Compact membrane-based absorption heat pump

A heat pump comprising:

• a first membrane-based absorber/evaporator module including:
• a first solution channel;
• a first refrigerant channel;
• a first vapor channel positioned between the first solution channel and the first refrigerant channel;
• a first liquid channel comprising a plurality of first liquid sub-channels which are arranged along a horizontal direction;
• a second liquid channel comprising a plurality of second liquid sub-channels which are arranged along the horizontal direction;
• a first porous membrane positioned between the first refrigerant channel and the first vapor channel;
• and
• a second porous membrane positioned between the first vapor channel and the first solution channel;
• the first and second porous membranes permitting flow of vapor molecules therethrough while restricting flow of absorbent molecules;
• a first hollow support plate connecting to and abutting against the first porous membrane;
• a second hollow support plate connecting to and abutting against the second porous membrane, wherein the first hollow support plate and the second hollow support plate are located between the first porous membranes and second porous membranes;
• a first vertical wall extending from the first refrigerant channel to the first solution channel with passing by the first porous membrane, the first hollow support plate, the first vapor channel, the second hollow support plate, and the second porous membrane in sequence;
• and
• a second vertical wall extending from the first refrigerant channel to the first solution channel with passing by the first porous membrane, the first hollow support plate, the first vapor channel, the second hollow support plate, and the second porous membrane in sequence, wherein the first hollow support plate and the second hollow support plate are located between the first vertical wall and the second vertical wall, wherein each of the first and second vertical walls border an outermost first liquid sub-channel as well as an outermost second liquid sub-channel, and wherein the first vapor channel is defined and bordered by the first and second hollow support plates and the first and second vertical walls collectively by connecting opposite end surfaces of the first and second hollow support plates to the first and second vertical walls, and surfaces of the first and second hollow support plates face each other and are entirely exposed by the first vapor channel;
• a second membrane-based generator/condenser module including:
• a second solution channel;
• a second refrigerant channel;
• a second vapor channel positioned between the second solution channel and the second refrigerant channel;
• a third liquid channel comprising a plurality of third liquid sub-channels which are arranged along the horizontal direction;
• a fourth liquid channel comprising a plurality of fourth liquid sub-channels which are arranged along the horizontal direction;
• a third porous membrane positioned between the second refrigerant channel and the second vapor channel;
• and
• a fourth porous membrane positioned between the second vapor channel and the second solution channel;
• the third and fourth porous membranes permitting flow of vapor molecules therethrough while restricting flow of absorbent molecules;
• a third hollow support plate connecting to and abutting against the third porous membrane;
• a fourth hollow support plate connecting to and abutting against the fourth porous membrane, wherein the third hollow support plate and the fourth hollow support plate are located between the third porous membranes and fourth porous membranes;
• a third vertical wall extending from the second refrigerant channel to the second solution channel with passing by the third porous membrane, the second hollow support plate, the second vapor channel, the fourth hollow support plate, and the fourth porous membrane in sequence;
• and
• a fourth vertical wall extending from the second refrigerant channel to the second solution channel with passing by the third porous membrane, the second hollow support plate, the second vapor channel, the fourth hollow support plate, and the fourth porous membrane in sequence, wherein the third hollow support plate and the fourth hollow support plate are located between the third vertical wall and the fourth vertical wall, wherein each of the third and fourth vertical walls border an outermost third liquid sub-channel as well an outermost fourth liquid sub-channel, and wherein the second vapor channel is defined and bordered by the third and fourth hollow support plates and the third and fourth vertical walls collectively by connecting opposite end surfaces of the third and fourth hollow support plates to the third and fourth vertical walls, and surfaces of the third and fourth hollow support plates face each other and are entirely exposed by the second vapor channel;
• and
• fluid communication paths between the first membrane-based absorber/evaporator module and the second membrane-based generator/condenser module.