Sorption refrigeration appliance
First Claim
1. A combination heating and cooling apparatus, comprising:
- a compartment, wherein an item to be heated or cooled is disposed within the compartment during use;
an evaporator coupled to the compartment, wherein a sorbate within the evaporator is configured to absorb heat from the compartment such that the sorbate is evaporated and the item is cooled during use;
a sorbent disposed within a sorber, wherein the evaporated sorbate is adsorbed on the sorbent during use; and
an electromagnetic energy source configured to generate electromagnetic energy during use, wherein the electromagnetic energy source is coupled to the sorber and the compartment such that the generated electromagnetic energy is directed to the compartment to heat the item or to the sorber to desorb the sorbate from the sorbent during use.
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Abstract
A combination heating and cooling apparatus which comprises a compartment into which an item to be heated or cooled may be placed; an electromagnetic wave generator; wherein during a first mode of operation of the apparatus, the electromagnetic waves are directed into the compartment to heat the item; at least one sorber having a housing defining an enclosure; a sorbate/sorbent compound located within the enclosure; a waveguide for coupling electromagnetic waves generated by the electromagnetic wave generator to the sorber; wherein electromagnetic waves transmitted by the electromagnetic wave generator are propagated through the enclosure to desorb the sorbate from the sorbate/sorbent compound; a condenser connected to the sorber; an evaporator connected to both the condenser and the sorber and positioned in heat exchange relation with the compartment; and a controllable valve interposed between the condenser and the evaporator; wherein sorbate which is desorbed in the sorber is condensed in the condenser and then, during a second mode of operation of the apparatus, controllably released into the evaporator to create a cooling effect and cool the item, after which the sorbate is drawn back into the sorber.
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Citations
51 Claims
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1. A combination heating and cooling apparatus, comprising:
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a compartment, wherein an item to be heated or cooled is disposed within the compartment during use;
an evaporator coupled to the compartment, wherein a sorbate within the evaporator is configured to absorb heat from the compartment such that the sorbate is evaporated and the item is cooled during use;
a sorbent disposed within a sorber, wherein the evaporated sorbate is adsorbed on the sorbent during use; and
an electromagnetic energy source configured to generate electromagnetic energy during use, wherein the electromagnetic energy source is coupled to the sorber and the compartment such that the generated electromagnetic energy is directed to the compartment to heat the item or to the sorber to desorb the sorbate from the sorbent during use. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A combination heating and cooling apparatus, comprising:
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a compartment, wherein an item to be heated or cooled is disposed within the compartment during use;
an evaporator coupled to the compartment, wherein a sorbate within the evaporator is configured to absorb heat from the compartment such that the sorbate is evaporated and the item is cooled during use;
a sorbent disposed within a sorber, wherein the evaporated sorbate is adsorbed on the sorbent during use;
an electromagnetic energy source configured to generate electromagnetic energy during use, wherein the electromagnetic energy source is coupled to the sorber and the compartment such that the generated electromagnetic energy is directed to the compartment to heat the item or to the sorber to desorb the sorbate from the sorbent during use; and
a microcontroller configured to control the electromagnetic energy source during use. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A combination heating and cooling apparatus, comprising:
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a compartment, wherein an item to be heated or cooled is disposed within the compartment during use;
an evaporator coupled to the compartment, wherein a sorbate within the evaporator is configured to absorb heat from the compartment such that the sorbate is evaporated and the item is cooled during use;
a sorbent disposed within a sorber, wherein the evaporated sorbate is adsorbed on the sorbent during use, and wherein a first portion of the sorber extends into the compartment; and
an electromagnetic energy source configured to generate electromagnetic energy during use, wherein the electromagnetic energy source is coupled to the compartment such that the generated electromagnetic energy is directed to the compartment to heat the item and to the first portion of the sorber to desorb the sorbate from the sorbent during use. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A combination heating and cooling apparatus, comprising:
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a compartment, wherein an item to be heated or cooled is disposed within the compartment during use;
an evaporator coupled to the compartment, wherein a sorbate within the evaporator is configured to absorb heat from the compartment such that the sorbate is evaporated and the item is cooled during use;
a sorbent disposed within a sorber, wherein the evaporated sorbate is adsorbed on the sorbent during use, wherein the sorber is disposed within the compartment; and
an electromagnetic energy source configured to generate electromagnetic energy during use, wherein the electromagnetic energy source is coupled to the compartment such that the generated electromagnetic energy is directed to the compartment to heat the item and to the sorber to desorb the sorbate from the sorbent during use. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A system, comprising:
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a refrigerator having a cooling compartment and a freezing compartment;
an ice maker configured to freeze a volume of water to provide ice during use;
a microwave oven having a cooking chamber;
an evaporator coupled to the refrigerator and the ice maker, wherein a sorbate is disposed within the evaporator;
a sorber, wherein a sorbent is disposed within the sorber; and
an electromagnetic wave generator coupled to the cooking chamber and the sorber, wherein the electromagnetic wave generator is configured to provide electromagnetic energy to the cooking chamber to heat an item disposed within the cooking chamber during use and to provide electromagnetic energy to the sorber to desorb a sorbate adsorbed on the sorbent during use. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46)
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47. A method of selectively heating and cooling an item, comprising:
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positioning the item in a compartment;
directing electromagnetic energy into the compartment such that the item is heated;
evaporating a sorbate in an evaporator, wherein the evaporation of the sorbate cools the item;
adsorbing the sorbate onto a sorbent, wherein the sorbent is disposed within a sorber; and
directing electromagnetic energy to the sorber such that the sorbate is desorbed. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51)
generating electromagnetic energy using an electromagnetic energy source; and
controlling the electromagnetic energy source using a microcontroller, and wherein said microcontroller is coupled to the electromagnetic energy source.
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Specification