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The criteria of adsorbent selection for adsorption transformers of thermal energy in ventilation systems are considered. The main characteristics of adsorbents that affected the structural parameters of the adsorption module are revealed. The method of determining the mass of the adsorbent and the volume of the adsorption unit in ventilation systems has been developed. The main factor affecting the volume of adsorbent is confirmed to be maximal adsorption. The advantages of ‘salt in the porous silica gel matrix’ composites are compared with traditional silica gels. On the example of an adsorption regenerator of low-potential heat and moisture, the greater effectiveness of the composites "silica gel-sodium sulphate" is shown in comparison with the composite 'silica gel - sodium acetate'. According to the experimental data on the operation of the adsorption regenerator of heat and moisture on the basis of the composite 'silica gel – CH3COONa', the adequacy of the proposed algorithm for determining the temperature efficiency factor has been confirmed. Suggested algorithm includes the calculation of the air volume passed through the layer of heat-storage material, water concentration in the air at the exit from the heat accumulator, adsorption, heat of adsorption, the final cold air temperature, air temperature after mixing cold air from the street and the warm air in the room at the inlet, the calculation of the concentration of water in the flow at the exit from the heat regenerator, the adsorption and heat of adsorption, the final temperature of the warm air, the air temperature after mixing the cold air from the street and the warm air from the room during the discharge, determination of the temperature efficiency factor, total adsorption and time to achieve the maximal adsorption. The efficiency of the processes of operating adsorption regenerators based on composites 'silica gel - sodium sulphate' and 'silica gel-sodium acetate' in the conditions of the typical ventilation system of housing premises was compared. The parameters that correspond to the maximum value of the temperature efficiency factors: the humid air velocity is about 0.22 - 0.32 m/s and the time of switching of the flows up to 5 minutes. The influence of meteorological conditions on the efficiency of the adsorption regenerator has been confirmed. The higher efficiency of adsorption regenerators based on 'silica gel - sodium sulphate' composites is explained, which is explained by higher values of maximal adsorption, which results in increasing the heat of adsorption. The results of the research can be used for the selection of adsorbents for energy-efficient heat energy converters in ventilation systems for residential and warehouse premises.

The performance of an adsorptive heat-moisture regenerator based on a silica gel–sodium sulphate composite adsorbent was studied. The correlation between the adsorbent composition and structural characteristics of the laboratory-scale device was investigated. An algorithm for the calculation of the efficiency factors of the adsorptive regenerator was further developed. The suggested algorithm calculates the operational parameters, including the temperatures, humidities and volumetric flows of internal and external air, and estimates the regenerator’s performance via temperature and moisture efficiency factors, total adsorption and time needed to achieve maximum adsorption, air pressure loss and fan power input. The validity of the calculation results obtained using the proposed algorithm was confirmed experimentally. Temperature efficiency factor, air pressure loss and fan power consumption are crucial parameters for the estimation of the optimal operating regime of an adsorptive heat-moisture regenerator. The correlation between meteorological conditions and efficiency factors was assessed and applied in a simulation of residential house-scale air conditioning unit operation. Maximal values of temperature efficiency factor were found at internal and external air temperatures of 15 to 20 °C and −5 to 0 °C, respectively. Moisture efficiency factors were observed to reach their maximum at the absolute humidities of external and internal air of 4.0 to 5.0 g/m3 and 2.75 to 3.0 g/m3, respectively. The fan power consumption of the adsorptive heat-moisture regenerator was found to be comparable to or even lower than that of commercial air conditioning units used in comparably voluminous interiors.

Operational parameters of adsorptive regenerator of low-potential heat and moisture based on composite adsorbents «silica gel-sodium sulphate» and «silica gel-sodium acetate» synthesized by sol-gel method were studied. Correlation of the parameters such as airflow rate, switching period, and temperatures of internal and external air, temperature efficiency factor was stated. Purposeful changing the temperature efficiency factor in rather wide ranges is shown when the switching period and airflow rate variated. Maximal values of temperature efficiency factors are stated at the airflow rates and switching over time of at most 0.22-0.32 m/s and 5-10 min., when composite «silica gel-sodium sulphate» used. Regenerators based on composites «silica gel-sodium sulphate» are stated to surpass devices based on «silica gel-sodium acetate» by at least 9-10 % of temperature efficiency factors. Efficiency of adsorptive regenerators is revealed to be affected by the meteorological conditions. Maximal values of temperature efficiency factor of regenerators based on composites «silica gel-sodium sulphate» are corresponded with the external air temperature of-5-0 °C and internal air temperature of 15-16 °C.

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