The deployment of adsorption cycles for heating and cooling purposes is often limited by poor efficiency and high reactor volumes, both determined by the adsorber material used. The appropriate pre-selection of the solid sorbent and the system design in the early stages of design can allow quick identification of the most promising solutions. In this work, a reliable and robust methodology for adsorber material screening and pre-selection is proposed and applied to a test set of state-of-the-art candidates. The improvement achieved in the adsorption equilibrium prediction with respect to the most frequently used model is above 60%. In addition, the adsorber material selection framework based on mixed-integer linear programming was applied to over 600 hypothetical cooling and mixed cooling/heating use cases. The analysis of exergy and volume performances allowed to emphasize differences of design strategies using different system objectives (i.e. minimizing the temperature of the heat sources and choosing compact materials). We provide the proof of feasibility of a harmonic pre-design of adsorbent materials and energy system and show that it can be used to narrow down the decision variables to the most promising options. This methodology can be considered as the foundation of more extended and automated design methods for real scenarios constrained by kinetics, material integration and costs.

The present paper analyzed the thermal performance and control optimization of a solar system based on seasonal sorption storage for domestic applications. The system control, which could choose between 41 operational modes, was optimized based on operational costs and maximization of sorption system use. The system was composed by 17.5 m of evacuated tube collectors, 3.6 m of composite sorbents based on lithium chloride and a stratified water tank. High efficiency of a sorption storage system was obtained when continuous charges or discharges occur, which, in this study, depended on weather conditions (ambient temperature and solar irradiation). The operational economic benefits were maximized using a sorption system with 9% less capacity and, therefore, less storage volume. The sorption thermal energy storage system obtained energy densities of 90 and 106 kWh/m. The whole system could supply 35% of the total thermal demand of a single family house in Nuremberg. The study concluded that the control optimization of a seasonal sorption system is a key factor to make the technology competitive, define its optimal size and, therefore, maximize its energy density in further designs.

The complete GEOFIT system, for the Perugia pilot, consists of an adsorption heat pump, driven using a gas boiler, and an electrically driven vapour compression chiller. The adsorption heat pump was completely tested and characterized at the ITAE-CNR test lab, by mean of more than 80 experimental tests, performed in different working conditions. The complete GEOFIT systems for the St.Cugat and the Galway pilots consist of the described electrically driven vapour compression heat pump. The heat pump was completely tested and characterized at the AIT test labs performed at different working conditions.

This deliverable summarises the synergies developed between the project HYBUILD and other global initiatives. This deliverable does not want to reproduce the activities listed in other deliverables in WP7 and WP8, but here the list of other projects and initiatives are presented. This deliverable includes synergies with other 31 H2020 EU funded projects, two synergies with nationally or regionally funded projects, and with nine other global initiatives.

Deliverable D3.4 "Report on the experimental tests and the final design of the hybrid sub-systems" present mainly the results of the experiments under lab-controlled conditions. They were carried out with the HYBUILD sub-systems in the facilities described in Deliverable 3.3. Special focus was put on the testing of different operating conditions before the entire systems will be implemented on the demo-sites. Deliverable D3.4 summarizes all the knowledge gained from the experiments. Furthermore, several suggestions to improve the design and the operating modes are given. Although the thermal and electric storages used in the Mediterranean and the Continental concept of HYBUILD are similar, their integration into each concept is different. Hence, both concepts are always dealt separately in the following.

The activity reported in the present deliverable concerns the overall development of the sorption module and the custom heat pump that represent the cascade unit within SolBioRev project, whose main aim is to guarantee an efficient operation of the heat pump for delivery of comfort conditions in Mediterranean climates even during the warmest months.

The LiCl-based heat storage system exhibits a high-energy density, making it an attractive and one of the most investigated candidates for low-temperature heat storage applications. Nevertheless, lithium chloride, due to its hygroscopic nature, incurs the phenomenon of deliquescence, which causes some operational challenges, such as agglomeration, corrosion, and swelling problems during hydration/dehydration cycles. Here, we propose a composite material based on silicone vapor-permeable foam filled with the salt hydrate, hereafter named LiCl-PDMS, aiming at confining the salt in a matrix to prevent deliquescence-related issues but without inhibiting the vapour flow. In particular, the structural and morphological modification during hydration/dehydration cycles is investigated on the composite foam, which is prepared with a salt content of 40 wt.%. A characterization protocol coupling temperature scanned X-ray diffraction (XRD) and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) analysis is established. The operando conditions of the dehydration/hydration cycle were reproduced while structural and morphological characterizations were performed, allowing for the evaluation of the interaction between the salt and the water vapor environment in the confined silicon matrix. The material energy density was also measured with a customized coupled thermogravimetric/differential scanning calorimetric analysis (TG/DSC). The results show an effective embedding of the material, which limits the salt solution release when overhydrated. Additionally, the flexibility of the matrix allows for the volume shrinkage/expansion of the salt caused by the cyclic dehydration/hydration reactions without any damages to the foam structure. The LiCl-PDMS foam has an energy density of 1854 kJ/kg or 323 kWh/m, thus making it a competitive candidate among other LiCl salt hydrate composites.

In this work, the adsorption/desorption kinetics of a consolidated bed, for adsorption heat pumps application, coated with a new composite adsorbent material based on SAPO-34 zeolite in a matrix of sulfonated poly(ether-ether-ketone) was investigated. The heat exchanger was coated by drop casting with a composite zeolite/polymer mixture containing 90 wt% of SAPO-34 powder. The adsorption/desorption kinetic was investigated using the Thermal Large Temperature Jump method and compared with the same heat exchanger filled with loose grains of SAPO-34. The coated heat exchanger exhibits very high specific cooling capacity with a very fast adsorption kinetic. The characteristic times were approximately 39% lower compared to zeolite grains filled adsorber. Analogously, the obtained maximum specific power value was 85% higher than that of the uncoated one.

Solar thermal energy coupled to a seasonal sorption storage system stands as an alternative to fossil fuels to supply residential thermal energy demand in climates where solar energy availability is high in summer and low in winter, matching with a high space heating demand. Sorption storage systems usually have a high dependency on weather conditions (ambient temperature and solar irradiation). Therefore, in this study, the technical performance of a solar-driven seasonal sorption storage system, using an innovative composite sorbent and water as working fluid, was studied under three European climates, represented by: Paris, Munich, and Stockholm. All scenarios analyses were simulation-based under optimal system control, which allowed to maximize the system competitiveness by minimizing the system operational costs. The optimal scenarios profit from just 91, 82 and 76% of the total sorption system capacity, for Paris, Munich, and Stockholm, respectively. That means that an optimal control can identify the optimal sorption storage size for each location and avoid oversizing in future systems, which furthermore involves higher investment costs. The best coefficient of performance was obtained for Stockholm (0.31), despite having the coldest climate. The sorption system was able to work at minimum temperatures of -15 °C, showing independence from ambient temperature during its discharge. In conclusion, a seasonal sorption system based on selective water materials is suitable to be integrated into a single-family house in climates of central and northern Europe as long as an optimal control based on weather conditions, thermal demand, and system state is considered.

Heat Pump (HP) and solar appliances are socially well accepted Renewable Energy based energy systems. The SunHorizon project demonstrates TRL7 innovative HP solutions (thermal compression, adsorption, reversible) coupled with solar technologies (thermal, photovoltaic, hybrid) to provide heating and cooling to residential and tertiary buildings with lower emissions and energy bills.

This chapter focuses on the experimental characterization techniques commonly employed to get a deep understanding of the thermal energy storage (TES) materials properties. In particular, experimental methodologies available to characterize thermophysical parameters qualifying both thermodynamic and dynamic performance of TES materials are discussed, trying to highlight pros and cons. The analysis is performed for the three TES categories, sensible, latent and thermochemical, representing a contribution toward the proper selection of experimental techniques at material level.

The aim of this report is to evaluate the environmental performance of the SWS-Heating system through Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) methodology.

The main goal of WP6 "System testing and technology validation" is to build and test a system prototype to validate the concept of the SWS-Heating system. In this work package, the generic heating system developed in WP2 is adapted to a demo scale with downsized components to fit into a commercial container that will be used to test the real operation of the SWS-Heating system in two different locations (Germany and Sweden).

The scope of this deliverable is to is present in detail the simulation platform of the SWS HEATING system developed in TRNSYS environment alongside the main results and conclusions for the operation of the system and the sizing of the most important sizing parameters (i.e. the solar collectors surface, the mass of the SWS material and the mass of the PCM buffer tank)

This deliverable is dedicated to the experimental investigations carried out to identify the type and size of the evaporator heat exchanger for the STES modules. It begins in Chapter 2 with a literature survey on plate heat exchangers applied so for as evaporator/condensers in typical vapour compression and sorption refrigeration and heat pump systems, which has been carried out by Dr. Valeria Palomba (CNR). Chapter 3 presents the experimental investigations along with the obtained results by applying an asymmetric plate heat exchanger as a stagnant condenser/evaporator with two different sizes of adsorber heat exchangers in order to investigate the degree of matching between the sizes of both components.

WP3 of the project SolBio-Rev aims to develop optimised control and simulation tools to maximise the efficiency of the system. In this case, the system can integrate a smart control module that uses dynamic models (both of building and components) to predict the behaviour of the system and to maximize or minimize objectives expressed in terms of performance indicators. This deliverable presents the development of different rule-based strategies based on the operational modes of the SolBio-Rev generic system that are going to be implemented in a smart control environment. Furthermore, the algorithms of smart control are described including the optimization objectives and the models that will be used to develop an optimal control for the SolBio-Rev system.

This deliverable document (D9.3) contains the Hycool communication and dissemination plan, a guide that describes the actions, tools and channels to be used throughout the whole project life. The aim of the document is to outline the strategy, activities, and tools with which the Hycool project will carry out an effective dissemination activity for maximizing the impact of the project, building trust towards the potential of solar thermal applications in European industry and finally, ensuring the largest possible exploitation of results.

The deployment of adsorption cycles for heating and cooling purposes is often limited by poor efficiency and high reactor volumes determined by the adsorber material used [1]. The appropriate selection of the solid sorbent in early stages of design can allow to identify quickly the most promising solutions. In this Deliverable, a reliable and robust methodology for adsorber material screening and evaluation is proposed, such that minimizes the characterization and simulation efforts, without jeopardizing the accuracy of the evaluations.

Characterization of materials is a fundamental and powerful tool to scientifically understand them. Their microscopic and macroscopic structure and their properties are measured and analysed, so that scientists and engineers can improve materials design and application . In the case of water adsorbents for thermally driven heat pumps and chillers, the characterization allows a better understanding of their performance with respect to achievable power density and energy per cycle [1], [2]. Models to estimate such performance, and to possibly improve the design and the operation of the heat transforming device, need a good knowledge of the sorbent structure (grain and pore size, composition, atomistic structure etc.) and properties (thermal conductivity, specific heat, water capacity etc.): This report provides an overview over the measured properties of different currently commercially available and state of the art adsorption materials. In total 15 different materials were considered. The 15 materials have been selected from the 5 main classes of adsorber materials: silica gels, zeolites, activated carbons, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as well as composite materials. Within this report the differences of the properties relevant for sorption between and within the different materials classes are discussed: particle size, density and porosity, thermodynamic and kinetic properties, water sorption behaviour. The relevant results are summarized here whereas the full data set with the raw data for the measurements is available upon request.

This confidential report (D10.8) is the third of the four-part GEOFIT Data Management Plan (DMP) deliverable series. Specifically, the series tracks at each phase of the project how generated data is being handled and entails both living and envisaged results.