Regenerative adsorbent heat pump

A regenerative sorbent heat pump process for cooling an interior space and for simultaneously regenerating at least a portion of the heat of adsorption comprising:

• (a) confining a sorbent in a plurality of compressor zones, the number of compressor zones being at least four;
• (b) introducing a working fluid vapor from an evaporation zone into at least one of the number of compressor zones and sorbing the working fluid vapor on the sorbent therein over a predetermined first temperature range and a predetermined first pressure or P.sub.L ;
• (c) desorbing working fluid vapor from the sorbent in at least one of the remaining number of compressor zones and removing working fluid vapor therefrom over a predetermined second temperature range which is higher than the predetermined first temperature range and at a predetermined second pressure or P.sub.H which is higher than the predetermined first pressure, a part of the predetermined first temperature range overlapping a part of the predetermined second temperature range;
• (d) condensing working fluid vapor removed from said at least one of the remaining number of the compressor zones at P.sub.H and transferring heat from the working fluid to the environment thereby forming a working fluid liquid;
• (e) evaporating the working fluid liquid and forming the working fluid vapor in the evaporation zone at P.sub.L by transferring heat from an interior space to the evaporation zone thereby cooling the interior space;
• (f) circulating a heat transfer fluid in a closed loop which comprises a heat removal zone and series flow through the compressor zones and preventing the heat transfer fluid from directly contacting the sorbent;
• (g) removing heat from the heat transfer fluid in the heat removal zone before it flows to a predetermined one of the compressor zones and transferring the removed heat to the environment;
• (h) cooling the coolest compressor further to a predetermined bottoming temperature;
• (i) after step (h), repeating step (g) sequentially for each of the compressor zones;
• (j) adding heat from a heat source to a predetermined one of the compressor zones over a predetermined period of time;
• (k) repeating step (j) sequentially in each of the compressor zones;
• (l) indirectly transferring heat from the sorbent in the compressor zones which are sorbing working fluid vapor to the heat transfer fluid and from the heat transfer fluid to the sorbent in the compressor zones which are desorbing working fluid vapor thereby regenerating heat;
• and,
• (m) maintaining the P.sub.H /P.sub.L ratio sufficiently low so that at least a portion of the heat of adsorption is regenerated.

A regenerative sorbent heat pump process for cooling an interior space and for simultaneously regenerating at least a portion of the heat of adsorption comprising:

• (a) confining a sorbent in a plurality of compressor zones, the number of compressor zones being at least four;
• (b) introducing a working fluid vapor from an evaporation zone into at least one of the number of compressor zones and sorbing the working fluid vapor on the sorbent therein over a predetermined first temperature range and a predetermined first pressure or P.sub.L ;
• (c) desorbing working fluid vapor from the sorbent in at least one of the remaining number of compressor zones and removing working fluid vapor therefrom over a predetermined second temperature range which is higher than the predetermined first temperature range and at a predetermined second pressure or P.sub.H which is higher than the predetermined first pressure, a part of the predetermined first temperature range overlapping a part of the predetermined second temperature range;
• (d) condensing working fluid vapor removed from said at least one of the remaining number of the compressor zones at P.sub.H and transferring heat from the working fluid to the environment thereby forming a working fluid liquid;
• (e) evaporating the working fluid liquid and forming the working fluid vapor in the evaporation zone at P.sub.L by transferring heat from an interior space to the evaporation zone thereby cooling the interior space;
• (f) circulating a first heat transfer fluid in a closed loop which comprises a heat removal zone and series flow through the compressor zones and preventing the first heat transfer fluid from directly contacting the sorbent;
• (g) indirectly transferring heat from the first heat transfer fluid in the heat removal zone before it flows to a predetermined one of the compressor zones to a second heat transfer fluid;
• (h) removing heat from a second heat transfer fluid and transferring it to the environment;
• (i) adding heat from a heat source to a predetermined one of the compressor zones over a predetermined period of time;
• (j) cooling the coolest compressor further to a predetermined bottoming temperature;
• (k) after step (j), repeating step (i) sequentially in each of the compressor zones;
• (l) indirectly transferring heat from the sorbent in the compressor zones which are sorbing working fluid vapor to the first heat transfer fluid and from the first heat transfer fluid to the sorbent in the compressor zones which are desorbing working fluid vapor thereby regenerating heat;
• and,
• (m) maintaining the P.sub.H /P.sub.L ratio sufficiently low so that at least a portion of the heat of adsorption is regenerated.

A regenerative sorbent heat pump system comprising:

• a working fluid being operable for being sorbed by a sorbent;
• a plurality of compressors, the number of compressors being at least four, each of the compressors having
• a sorbent contained within the compressor, and
• a heat conductive passageway having an inlet and an outlet, the heat conductive passageway for flowing a heat transfer fluid through the compressor and for indirectly transferring heat between the sorbent and the heat transfer fluid without the heat transfer fluid being in contact with the sorbent;
• means for removing high temperature, high pressure working fluid vapor from each of the compressors;
• condensing means for transferring heat from the working fluid to a low temperature heat sink, and, for condensing working fluid vapor to form a low temperature, high pressure working fluid liquid;
• evaporating means for converting low temperature, high pressure working fluid liquid to low temperature, low pressure working fluid vapor, and, for transferring heat from a low temperature source external of the system to the working fluid;
• liquid conveying means for conveying low temperature, high pressure working fluid liquid from the condensing means to the evaporating means;
• vapor conveying means for conveying low temperature, low pressure working fluid vapor into each of the compressors;
• a first heat transfer fluid and a second heat transfer fluid;
• a plurality of indirect heat exchange means, the number of indirect heat exchange means being equal to the number of the compressors, each of the indirect heat exchange means having a first channel for flowing the first heat transfer fluid, and a second channel for flowing the second heat transfer fluid, the channels being isolated from fluid communication with each other, the first channel being in heat conductive communication with the second channel, each of the channels having an inlet and an outlet;
• a train formed by connecting in alternating order, the first channels of the indirect heat exchange means to the heat conductive passageways, the train having an inlet which is also the inlet of the first channel of the first-in-the-series of indirect heat exchange means of the train, and, the train having an outlet which is also the outlet of the heat conductive passageway of the last-in-the-series of compressors of the train;
• first pumping means for pumping the first heat transfer fluid around the train, the outlet of the first pumping means being connected to the train inlet and the train outlet being connected to the first pumping means inlet;
• second pumping means for pumping the second heat transfer fluid;
• connecting means for connecting the outlet of the second pumping means to the inlet of the second channel of each of the internal heat exchange means, and for connecting the outlet of each of the second channels thereof to the second pumping means inlet;
• flow control mean for directing the second heat transfer fluid from the second pumping means to the second channel of a predetermined one of the indirect heat exchange means in a predetermined order thereby defining a flow cycle, and, for enabling heat transfer between the first heat transfer fluid in the first channel thereof and the second heat transfer fluid in the second channel thereof;
• primary heating means for heating each of the compressors;
• heat control means for controlling the heating period of the primary heating means in each of the compressors thereby defining a heating cycle;
• and,
• heat discharge means for transferring heat from the second heat transfer fluid in the connecting means from the second channels to the second pump means, to a low temperature heat sink thereby providing a regenerative sorbent heat pump system.

A regenerative sorbent heat pump system comprising:

• a working fluid being operable for being sorbed by a sorbent;
• a plurality of compressors, the number of compressors being at least four, each of the compressors having
• a sorbent contained within the compressor, and
• a heat conductive passageway having an inlet and an outlet, the heat conductive passageway for flowing transfer fluid through the compressor and for indirectly transferring heat between the sorbent and the heat transfer fluid without the heat transfer fluid being in contact with the sorbent;
• means for removing high temperature, high pressure working fluid vapor from each of the compressors;
• condensing means for transferring heat from the working fluid to a low temperature heat sink, and, for condensing working fluid vapor to form a low temperature, high pressure working fluid liquid;
• evaporating means for converting low temperature, high pressure working fluid liquid to low temperature, low pressure working fluid vapor, and, for transferring heat from a low temperature source external of the system to the working fluid;
• liquid conveying means for conveying low temperature, high pressure working fluid liquid from the condensing means to the evaporating means;
• vapor conveying means for conveying low temperature, low pressure working fluid vapor into each of the compressors;
• a heat transfer fluid;
• a plurality of indirect heat exchange means, the number of indirect heat exchange means being equal to the number of the compressors, each of the indirect heat exchange means having a first channel for flowing the heat transfer fluid, and a second channel for flowing the heat transfer fluid, the channels being isolated from immediate fluid communication with each other, the first channel being in heat conductive communication with the second channel, each of the channels having an inlet and an outlet;
• a train formed by connecting in alternating order, the first channels of the indirect heat exchange means to the heat conductive passageways, the train having an inlet which is also the inlet of the first channel of the first-in-the-series of the indirect heat exchange means of the train, and, the train having an outlet which is also the outlet of the heat conductive passageway of the last-in-the-series of compressors of the train;
• pumping means for pumping the heat transfer fluid;
• first connecting means for connecting the outlet of the pumping means to the inlet of each of the second channels;
• second connecting means for connecting the outlet of each of the second channels to the train inlet;
• third connecting means for connecting the train outlet to the pumping means inlet;
• flow control means for directing the heat transfer fluid from the pumping means to the second channel of a predetermined one of the indirect heat exchange means in a predetermined order thereby defining a flow cycle, and, for enabling heat transfer between the heat transfer fluid in the first channel thereof and the heat transfer fluid in the second channel thereof;
• primary heating means for heating each of the compressors;
• heat control means for controlling the heating period of the primary heating means in each of the compressors thereby defining a heating cycle;
• and,
• heat discharge means for transferring heat from the heat transfer fluid in the second connecting means to a low temperature heat sink thereby providing a regenerative sorbent heat pump system.

A regenerative sorbent heat pump system comprising:

• a working fluid being operable for being sorbed by a sorbent;
• a plurality of compressors, the number of compressors being at least four, each of the compressors having
• a sorbent contained within the compressor, and
• a heat conductive passageway having an inlet and an outlet, the heat conductive passageway for flowing a heat transfer fluid through the compressor and for indirectly transferring heat between the sorbent and the heat transfer fluid without the heat transfer fluid being in contact with the sorbent;
• means for removing high temperature, high pressure working fluid vapor from each of the compressors;
• condensing means for transferring heat from the working fluid to a low temperature heat sink, and, for condensing working fluid vapor to form a low temperature, high pressure working fluid liquid;
• evaporating means for converting low temperature, high pressure working fluid liquid to low temperature, low pressure working fluid vapor, and, for transferring heat from a low temperature source external of the system to the working fluid;
• liquid conveying means for conveying low temperature, high pressure working fluid liquid from the condensing means to the evaporating means;
• vapor conveying means for conveying low temperature low pressure working fluid vapor into each of the compressors;
• a heat transfer fluid;
• a plurality of indirect heat exchange means, the number of indirect heat exchange means being equal to the number of the compressors, each of the indirect heat exchange means having a first channel for flowing a primary portion of the heat transfer fluid, and a second channel for flowing a secondary portion of the heat transfer fluid, the channels being isolated from fluid communication with each other, the first channel being in heat conductive communication with the second channel, each of the channels having an inlet and an outlet;
• a train formed by connecting in alternating order, the first channels of the indirect heat exchange means to the heat conductive passageways, the train having an inlet which is also the inlet of the first channel of the first-in-the-series of indirect heat exchange means of the train, and, the train having an outlet which is also the outlet of the heat conductive passageway of the last-in-the-series of compressors of the train;
• first pumping means for pumping the primary portion of a heat transfer fluid around the first train, the outlet of the first pumping means being connected to the train inlet and the train outlet being connected to the first pumping means inlet;
• second pumping means for pumping the secondary portion of the heat transfer fluid;
• connecting means for connecting the outlet of the second pumping means to the inlet of the second channel of each of the internal heat exchange means, and for connecting the outlet of each of the second channels thereof to the second pumping means inlet;
• flow control means for directing the secondary portion of the heat transfer fluid from the second pumping means to the second channel of a predetermined one of the indirect heat exchange means in a predetermined order thereby defining a flow cycle, and, for enabling heat transfer between the primary portion of the heat transfer fluid in the first channel thereof and the secondary portion of the heat transfer fluid in the second channel thereof;
• primary heating means for heating each of the compressors;
• heat control means for controlling the heating period of the primary heating means in each of the compressors thereby defining a heating cycle;
• means for transferring heat from the primary portion of the heat transfer fluid flowing from the train to a low temperature heat sink;
• and,
• heat discharge means for transferring heat rom the secondary portion of the heat transfer fluid in the connecting means from the second channels to the second pump means, to a low temperature heat sink thereby providing a regenerative sorbent heat pump system.

A regenerative sorbent heat pump system for regeneration of at least a portion of the heat of adsorption comprising:

• a working fluid being operable for being sorbed by a sorbent over a predetermined first temperature range thereby producing a heat of adsorption, and for being desorbed from the sorbent over a predetermined second temperature range which is higher than the predetermined first temperature range, a part of the predetermined first temperature range overlapping a part of the predetermined second temperature range thereby enabling regeneration of at least a portion of the heat of adsorption;
• a plurality of compressors, the number of compressors being at least four, each of the compressors having
• a sorbent contained within the compressor, and
• a heating conductive passageway having an inlet and an outlet, the heat conductive passageway for flowing a heat transfer fluid through the compressor and for indirectly transferring heat between the sorbent and the heat transfer fluid without the heat transfer fluid being in contact with the sorbent;
• means for removing high temperature, high pressure working fluid vapor from each of the compressors;
• condensing means for transferring heat from the working fluid to a low temperature heat sink, and, for condensing working fluid vapor to form a low temperature, high pressure working fluid liquid;
• evaporating means for converting low temperature, high pressure working fluid liquid to low temperature, low pressure working fluid vapor, and, for transferring heat from a low temperature source external of the system to the working fluid;
• liquid conveying means for conveying low temperature, high pressure working fluid liquid from the condensing means to the evaporating means;
• vapor conveying means for conveying low temperature, low pressure working fluid vapor into each of the compressors;
• first connecting means for forming a loop of heat conductive passageways by connecting the outlet of one heat conductive passageway to the inlet of another heat conductive passageway and proceeding with such inlet-to-outlet connections until the outlet of the last heat conductive passageway is connected to the inlet of the first heat conductive passageway thereby forming a loop of heat conductive passageways;
• a heat transfer fluid;
• pumping means for pumping the a heat transfer fluid;
• second connecting means for connecting the outlet of the pumping means to the inlet of each of the heat conductive passageways;
• third connecting means for connecting the outlet of each of the heat conductive passageways to the pumping means inlet;
• flow control means for directing the heat transfer fluid from the pumping means to the inlet of a predetermined one of the heat conductive passageways, then around the loop passing through each of the heat conductive passageways only once, and then to the pumping means;
• phase timing means for redirecting the heat transfer fluid after a predetermined time interval, from the pumping means to another one of the heat conductive passageways thereby beginning a new phase, and for repeating such redirecting after such predetermined time intervals to other of the heat conductive passageways, until the heat transfer fluid is directed from the pumping means to each of the heat conductive passageways thereby completing a flow cycle;
• primary heating means for heating each of the compressors;
• heat control means for controlling the heating period of the primary heating means in each of the compressors;
• and,
• heat discharge means for transferring heat from the heat transfer fluid in the third connecting means to a low temperature heat sink thereby providing a regenerative sorbent heat pump system operable for regeneration of at least a portion of the heat of adsorption.