High efficiency absorption heat pump and methods of use

• US 7,313,926 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2006
• Issued: 01/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rexorce Thermionics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rexorce Thermionics, Inc.
• Inventors: Gurin, Michael H
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones; Melvin
• Application Number:
  US11/306,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20070089449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 623/242, 624/76
• US Class Current: 62/324.2
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 5/047 for absorption-type refrigeration systems
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 23/02 the engine cycles being thermally coupled
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 25/065 with an absorption fluid remaining at least partly in the liquid state, e.g. water for ammonia F01K5/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 3/02 Use of accumulators and specific engine types; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 30/04 of the sorption type
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/10 Process efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/54 using solvents, e.g. supercritical solvents or ionic liquids

Abstract

A high efficiency absorption heat pump cycle is disclosed using a high pressure stage, a supercritical cooling stage, and a mechanical energy extraction stage to provide a non-toxic combined heat, cooling, and energy system. Using the preferred carbon dioxide gas with partially miscible absorber fluids, including the preferred ionic liquids as the working fluid in the system, the present invention desorbs the CO.sub.2 from an absorbent and cools the gas in the supercritical state to deliver heat. The cooled CO.sub.2 gas is then expanded, preferably through an expansion device transforming the expansion energy into mechanical energy thereby providing cooling, heating temperature lift and electrical energy, and is returned to an absorber for further cycling. Strategic use of heat exchangers, preferably microchannel heat exchangers comprised of nanoscale powders and thermal-hydraulic compressor/pump can further increase the efficiency and performance of the system.

Claims

1. An absorption heat pump system whereby the heat pump system method of operation is based on thermodynamic cycles selected from the group consisting of Goswami, Kalina, Baker, or Uehara cycle, comprised of at least one working fluid selected from the group consisting of ionic liquids, ionic solids, electride solutions, and alkalide solutions.

16. The heat pump according to claim 1 is further comprised of at least one nanoscale powder selected from of the group consisting of conductive, semi-conductive ferroelectric, and ferromagnetic powders including powders with nanoscale surface modifications, including surface modifications selected from the group of monolayer, and multi-layers.

18. The heat pump according to claim 1 is further comprised of at least one working fluid having partial miscibility including means of phase separation as a function of at least one function selected from the group consisting of temperature, pressure, and pH.

20. The heat pump system according to claim 1 whereby the working fluid is an electride or alkalide solution is further operable with additional thermodynamic cycles as a means of maximizing thermal energy into power generation.

2. An absorption heat pump system comprised of supercritical working fluids and at least one device selected from the group consisting of spinning disk reactor, thermal-hydraulic compressor including pressure train heat exchanger, a series of independent pressure stages having staggered or pulsed flow, hydraulic pump having integral thermal sink, or mechanical energy extraction device including gerotor, expansion turbine, expansion pump, Stirling cycle engine, Ericsson cycle engine, or ramjet turbine.

4. The heat pump according to claim 2 whereby the heat pump supercritical fluid is staggered or pulsed sequentially in series into at least two desorption or superheated vapor zones.

5. The heat pump according to claim 4 whereby the heat pump is further comprised of a sealed container that captures refrigerant leaked by pumping system that is periodically evacuated into the weak solution.

6. The heat pump according to claim 4 whereby the heat pump is further comprised of cavitation device that enhances absorption rate including cavitation devices selected from the category of devices that create hydrodynamic cavitation.

7. The working fluid according to claim 4, whereby the working fluid is staggered or pulsed sequentially by means void of pistons, capillary devices, or heat pipes.

9. The heat pump according to claim 2 wherein the combustion exhaust is infused into absorber as a means of carbon dioxide sequestration.

10. The combustion exhaust according to claim 9 whereby the combustion exhaust is treated to reduce exhaust byproducts including NO.sub.x and sulfur.

11. The heat pump according to claim 2 wherein the desorption energy is directly recovered from thermal conduction losses of a combustion recuperator.

12. The heat pump according to claim 2 whereby the heat pump is further comprised of at least one integral solar collector and at least one integral solar concentrator in series creating at least two independent pressure zones.

13. The heat pump according to claim 12 whereby the heat pump is further comprised of at least one absorber selected from the group consisting of ionic liquids, ionic solids, electride solutions and alkalide solutions.

15. The heat pump system according to claim 2, whereby the heat pump system method of operation is based on thermodynamic cycles selected from the group consisting of Goswami, Kalina, Baker, Uehara cycle, or derivatives thereof.

19. The heat pump according to claim 2 is further comprised of at least one working fluid having partial miscibility including means of phase separation as a function of at least one function selected from the group consisting of temperature, pressure, and pH.

3. An absorption heat pump system wherein the working fluid is desorbed by at least one thermal method and at least one non-thermal method including non-thermal methods selected from the group consisting of magnetic refrigeration, vapor compression heat pump condenser, solar activated direct spectrum light absorption, electrodialysis, electrostatic fields, membrane separation, electrodesorption, pervaporation, gas centrifuge, vortex tube CO2-liquid absorber, decanting, or combinations thereof.

17. The heat pump according to claim 3 is further comprised of at least one nanoscale powder selected from of the group consisting of conductive, semi-conductive ferroelectric, and ferromagnetic powders including powders with nanoscale surface modifications, including surface modifications selected from the group of monolayer, and multi-layers.

21. The heat pump according to claim 3 is further comprised of at least one working fluid having partial miscibility including means of phase separation as a function of at least one function selected from the group consisting of temperature, pressure, and pH.

8. A multistage absorption heat pump system comprised of at least one supercritical working fluid and at least one mechanical energy extraction device including gerotor, ramjet turbine, or combinations thereof.

14. An absorption heat pump system comprised of at least one working fluid having partial miscibility including means of phase separation as a function of at least one function selected from the group consisting of temperature, pressure, and pH, and at least one integral supersonic device including devices selected from the group consisting of compressor and turbine including compressors and turbines operating on either the ramjet or pulsejet principle.

22. A thermal hydraulic pump comprised of a supercritical working fluid, wherein the supercritical working fluid is sequentially staggered or pulsed through a series of individual heat exchangers wherein each heat exchanger utilizes a pressure control means to increase pressure from a first pressure heat exchanger to a sequential next higher pressure heat exchanger, and wherein the pressure control means creates independent pressure zones within each heat exchanger.

23. The thermal hydraulic pump according to claim 22 whereby the supercritical working fluid is selected from the group consisting of ionic liquids, ionic solids, electride solutions, alkalide solutions, or combinations thereof.