Sorber having flexible housing

• US 6,415,626 B1
• Filed: 11/06/2000
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Pfister, Dennis M., Byrd, Charles M.
• Primary Examiner(s): DOERRLER, WILLIAM CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US09/707,577
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 623/31, 624/76, 624/84, 624/97, 624/80
• US Class Current: 62/480
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 17/08 the absorbent or adsorbent being a solid, e.g. salt F25B17/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2333/005 the generator or boiler uses electromagnetic energy in the form of microwaves for desorbing the sorbate from the sorbate/sorbent compound
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 35/04 using a solid as sorbent
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 39/026 specially adapted for sorption type systems
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/046 Operating intermittently
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/12 Arrangements of compartments additional to cooling compartments; Combinations of refrigerators with other equipment, e.g. stove
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/427 Cooling by change of state, e.g. use of heat pipes by liquefied gas H01L23/445
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/701 using microwave applicators
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/802 for heating fluids methods of heating fluids in conventional microwave ovens H05B6/687
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/808 Microwave heating adapted for vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20363 Refrigerating circuit comprising a sorber

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a sorber which is suitable for use in an electromagnetic wave activated sorption system and which is easily adaptable to packaging constraints. One embodiment of the sorber comprises a flexible enclosure having an outer conductor, and inner conductor, a port through which a sorbate can be communicated into and out of said enclosure, and a sorbent in the enclosure which can adsorb the sorbate to form a sorbate/sorbent compound. The enclosure is configured to be coupled to an electromagnetic wave generator so that waves generated by the electromagnetic wave generator propagate through the sorbate/sorbent compound within the enclosure. Another embodiment of the sorber comprises an enclosure which is configured to serve as a structural component.

Claims

1. A sorber, comprising:

a flexible enclosure configured to be coupled to an electromagnetic wave generator during use; and

a sorbent disposed within the enclosure, wherein the sorbent is configured to adsorb sorbate to form a sorbate/sorbent compound during use, and wherein electromagnetic waves propagated through the enclosure desorb sorbate from the sorbate/sorbent compound.

2. The sorber of claim 1, wherein the enclosure comprises an outer conductor configured to propagate electromagnetic waves through the enclosure during use.

3. The sorber of claim 2, wherein the outer conductor comprises cooling fins disposed on an outer surface of the outer conductor, and wherein the cooling fins are configured to dissipate heat of adsorption during use.

4. The sorber of claim 3, wherein the cooling fins extend along a longitudinal axis of the outer conductor.

5. The sorber of claim 2, wherein the outer conductor comprises an outer conductor of the electromagnetic wave generator.

6. The sorber of claim 2, further comprising an inner conductor disposed within the outer conductor.

7. The sorber of claim 6, wherein the enclosure is further configured to be coupled to the electromagnetic wave generator by the outer conductor and the inner conductor during use.

8. The sorber of claim 6, wherein the inner conductor comprises an antenna of the electromagnetic wave generator.

9. The sorber of claim 6, wherein diameters of the outer conductor and the inner conductor are selected such that a characteristic impedance of the sorber is approximately equal to a characteristic impedance of the electromagnetic wave generator.

10. The sorber of claim 6, wherein the inner conductor is disposed coaxially within the outer conductor.

11. The sorber of claim 6, wherein the inner conductor is disposed transversely within the outer conductor.

12. The sorber of claim 11, wherein the inner conductor comprises a first end extending through an opening in the outer conductor, and wherein the first end is coupled to the electromagnetic wave generator.

13. The sorber of claim 12, wherein the inner conductor comprises a second end and a third end, and wherein the second end and the third end are short-circuited with the outer conductor by metallic end caps.

14. The sorber of claim 12, wherein the inner conductor comprises a second end and a third end, and wherein the second end and the third end are spaced from metallic end caps of the outer conductor.

15. The sorber of claim 6, wherein the inner conductor comprises multiple probes extending through the enclosure.

16. The sorber of claim 15, further comprising a gas inlet/outlet cylinder disposed within the multiple probes, wherein the gas cylinder is configured to communicate sorbate to the sorbent and to prevent sorbent from exiting the sorber during use.

17. The sorber of claim 6, wherein the inner conductor extends through a portion of the outer conductor.

18. The sorber of claim 6, further comprising a support sleeve disposed within the inner conductor, wherein the support sleeve is configured to support the inner conductor and to displace the sorbent toward the outer conductor during use.

19. The sorber of claim 6, wherein the sorbent is disposed between the inner conductor and the outer conductor.

20. The sorber of claim 6, wherein the enclosure is further configured to be coupled to the electromagnetic wave generator by the inner conductor during use.

21. The sorber of claim 20, wherein a first end of the inner conductor is coupled to an antenna of the electromagnetic wave generator, wherein a plug in the first end comprises an electromagnetic wave-transparent material, and wherein a second end of the inner conductor is short-circuited to the outer conductor via an end cap comprising a metallic material.

22. The sorber of claim 20, wherein electromagnetic wave generator is coupled to the inner conductor by a waveguide coupler, wherein the electromagnetic wave generator comprises an antenna and an outer conductor, and wherein the waveguide coupler comprises a plug coupler connected between the antenna and the inner conductor and a conducting sleeve connected between the outer conductor and the enclosure.

23. The sorber of claim 6, further comprising a hollow metallic tube coupled to the inner conductor at a first end of the hollow metallic tube and a reservoir coupled to a second end of the hollow metallic tube, wherein a refrigerant is disposed within the reservoir such that heat of adsorption generated in the sorber is dissipated.

24. The sorber of claim 23, further comprising a wick extending from the reservoir through the inner conductor, wherein the wick is configured to draw refrigerant from the reservoir and into the inner conductor during use.

25. The sorber of claim 23, further comprising a plurality of fins attached to an external surface of the hollow metallic tube, wherein the plurality of fins are configured to dissipate heat of evaporated refrigerant during use.

26. The sorber of claim 25, further comprising a fan disposed proximal to the plurality of fins, wherein the fan is configured to increase the dissipation of the heat of the evaporated refrigerant during use.

27. The sorber of claim 6, wherein the inner conductor comprises a plurality of fins extending radially outward from the inner conductor.

28. The sorber of claim 27, wherein each of the plurality of fins comprises a substantially annular surface, and wherein each of the plurality of fins is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the inner conductor.

29. The sorber of claim 27, wherein the plurality of fins comprises a non-metallic material.

30. The sorber of claim 27, wherein the plurality of fins comprise a metallic material.

31. The sorber of claim 27, wherein the electromagnetic waves are further propagated through the plurality of fins to desorb sorbate from the sorbate/sorbent compound.

32. The sorber of claim 1, wherein the enclosure comprises a port configured to communicate sorbate into and out of the enclosure during use.

33. The sorber of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is configured to withstand an internal pressure of at least 130 psi during use.

34. The sorber of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is elongated.

35. The sorber of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is curved.

36. The sorber of claim 1, wherein a first portion of the enclosure forms an angle with a second portion of the enclosure.

37. The sorber of claim 1, wherein the enclosure forms a spiral.

39. The sorber of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is further configured to be coupled to the electromagnetic wave generator by a waveguide during use.

40. The sorber of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is further configured to be coupled to the electromagnetic wave generator by a coaxial connector and a coaxial cable during use.

41. The sorber of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is further configured to be coupled to the electromagnetic wave generator by a coaxial connector and a stripline transmission line during use.

42. The sorber of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is further configured to be coupled to the electromagnetic wave generator by a metallic compartment during use, and wherein a portion of the sorber is exposed to the metallic compartment.

43. The sorber of claim 42, wherein the exposed portion of the sorber comprises a metallic inner conductor extending into the compartment.

44. The sorber of claim 1, wherein the enclosure comprises a metallic tubular housing defining an outer conductor.

45. The sorber of claim 1, wherein the enclosure comprises a non-metallic material.

46. The sorber of claim 1, further comprising a filter configured to prevent sorbent from exiting the enclosure during use.

47. The sorber of claim 1, further comprising a filter, wherein the filter comprises a porous non-metallic disc disposed between the sorbent and a port formed in the enclosure.

48. The sorber of claim 1, further comprising a filter, wherein the filter comprises a porous non-metallic sleeve disposed between the sorbent and a port formed in the enclosure.

49. The sorber of claim 1, wherein the enclosure comprises a dielectric material.

50. The sorber of claim 1, further comprising a ground plane conductor positioned on a first side of the sorber and a stripline conductor disposed on a second side of the sorber, wherein the first side is opposite to the second side, and wherein the ground plane conductor and the stripline conductor are configured to transmit the generated electromagnetic waves to the sorber during use.

51. The sorber of claim 1, wherein the sorber is disposed on an edge of a printed circuit board such that the sorber is positioned external to a computer.

52. The sorber of claim 1, wherein the sorber is formed on an integrated circuit chip, and wherein the integrated circuit chip is disposed on a printed circuit board.

53. The sorber of claim 1, wherein the sorber comprises a chamber etched into a printed circuit board.

54. The sorber of claim 1, wherein the sorber is disposed within a housing of a microwave appliance.

55. The sorber of claim 1, further comprising an inner conductor, wherein the inner conductor extends into a cooking compartment of a combination microwave cooking and cooling appliance.

56. The sorber of claim 1, wherein the enclosure comprises a chamber formed in a cabinet of a combination cooking and cooling appliance and a microwave-transparent cover.

38. The sorber of claim l, wherein the propagated electromagnetic waves are configured to break the bonds of the sorbate/sorbent compound without heating the sorbate/sorbent compound to a degree sufficient to thermally desorb the sorbate during use.

57. A sorber, comprising:

a flexible enclosure configured to be coupled to an electromagnetic wave generator during use; and

a sorbent disposed within the enclosure, wherein the sorbent is configured to adsorb sorbate to form a sorbate/sorbent compound during use, wherein electromagnetic waves propagated through the enclosure desorb sorbate from the sorbate/sorbent compound, and wherein the propagated electromagnetic waves are configured to break the bonds of the sorbate/sorbent compound without heating the sorbate/sorbent compound to a degree sufficient to thermally desorb the sorbate during use.

58. The sorber of claim 57, wherein the enclosure is configured to withstand an internal pressure of at least 130 psi during use.

59. The sorber of claim 57, wherein the enclosure is elongated.

60. The sorber of claim 57, wherein the enclosure is curved.

61. The sorber of claim 57, wherein a first portion of the enclosure forms an angle with a second portion of the enclosure.

62. The sorber of claim 57, wherein the enclosure forms a spiral.

63. A system, comprising:

a sorber comprising a flexible enclosure;

a sorbent disposed within the flexible enclosure;

an evaporator configured to evaporate a sorbate during use, wherein the evaporator is coupled to the sorber such that the evaporated sorbate is adsorbed by the sorbent to form a sorbate/sorbent compound; and

an electromagnetic wave generator configured to generate electromagnetic waves during use, wherein the electromagnetic wave generator is coupled to the sorber such that generated electromagnetic waves propagate through the sorber to desorb the sorbate from the sorbate/sorbent compound.

64. The system of claim 63, further comprising more than one sorber coupled to the evaporator, wherein each sorber comprises a port configured to communicate sorbate from the evaporator to each sorber during use.

65. The system of claim 63, wherein the flexible enclosure comprises an outer conductor configured to propagate electromagnetic waves through the flexible enclosure during use.

66. The system of claim 65, wherein the outer conductor comprises cooling fins disposed on an outer surface of the outer conductor, and wherein the cooling fins are configured to dissipate heat of adsorption during use.

67. The system of claim 66, wherein the cooling fins extend along a longitudinal axis of the outer conductor.

68. The system of claim 65, wherein the outer conductor comprises an outer conductor of the electromagnetic wave generator.

69. The system of claim 65, wherein the sorber further comprises an inner conductor disposed within the outer conductor.

70. The system of claim 69, wherein the flexible enclosure is further configured to be coupled to the electromagnetic wave generator by the outer conductor and the inner conductor during use.

71. The system of claim 69, wherein the inner conductor comprises an antenna of the electromagnetic wave generator.

72. The system of claim 69, wherein diameters of the outer conductor and the inner conductor are selected such that a characteristic impedance of the sorber is approximately equal to a characteristic impedance of the electromagnetic wave generator.

73. The system of claim 69, wherein the inner conductor is disposed coaxially within the outer conductor.

74. The system of claim 69, wherein the inner conductor is disposed transversely within the outer conductor.

75. The system of claim 74, wherein the inner conductor comprises a first end extending through an opening in the outer conductor, and wherein the first end is coupled to the electromagnetic wave generator.

76. The system of claim 75, wherein the inner conductor comprises a second end and a third end, and wherein the second end and the third end are short-circuited with the outer conductor by metallic end caps.

77. The system of claim 75, wherein the inner conductor comprises a second end and a third end, and wherein the second end and the third end are spaced from metallic end caps of the outer conductor.

78. The system of claim 69, wherein the inner conductor comprises multiple probes extending through the flexible enclosure.

79. The system of claim 78, wherein the sorber further comprises a gas inlet/outlet cylinder disposed within the multiple probes, wherein the gas cylinder is configured to communicate sorbate to the sorbent and to prevent sorbent from exiting the sorber during use.

80. The system of claim 69, wherein the inner conductor extends through a portion of the outer conductor.

81. The system of claim 69, wherein the sorber further comprises a support sleeve disposed within the inner conductor, wherein the support sleeve is configured to support the inner conductor and to displace the sorbent toward the outer conductor during use.

82. The system of claim 69, wherein the sorbent is disposed between the inner conductor and the outer conductor.

83. The system of claim 69, wherein the flexible enclosure is further configured to be coupled to the electromagnetic wave generator by the inner conductor during use.

84. The system of claim 83, wherein a first end of the inner conductor is coupled to an antenna of the electromagnetic wave generator, wherein a plug in the first end comprises an electromagnetic wave-transparent material, and wherein a second end of the inner conductor is short-circuited to the outer conductor via an end cap comprising a metallic material.

85. The system of claim 83, wherein electromagnetic wave generator is coupled to the inner conductor by a waveguide coupler, wherein the electromagnetic wave generator comprises an antenna and an outer conductor, and wherein the waveguide coupler comprises a plug coupler connected between the antenna and the inner conductor and a conducting sleeve connected between the outer conductor and the flexible enclosure.

86. The system of claim 69, wherein the sorber further comprises a hollow metallic tube coupled to the inner conductor at a first end of the hollow metallic tube and a reservoir coupled to a second end of the hollow metallic tube, wherein a refrigerant is disposed within the reservoir such that heat of adsorption generated in the sorber is dissipated.

87. The system of claim 86, wherein the sorber further comprises a wick extending from the reservoir through the inner conductor, wherein the wick is configured to draw refrigerant from the reservoir and into the inner conductor during use.

88. The system of claim 86, wherein the sorber further comprises a plurality of fins attached to an external surface of the hollow metallic tube, wherein the plurality of fins are configured to dissipate heat of evaporated refrigerant during use.

89. The system of claim 88, wherein the sorber further comprises a fan disposed proximal to the plurality of fins, wherein the fan is configured to increase the dissipation of the heat of the evaporated refrigerant during use.

90. The system of claim 69, wherein the inner conductor comprises a plurality of fins extending radially outward from the inner conductor.

91. The system of claim 90, wherein each of the plurality of fins comprises a substantially annular surface, and wherein each of the plurality of fins is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the inner conductor.

92. The system of claim 90, wherein the plurality of fins comprises a non-metallic material.

93. The system of claim 90, wherein the plurality of fins comprise a metallic material.

94. The system of claim 93, wherein the electromagnetic waves are further propagated through the plurality of fins to desorb sorbate from the sorbate/sorbent compound.

95. The system of claim 63, wherein the flexible enclosure comprises a port configured to communicate sorbate into and out of the flexible enclosure during use.

96. The system of claim 63, wherein the flexible enclosure is configured to withstand an internal pressure of at least 130 psi during use.

97. The system of claim 63, wherein the flexible enclosure is elongated.

98. The system of claim 63, wherein the flexible enclosure is curved.

99. The system of claim 63, wherein a first portion of the flexible enclosure forms an angle with a second portion of the flexible enclosure.

100. The system of claim 63, wherein the flexible enclosure forms a spiral.

101. The system of claim 63, wherein the propagated electromagnetic waves are configured to break the bonds of the sorbate/sorbent compound without heating the sorbate/sorbent compound to a degree sufficient to thermally desorb the sorbate during use.

102. The system of claim 63, wherein the flexible enclosure is further configured to be coupled to the electromagnetic wave generator by a waveguide during use.

103. The system of claim 63, wherein the flexible enclosure is further configured to be coupled to the electromagnetic wave generator by a coaxial connector and a coaxial cable during use.

104. The system of claim 63, wherein the flexible enclosure is further configured to be coupled to the electromagnetic wave generator by a coaxial connector and a stripline transmission line during use.

105. The system of claim 63, wherein the flexible enclosure is further configured to be coupled to the electromagnetic wave generator by a metallic compartment during use, and wherein a portion of the sorber is exposed to the metallic compartment.

106. The system of claim 105, wherein the exposed portion of the sorber comprises a metallic inner conductor extending into the compartment.

107. The system of claim 63, wherein the flexible enclosure comprises a metallic tubular housing defining an outer conductor.

108. The system of claim 63, wherein the flexible enclosure comprises a non-metallic material.

109. The system of claim 63, wherein the sorber further comprises a filter configured to prevent sorbent from exiting the flexible enclosure during use.

110. The system of claim 63, wherein the sorber further comprises a filter, wherein the filter comprises a porous non-metallic disc disposed between the sorbent and a port formed in the flexible enclosure.

111. The system of claim 63, wherein the sorber further comprises a filter, wherein the filter comprises a porous non-metallic sleeve disposed between the sorbent and a port formed in the flexible enclosure.

112. The system of claim 63, wherein the evaporator is positioned proximal to an electrical component such that the system is configured to cool the electrical component during use.

113. The system of claim 63, wherein the flexible enclosure comprises a dielectric material.

114. The system of claim 63, wherein the sorber further comprises a ground plane conductor positioned on a first side of the sorber and a stripline conductor disposed on a second side of the sorber, wherein the first side is opposite to the second side, and wherein the ground plane conductor and the stripline conductor are configured to transmit the generated electromagnetic waves to the sorber during use.

115. The system of claim 63, wherein the sorber is disposed on an edge of a printed circuit board such that the sorber is positioned external to a computer.

116. The system of claim 63, wherein the sorber is formed on an integrated circuit chip, and wherein the integrated circuit chip is disposed on a printed circuit board.

117. The system of claim 63, wherein the sorber comprises a chamber etched into a printed circuit board.

118. The system of claim 63, wherein the sorber is disposed within a housing of a microwave appliance.

119. The system of claim 63, wherein the sorber further comprises an inner conductor, wherein the inner conductor extends into a cooking compartment of a combination microwave cooking and cooling appliance.

120. The system of claim 63, wherein the flexible enclosure comprises a chamber formed in a cabinet of a combination cooking and cooling appliance and a microwave-transparent cover.

121. A method, comprising:

evaporating a sorbate in an evaporator such that evaporation of the sorbate provides a cooling effect;

adsorbing the evaporated sorbate onto a sorbent, wherein the sorbent is disposed within a

sorber having a flexible enclosure; and

directing electromagnetic waves to the sorbent such that the sorbate is desorbed from the sorbent, wherein the directed electromagnetic waves are generated by an electromagnetic wave generator.