Adsorption module and method of manufacturing the same

An adsorption module comprising:

• a plurality of heat medium pipes allowing a heat exchange medium to pass through;
• a porous heat transferring member disposed on peripheries of the heat medium pipes, the porous heat transferring member being a sintered body of a metallic material in a form of one of powders, particles and fibers, the porous heat transferring member being connected to outer surfaces of the heat medium pipes by metal-to-metal bonding, the porous heat transferring member being formed with three-dimensional mesh-like small pores allowing vapor-state adsorbed medium to pass through;
• adsorbent being substantially evenly filled in the three-dimensional mesh-like small pores of the porous heat transferring member, the adsorbent being one of silica gel and zeolite having a porous structure absorbing and desorbing the vapor-state adsorbed medium;
• a plurality of adsorbed medium passages formed by the porous heat transferring member, each passage allowing the vapor-state adsorbed medium to flow through the passage and being in communication with the three-dimensional mesh-like small pores of the porous heat transferring member, the adsorbed medium passages extend straight and parallel to axes of the heat medium pipes, each of the heat medium pipes being encircled by two or more adsorbed medium passages;
• and
• a casing including a casing body, an adsorbed medium inlet pipe that is to be communicated with an evaporator and an adsorbed medium outlet pipe that is to be communicated with a condenser;
• wherein
• the heat medium pipes, the porous heat transferring member and the adsorbed medium passages are housed in the casing body in a vacuum condition such that the vapor-state adsorbed medium from the evaporator is supplied to the porous heat transferring member and the adsorbed medium passages through the adsorbed medium inlet pipe during an adsorption and flows out from the casing toward the condenser through the adsorbed medium output pipe during a desorption;
• the adsorbed medium passages extend from a first end to a second end of the porous heat transferring member;
• the adsorbed medium inlet pipe and the adsorbed medium outlet pipes are coupled to the casing body adjacent to the first end of the porous heat transferring member disposed in the casing body;
• the casing body has an adsorbed medium inlet to which the adsorbed medium inlet pipe is coupled and an adsorbed medium outlet to which the adsorbed medium outlet pipe is coupled;
• the casing has a communication space adjacent the first end of the porous heat transfer member;
• the communication space faces and is in direct communication with both the adsorbed medium inlet and the adsorbed medium outlet;
• the first end of the porous heat transferring member including ends of the adsorbed medium passages faces and is in direct communication with the communication space;
• during the adsorption, the vapor-state adsorbed medium from the adsorbed medium inlet flows in the porous heat transferring member and the adsorbed medium passages via the communication space;
• and
• during the desorption, the vapor-state adsorbed medium desorbed from the adsorbent flows through the porous heat transferring member and the adsorbed medium passages and flows to the adsorbed medium outlet via the communication space.