In this research article a new modified adsorbent has been presented to be used in thermally driven
adsorption systems for renewable energy applications. Bentonite is introduced as a cheap adsorbent with
high potential for use in heat pumps or chillers driven by renewable energy. A simple acid activation
procedure increases the inner surface of the material and also enhances the water adsorption capacity
markedly. The raw bentonite is activated with different concentrations (0.2, 0.4, 0.6 mol L1) of HCl. FTIR,
XRD, N2 adsorption, water adsorption and heat capacity measurements have been carried out for the
raw and HCl activated bentonite. The acid activation process increased the surface area of the bentonite
from 64 m2 g1 to a level of 500 m2 g1. In that respect the maximum adsorption capacity has markedly
increased by the acid activation. Experimental and theoretical studies for the adsorption isotherms and
kinetics at different adsorption temperatures of water vapor onto 0.6 HCl treated bentonite have been
conducted. A simulation for an adsorption cooling system employing treated bentonite has been presented.
The performance of the modeled system has been also studied to be driven by low grade heat
source temperatures at different operating conditions.