Bounding Limitations in the Practical Design of Adsorption Heat Pump Water Heaters (ST-16-C056)

Sorption heat pump water heaters represent a breakthrough opportunity in residential and commercial water heating as the most economical use of primary energy, relative to any other method of water heating, including electrical heat pump water heaters or integrated heat pumps. To bring this technology to practice, it is necessary to understand and quantify the limiting parameters. Focusing on adsorption-based heat pumps, the paper discusses the use of inexpensive adsorbents, required boundary temperatures and pressures, and limiting factors such as the influence of thermal mass on efficiency. The working materials are stipulated to be non-toxic with zero GWP and zero ODP.