Effect of Activated Carbon on the Performance of a Solar Thermal Adsorptive Refrigerator (STAR) using Activated Carbon-Ethanol

Author(s)

Joshua Romo, University of Dayton

Advisor

Amy Ciric, Ph.D.

Department

Chemical, Materials and Bioengineering

Publication Date

4-1-2019

Document Type

Honors Thesis

Abstract

The Solar Thermal Adsorptive Refrigerator (STAR) project at the University of Dayton seeks to bridge sustainability and the need for reliable refrigeration in developing communities. Cost-effective construction, operation, and maintenance as well as the use of a sustainable adsorption pair, activated carbon-ethanol, give STAR great potential in the realm of humanitarian engineering. This project explores the effect of using two activated carbon brands, 8x16 and CocoPlus, on the cyclic performance of the STAR system. Although both brands have similar specifications given by the manufacturer, one (8x16) inhibited successful performance while the other (CocoPlus) enabled it. This project highlights both the complexity of optimizing the STAR’s performance and the importance of understanding the specific characteristics of the activated carbon used in a STAR system.

Permission Statement

This item is protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code) and may only be used for noncommercial, educational, and scholarly purposes

Keywords

Undergraduate research

Disciplines

Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering | Chemical Engineering | Engineering | Materials Science and Engineering

eCommons Citation

Romo, Joshua, "Effect of Activated Carbon on the Performance of a Solar Thermal Adsorptive Refrigerator (STAR) using Activated Carbon-Ethanol" (2019). Honors Theses. 231.
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/uhp_theses/231