Sorption refrigeration appliance

In combination with a microwave oven having a cooking compartment, a magnetron and means for directing the microwaves generated by the magnetron into the cooking compartment, the improvement comprising:

• at least one sorber having a housing forming an enclosure;
• a sorbent located within the enclosure;
• an evaporator in fluid communication with the enclosure and connected in heat exchange relation with the compartment;
• a condenser in fluid communication with both the enclosure and the evaporator;
• wherein during a first portion of a cooling cycle a sorbate is evaporated in the evaporator to cool the compartment and then adsorbed by the sorbent;
• means for coupling microwaves generated by the magnetron to the sorber;
• wherein during a second portion of the cooling cycle the sorbate is desorbed from the sorbent by the microwaves and then condensed in the condenser.

A method of selectively heating or cooling an item comprising the steps of:

• providing a source of electromagnetic energy;
• directing electromagnetic energy from the source to the item to heat the item;
• providing a sorbate;
• providing a sorbent;
• positioning the item in heat exchange relation with a heat exchanger;
• evaporating the sorbate in the heat exchanger to produce a cooling effect and thereby cool the item;
• adsorbing the evaporated sorbate onto the sorbent;
• directing electromagnetic energy from the source to the sorbent to desorb the sorbate from the sorbent;
• condensing the desorbed sorbate.

An apparatus for selectively heating or cooling an item, the apparatus comprising:

• means for generating electromagnetic waves;
• means for directing the electromagnetic waves to the item to heat the item during a first mode of operation of the apparatus;
• means positioned in heat exchange relation with the item for evaporating a sorbate to produce a cooling effect and thereby cool the item during a second mode of operation of the apparatus;
• a sorber containing a sorbent on which the evaporated sorbate is adsorbed;
• means for coupling the electromagnetic waves to the sorber to desorb the sorbate from the sorbent;
• means for condensing the sorbate which has been desorbed from the sorbent.