Temperature-controlled sorption system

A temperature controller for a sorption system having an evaporator containing a working fluid to evaporate the fluid to produce a gas, the evaporator including an evaporator surface, a sorber containing a sorption material to sorb the gas during a sorption phase, a flow channel extending between the evaporator and the sorber to provide a gas pathway connecting the evaporator and sorber, a valve located within the flow channel and operable to control the rate of gas flow in the flow channel between the evaporator and the sorber through the gas pathway, and a temperature sensor positioned to measure the temperature of one of the evaporator surface and the air adjacent to the evaporator surface indicative of an evaporator surface temperature, and generate a temperature signal, comprising:

• an inflatable member having a first inflation state in which the inflatable member operatively engages and opens the valve to increase the rate of gas flow in the flow channel between the evaporator and the sorber through the gas pathway, and a second inflation state in which the inflatable member is moved to a position that permits closing of the valve to reduce the rate of gas flow in the flow channel between the evaporator and the sorber through the gas pathway;
• and
• a control unit comprising a microcontroller operatively connected to the temperature sensor and configured to evaluate the temperature signal and in response control the state of inflation of the inflatable member and thereby the operation of the valve to control the rate of gas flow between the evaporator and sorber through the gas pathway, when the inflatable member is in the first inflation state, the inflatable member causes opening of the valve to increase the rate of gas flow in the flow channel between the evaporator and the sorber through the gas pathway, and when the inflatable member is in the second inflation state, the inflatable member permits closing of the valve to reduce the rate of gas flow in the flow channel between the evaporator and the sorber through the gas pathway.