Apparatus and method for improved performance of aqua-ammonia absorption cycles
AssigneeRocky Research
InventorsPaul Sarkisian, Lance Kirol, Uwe Rockenfeller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An aqua-ammonia absorption heating and/or cooling apparatus uses a thermostatic expansion valve (TXV) and a temperature-sensing bulb for controlling refrigerant flow to the evaporator having a bulb charge composition comprising a mixture of propane and butane, or an ammonia-water mixture having over 70% ammonia, by weight.
Claims26
An aqua-ammonia absorption cooling and/or heating apparatus comprising:
- an absorber assembly, a generator assembly and an absorption fluid loop for directing absorption fluid between said absorber and generator assemblies, a condenser, an evaporator and a refrigerant loop including piping for directing refrigerant from the generator assembly to the condenser and from the condenser to the evaporator, and a valve assembly cooperating with said refrigerant piping for controlling the flow of refrigerant therein, said valve assembly comprising a first valve having an inlet port communicating with said condenser, an outlet port communicating with said evaporator, and a temperature-sensing bulb in thermal contact with said evaporator at or near the evaporator outlet, said first valve including a pressure port exposed to the temperature-sensing bulb pressure and a movable member exposed to said pressure port and responsive to bulb pressure for operating said first valve and for controlling flow therethrough in response to temperature sensed by the temperature-sensing bulb, said temperature-sensing bulb containing a bulb charge composition comprising an ammonia-water mixture having above 70% ammonia, by weight.
An aqua-ammonia absorption cooling and/or heating apparatus comprising:
- an absorber assembly, a generator assembly and an absorption fluid loop for directing absorption fluid between said absorber and generator assemblies, a condenser, an evaporator and a refrigerant loop including piping for directing refrigerant from the generator assembly to the condenser and from the condenser to the evaporator, and a valve assembly cooperating with said refrigerant piping for controlling the flow of refrigerant therein, said valve assembly comprising a pulsed operation control valve having an inlet port in communication with said condenser having an inlet flow area for receiving condensed refrigerant, and a valve for opening and closing said inlet port, an outlet port having an outlet flow area and communicating with said evaporator, a valve cavity between said inlet port and said outlet port and in open communication therewith, said valve being responsive to pressure within said valve cavity wherein higher pressure therein biases said valve to close said inlet port and lower pressure therein biases said valve to open said inlet port, said inlet flow area being at least twice the size of said outlet flow area whereby opening said inlet port provides for rapid pressure buildup in said cavity and rapid closure thereof after each opening, and a temperature-sensing bulb in thermal contact with said evaporator at or near the evaporator outlet wherein said valve assembly includes a pressure port exposed to the temperature-sensing bulb pressure, and a movable member exposed to said pressure port and responsive to bulb pressure for operating said valve and for controlling flow therethrough in response to temperature sensed by the temperature-sensing bulb, said movable member having a first side exposed to temperature-sensing bulb pressure and a second side exposed to evaporator pressure, whereby said movable member causes the valve to operate in response to the pressure differential between the temperature-sensing bulb and the evaporator, and wherein said temperature-sensing bulb is located above said movable member.
An aqua-ammonia absorption chiller apparatus comprising:
- an absorber assembly, a generator assembly and an absorption fluid loop for directing absorption fluid between said absorber and generator assemblies, a condenser, an evaporator and a refrigerant loop including piping for directing refrigerant from the generator assembly to the condenser and from the condenser to the evaporator, and a valve assembly cooperating with said refrigerant piping for controlling the flow of refrigerant therein, said valve assembly comprising a first valve having an inlet port communicating with said condenser, an outlet port communicating with said evaporator, and a temperature-sensing bulb in thermal contact with said evaporator at or near the evaporator outlet, said first valve including a pressure port exposed to the temperature-sensing bulb pressure and a movable member exposed to said pressure port and responsive to bulb pressure for operating said valve and for controlling flow therethrough in response to temperature sensed by the temperature-sensing bulb, said temperature-sensing bulb containing a bulb charge composition comprising between about 10% and about 40% butane and between about 90% and about 60% propane, by weight.
In operating an aqua-ammonia absorption heating and/or cooling system utilizing a valve assembly for controlling the flow of ammonia to an evaporator and a temperature sensing bulb in thermal contact with the evaporator at or near the evaporator outlet, the bulb having a bulb charge composition which exerts a pressure for opening and/or closing the valve in response to temperature sensed by the bulb, a method of improving evaporator performance and system efficiency comprising utilizing an ammonia-water bulb charge composition comprising above 70% ammonia, by weight.
In operating an aqua-ammonia absorption heating and/or cooling system utilizing a valve assembly for controlling the flow of ammonia to an evaporator and a temperature sensing bulb in thermal contact with the evaporator at or near the evaporator outlet, the bulb having a bulb charge composition which exerts a pressure for opening and/or closing the valve in response to temperature sensed by the bulb, a method of improving evaporator performance and system efficiency comprising utilizing a bulb charge composition comprising a propane/butane composition having between about 60% and about 90% propane, by weight.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.