Simplified adsorption heat pump using passive heat recuperation

• US 5,442,931 A
• Filed: 08/02/1994
• Issued: 08/22/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gas Research Institute (GTI Energy)
• Original Assignee: Gas Research Institute (GTI Energy)
• Inventors: Ryan, William, Worek, William M., Zheng, Weixiang
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, Henry A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOERRLER, WILLIAM CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US08/284,895
• Time in Patent Office: 385 Days
• Field of Search: 62/101, 62/477, 62/480, 62/476, 62/324.2, 62/149, 62/77, 165/1, 165/2, 165/58, 165/61, 165/97, 165/104.12, 165/132
• US Class Current: 62/101
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 17/08 the absorbent or adsorbent being a solid, e.g. salt F25B17/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/27 Relating to heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC] technologies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/00 Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC]

Abstract

A heat pump system utilizing a simplified configuration having a single adsorbent reactor structure is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a carbon-ammonia adsorbent-reactant combination is employed. Heating and cooling of the reactor is accomplished directly by heating and cooling of the ammonia.

Claims

1. A heat pump system for transferring heat to and/or from a location, comprising:

a first fluid circuit including

an adsorbent reactor operably configured to permit the passage of fluid therethrough, the at least one adsorbent reactor having a first end and a second end, the adsorbent reactor further containing therewithin an adsorbent material,

a quantity of fluid which is capable of being adsorbed and desorbed by the adsorbent material in the at least one adsorbent reactor, the fluid further being capable of undergoing transition from a vapor phase, to a liquid phase, and from a liquid phase to a vapor phase, in the heat pump system,

means for receiving and storing heat from the fluid, and later releasing the stored heat back to the fluid, the means for receiving and storing heat being chemically nonreactive relative to the fluid, and operably configured to permit the passage of fluid therethrough, the means for receiving and storing heat having a first end and a second end,

means for selectively heating the fluid in the first fluid circuit, operably positioned in the first fluid circuit between the first end of the at least one adsorbent reactor, and the second end of the means for receiving and storing heat;

means for reversibly propelling the fluid through the first fluid circuit;

a second fluid circuit including

means for condensing the fluid from a vapor phase to a liquid phase,

means for receiving the condensed fluid, operably communicating with the means for condensing the fluid,

means for evaporating the condensed fluid, from a liquid phase to a vapor phase, operably communicating with the means for receiving the condensed fluid;

means for selectively enabling fluid communication between the first and second fluid circuits, such that when the first fluid circuit attains a pressure less than a predetermined amount, the means for selectively enabling fluid communication permits an amount of fluid vapor to be released from the second fluid circuit to the first fluid circuit, causing liquid fluid in the means for receiving the condensed fluid to change phase to vapor, enabling the second fluid circuit to absorb heat,

and when the first fluid circuit attains a pressure greater than a predetermined amount, the means for selectively enabling fluid communication permits an amount of fluid vapor to be released from the first fluid circuit to the second fluid circuit, causing fluid vapor in the means for condensing fluid to change phase to liquid, enabling the second fluid circuit to release heat.

2. The heat pump system according to claim 1 wherein the system is operably configured such that the fluid in the first circuit is maintained continuously in a vapor phase.

3. The heat pump system according to claim 1 wherein the fluid in the first circuit is the same as the fluid in the second circuit.

4. The heat pump system according to claim 1 wherein the first fluid circuit further comprises:

means for selectively cooling the fluid, operably disposed between the second end of the adsorbent reactor and the first end of the means for receiving and storing heat.

5. The heat pump system according to claim 1 further comprising:

means for delivering a quantity of liquid fluid from the means for receiving fluid in the second fluid circuit and delivering the quantity of liquid fluid to the first fluid circuit at a position between the second end of the adsorbent reactor and the first end of the means for receiving and storing heat.

6. The heat pump system according to claim 1 wherein the second fluid circuit further comprises:

a third heat-exchanging fluid circuit operably disposed in thermal communication with, but in fluid isolation from, at least one of the means for condensing the fluid and means for evaporating the condensed fluid.

7. The heat pump system according to claim 6 wherein the fluid in the third heat-exchanging fluid circuit is water and the third heat-exchanging fluid circuit is operably configured to directly heat or cool an occupied space.

8. The heat pump system according to claim 6 wherein the fluid in the third heat-exchanging fluid system is a high-performance refrigerant, such as Freon, and the third heat-exchanging fluid circuit is operably configured to directly cool an occupied space.

9. A method for operating a heat pump system having two fluid circuits, a first fluid circuit including an adsorbent reactor containing adsorbent material, a cooler, a reversible blower, a regenerator, and a heater, all connected in series in fluid communication therebetween, a second fluid circuit including a condenser, a liquid receiver, and an evaporator, all connected in series in fluid communication therebetween, the first and second fluid circuits being connected by a three-way valve leading to the evaporator, the condenser, and a point between the cooler and the blower, the method for operating a heat pump system comprising the steps of:

a) - beginning from an initial start-up state, charging the system with refrigerant until the adsorbent material in the reactor becomes saturated with refrigerant, and refrigerant liquid condenses out of the condenser to fill the liquid receiver with a predetermined desired amount of liquid refrigerant, and refrigerant vapor pressure in the first and second fluid circuits rises to predetermined desired pressure values;

b) - actuating the heater to begin heating the refrigerant vapor in the first fluid circuit;

c) - actuating the blower to propel the refrigerant vapor around the first fluid circuit from the heater through the reactor, so as to cause desorption of refrigerant from the adsorbent material, the regenerator picking up heat from the heated refrigerant vapor;

d) - stopping the heater when the temperature of the adsorbent material in the reactor attains a predetermined desired high temperature;

e) - stopping the blower;

f) - actuating the cooler;

g) - actuating the blower to propel the refrigerant vapor in the first fluid circuit in a reverse direction, from the cooler to the adsorbent reactor, so as to cause adsorption of refrigerant by the adsorbent material, the regenerator releasing heat to the circulating refrigerant vapor;

h) - releasing refrigerant vapor from the first fluid circuit to the condenser with the valve, when the vapor pressure in the first fluid circuit exceeds a predetermined value;

i) obtaining heating from the condensing refrigerant vapor in the condenser;

j) - releasing refrigerant vapor from the evaporator in the second fluid circuit to the first fluid circuit with the valve when the vapor pressure in the first fluid circuit drops below a predetermined value, causing the vapor pressure in the second fluid circuit to drop, causing liquid refrigerant in the receiver to boil in the evaporator;

k) - obtaining cooling from the boiling refrigerant vapor in the evaporator;

l) - repeating steps b-k for as long as operation of the heat pump is desired.