Solid absorber apparatus for a cyclic absorption process

A solid absorber apparatus for a discontinuously operable, cyclic absorption process of the type in which a coolant vapor is absorbed by a solid absorber material thereby releasing heat, which heat is removed by a cooling heat exchange medium and the absorber material is regenerated by adding heat by means of a heating heat exchange medium, during which regeneration the coolant is expelled, liquefied in a connected condenser and fed under reduced pressure to an evaporator from which the coolant can be returned, after evaporation, to the regenerated absorber material in a cyclic process, said solid absorber apparatus comprising:

• a housing having a plurality of juxtaposed chamber-like zones provided therein, said zones extending longitudinally within said housing in one direction and in the same plane, each said zone having, in transverse cross-section, four sides;
• a solid absorber means consisting essentially of a solid absorber material provided in said plurality of juxtaposed chamber-like zones;
• heat exchange means disposed along at least a portion of each of at least two but less than four sides of each of said zones, whereby the zones are at least partially defined and separated from one another, and extending longitudinally within said housing, and adapted to carry alternatingly said cooling heat exchange medium and said heating heat exchange medium so that at least a major portion of the heat flow between the solid absorber material and the respective heat exchange medium takes place across said at least two but less than four sides of each of said zones;
• and
• a single vapor region defined within and extending longitudinally within said housing, said single vapor region being chargeable with said coolant vapor, being alternatively connectable with said condenser and said evaporator, and communicating jointly with the solid absorber material along the remaining side or sides of each of said zones, which remaining side or sides are open and communicate with said single vapor region, so that absorption and desorption of a given portion of coolant vapor takes place along the same side and through the same solid absorber material, the single vapor region thereby alternatingly serving as an absorber vapor region and a desorber vapor region, while coolant vapor pressure is essentially the same in all of said chamber-like zones,
• wherein the solid absorber material, heat exchange means, and single vapor region are longitudinally coextensive so that the capacity of the solid absorber apparatus may be increased by extending the apparatus in the longitudinal direction or in the transverse direction or both.