat Exchanger For a compact construc-
tion the condensing heat exchanger is located at the side
of the zeolite column and the humidifier. It is a counter-
current flow heat exchanger with a length of 1.3 m (like
the zeolite column plus the humidifier). This length is
necessary in order to get maximum temperature change
in the air and the condensed water. The vertical position
allows the condensed water to transfer heat to the ex-
changer fluid while running down and finally flowing
into the connected tank or directly into the hot water
storage of the solar system.
Gas Burner A standard, modern gas burner is used.
Maximum heating power is 10 kW. Maximum tempera-
ture of the combustion gases in case of complete com-
bustion (at air rate 10 m³/h) is 1900 °C. In this applica-
tion the gas burner is operated with an air surplus. With
an air rate of 20 m³/h this leads to a temperature of 1000
°C.
Humidifier The humidifier is located directly under
the zeolite column. A spray nozzle distributes water
over a packed bed of Raschig rings. Up to 400 l/h are
pumped through the nozzle. The packed bed of rings
has a diameter of 0.4 m and a height of 0.2 m, which
leads to an exchange surface of the rings of about 20
m². A relative humidity of more than 95% can be
reached.
3. The Heat Pump Process
There are two modes of operation for an adsorption heat
pump: Desorption and adsorption. The high temperature
energy input from the gas burner takes place during
desorption, low temperature energy input during ad-
sorption. Heat can be delivered to the heating system
over the whole de- and adsorption cycle. In the follow-
ing example an ambient temperature of -5°C and a dew-
point of -5°C are assumed.
The example is calculated by a experimentally validated
simulation program for sorption processes in packed
beds. All data of the zeolite and the column are taken
into account.
Desorption For desorption 20 m³/h of ambient air are
blown through the heat recovery heat exchanger. This
leads to a temperature rise of about 40 K. The gas
burner brings the preheated air up to a temperature of
1000 °C and a dewpoint of 45 °C. By mixing this air
with 150 m³/h of saturated air at 45 °C desorption con-
ditions of 300 °C temperature and of 45 °C dewpoint
are reached.
With a temperature of 300 °C zeolite can be completely
dried to a residual water content below 1% of its dry
weight. Air leaves the packed bed almost saturated at
about 60 °C.
60/59 water
60°C
air
Zeo
40°C
45/45
condensate
150 m³/h 300/45
40°C
1000/45
20 m³/h
40/40 35/-5
-5/-5
Figure 2: Desorption mode of the heat pump
(35/-5: temperature 35 °C, dewpoint -5 °C)
The latent and sensible heat of the 170 m³/h air stream
can be used. They are transported to the heating system
via the condensing heat exchanger. Condensed water at
about 40 °C leaves the desorption process and can be
stored in the hot water tank.
20 m³/h of saturated air are blown through the heat
recovery device heating up the incoming air, while 150
m³/h are mixing down the combustion gases to 300 °C
again. The desorption process is schematically shown in
figure 2.
Figure 3: Desorption inlet/outlet air temperature
Figure 3 and 4 show temperatures (in/out) and water
contents (in/out). The desorption takes about 2.5 hours.
After a few minutes out let temperature and water con-
tent rise to 57 °C, 0,13 kg/kgair respectively. The incom-
ing water content of 0,065 kg/kgair corresponds to the
dewpoint of 45 °C during desorption (figure 2 ). The
process is stopped, when the outlet temperature rises to
160 °C and the water content drops simultaneously to
0.1 kg/kgair .
Figure 4: Desorption inlet/outlet water content
Adsorption In order to reach a high outlet temperature
leaving the zeolite, the air has to be saturated at a tem-
perature between 25 °C and 30°C before entering the
packed bed. Low temperature energy as well as latent
heat from the building is used for humidification.
140 m³/h of preheated air at 30 °C and a dewpoint of -5
°C are blown through the building. It leaves the build-
ing at 20 °C, but with a dewpoint of 7 °C. The energy
balance of the building is not influenced by this ventila-
tion process. The dewpoint increment is equivalent to
the moisture production within the building.
70°C 138/-40 water
air
Zeolite
40°C
30°C
humidifier 23°C
45/-40
20 m³/h 23/5
140 m³/h 20/7
building
30/-5
10/-40
-5/-5
Figure 5: Adsorption mode of the heat pump
(35/-5: temperature 35 °C, dewpoint -5 °C)
Mixing the ventilation outlet with 20 m³/h dry air at 45
°C, a total air stream of 160 m³/h enters the humidifier.
Warm water from the solar hot water storage saturates
the air at 30 °C. This leads to a incoming water content
of 0,027 kg/kgair (figure 7).
Zeolite adsorbs the water vapor in an exothermic reac-
tion. This heats the air up to 138 °C. The air leaving the
packed bed is dry (dewpoint of -40°C). Sensible heat is
delivered to the heating system. 140 m³/h dry air leaves
the system after heat recovery at 10 °C. The adsorption
process is schematically shown in figure 5.
 the ambiance Qair ads and Q air des and energy of con-
densed water Qcond leaving the system) plus low tem-
perature energy for humidification (Qlt ). Energy from
solar collectors and the building is (as low temperature
energy source) not taken into account.

Figures 8 and 9 show schematically energy fluxes of de-

and adsorption.

Enthalpy of
air leaving the system
Qair des
Energy input
to heat up and
Heating
desorb zeolite
energy
Figure 6: : Adsorption inlet/outlet air temperature Gas
burner Zeo

Figure 6 and 7 show temperatures (in/out) and water Qcap Qheat des
contents (in/out). The adsorption shown here starts Qdes
immediately after desorption. Therefore high tempera-
tures (up to 300 °C) for the first hour due to the thermal
Energy of condensed water
capacity of the desorbed zeolite are observed. The ad- Qcond
sorption process itself starts after about 45 minutes and
lasts for 5.25 hours. Out let temperature is constant
Figure 8: Desorption heat fluxes
during the adsorption process at about 140 °C. In this
phase the adsorption front is moving through the packed
bed. Adsorption stops, when the air temperature drops
below 75 °C. Enthalpy of
air leaving the system
Qair ads

Energy for
humidification Heating
energy

Gas
burner Zeo

Qlt Qheat ads

Qcap

Figure 9: Adsorption heat fluxes

For the desorption the zeolite has to be heated up to

300°C. If the adsorption starts immediately after the
desorption this heat can be regained (Qcap). Because of
Figure 7: Adsorption inlet/outlet water content that it appears in the numerator and the denominator

Qheat ads + Qheat des + Qcap

COP =
Qdes + Qair ads + Qair des + Qcond + Qlt + Qcap
4. Thermal COP of the Heat Pump System

The COP is defined as the fraction of energy output, .Since Qcond can be stored (see „Desorption“) it can
which is the heating energy during de- and adsorption substitute part of the low temperature energy demand.
(Qheat ads and Qheat des), to energy input during desorption This leads to:
(Qdes) plus not usable output (enthalpy of air blown into
 Qheat ads + Qheat des + Qcap
COP =
Qdes + Qair ads + Qair des + (Qlt − Qcond ) + Qcap
An experimental set-up with 20 kg zeolite 13X was
built [1]. An electric air heater supplied desorption and
low temperature energy to the heat pump. The thermal
COP for the experimental de- and adsorption cycle was
1.48 ± 0.03. In this experiment the entire low tempera-
ture energy demand was supplied electrically.
Looking at the gas driven adsorption heat pump in con-
nection with the building, there are two differences to
the experiments: Water vapor from the building can be
used for humidification and water vapor from the gas
combustion increases the usable latent heat during de-
sorption. Because of these two effects, a higher COP is
to be expected.
If low temperature energy is supplied by a solar system,
it is not always available (in the heating period). Figure
8 shows how the COP depends on this availability. If
there is no low temperature energy at all (that means it
has to be delivered by the gas burner), a COP of 1.05 is
obtained. It is above 1.0 because of the transformation
of latent heat from the building and the gas combustion
into usable heat for the heating system. If low tempera-
ture energy is fully available a COP of 1.63 can be
reached.
Figure 8: Dependence COP/low temperature energy
The actual COP of the entire system depends on the
solar gains over the heating period. Earlier calculations
[2] based on monthly averaged values for solar gains
result in a averaged annual COP of about 1.5 for the
meteorological conditions of Munich. The calculation
was based on a solar installation designed for domestic
hot water production in the summer. Collector area was
10 m² of evacuated flat plate collectors.
Auxiliary energy for ventilation is 1.64 kWh for a com-
plete de- and adsorption cycle (assuming a 50% effi-
ciency for the fan). This is about 3% of the usable heat-
ing energy output per cycle. Energy demand for the gas
burner fan and water pump for the humidifier are about
2%.
5. Adsorption heat pump as Desiccant Cooling Sys-
tem
In a desiccant cooling system dry air is cooled down by
humidification. The desorbed zeolite is able to dry an
air stream very effectively by adsorption. The humidi-
fier can cool it to temperatures suitable for air condi-
tioning systems. Cooling is only possible in the adsorp-
tion mode.
The driving energy has to be delivered by the solar
surplus in periods of high irradiation. Solar energy out
of the hot water storage is brought into the system by
the condensing heat exchanger. Solar desorption takes
place at temperatures of 70 - 80 °C. Using these tem-
peratures only about 35% of the water in the zeolite can
be desorbed. Figure 9 shows the solar desorption.
For the cooling operation during adsorption a change in
the construction and an additional component are neces-
sary: The humidifier has to be switched to another posi-
tion just under the condensing heat exchanger (see fig-
ure 10) and a very simple supplementary humidifier
(Hum 2) has to be installed. This one has to cool the
ventilation outlet air from the building by humidifica-
tion.
water
air
Zeo
70-80°C
160 m³/h
Figure 9: Desorption mode of cooling operation
(35/-5: temperature 35 °C, dewpoint -5 °C)
In the cooling process air from the ambiance is taken at
30 °C and a dewpoint of 16 °C. It is dried by adsorption
in the zeolite bed to a dewpoint of 5 °C, but simultane-
ously heated up to 57 °C by the heat of adsorption. The
air is cooled in the condensing heat exchanger to 30 °C.
Cold water for this cooling is supplied by the humidifi-
cation of the ventilation outlet air in the extra humidi-
fier, which includes an air/water heat exchanger (see
figure 10). Air leaves the condensing heat exchanger
still with a dewpoint of 5 °C.
water
57/5
air
tion program for buildings energy demand and solar
gains TRNSYS [3] will be coupled with the experimen-
tally validated simulation program for packed bed sorp-
tion processes FBS. With this new tool realistic COP
values will be calculated for various configurations.
Simultaneously a 5.5 kW pilot system will be built for
additional experimental studies. Technical problems
like the minimization of heat losses by compact con-
struction and the easy switching from heating to cooling
operation will be solved .

We expect that simulation and experiments together will

40°C lead to an optimized operation of the heat pump as part
of a buildings energy system, which including domestic
Hum
hot water production as well as heating or cooling.
Zeo
2
30/5
25°C References
Building
30-28/16 Hum [1] F. Schloffer, Dynamisches Sorptionsverhalten
von Wasserdampf an Zeolith - Anwendung des
22/1 30/1
Systems als Wärmepumpe zur Raumheizung.
2 6 Master´s thesis, Fakultät für Physik, Ludwig-
Maximilians-Universität, München, 1993.
[2] A. Hauer, S. Holst, F. Schloffer, W. Schölkopf,
Figure 10: Adsorption mode of cooling operation Gas Fired Adsorption Heat Pump in Connection
(35/-5: temperature 35 °C, dewpoint -5 °C) with Solar Collectors for Space Heating. Proceed-
ings of the ISES Solar World Congress 1993,
Budapest, 1993.
By controlled humidification the air can now be cooled [3] A Transient System Simulation Program, Version
to 22 °C with a dewpoint of 12 °C. These air conditions 14.1, Jan. 1994, Solar Energy Lab, University of
are in the comfort range and the air can be blown di- Wisconsin - Madison, WI, 53706, USA
rectly into the buildings ventilation system.

Desorption should take place at night using energy from

the hot water storage of the solar system. 160 m³/h hot
air are blown through the zeolite. Desorption lasts for
4.5 hours. Adsorption takes 8 hours, if half of the air
(80 m³/h) is blown through the system. The COP of the
cooling process is about 0.2. Despite the low COP value
this kind of operation is interesting because there are no
extra costs apart from the extra humidifier and the aux-
iliary energy for ventilation.

6. Outlook

At this point of research it is important to investigate the

entire energy system of the building, including the solar
collectors and hot water storage. The dynamic simula-