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US 5,271,235 AGranted
High efficiency absorption cycle of the gax type
AssigneePhillips Engineering Co.
InventorsBenjamin A. Phillips, Thomas S. Zawacki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A high-efficiency, enhanced, generator-absorber heat exchange (EnGAX) cycle, particularly useful in gas-fired, air-cooled absorption heat pumps, increases the heat output of the absorber in the temperature overlap range with the generator to equal the heat usable by the generator. This is accomplished by establishing a solution pathway from a portion of the absorber in the temperature overlap region to a portion of the generator in order to increase solution flow in the high temperature regions of the absorber and generator. Further improvements in cycle efficiency are obtainable by increasing the operating pressure of the absorber.
Claims56
An absorption heat pump apparatus comprising:
- a generator, a condenser, an evaporator and an absorber;
- a strong solution pathway including a solution pump for transferring solution from a low temperature portion of said absorber to said generator;
- a weak solution pathway from said generator to a high temperature portion of said absorber;
- a refrigerant pathway from said generator to said condenser, from said condenser to said evaporator and from said evaporator to said absorber;
- a heat transfer pathway between overlapping temperature regions of said absorber and said generator;
- and
- a means for increasing the operating pressure of at least a portion of said absorber such that the amount of overlap between the temperature ranges of said absorber and said generator is increased.
4 more elements
An absorption heat pump apparatus comprising:
- a generator having a first portion and means for applying heat to said first portion in order to separate a refrigerant vapor from a strong solution of said refrigerant and an absorbent, leaving a weak solution of said refrigerant and absorbent, said generator further having a second portion for purifying said refrigerant vapor;
- an absorber to which refrigerant is supplied for absorption by a weak solution of said refrigerant and said absorbent to form a strong solution of said refrigerant and said absorbent and liberating heat thereby;
- weak solution transfer means for transferring solution from said first portion of said generator to said absorber;
- strong solution transfer means for transferring solution from said absorber to said generator;
- refrigerant transfer means for transferring refrigerant vapor from said second portion of said generator to a condenser, from said condenser to an evaporator and from said evaporator to said absorber;
- a GAX heat exchanger for transferring heat from said absorber to said generator in a temperature range common to said absorber and generator;
- and
- solution transfer means for transferring solution from said absorber in said temperature range to a portion of said generator.
5 more elements
An absorption heat pump apparatus comprising:
- a generator, a condenser, an evaporator and an absorber;
- a strong solution pathway from a low temperature portion of said absorber to said generator;
- a weak solution pathway from said generator to a high temperature portion of said absorber;
- a refrigerant pathway from said generator to said condenser, from said condenser to said evaporator and from said evaporator to said absorber;
- a GAX heat exchanger for transferring heat from said absorber to said generator in a temperature range common to said generator and absorber;
- and
- means for heating fluid in said generator to a peak temperature of approximately 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
4 more elements
A process for at least one of heating and cooling, including the steps of:
- (a) contacting refrigerant vapor with a weak absorbent solution in an absorber unit to produce a rich absorbent solution;
- (b) heating said rich absorbent solution in a generator unit to produce said refrigerant vapor and said weak absorbent solution;
- (c) returning said weak absorbent solution from step (b) to step (a);
- (d) condensing said refrigerant vapor obtained in step (b) to produce a condensate;
- (e) expanding said condensate thereby producing said refrigerant vapor;
- (f) returning said refrigerant vapor from step (e) to step (a);
- (g) transferring heat from a portion of said absorber to a portion of said generator, wherein said absorber portion and said generator portion have overlapping temperature ranges;
- and
- (h) increasing the pressure of said refrigerant vapor in at least a portion of said absorber in order to elevate the operating pressure in said portion of said absorber and increase the extent of overlap between temperature ranges of said absorber and said generator.
6 more elements
A process for at least one of heating or cooling by use of an absorption heat pump, comprising the steps of:
- (a) contacting refrigerant vapor with a weak absorbent solution in an absorber unit to produce a rich absorbent solution;
- (b) heating said rich absorbent solution in a generator unit operating at a peak temperature of approximately 500.degree. F., to produce said refrigerant vapor and said weak absorbent solution;
- (c) returning said weak absorbent solution from step (b) to step (a);
- (d) condensing said refrigerant vapor obtained in step (b) to produce a condensate;
- (e) expanding said condensate thereby producing said refrigerant vapor;
- (f) returning said refrigerant vapor from steps (e) to step (a);
- and
- (g) transferring heat from a portion of said absorber to a portion of said generator, wherein said absorber portion and said generator portion have overlapping temperature ranges.
5 more elements
A process for at least one of heating or cooling by use of an absorption heat pump, comprising the steps of:
- (a) contacting refrigerant vapor with a weak absorbent solution in an absorber unit to produce a rich absorbent solution;
- (b) heating said rich absorbent solution in a generator unit to produce said refrigerant vapor and said weak absorbent solution;
- (c) returning said weak absorbent solution from step (b) to step (a);
- (d) condensing said refrigerant vapor obtained in step (b) to produce a condensate;
- (e) expanding said condensate thereby producing said refrigerant vapor;
- (f) returning said refrigerant vapor from step (e) to step (a);
- and
- (g) transferring heat from a portion of said absorber to a portion of said generator by increasing flow to said rich absorbent solution in at least a portion of said overlapping temperature region of said absorber and said generator, wherein said absorber portion and said generator portion have overlapping temperature ranges.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.