Stationary continuous multimodular trisorption heat pump

A heat pump comprised of:

• a) at least three stationary valveless three-zone modules, at least two of said zones containing solid sorbents of respective high and medium affinity for a gaseous refrigerant contained in each module;
• b) at least one means for distributing at least three heat transfer fluids (hot temperature, at least one moderate temperature, and cold temperature) in controlled sequence to said modules;
• and
• c) flow passages in said means for distributing which simultaneously connect the high affinity zone of one module to one of the moderate temperature heat transfer fluids;
• the medium affinity zone of another module to one of the moderate temperature heat transfer fluids;
• and the third zone of yet another module to one of the moderate temperature heat transfer fluids.

An apparatus for distribution of at least two heat transfer fluids to a multiplicity of heat exchange zones each zone comprised of a hermetically enclosed sorbent media for a gaseous sorbate, and in sorbate communication with at least one other zone, characterized by:

• a) a stationary member which is flat on one side;
• and which has at least one piping connection to each zone plus a pair of piping connections for each heat transfer fluid;
• and which has a port in the flat side for each piping connection;
• b) a rotating member which is also flat on one side, and which has elongated grooves in the flat side which are adapted to align with differing groupings of said ports dependent on the rotational position of said rotating member, and which has at least one internal crossconnect for each of said grooves;
• c) a means for tensioning said rotating member which holds the rotating flat face in sliding seal relationship against the stationary flat face;
• and
• d) a means for rotating said rotating member.

A process for at least one of heating and cooling characterized by:

• a) supplying at most two means for distribution of heat transfer fluids, and at least three trisorption modules comprised of high, medium, and low affinity sorbing zones hermetically enclosed with a sorbate;
• b) distributing hot temperature heat transfer fluid and moderate temperature heat transfer fluid sequentially to said high affinity zones, with an idle period between hot and moderate distribution;
• c) distributing moderate temperature and cold temperature heat transfer fluid sequentially to said medium affinity zones and to said low affinity zones, with an idle period after cold distribution;
• and
• d) providing at least one of heating from said moderate temperature HTF and cooling from said cold temperature HTF.