Sorber having a cooling mechanism

• US 6,415,627 B1
• Filed: 08/11/2000
• 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:
  US09/638,049
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 624/80, 624/81, 624/97, 165/104.26
• US Class Current: 62/481
• 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 cooling device suitable for use in an electromagnetic wave activated sorption system. One embodiment of the sorber cooling device has a metallic tubular enclosure extending coaxially into the sorber, a plurality of fins connected to a portion of the tubular enclosure extending outside of the sorber, a reservoir in fluid communication with the tubular enclosure, and a wick located within the portion of the tubular enclosure extending into the sorber. A refrigerant which is placed in the cooling device is drawn by the wick into the portion of the tubular enclosure extending into the sorber. The refrigerant absorbs heat from the sorber and evaporates. The evaporated refrigerant is condensed in the portion of the tubular enclosure extending outside of the sorber and the heat of condensation is dissipated by the fins. The condensed refrigerant is collected in the reservoir. This cycle repeats automatically.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a sorber;

a sorbent disposed within the sorber, wherein the sorbent reversibly interacts with a sorbate during use to form a sorbate/sorbent compound;

an electromagnetic wave generator configured to generate electromagnetic waves during use, wherein the electromagnetic wave generator is coupled to the sorber such that the generated electromagnetic waves propagate through the sorber to desorb at least a portion of the sorbate from the sorbate/sorbent compound during use;

a reservoir, wherein a refrigerant is disposed in the reservoir; and

a first end of a hollow tube coupled to the reservoir, wherein a second end of the hollow tube is coupled to the sorber, and wherein the hollow tube is configured to transport the refrigerant from the reservoir to the sorber during use such that at least a portion of the transported refrigerant evaporates to cool the sorber.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sorber comprises a metallic tubular housing defining an outer conductor, and wherein the outer conductor is configured to propagate electromagnetic waves through the sorber during use.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein a first end of the sorber comprises an end plug, and wherein the end plug comprises an electromagnetic wave-transparent material.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the sorber comprises an inner conductor disposed within an outer conductor.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein a second end of the sorber comprises an end cap, wherein the end cap comprises a metallic material, and wherein the inner conductor is short-circuited to the outer conductor via the end cap.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the sorber comprises an outer conductor and an inner conductor, and 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.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the sorber further comprises dimensions selected to minimize mass flow and thermal diffusion path lengths in the sorber.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the sorber comprises an outer conductor and an inner conductor disposed coaxially within the outer conductor.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the sorber comprises an outer conductor and an inner conductor extending through at least a portion of the outer conductor.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the sorber comprises an outer conductor and an inner conductor, wherein a support sleeve is disposed within the inner conductor, and wherein the support sleeve is configured to support the inner conductor and to displace the sorbent toward the outer conductor during use.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the sorber comprises an outer conductor and an inner conductor disposed within the outer conductor, and wherein the sorbent is disposed between the inner conductor and the outer conductor.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the sorber comprises an inner conductor, wherein the inner conductor comprises a plurality of fins extending radially outward from the inner conductor, and wherein the sorbent is disposed in spaces between the fins.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of fins comprises a metallic material, and wherein the electromagnetic waves are further propagated through the plurality of fins to desorb at least a portion of the sorbate from the sorbate/sorbent compound during use.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the desorption of the sorbate from the sorbate/sorbent compound is substantially isothermal.

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

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the sorber comprises a filter configured to prevent sorbent from exiting the sorber during use.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the sorber comprises an outer conductor and a manifold sleeve positioned between the outer conductor and the sorbent, and wherein the manifold sleeve is configured to transport sorbate into and out of the sorbent and to contain the sorbent within the sorber during use.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the sorber comprises a metallic tubular housing defining an outer conductor, and wherein the outer conductor comprises an outer conductor of the electromagnetic wave generator.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the sorber comprises an inner conductor disposed within an outer conductor, and wherein the sorber is coupled to the electromagnetic wave generator by the outer conductor and the inner conductor.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic wave generator comprises an antenna and an outer conductor, wherein the antenna is configured to function as an inner conductor of the sorber during use, and wherein the outer conductor is configured to function as an outer conductor of the sorber during use.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the sorber comprises an inner conductor, and wherein the sorber is configured to be coupled to the electromagnetic wave generator by the inner conductor during use.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the sorber comprises an outer conductor and an inner conductor disposed within the outer conductor, wherein the electromagnetic wave generator comprises an antenna and an outer conductor, wherein the electromagnetic wave generator is coupled to the sorber by a waveguide coupler, wherein the waveguide coupler comprises a plug coupler connected between the antenna and the inner conductor of the sorber, and wherein the waveguide coupler further comprises a conducting sleeve connected between the outer conductor of the electromagnetic wave generator and the outer conductor of the sorber.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the sorber comprises an inner conductor, and wherein a second end of the inner conductor is coupled to the hollow tube.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the hollow tube is metallic.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the sorber comprises an inner conductor, wherein the system further comprises a wick extending from the reservoir through the hollow tube and substantially entirely through a bore of the inner conductor, and wherein the wick is configured to draw refrigerant from the reservoir and into the inner conductor during use.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the wick comprises metallic mesh.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the sorber comprises an inner conductor, and wherein heat from the sorber is conducted through the inner conductor to the refrigerant such that at least a portion of the refrigerant evaporates during use.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein the hollow tube is configured such that the evaporated portion of the refrigerant condenses in the hollow tube during use.

29. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of fins coupled to an external surface of the hollow tube, wherein the plurality of fins is configured to dissipate heat from the refrigerant during use.

30. The system of claim 1, further comprising a fan disposed external to the hollow tube, wherein the fan is configured to dissipate heat from the refrigerant during use.

31. A method, comprising:

directing electromagnetic wave energy through a sorber to desorb at least a portion of a sorbate from a sorbate/sorbent compound;

adsorbing at least a portion of the sorbate onto a sorbent to form the sorbate/sorbent compound, wherein the sorbent is disposed within the sorber;

absorbing heat from the sorber with a refrigerant such that at least a portion of the refrigerant evaporates;

transporting the evaporated refrigerant to an enclosure adjacent to the sorber to condense at least a portion of the refrigerant; and

dissipating heat from the enclosure.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the enclosure comprises a reservoir coupled to a hollow tube, wherein the refrigerant is disposed within the reservoir, and wherein the hollow tube is coupled to the sorber.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising transporting the refrigerant to the sorber from a reservoir through a hollow tube.

34. The method of claim 31, further comprising drawing the refrigerant from a reservoir through a hollow tube and into the sorber using a wick.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein absorbing heat comprises conducting heat through an inner conductor of the sorber to the refrigerant.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein dissipating heat from the enclosure comprises dissipating heat through a plurality of fins attached to an external surface of the enclosure.

37. The method of claim 31, wherein dissipating heat from the enclosure comprises increasing air flow past a plurality of fins attached to an external surface of the enclosure using a fan.

38. The method of claim 31, further comprising transporting the condensed refrigerant to a reservoir in the enclosure.

39. The method of claim 31, wherein the sorber comprises a metallic tubular housing defining an outer conductor.

40. The method of claim 31, wherein the sorber comprises an outer conductor, and wherein the method further comprises directing electromagnetic waves to the outer conductor such that the electromagnetic waves propagate through the sorber.

41. The method of claim 31, wherein the sorber comprises a metallic tubular housing defining an outer conductor, and wherein the outer conductor comprises an outer conductor of an electromagnetic wave generator.

42. The method of claim 31, wherein the sorber comprises an outer conductor and an inner conductor disposed within the outer conductor.

43. The method of claim 31, wherein the sorber comprises an inner conductor, and wherein the inner conductor comprises an antenna of an electromagnetic wave generator.

44. The method of claim 31, wherein the sorber comprises an outer conductor and an inner conductor disposed coaxially within the outer conductor.

45. The method of claim 31, wherein the sorber comprises an outer conductor and an inner conductor extending through a portion of the outer conductor.

46. The method of claim 31, wherein the sorber comprises an inner conductor and a support sleeve disposed within the inner conductor, the method further comprising supporting the inner conductor with the support sleeve and displacing the sorbent toward an outer conductor of the sorber.

47. The method of claim 31, wherein the sorber comprises an outer conductor and an inner conductor disposed within the outer conductor, and wherein the sorbent is disposed between the inner conductor and the outer conductor.

48. The method of claim 31, wherein the sorber comprises an inner conductor, and wherein an electromagnetic wave generator is coupled to the inner conductor.

49. The method of claim 31, wherein the desorption of the sorbate from the sorbate/sorbent compound is substantially isothermal.

50. The method of claim 31, firther comprising communicating sorbate into and out of the sorber through a port in the sorber.

51. The method of claim 31, further comprising preventing sorbent from exiting the sorber with a filter disposed in the sorber.

52. The method of claim 31, further comprising absorbing heat from the sorber continuously.

53. A system, comprising:

an evaporator configured to evaporate at least a portion of a sorbate during use;

a sorber coupled to the evaporator such that evaporated sorbate passes from the evaporator to the sorber during use;

a sorbent disposed within the sorber, wherein the sorbent reversibly interacts with the sorbate during use to form a sorbate/sorbent compound;

an electromagnetic wave generator configured to generate electromagnetic waves during use, wherein the electromagnetic wave generator is coupled to the sorber such that the generated electromagnetic waves propagate through the sorber to desorb at least a portion of the sorbate from the sorbate/sorbent compound during use, and wherein the sorber is configured such that desorbed sorbate passes back to the evaporator during use;

a reservoir, wherein a refrigerant is disposed in the reservoir; and

a first end of a hollow tube coupled to the reservoir, wherein a second end of the hollow tube is coupled to the sorber, and wherein the hollow tube is configured to transport the refrigerant from the reservoir to the sorber during use such that at least a portion of the transported refrigerant evaporates to cool the sorber.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein a condenser is coupled to the sorber, and wherein the condenser is configured to condense at least a portion of the desorbed sorbate during use.

55. The system of claim 53, wherein a controllable valve is coupled to the evaporator, and wherein the valve is configured to control an amount of sorbate provided to the evaporator during use.

56. The system of claim 53, wherein at least one additional sorber is coupled to the evaporator such that at least a portion of the evaporated sorbate passes from the evaporator to at least the one additional sorber during use.

57. The system of claim 53, wherein the sorber comprises a metallic tubular housing defining an outer conductor, and wherein the outer conductor is configured to propagate electromagnetic waves through the sorber during use.

58. The system of claim 53, wherein a first end of the sorber comprises an end plug, and wherein the end plug comprises an electromagnetic wave-transparent material.

59. The system of claim 53, wherein the sorber comprises an inner conductor disposed within an outer conductor.

60. The system of claim 59, wherein a second end of the sorber comprises an end cap, wherein the end cap comprises a metallic material, and wherein the inner conductor is short-circuited to the outer conductor via the end cap.

61. The system of claim 53, wherein the sorber comprises an outer conductor and an inner conductor, and 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.

62. The system of claim 53, wherein the sorber further comprises dimensions selected to minimize mass flow and thermal diffusion path lengths in the sorber.

63. The system of claim 53, wherein the sorber comprises an outer conductor and an inner conductor disposed coaxially within the outer conductor.

64. The system of claim 53, wherein the sorber comprises an outer conductor and an inner conductor extending through at least a portion of the outer conductor.

65. The system of claim 53, wherein the sorber comprises an outer conductor and an inner conductor, wherein a support sleeve is disposed within the inner conductor, and wherein the support sleeve is configured to support the inner conductor and to displace the sorbent toward the outer conductor during use.

66. The system of claim 53, wherein the sorber comprises an outer conductor and an inner conductor disposed within the outer conductor, and wherein the sorbent is disposed between the inner conductor and the outer conductor.

67. The system of claim 53, wherein the sorber comprises an inner conductor, wherein the inner conductor comprises a plurality of fins extending radially outward from the inner conductor, and wherein the sorbent is disposed in spaces between the fins.

68. The system of claim 67, wherein the plurality of fins comprises a metallic material, and wherein the electromagnetic waves are further propagated through the plurality of fins to desorb at least a portion of the sorbate from the sorbate/sorbent compound during use.

69. The system of claim 53, wherein the desorption of the sorbate from the sorbate/sorbent compound is substantially isothermal.

70. The system of claim 53, wherein the sorber comprises a port configured to communicate sorbate into and out of the sorber during use.

71. The system of claim 53, wherein the sorber comprises a filter configured to prevent sorbent from exiting the sorber during use.

72. The system of claim 53, wherein the sorber comprises an outer conductor and a manifold sleeve positioned between the outer conductor and the sorbent, and wherein the manifold sleeve is configured to transport sorbate into and out of the sorbent and to contain the sorbent within the sorber during use.

73. The system of claim 53, wherein the sorber comprises a metallic tubular housing defining an outer conductor, and wherein the outer conductor comprises an outer conductor of the electromagnetic wave generator.

74. The system of claim 53, wherein the sorber comprises an inner conductor disposed within an outer conductor, and wherein the sorber is coupled to the electromagnetic wave generator by the outer conductor and the inner conductor.

75. The system of claim 53, wherein the electromagnetic wave generator comprises an antenna and an outer conductor, wherein the antenna is configured to function as an inner conductor of the sorber during use, and wherein the outer conductor is configured to function as an outer conductor of the sorber during use.

76. The system of claim 53, wherein the sorber comprises an inner conductor, and wherein the sorber is configured to be coupled to the electromagnetic wave generator by the inner conductor during use.

77. The system of claim 53, wherein the sorber comprises an outer conductor and an inner conductor disposed within the outer conductor, wherein the electromagnetic wave generator comprises an antenna and an outer conductor, wherein the electromagnetic wave generator is coupled to the sorber by a waveguide coupler, wherein the waveguide coupler comprises a plug coupler connected between the antenna and the inner conductor of the sorber, and wherein the waveguide coupler comprises a conducting sleeve connected between the outer conductor of the electromagnetic wave generator and the outer conductor of the sorber.

78. The system of claim 53, wherein the sorber comprises an inner conductor, and wherein a second end of the inner conductor is coupled to the hollow tube.

79. The system of claim 53, wherein the hollow tube is metallic.

80. The system of claim 53, wherein the sorber comprises an inner conductor, wherein the system further comprises a wick extending from the reservoir through the hollow tube and substantially entirely through a bore of the inner conductor, and wherein the wick is configured to draw refrigerant from the reservoir and into the inner conductor during use.

81. The system of claim 80, wherein the wick comprises metallic mesh.

82. The system of claim 53, wherein the sorber comprises an inner conductor, and wherein heat from the sorber is conducted through the inner conductor to the refrigerant such that at least a portion of the refrigerant evaporates during use.

83. The system of claim 53, wherein the hollow tube is configured such that the evaporated portion of the refrigerant condenses in the hollow tube during use.

84. The system of claim 53, further comprising a plurality of fins coupled to an external surface of the hollow tube, wherein the plurality of fins is configured to dissipate heat from the refrigerant during use.

85. The system of claim 53, further comprising a fan disposed external to the hollow tube, wherein the fan is configured to dissipate heat from the refrigerant during use.

86. A method, comprising:

directing electromagnetic wave energy through a sorber to desorb at least a portion of a sorbate from a sorbate/sorbent compound;

evaporating at least a portion of a sorbate in an evaporator;

adsorbing at least a portion of a sorbate onto a sorbent to form a sorbate/sorbent compound, wherein the sorbent is disposed within a sorber;

absorbing heat from the sorber with a refrigerant such that at least a portion of the refrigerant evaporates;

transporting the evaporated refrigerant to an enclosure adjacent to the sorber to condense at least a portion of the refrigerant; and

dissipating heat from the enclosure.

87. The method of claim 86, further comprising transporting the evaporated sorbate from the evaporator to the sorbent through a port in the sorber.

88. The method of claim 86, wherein the enclosure comprises a reservoir coupled to a hollow tube, wherein the refrigerant is disposed within the reservoir, and wherein the hollow tube is coupled to the sorber.

89. The method of claim 86, further comprising transporting the refrigerant to the sorber from a reservoir through a hollow tube.

90. The method of claim 86, further comprising drawing the refrigerant from a reservoir through a hollow tube and into the sorber using a wick.

91. The method of claim 86, wherein absorbing heat comprises conducting heat through an inner conductor of the sorber to the refrigerant.

92. The method of claim 86, wherein dissipating heat from the enclosure comprises dissipating heat through a plurality of fins attached to an external surface of the enclosure.

93. The method of claim 86, wherein dissipating heat from the enclosure comprises increasing air flow past a plurality of fins attached to an external surface of the enclosure using a fan.

94. The method of claim 86, further comprising transporting condensed refrigerant to a reservoir in the enclosure.

95. The method of claim 86, wherein the sorber comprises a metallic tubular housing defining an outer conductor.

96. The method of claim 86, wherein the sorber comprises an outer conductor, and wherein the method further comprises directing electromagnetic waves to the outer conductor such that the electromagnetic waves propagate through the sorber.

97. The method of claim 86, wherein the sorber comprises an outer conductor and an inner conductor disposed within the outer conductor.

98. The method of claim 86, wherein the sorber comprises an inner conductor, and wherein the inner conductor comprises an antenna of an electromagnetic wave generator.

99. The method of claim 86, wherein the sorber comprises an outer conductor and an inner conductor disposed coaxially within the outer conductor.

100. The method of claim 86, wherein the sorber comprises an outer conductor and an inner conductor disposed within the outer conductor, and wherein the sorbent is disposed between the inner conductor and the outer conductor.

101. The method of claim 86, wherein the desorption of the sorbate from the sorbate/sorbent compound is substantially isothermal.

102. The method of claim 86, further comprising absorbing heat from the sorber continuously.

103. The method of claim 86, further comprising condensing at least a portion of the desorbed sorbate in a condenser, wherein the condenser is coupled to the sorber.

104. A system, comprising:

a sorber, wherein the sorber is configurable to propagate electromagnetic waves;

a tube coupled to the sorber, wherein the tube is configured to transport refrigerant into the sorber during use; and

a sorbent disposed within the sorber, wherein the sorbent is configured to adsorb a sorbate during use, and wherein the refrigerant transported into the sorber is configured such that heat generated by adsorption of the sorbate evaporates at least a portion of the refrigerant during use to cool the sorber.

105. A method, comprising:

directing electromagnetic wave energy through a sorber to desorb at least a portion of a sorbate from a sorbate/sorbent compound;

transporting a refrigerant into the sorber, wherein a sorbent is disposed within the sorber;

adsorbing at least a portion of the sorbate onto the sorbent to form the sorbate/sorbent compound; and

absorbing heat generated by adsorption of the sorbate with the refrigerant to evaporate at least a portion of the refrigerant thereby cooling the sorber.