Abstract: A temperature controller for a sorption system having an evaporator to produce a gas, a sorber containing a sorption material to sorb the gas during a sorption phase, a flow channel extending between the evaporator and sorber to provide a gas pathway connecting them, a valve to control the rate of gas flow in the flow channel, and a temperature sensor positioned to measure the temperature of an evaporator surface or the air adjacent thereto indicative of an evaporator surface temperature, and generate a temperature signal. The controller includes an inflatable member having first and second inflation states, and a control unit configured to evaluate the temperature signal and in response control the state of inflation of the inflatable member and thereby the operation of the valve to control the rate of gas flow between the evaporator and sorber through the gas pathway.

Abstract: A temperature controller for a sorption system having an evaporator to produce a gas, a sorber containing a sorption material to sorb the gas during a sorption phase, a flow channel extending between the evaporator and sorber to provide a gas pathway connecting them, a valve to control the rate of gas flow in the flow channel, and a temperature sensor positioned to measure the temperature of an evaporator surface or the air adjacent thereto indicative of an evaporator surface temperature, and generate a temperature signal. The controller includes an inflatable member having first and second inflation states, and a control unit configured to evaluate the temperature signal and in response control the state of inflation of the inflatable member and thereby the operation of the valve to control the rate of gas flow between the evaporator and sorber through the gas pathway.

Abstract: A sorption heat pump having an evaporator containing a working fluid to evaporate the fluid to produce a gas, a sorber containing a sorption material to sorb the gas during a sorption phase, a vapor pathway connecting the evaporator and sorber, and a thermal control unit controlling the rate of vapor flow between the evaporator and sorber through the pathway, and being selectively operable to permit, stop and restart the flow of gas through the pathway. The pump may be used with a compartment storing temperature sensitive material. The evaporator may be positioned inside and the sorber outside the compartment, or the sorber may be positioned inside and the evaporator outside the compartment. The pump may be used in an apparatus including both cool and warm compartments, with an insulation layer in each. A method is disclosed for reusing the pump after the sorption material has been sorbed.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating a dishwasher (1) in the form of a batch dishwasher, which has a treatment chamber (2) for accommodating washware to be cleaned. Provision is made, during an adsorption phase, for air to be conducted out of the treatment chamber (2) through a sorption unit (41), which contains a reversibly dehydratable dry material, in such a way that the dry material absorbs moisture from the air stream, wherein the air is then returned to the treatment chamber (2). Provision is further made, during a desorption phase, for the dry material of the sorption unit (41) to be heated in such a way that moisture is desorbed from the dry material as steam. During the desorption phase, the sorption unit (41) is subjected to forced ventilation only to such an extent that recondensation of desorbed steam in the sorption unit (41) itself is effectively prevented.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating a dishwasher (1) in the form of a batch dishwasher, which has a treatment chamber (2) for accommodating washware to be cleaned. Provision is made, during an adsorption phase, for air to be conducted out of the treatment chamber (2) through a sorption unit (41), which contains a reversibly dehydratable dry material, in such a way that the dry material absorbs moisture from the air stream, wherein the air is then returned to the treatment chamber (2). Provision is further made, during a desorption phase, for the dry material of the sorption unit (41) to be heated in such a way that moisture is desorbed from the dry material as steam. During the desorption phase, the sorption unit (41) is subjected to forced ventilation only to such an extent that recondensation of desorbed steam in the sorption unit (41) itself is effectively prevented.

Abstract: In order to reduce the fresh water or final-rinse liquid quantity necessary to clean items without impairing the effectiveness of the cleaning, it is provided that, during an adsorption phase, air is led out of the treatment chamber of the machine through a sorption unit such that moisture is absorbed from the air flow by a dry material, after which the air is fed back to the treatment chamber. During a desorption phase, the dry material is heated and air is led out of the treatment chamber through the heated dry material such that moisture is desorbed from the dry material and at least a part of the desorbed moisture is discharged as steam from the sorption unit. At least a part of the steam discharged from the sorption unit is led into the treatment chamber during a steam final-rinse phase.

Abstract: A cooling element with a sorption agent, that under vacuum can sorb a vapor-like working agent that evaporates from a liquid working agent in an evaporator and with a regulator organ in a working agent vapor channel between the sorption agent and the evaporator, wherein the entire cooling element is hermetically enclosed by a gas-tight multi-layer film, the multi-layer film has a flexible construction and is under vacuum so encloses the regulator organ, the working agent vapor channel and the evaporator, that the evaporator and the working agent vapor channel remain flexible and the working agent vapor can flow to the sorption agent only through the regulator organ.

Abstract: A cooling element with a sorbent material (4) which in vacuo can sorb a vaporous working medium that evaporates from a fluid working medium in an evaporator (29) and with a shut-off means which, up to the moment at which the cooling process is initiated, prevents the working medium vapor from flowing into the sorbent material (4), with the sorbent material (4) being sealed into a sorbent-containing pouch (22) which comprises a multilayer sheeting material which in turn comprises at least one metallic layer or one metallized layer.

Abstract: A cooling element with a sorption agent (11, 33) that, under vacuum, can sorb a vapor working agent, which evaporates from a liquid amount of working agent in an evaporator region (16, 22), and with a shutoff device, which, before initiating the cooling process, keeps the working agent vapor from being able to flow to the sorption agent (11, 33), and where the sorption agent (11, 33) and the evaporator region (16, 22) are surrounded by a multilayer film (1, 6, 31, 32) and the evaporator region (16, 22) contains a nonwoven (5, 36) and a flexible structural material (2, 35), which together can take on a flat flexible shape under vacuum, that can be pressed onto the containers (14, 24) that are to be cooled, and the structural material (2, 35), after the start of the cooling element, can conduct the working agent vapor up to the sorption agent (11, 33) and keep a flow cross section of at least 1 square centimeter (cm2) open for the working agent vapor.

Abstract: A cooling element with a sorption agent, that under vacuum can sorb a vapour -like working agent that evaporates from a liquid working agent in an evaporator and with a regulator organ in a working agent vapour channel between the sorption agent and the evaporator, wherein the entire cooling element is hermetically enclosed by a gas-tight multi-layer film, the multi-layer film has a flexible construction and is under vacuum so encloses the regulator organ, the working agent vapour channel and the evaporator, that the evaporator and the working agent vapour channel remain flexible and the working agent vapour can flow to the sorption agent only through the regulator organ.

Abstract: A sorption cooling apparatus for cooling a thermally insulated cooling container 1, with a sorber container 5 containing a sorber material 7 which, during a sorption phase, sorbs a working fluid which evaporates in an evaporator 2 that is disposed in the interior chamber of cooling container 1 and with a valve 4 between sorber container 5 and evaporator 2, which valve can be shut off and which can stop the flow of the working fluid steam, with an evaporator blower 12 being disposed along evaporator 2, which evaporator blower passes an air stream over the evaporator, and with a sorber blower 10 being disposed along sorber container 5, which sorber blower can circulate air around the container containing the sorbent material.

Abstract: A method and devices for the solidification of aqueous substances by the direct evaporation of water from the substance and the sorption of the water vapor in a sorption agent in a vacuum system, wherein the aqueous substance and the sorption agent are evacuated from the surrounding pressure level to a system pressure of below 5 mbar (absolute) by means of a vacuum pump and the nonsorbable gases thereby suctioned by the vacuum pump are suctioned through the sorption agent. The mass of the used sorption agent is at least half the mass of the water fraction in the substance. The solidification process is realized in less than 2 min, particularly less than 20 sec. The aqueous substance is solidified in a solidification container that can be removed from the vacuum system, the vacuum system is subsequently vented, and the solidified substance removed from the vacuum system together with the solidification container.

Abstract: A cooling element with a sorbent material (4) which in vacuo can sorb a vaporous working medium that evaporates from a fluid working medium in an evaporator (29) and with a shut-off means which, up to the moment at which the cooling process is initiated, prevents the working medium vapor from flowing into the sorbent material (4), with the sorbent material (4) being sealed into a sorbent-containing pouch (22) which comprises a multilayer sheeting material which in turn comprises at least one metallic layer or one metallized layer.

Abstract: A method and devices for the solidification of aqueous substances by the direct evaporation of water from the substance and the sorption of the water vapor in a sorption agent in a vacuum system, wherein the aqueous substance and the sorption agent are evacuated from the surrounding pressure level to a system pressure of below 5 mbar (absolute) by means of a vacuum pump and the nonsorbable gases thereby suctioned by the vacuum pump are suctioned through the sorption agent. The mass of the used sorption agent is at least half the mass of the water fraction in the substance. The solidification process is realized in less than 2 min, particularly less than 20 sec. The aqueous substance is solidified in a solidification container that can be removed from the vacuum system, the vacuum system is subsequently vented, and the solidified substance removed from the vacuum system together with the solidification container.

Abstract: Adsorption cooling apparatus with an intermittently heated adsorbent container (12) containing an adsorbent (19) that exothermically adsorbs a working medium during an adsorption phase and again desorbs at higher temperatures while heat is added during a subsequent desorption phase, and with a condenser (4) that leads condensed working medium through a connection line (10) into the evaporator (4) which is in turn connected with the adsorbent through a working medium vapor line (9), wherein the condenser (4) is coupled to a buffer reservoir (14) that buffers at least a part of the condensation heat of the working medium vapor and that also can again dissipate the stored heat into the surroundings even during the adsorption phase.

Abstract: A sorption cooling apparatus for cooling a thermally insulated cooling container 1, with a sorber container 5 containing a sorber material 7 which, during a sorption phase, sorbs a working fluid which evaporates in an evaporator 2 that is disposed in the interior chamber of cooling container 1 and with a valve 4 between sorber container 5 and evaporator 2, which valve can be shut off and which can stop the flow of the working fluid steam, with an evaporator blower 12 being disposed along evaporator 2, which evaporator blower passes an air stream over the evaporator, and with a sorber blower 10 being disposed along sorber container 5, which sorber blower can circulate air around the container containing the sorbent material.

Abstract: Adsorption cooling apparatus with an intermittently heated adsorbent container (12) containing an adsorbent (19) that exothermically adsorbs a working medium during an adsorption phase and again desorbs at higher temperatures while heat is added during a subsequent desorption phase, and with a condenser (4) that leads condensed working medium through a connection line (10) into the evaporator (4) which is in turn connected with the adsorbent through a working medium vapor line (9), wherein the condenser (4) is coupled to a buffer reservoir (14) that buffers at least a part of the condensation heat of the working medium vapor and that also can again dissipate the stored heat into the surroundings even during the adsorption phase.

Abstract: A sorption device for heating and cooling gas streams, with a sorbent container which contains a sorbent that takes up a working fluid which evaporates in an evaporator that contains a quantity of working fluid in correspondence with the quantity of sorbent, with a sorbent heat exchanger which exchanges the heat between a sorbent and a sorbent gas stream, with a working fluid heat exchanger which exchanges the heat between working fluid, and with a working fluid gas stream, and a closable valve between the sorbent container and the evaporator, which valve is able to interrupt the flow of the working fluid vapor, with both the sorbent heat exchanger and the working fluid heat exchanger having at their inlets and outlets connecting elements which can be readily attached to, detached from, and exchanged for one another on the gas flow channels for supplying and discharging gas streams that are to be heated or cooled.

Abstract: A sorption cooler for cooling substances in a vessel (4) by means of a sorption agent (11) within a sorption agent vessel (10), which in connected via a vapor valve (9) to an evaporator (10) for generation of working agent vapor, and where a part of the outer wall (1) of the vessel (4) is in good thermal contact with a working agent storage material (2) and at least this part of the outer wall (1) of vessel (4) is at the same time a part of the boundary surface (5) of the evaporator (8).

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the cooling of a liquid (4) within a container (3) by means of a liquid cooler (1), which absorbs a working agent vapor through a sorbent (14) from an evaporator (8), which is in thermal contact with the liquid (4) to be cooled, and wherein during the regeneration of the sorbent (14), the working agent vapor flows back into the evaporator (8) and during condensation, releases its condensation heat to a liquid (4) in the container (3).