COMPOSITES OF ACTIVATED CARBON FOR REFRIGERATION ADSORPTION MACHINES

To improve the performance of adsorption machines using the activated carbon-methanol pair, a new procedure for shaping adsorbent materials as bricks was developed. In this paper, research activity on the prepa ration of composite carbon samples is described together with the resu lts on methanol adsorption capacity and on thermal conductivity measur ements. Carbon bricks of a pre-defined form, were prepared using PTFE as a binder and three types of activated carbon as an adsorbent. The s amples present good mechanical properties, a methanol adsorption capac ity higher than 40% and an effective thermal conductivity ranging betw een 0.13 and 0.20 W/m K.