The Adsorption / Desorption Cycle with Zeolite and Water

The crystalline mineral zeolite has the property of sucking in (adsorbing) water vapour, binding it in its porous structure and releasing high temperature heat (50-130 °C) in the process.

Adsorption

If such a process takes place in an air-free vessel, the adsorption of vapour from a water surface in the evaporation vessel occurs with such intensity that the rest of the water cools dramatically and freezes to ice due to the extreme cold of the evaporation process. This ice can then be used for cooling and air-conditioning while, at the same time, the heat released in the zeolite can be used for heating purposes. If, in addition, there is a valve between the two vessels, the generation of cold or heat can be interrupted for any length of time without loss of energy. The first sub-process (adsorption) in this energy transformation runs until the zeolite is saturated with water

Desorption

Then, in a second sub-process (desorption), the procedure is reversed by heating (150-300 °C ) the zeolite. The water is baked out of the zeolite (desorbed) in the form of vapour and liquefies in the evaporation vessel at temperatures typically between 30-80°C.
 

 Zeolite technology saves energy

Cold is generated virtually continuously when two or more sorption systems are operated out of sync with one another. If the system is used for both heating and cooling, the overall benefit is 160 %. Just 100 % input heat is needed for 130 % useful heat and 30 % (useful) cold. Even if electrically powered, energy consumption and CO2 emissions can be significantly reduced with a sorption system. If the power comes from another form of energy, e.g. from gas, the sun or waste heat, the saving potential and the environmental compatibility are much greater.