Vapor-liquid heat and/or mass exchange device

A desorber for use in an integrated heat and mass transfer apparatus, the desorber comprising:

• a top end plate with a plurality of ports for inputting a heating fluid and a concentrated solution into the desorber, wherein the concentrated solution comprises an absorbent and a refrigerant, wherein the top end plate is configured to output the heating fluid, the concentrated solution, and a vapor of the refrigerant out of the desorber;
• a distribution plate for distributing the heating fluid and the concentrated solution into the desorber and distributing the heating fluid, concentrated solution and the vapor of the refrigerant out of the desorber;
• a desorber section formed by a first unit of matched and joined shims, the desorber section having at least one heat exchange region defined by a plurality of rows of flow passages with microscale features formed by the matched and joined shims of the first unit;
• wherein the plurality of rows of flow passages includes a plurality of desorber-rectifier columns, a plurality of coolant channels, and a plurality of heating channels;
• wherein the plurality of desorber-rectifier columns generate a countercurrent flow pattern between the heating fluid and the concentrated solution;
• wherein the desorber is oriented such that the heating fluid travels in a generally upward direction and the concentrated solution travels in a generally downward direction with gravitational assistance;
• wherein the countercurrent flow pattern creates a heat transfer relationship between the vapor of the refrigerant and the concentrated solution to desorb the vapor of the refrigerant from at least a portion of the concentrated solution;
• a bottom endplate that provides a fluid barrier;
• and
• wherein the heat transfer between the concentrated solution and the vapor of the refrigerant is achieved through an angular geometry of the plurality of desorber-rectifier columns without leading to flooding or flow reversal of the concentrated solution by the vapor of the refrigerant desorbed from or absorbed into the concentrated solution.

A method of heat and/or mass exchange, the method comprising:

• inputting, through a plurality of ports in a to end plate, a coupling fluid into a transfer section formed by a first unit of matched and joined shims, the transfer section having at least one heat exchange region defined by a plurality of rows of flow passages with microscale features formed by the matched and joined shims of the first unit;
• distributing, through a distribution plate, the coupling fluid and a working fluid solution into the transfer section;
• the working fluid comprising an absorbent and a refrigerant;
• and
• distributing, through the distribution plate, the coupling fluid, the working fluid, and a vapor of the refrigerant out of the transfer section;
• providing a bottom endplate to provide a fluid barrier;
• wherein the plurality of rows of compact flow passages includes a plurality of desorber-rectifier columns, a plurality of coolant channels, and a plurality of heating channels;
• facilitating a countercurrent flow pattern relationship between the coupling fluid and the working fluid solution within the plurality of desorber-rectifier columns;
• inputting the working fluid solution into the transfer section, wherein the plurality of desorber-rectifier columns facilitate the countercurrent flow pattern between the coupling fluid and the working fluid solution;
• generating, via the countercurrent flow pattern, desorption of the refrigerant from the working fluid solution and absorption of the refrigeration into the working fluid solution;
• facilitating the flow pattern with an angular geometry that prevents flooding or flow reversal;
• and
• transferring a component of the working fluid solution in the transfer section.