Membrane desiccation heat pump
OwnerAmos Korininventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is provided a system for pumping thermal energy. The system includes (a) a membrane permeator for removing vapor from a process gas and for providing a vapor-depleted process gas, and (b) a gas-liquid contactor for adding vapor from a liquid to a vapor-depleted gas to produce a vapor-added process gas. The system transfers a quantity of thermal energy from the liquid to the vapor-added process gas, and is also capable of upgrading the thermal energy to a higher temperature. The system may be used for various heat pump applications including chilling and waste heat or low level heat recovery.
Claims40
A system for pumping thermal energy, comprising:
- a membrane permeator for removing vapor from a process gas and for providing a vapor-depleted process gas;
- and
- a gas-liquid contactor for adding vapor from a liquid to said vapor-depleted gas to produce a vapor-added process gas,
- wherein said system transfers a quantity of thermal energy from said liquid to said vapor-added process gas.
A system for pumping thermal energy, comprising:
- an energy source for heating a vapor-containing gas;
- and
- a membrane permeator for removing vapor from said vapor-containing gas and for providing a resultant vapor,
- wherein said system transfers a quantity of thermal energy from said energy source to said resultant vapor.
A method for pumping a quantity of thermal energy, comprising:
- adding vapor from a liquid to a process gas, thus yielding a vapor-containing gas;
- and
- employing a membrane permeator to remove said vapor from said vapor-containing gas, thus providing a resultant vapor,
- wherein said quantity of thermal energy is transferred from said liquid to said resultant vapor.
A method for pumping a quantity of thermal energy, comprising:
- employing a heater to heat a vapor-containing gas;
- and
- employing a membrane permeator to remove vapor from said vapor-containing gas, thus providing a resultant vapor,
- wherein said quantity of thermal energy is transferred from said heater to said resultant vapor.
A method for pumping a quantity of thermal energy, comprising:
- employing a heater to heat a liquid;
- adding vapor from said liquid to a process gas to produce a vapor-containing gas;
- and
- employing a membrane permeator to remove said vapor from said vapor-containing gas, thus providing a resultant vapor,
- wherein said quantity of thermal energy is transferred from said heater to said resultant vapor.
A method for pumping thermal energy, comprising:
- removing vapor from a process gas with a membrane permeator to yield a vapor-depleted gas;
- and
- adding vapor from a liquid to-a said vapor-depleted gas via a gas-liquid contactor to yield a vapor-added gas,
- wherein said method transfers a quantity of thermal energy from said liquid to said vapor-added gas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.