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US 4,003,213 AGranted
Triple-point heat pump
OwnerRobert Bruce Coxinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention relates to heat pump systems variously useful for heating and cooling as well as for the production of potable water and in which the thermal energy employed is derived from heat liberated by the freezing of water under vacuum at the triple point.
Claims13
A heat pump or refrigeration system which comprises:
- an evaporation chamber;
- a condenser;
- means for introducing water or water solution into said evaporation chamber;
- means for creating a vacuum in said evaporation chamber sufficient to cause a portion of said water or water solution to vaporize and another portion to freeze;
- means, which may be the same means as is employed for creating said vacuum, for withdrawing and compressing vapor produced within said evaporation chamber and transferring the compressed vapor to said condenser;
- means for exchanging the heat content of said compressed vapor with a working fluid, thereby condensing said vapor;
- means for discharging said condensed vapor or returning said condensed vapor to said evaporation chamber and means for continuously removing ice from said evaporation chamber.
4 more elements
A heat pump or refrigeration system which comprises:
- A. an evaporation chamber;
- B. means for introducing water or water solution into said evaporation chamber;
- C. a closed refrigerant loop which comprises:
- a. a first condenser;
- b. a second condenser;
- c. a refrigerant fluid;
- d. means for continuously circulating said refrigerant fluid from said first condenser to said second condenser and back to said first condenser;
- D. means for passing water vapor produced in said evaporation chamber to said first condenser and placing said water vapor in indirect heat exchange relation with said refrigerant fluid;
- E. means for continuously removing ice from said evaporation chamber;
- F. an aqueous antifreeze solution loop which comprises:
- a. means for transferring concentrated antifreeze solution from said second condenser to said first condenser into direct heat exchange relation with said water vapor and indirect heat exchange relation with said refrigerant fluid;
- b. means for transferring dilute antifreeze solution from said first condenser to said second condenser and into indirect heat exchange relation with said refrigerant fluid;
- G. a third condenser;
- H. means for transferring water vapor from said second condenser to said third condenser;
- I. means for placing ice or a working fluid in heat exchange relation with said water vapor within said third condenser;
- J. means for removing water from said third condenser.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.