This paper investigates the performance of an adsorption chiller working with composite sorbent SWS-1L and driven by a low temperature heat source. A three-dimensional non-equilibrium numerical model describing the combined heat and mass transfer in the plate finned-tube heat exchanger is presented. The spatial variations of pressure and gas flow inside the adsorbent bed along with the internal and external resistances of bed particles are considered to construct a qualified model capable of investigating nearly all the system parameters with minimum restrictions. Flow patterns and pressure distributions throughout the bed are examined in detail for all cycle phases. It was found that the bed flow patterns are relatively complex for the isosteric phases due to the simultaneous occurrence of adsorption and desorption processes. Furthermore, a detailed investigation is performed for different fin heights and spaces to identify the share of each part of the system from the input energy during the heating phase.

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