Abstract: This chapter discusses thermodynamic issues related to the adsorptive conversion of ultralow temperature heat (ULT). Adsorptive heat conversion (AHC) is an emerging application of gas-solid adsorption, which is the main subject of this book, to the power engineering sector. For those who are unfamiliar with AHC technology, a brief description of its thermodynamics is provided in Section 2, which includes typical AHC cycles and main performance indexes. Section 3 discusses what heat can be attributed to ULT heat based on its temperature potential, and it considers how huge the ULT flows are in industry, transport, power engineering, buildings, etc. Section 4 overviews some of the thermodynamic restrictions of AHC, which are especially important for ULT, such as the minimum temperature required for adsorbent regeneration, the temperature level of useful heat (cold) that can be obtained, etc. The temperature thrust (TT) that drives an AHC cycle and the obtained temperature lift are analyzed using the Trouton rule. The relationship between the TT and the Dubinin-Polanyi adsorption potential ΔF is reported for water, methanol, ammonia, and freons as adsorptives. Some non-thermodynamic limitations of the adsorptive conversion of ULT heat are briefly discussed in Section 5. Then, two practical examples of ULT adsorption conversion are presented: Section 6 considers the potential utilization of the substantial heat flows generated by Big Data Centers at an ULT of 40–60°C for water chilling at 15–20°C. Section 7 describes a new heat amplification cycle, “Heat from Cold” (Aristov, 2017), which allows the utilization of heat from natural sources (water and ground) with a temperature level of only 0–20°C and its upgrading to a level sufficient for space heating. Finally, Section 8 provides a short summary of the chapter.

Cite: Aristov Y.I.
Chapter 6 - Thermodynamic Issues Related to Adsorptive Conversion of Ultra-Low Temperature Heat
In compilation Gas-Solid Adsorption Thermodynamics. – Elsevier Science., 2026. – C.149-191. – ISBN 978-0-443-29815-8. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-443-29815-8.00010-0 Scopus OpenAlex

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Published online:

Nov 28, 2025

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Scopus:	2-s2.0-105026836369
OpenAlex:	W4416806564

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