Absorber-still, E.g., Intermittent Patents (Class 62/477)
  • Patent number: 11719447
    Abstract: A cooling system utilizes an organic ionic salt composition for dehumidification of an airflow. The organic ionic salt composition absorbs moisture from an inlet airflow to produce an outlet airflow with a reduce moisture from that of the inlet airflow. The organic ionic salt composition may be regenerated, wherein the absorbed moisture is expelled by heating with a heating device. The heating device may be an electrochemical heating device, such as a fuel cell, an electrochemical metal hydride heating device, an electrochemical heat pump or compressor, or a condenser of a refrigerant cycle, which may utilize an electrochemical pump or compressor. The efficiency of the cooling system may be increased by utilization of the waste heat the cooling system. The organic ionic salt composition may circulate back and forth or in a loop between a conditioner, where it absorbs moisture, to a regenerator, where moisture is desorbed by heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: FFI IONIX IP, INC.
    Inventors: Bamdad Bahar, William Parmelee, Omar Abdelaziz, Qu Ming
  • Patent number: 11241932
    Abstract: An adsorption system can be used as part of a climate control system in a vehicle or in any other space requiring heating or cooling. The adsorbent system can include an enclosure, a plurality of layers arranged in a stack inside the enclosure, and a vapor channel inside the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Evelyn N Wang, Hyunho Kim, Xiansen Li, Shankar Narayan, Sameer R. Rao, Ari Samuel Umans, Sungwoo Yang
  • Patent number: 11149970
    Abstract: A cooling systems utilizes an organic ionic salt composition for dehumidification of an airflow. The organic ionic salt composition absorbs moisture from an inlet airflow to produce an outlet airflow with a reduce moisture from that of the inlet airflow. The organic ionic salt composition may be regenerated, wherein the absorbed moisture is expelled by heating with a heating device. The heating device may be an electrochemical heating device, such as a fuel cell, an electrochemical metal hydride heating device, an electrochemical heat pump or compressor, or a condenser of a refrigerant cycle, which may utilize an electrochemical pump or compressor. The efficiency of the cooling system may be increased by utilization of the waste heat the cooling system. The organic ionic salt composition may circulate back and forth or in a loop between a conditioner, where it absorbs moisture, to a regenerator, where moisture is desorbed by heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Xergy Inc.
    Inventors: Bamdad Bahar, William Parmelee, Omar Abdelaziz, Qu Ming
  • Patent number: 11084735
    Abstract: A system for distilling water is disclosed. The system comprises a heat source, and a plurality of open-cycle adsorption stages, each stage comprising a plurality of beds and an evaporator and a condenser between a first bed and a second bed, wherein each bed comprises at least two vapor valves, a plurality of hollow tubes, a plurality of channels adapted for transferring water vapor to and from at least one of the condenser or the evaporator, a thermally conductive water vapor adsorbent, and wherein each vapor valve connects a bed to either the condenser or the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Inventor: Howard Y. Yuh
  • Patent number: 11029064
    Abstract: A system includes an evacuated tube solar adsorption heat pump (ETSAHP) module. The ETSAHP module includes a transparent or semi-transparent tube configured to receive heat input from solar energy, the tube having a hollow interior, a top section, and a bottom section opposite the top section, an adsorbent bed comprising a plurality of adsorbent beads and positioned at the top section of the tube and configured to absorb solar energy, an adsorbent bed cage configured to contain the adsorbent bed at the top section of the tube, a threshold configured to stabilize the adsorbent container within the tube, and a condenser/evaporator positioned at the bottom section of the tube and spaced apart from the adsorbent bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University
    Inventors: Sami Alelyani, Patrick Phelan, Shahnawaz Sinha
  • Patent number: 9441868
    Abstract: A method of operating a cooling system that has at least one evaporator containing a refrigerant and at least one adsorbent chamber containing adsorbent configured to provide adsorption of vaporized refrigerant from the at least one evaporator in a cooling mode and provide desorption of the refrigerant to the at least one evaporator in a recharging mode, the method including; controlling the adsorption and desorption of the refrigerant of the at least one adsorbent chamber between the cooling modes and recharging modes during a cooling cycle; ceasing desorption of the refrigerant from the at least one adsorbent chamber; allowing adsorption of the vaporized refrigerant from the at least one evaporator; and maintaining the at least one adsorbent chamber in an adsorbed state at the end of the cooling cycle in a storage mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: OxiCool Inc.
    Inventors: Ravikant T. Barot, Brandon K. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 9032755
    Abstract: The invention provides cooling apparatus comprising: a solar heat collection means (2); two or more absorption refrigeration modules (1), each module being arranged to receive heat from the heat collection means and to re-circulate refrigerant through an evaporator (16); and means for putting a fluid to be cooled into thermal contact with each of the evaporators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: SOLAR POLAR LIMITED
    Inventors: Robert Eaton Edwards, Michael Graham Reid
  • Publication number: 20150075211
    Abstract: The invention provides the first-type absorption heat pump with multi-terminal heat supply which belongs to the area of low-temperature waste heat utilization and refrigeration technique. It mainly comprises a generator, the first absorber, the second absorber, an absorption-evaporator, a condenser, a evaporator, a throttle, a solution pump or the second throttle, the first solution pump, the second solution pump, the first solution heat exchanger and the second solution heat exchanger. The second absorber provides solution for generator. The generator provides solution for the first absorber. The first absorber provides solution for the absorption-evaporator. The absorption-evaporator provides solution for the second absorber. The generator provides the refrigerant vapor for condenser. The condenser provides the refrigerant liquid for evaporator. The evaporator provides respectively the refrigerant vapor for the first absorber and the absorption-evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventor: Huayu Li
  • Patent number: 8943844
    Abstract: An air conditioning system includes a dehumidifier, a regenerator, and a refrigeration system. The dehumidifier removes water from a first airflow using a liquid desiccant. The regenerator transfers water from the dilute desiccant into a second airflow. The refrigeration system can be selectively used to provide heat to the desiccant in the regenerator to more effectively remove the water from the dilute desiccant. An external heat source can also be used to heat the desiccant in the regenerator to more effectively remove the water from the dilute desiccant. The refrigeration system and the external heat source can each be used separately to heat the desiccant, or the desiccant can be heated by both heat sources simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: DuCool Ltd.
    Inventor: Dan Forkosh
  • Patent number: 8887523
    Abstract: A heat and mass exchanger for a liquid desiccant air conditioning/dehumidification system. The exchanger comprises an absorber solution section operably connected to the system's absorber/dehumidification section and a desorber solution section operably connected to the system's desorber/regeneration section. A partition separating those sections includes at least two interconnecting ports positioned to facilitate flow of relatively weak solution from the absorber solution section into the desorber solution section; and the flow of relatively strong solution from the desorber solution section into the absorber solution section—as well as allowing heat transfer therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Inventors: Khaled Gommed, Gershon Grossman
  • Publication number: 20140260413
    Abstract: The absorption cooling system is capable of continuous operation both day and night while using only solar power for its basic operation. The system is an absorption type system using phase changes of aqua-ammonia and a storage system for storing chilled refrigerant for operations when solar power is not available. When solar power is available during the day, the system operates according to the principles of absorption cooling systems, and also stores a reserve of chilled refrigerant in the storage unit. The stored refrigerant then continues the absorption process during the night when solar energy is not available, thereby providing uninterrupted cooling during the day, and also at night when solar energy is not available.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: SEID AHMED MOHAMMED SAID, MAGED AHMED EL-SHAARAWI, MUHAMMAD UMAR SIDDIQUI
  • Publication number: 20140130540
    Abstract: An adsorber structure for a heat pump, having at least one pipe, through which a heat-transfer fluid can flow, and an adsorption medium, wherein a working medium can be adsorbed and desorbed on the adsorption medium and the adsorption medium is in thermal connection with the pipe, wherein the adsorption medium is designed as at least one, in particular several, molded bodies, which is/are directly adjacent to a pipe wall of one of the pipes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicants: MAHLE INTERNATIONAL GmbH, BEHR Gmbh & Co. KG
    Inventors: Roland BURK, Hans-Heinrich ANGERMANN, Thomas SCHIEHLEN, Eberhard ZWITTIG, Steffen THIELE, Thomas WOLFF, Holger SCHROTH, Stefan FELBER, Steffen BRUNNER
  • Patent number: 8701426
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing loss of a cooling fluid from a boiler in an aircraft by incorporating an absorber material is provided. In some aspects, an apparatus may include a base section, a top section, a cooling fluid, and an absorber material disposed in the base section. The absorber material may be configured to retain the cooling fluid therein. The apparatus may further include a barrier disposed between the base and top sections. The barrier may be configured to retain the absorber material in the base section while allowing the cooling fluid to pass therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Frank E. Mills
  • Publication number: 20140102121
    Abstract: An adsorption-type heat pump includes an adsorber having an adsorbent and capable of switching between an adsorption process of causing an adsorbent to adsorb a refrigerant and a desorption process of desorbing a refrigerant from an adsorbent, a condenser, an evaporator, a first flow hole which causes a refrigerant to flow from the adsorber to the condenser, a second flow hole which causes a refrigerant to flow from the evaporator to the adsorber, and a seat valve body arranged on at least one of the first flow hole and the second flow hole, having a seat material and an opening and closing assisting plate material joined to an end part of the seat material and formed by a temperature-dependent material which deforms in accordance with temperature, and opening and closing at least one of the first flow hole and the second flow hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Toshio MANABE, Hiroaki YOSHIDA, Noriyasu ASO
  • Publication number: 20140053579
    Abstract: A vehicle climate control system operable in a winter mode and a summer mode includes an engine-exhaust-driven hot heat transfer fluid (HTF) circuit coupled with a heater core during the winter mode to provide passenger cabin heating, and thermal energy stored in a standalone hot phase change material (PCM) battery in the hot HTF circuit may provide surge heating at or prior to engine start. The hot HTF circuit and a cold HTF circuit including an HTF cooler drive two adsorbers in the summer mode, thereby providing passenger cabin cooling in conjunction with a refrigerant circuit which includes a condenser, evaporator, expansion valve, and standalone cold PCM battery. Thermal energy stored in the standalone cold PCM battery may provide surge cooling at or prior to engine start.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Furqan Zafar Shaikh, Michael Levin, Danrich Henry Demitroff, Don Masch, Jim Patrick O'Neill
  • Patent number: 8640490
    Abstract: This unit (37) comprises an evaporator (45) of liquid refrigerating fluid and an absorber (47) of gaseous refrigerating fluid linked to the evaporator (45). The apparatus (37) includes a migrating chamber (121) for gaseous refrigerant fluid delimited by an evaporation surface (73A) located on the absorber (47) facing the evaporation surface (73A), and through a connecting floor (57) linking these surfaces (73A, 109A). The evaporator (45) comprises a refrigerant fluid collector (65) linked to the evaporation surface (73A) to collect the refrigerant fluid downstream from this surface. The evaporator (45) comprises partitions (67) set out in the chamber (121) and delimiting, on the evaporation surface (73A) at least one area (103) covered by partitions (67) and at least one uncovered evaporation area (105). For application in motor vehicle air conditioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignees: Ecoclim S.A., Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventors: Michel Cossenet, Emmanuel Boudard, Fabien Gerard, Vital Bruzzo
  • Publication number: 20130283849
    Abstract: An adsorptive cooling system includes: a first highly adsorptive structure positioned to receive thermal energy from a thermal energy source, including: a first substrate; and a first metal-organic framework (MOF) coupled to the first substrate and adapted for adsorbing and desorbing a refrigerant under predetermined thermodynamic conditions; a second highly adsorptive structure positioned to receive thermal energy from the thermal energy source including: a second substrate; and a second MOF coupled to the second substrate and adapted for adsorbing and desorbing a refrigerant under predetermined thermodynamic conditions; a cooling unit; and a circulation system adapted for circulating refrigerant from the first highly adsorptive structure and the second highly adsorptive structure to the cooling unit to provide cooling from the thermal energy source and to return the refrigerant to at least one of the first highly adsorptive structure and the second highly adsorptive structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC
    Inventors: Theodore F. Baumann, Joe H. Satcher, JR., Joseph C. Farmer
  • Publication number: 20130276475
    Abstract: An adsorber includes: two or more adsorbents with different coolant vapor-pressure conditions and different coolant temperature conditions corresponding to a lower limit value for a coolant adsorption amount and an upper limit value for the coolant adsorption amount; a container that contains at least one of the adsorbents and in which a coolant is sealable; and a channel pipe that extends through the container, is thermally in contact with the two or more adsorbents, and functions as a channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Noriyasu ASO, Toshio MANABE
  • Patent number: 8438865
    Abstract: A cooling system (10) for cooling an aircraft device (12) comprises an evaporator (14, 16, 18) for receiving a fluid (F) which is to be evaporated, a first adsorber (24) which contains a medium (28) for the adsorption of the fluid (F) which is evaporated in the evaporator (14, 16, 18), as well as a second adsorber (26) which contains a medium for the adsorption of the fluid (F) which is evaporated in the evaporator (14, 16, 18). A control system (22) is adapted to establish or to interrupt a fluid connection between the evaporator (14, 16, 18) and the first and/or the second adsorber(s) (24, 26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Frey, Ahmet Kayihan Kiryaman, Carsten Colberg, Peter Schwebke, Markus Kerber, Michael Dreyhaupt
  • Publication number: 20120272671
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing loss of a cooling fluid from a boiler in an aircraft by incorporating an absorber material is provided. In some aspects, an apparatus may include a base section, a top section, a cooling fluid, and an absorber material disposed in the base section. The absorber material may be configured to retain the cooling fluid therein. The apparatus may further include a barrier disposed between the base and top sections. The barrier may be configured to retain the absorber material in the base section while allowing the cooling fluid to pass therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Frank E. MILLS
  • Publication number: 20120192587
    Abstract: A recuperative generation-absorption system is formed by generator, the first absorber, the second absorber, the first solution heat exchanger, the second solution heat exchanger, the steam bleeding chamber, the solution pump and the second solution pump or added the third solution pump too. In the system, the first solution pump connects generator, the first solution heat exchanger, the first absorber, the steam bleeding chamber in turn. After that, the second solution pump connects the second solution heat exchanger, the second absorber, the first absorber, the first solution heat exchanger and generator one by one. Then the tandem cycle is formed. The independent cycle can be formed as follows. The first solution pump connects generator, the first solution heat exchanger, the first absorber and the second solution pump connects the steam bleeding chamber, the second solution heat exchanger and the second absorber in file.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventor: Huayu Li
  • Publication number: 20120055194
    Abstract: A vacuum sorption device includes a volume area, in which a sorbent which periodically sorbs and desorbs a refrigerant is situated and which is formed at least partially enclosed by a condenser. The condenser is bounded by an outer wall of the volume area and a further enclosure wall. Alternately at least one of the outer wall and the enclosure wall is provided with embossments oriented toward the respective other wall to fix a flow gap width in the condenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: VIESSMANN WERKE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Andreas BORNMANN, Belal DAWOUD, Peter HOEFLE
  • Publication number: 20110132027
    Abstract: A heat and mass exchanger for a liquid desiccant air conditioning/dehumidification system. The exchanger comprises an absorber solution section operably connected to the system's absorber/dehumidification section and a desorber solution section operably connected to the system's desorber/regeneration section. A partition separating those sections includes at least two interconnecting ports positioned to facilitate flow of relatively weak solution from the absorber solution section into the desorber solution section; and the flow of relatively strong solution from the desorber solution section into the absorber solution section—as well as allowing heat transfer therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventors: Khaled Gommed, Gershon Grossman
  • Patent number: 7895856
    Abstract: In a casing (11) of a humidity controller (10), a first heat exchanger chamber (37) which accommodates a first adsorption heat exchanger (51), and a second heat exchanger chamber (38) which accommodates a second adsorption heat exchanger (52) are arranged next to each other in the left-to-right direction. An indoor air side passage (32) and an outdoor air side passage (34) are provided on the rear panel portion (13) side of the heat exchanger chambers (37, 38), and a supply side passage (31) and exhaust side passage (33) are provided on the front panel portion (12) side of the heat exchanger chambers (37, 38). The rear panel portion (13) is provided with an outdoor air intake opening (24) and an indoor air intake opening (23) at locations close to a center of the rear panel portion (13) in the left-to-right direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Narikawa, Shuji Ikegami, Nobuki Matsui
  • Publication number: 20100282436
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an absorptive heat pump circulation systems and heating method. According to the present invention, an absorption heat pump circulation system comprises: a generator, equipped with a heat exchanger; an evaporator, equipped with a driving heat source; an absorber, equipped with a heat exchanger; and an absorbent crystallizer. An absorption solution entrance of the crystallizer is connected to an absorption solution exit of the absorber and a crystallized absorption solution exit of the crystallizer is connected to an absorption solution entrance of the generator, and a crystal output of the crystallizer is connected to an absorption solution Entrance of the absorber; The heat exchanger of the generator and the heat exchanger of the absorber are connected to form a thermal cycling loop, which transfers the absorption heat generated by the absorber to the generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: BEIJING LIANLIYUAN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Qingquan Su
  • Publication number: 20100242504
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for controlling the cooling phase of a container to be cooled for a heat-regenerating adsorption system with the following process steps: definition of a cooling phase cut-off temperature as a function of at least one parameter which is characteristic of the cooling process, recording the outlet temperature of a cooling fluid emerging from the container to be cooled by means of an outlet temperature recording device, and termination of the cooling phase when the recorded outlet temperature of the emerging cooling fluid falls below the defined cooling phase cut-off temperature. The present invention also provides a device for a heat-regenerating adsorption system for controlling the cooling phase of a container to be cooled in accordance with this process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: KAESER KOMPRESSOREN GMBH
    Inventor: Andreas FREDENHAGEN
  • Publication number: 20100101271
    Abstract: Air conditioning system with an absorption compressor designed for cooling car cabin. The system is utilizing heat energy from a vehicle exhaust gas. The absorption compressor is an oil-Freon absorption device and it works in parallel with the conventional mechanical compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventor: Vladimir Pogadaev
  • Publication number: 20100043462
    Abstract: An air conditioning system that includes desiccant compartments for holding a desiccant; a heat exchanger, a blower and a vessel. The heat exchanger can be filled with a heat transfer medium, while the blower blows ambient air by the heat exchanger such that the blown air is cooled and the heat exchanger is warmed such that thermal energy increases and is transferred from the air to the heat transfer medium causing the heat transfer medium to turn into vapor. The vapor is then diffused to one of the desiccant compartments such that the vapor is adsorbed onto the desiccant creating a mixture. Then an energy source is applied to the mixture such that the vapor and desiccant are separated. The separated vapor is transported to the vessel where it is condensed and then sent back to the heat exchanger, such that the system is able to be continuously operating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: OXICOOL, INC.
    Inventors: Ravikant T. Barot, Jonathan William Kaufman, Stephen M. Coleman
  • Publication number: 20090288444
    Abstract: A humidity control system during humidification operation sequentially repeats a first mode in which a second adsorption heat exchanger (82) serves as an evaporator and the remaining adsorption heat exchangers serve as evaporators, a second mode in which a third adsorption heat exchanger (83) serves as an evaporator and the remaining adsorption heat exchangers serve as evaporators and a third mode in which a first adsorption heat exchanger (81) serves as an evaporator and the remaining adsorption heat exchangers serve as evaporators. For example, during the first mode, the first adsorption heat exchanger (81) serving as an evaporator adsorbs moisture in a first air. Furthermore, in the second adsorption heat exchanger (82) serving as a condenser, the adsorbent is regenerated to humidify a second air. Furthermore, in the third adsorption heat exchanger (83) serving as an evaporator, the second air given moisture and heat in the second adsorption heat exchanger (82) is cooled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Yabu, Eisaku Okubo
  • Publication number: 20090282846
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement that has an adsorption heat pump with at least one adsorber and at least one heat accumulator with the following features: heat at different temperature levels can be stored in the heat accumulator (2) simultaneously; adsorption heat released during the adsorption, which heat is not to be used for a later desorption, can be dissipated to a heat sink; adsorption heat that is to be used for the desorption can be stored in the heat accumulator at a temperature dependent on the adsorption temperature; desorption heat can be extracted at least in part from the heat accumulator at a desired temperature; a heat source, in particular a thermal solar collector is available, with which heat necessary for the desorption can be provided at a temperature level that is higher than the temperature levels achievable through previous desorption in the heat accumulator (2), and/or heat can be provided which is not available in the required quantity in the heat accumulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Gunther Munz, Ferdinand Schmidt, Tomas Nunez, Lena Schnabel
  • Publication number: 20080202132
    Abstract: The invention relates to refrigeration using a thermochemical system based on the coupling of two reversible physico-chemical phenomena between a gas and a solid or liquid sorbent, one at low temperature (the LT phenomenon) and the other at a higher temperature (the HT phenomenon). The LT phenomenon is a liquid/gas phase change of the fluid G or an absorption of the fluid G by a liquid sorbent. The HT phenomenon is a reversible sorption of the fluid G by a liquid or solid sorbent. The endothermic phase of the LT phenomenon takes place in a reactor thermally isolated from the ambient environment. The exothermic phase of the LT phenomenon takes place in a condenser in communication with the reactor in which the HT phenomenon takes place, the condensed fluid G then being transferred to the reactor in which the endothermic phase of the LT phenomenon takes place.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE
    Inventors: Driss Stitou, Olivier Bertrand, Bernard Spinner, Bruno Spinner, Caroline Spinner Brossard, Anne Christel Spinner Kohler, Nathalie Mazet, Martin Spinner
  • Patent number: 6997242
    Abstract: An HM reservoir for storing hydrogen includes a housing and a plurality of storage units. The storage units are stacked in the interior of the housing. Each storage unit includes a pair of plate-like molded bodies and a flat heat exchanger. The plate-like molded bodies are formed by compressing powder of hydrogen storage material. The heat exchanger is provided between the molded bodies. Each molded body includes a first side and a second side, which is opposite to the first side. The first side contacts the heat exchanger. A plurality of flat hydrogen passages are formed in the interior of the housing to face the second sides of the associated molded bodies. The structure of the HM reservoir is thus simple. Further, the molded bodies of the HM reservoir smoothly absorb hydrogen and smoothly release the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Fujita, Hidehito Kubo, Keiji Toh, Hiroyuki Mitsui, Sinichi Towata, Kazuhiko Itoh
  • Patent number: 6892798
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for storing or releasing heat including a channel unit in which a heat medium flows; and a heat exchange unit contacted-combined with the channel unit and containing a porous heat transfer member which conducts heat exchange with a thermal storage material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Dae-Young Lee, Seo-Young Kim
  • Patent number: 6829902
    Abstract: A self-cooling can (10) which is suitable for cooling 300 ml of beverage by 30° F. in a maximum of 3 minutes comprises an internal evaporator (30) and an absorber unit (20) which is fixed typically to the base of the can. Cooling is initiated by providing a vapour path from the evaporator (30) to a desiccant region of the absorber unit (20). Heat is removed from the vapour and/or any heat due to the reaction with the desiccant (24) by heat sink material (26) around the desiccant region (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Crown Cork & Seal Technologies Company
    Inventor: Paul Charles Claydon
  • Patent number: 6823931
    Abstract: A hydrogen gas cooled hydrogen storage element which includes a hydrogen storage alloy material in which hydrogen flow channels are provided. The flow channels provide pathways through the hydrogen storage material to allow for high speed hydrogen gas flow. A portion of the high speed hydrogen flow is stored within the storage material which releases its heat of hydride formation. The remainder of the hydrogen flows through the hydrogen storage material at a sufficient mass flow rate to remove the heat of hydride formation. The unit also includes an encapsulant to prevent any loose particles of the storage material from becoming entrained in the high flow rate hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Ned T. Stetson, Arthur Holland, Trevor Stephenson
  • Patent number: 6820441
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Zeo-Tech Zeolith-Technologie GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Maier-Laxhuber, Andreas Becky, Ralf Schmidt, Reiner Wörz, Norbert Weinzierl
  • Patent number: 6736194
    Abstract: A sorber heat exchanger is provided with a substrate material incorporating a sorbent for reacting with a polar gas refrigerant or hydrogen. A preferred sorbent is a metal salt capable of reacting with the polar gas refrigerant to form a complex compound. The sorbent incorporating substrate is loaded into the reactor space between the heat transfer surfaces. Incorporating the sorbent into the substrate reduces sorbent migration thereby improving performance and life expectancy of the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Rocky Research
    Inventors: Uwe Rockenfeller, Lance D. Kirol, Kaveh Khalili, James W. Langeliers, William T. Dooley
  • Patent number: 6520249
    Abstract: High-temperature-side hydrogen storage alloy containers each containing a hydrogen storage alloy are disposed as a heat exchanging portion in high-temperature-side heat exchangers. Low-temperature waste-heat gas generated in a micro gas turbine is imported into the heat exchangers so that direct heat exchange is performed between the waste-heat gas and each of the alloy containers. On the other hand, low-temperature-side hydrogen storage alloy containers each containing a hydrogen storage alloy are disposed as a heat exchanging portion in low-temperature-side heat exchangers. The high-temperature-side alloy containers and the low-temperature-side alloy containers are connected to each other by hydrogen-travelling pipes. Cold heat generated in the low-temperature-side heat exchangers is supplied to a refrigeration output portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: The Japan Steel Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Iwamoto, Hiroyuki Togo, Masamitsu Murai, Ritsu Miura, Koji Hattori, Harunobu Takeda
  • Patent number: 6378601
    Abstract: A hydrogen cooled hydrogen storage unit. The unit employs excess hydrogen flow between hydrogen storage alloy rods in the hydrogen storage unit in order to provide convective cooling thereof. The unit provides for high packing density of the storage materials. The unit also allows for efficient thermal transfer of heat energy from a central source of heat through the rods thereof during discharge of the stored hydrogen. The hydrogen storage rods of the unit are encased in an encapsulant layer which prevents entrainment of the hydrogen storage material in the high flow rate hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Rosa T. Young
  • Patent number: 6360811
    Abstract: A case for a hydrogen absorption indirect heat exchanger of the present invention includes a square cylindrical portion 11 having each portion thereof formed integrally by die-casting or extrusion molding. The corners 11a of this square cylindrical portion 11 and the center portion of its side 11b are shaped to a greater thickness than that of other portions. The weight of the case can be reduced while the case powder capacity is secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiji Toh, Hidehito Kubo, Nobuo Fujita, Hiroyuki Mitsui
  • Patent number: 6318453
    Abstract: A hydrogen cooled hydrogen storage unit which employs excess hydrogen flow through flow channels between hydrogen storage alloy plates in order to provide convective cooling of the plates. The unit provides for high packing density of the storage materials and ease of expansion of storage capacity by merely adding more storage material plates. Since the hydrogen flows transversely between the plates and does not flow along the entire length of the stack, the cooling flow path of the hydrogen is short, and the temperature differential between any point of the stack and the hydrogen coolant is maximized, which maximizes the cooling efficiency of the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Rosa T. Young
  • Publication number: 20010035281
    Abstract: An HM reservoir for storing hydrogen includes a housing and a plurality of storage units. The storage units are stacked in the interior of the housing. Each storage unit includes a pair of plate-like molded bodies and a flat heat exchanger. The plate-like molded bodies are formed by compressing powder of hydrogenstorage material. The heat exchanger is provided between the molded bodies. Each molded body includes a first side and a second side, which is opposite to the first side. The first side contacts the heat exchanger. A plurality of flat hydrogen passages are formed in the interior of the housing to face the second sides of the associated molded bodies. The structure of the HM reservoir is thus simple. Further, the molded bodies of the HM reservoir smoothly absorb hydrogen and smoothly release the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2001
    Publication date: November 1, 2001
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Fujita, Hidehito Kubo, Keiji Toh, Hiroyuki Mitsui, Sinichi Towata, Kazuhiko Itoh
  • Patent number: 6257322
    Abstract: In a heat-exchange unit 1a constituting a chief portion of an indirect heat exchanger 1, the streams of hot medium that flow through many small flow passages 20 in the flat tubes 2 in the upstream heat-exchange set 5, meet together in the tubular headers 4 for each of the flat tubes 2 and, then, flow again into many small flow passages 20 in the flat tubes 2 in the downstream heat-exchange set 6. Even in case some of the small flow passages 20 are clogged or constricted, all the small flow passages 20 from the upstream common header 71 to the downstream common header 72 do not become incapable of exchanging heat and do not lose the function for exchanging heat, and most of the area of the upstream side and of the downstream side can be normally used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Keiji Toh, Hidehito Kubo
  • Patent number: 5862855
    Abstract: A hydride bed structure includes a first and second set of separated hydride modules within a single hydrogen containing, sealed tank. Each set contains a hydride having a different equilibrium disassociation characteristic. Each set is thermally isolated from the other and the enclosing tank by a hydrogen permeable, thermally insulating material. The hydride in each set is divided into a plurality of spaced apart clusters with each cluster disposed in a respective concave cavity defined in one side of a sheet of thermally conductive material. A hydrogen porous, hydride impermeable member seals each cluster within the respective cavity. The convex side of the cavity protrudes into a thermal media transfer cavity on the opposite side of the sheet. The spacing and arrangement of the cavities/protrusions define a channel array between the protrusions. A pan member is bonded to the opposite side of the sheet and defines the thermal media cavity shaped to receive the protrusions therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Inventor: Sheldon Balk
  • Patent number: 5676202
    Abstract: In a heat exchanger according to the present invention, there are provided a filling container having a first containing section containing a hydrogen-absorbing metal material for middle or high temperature, a second containing section containing a hydrogen-absorbing metal material for low temperature which is higher in equilibrium hydrogen pressure at the same temperature than the hydrogen-absorbing metal material for middle or high temperature, and a hydrogen passage for moving hydrogen between the first containing section and the second containing section; a guiding section having a heating section provided with heating means for heating the filling container, a heat radiating section provided with a heat exchanging section for radiating heat generated in the filling container outward, and a heat absorbing section provided with a heat exchanging section for cooling the outside by absorption of heat in the filling container; and moving means for moving the filling container back and forth in the guiding sec
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Akashi, Naoki Hiro, Kenji Nasako, Teruhiko Imoto, Koichi Nishimura, Ikuo Yonezu
  • Patent number: 5661982
    Abstract: An electronic refrigerant compressing apparatus comprises two or more compressing portions coupled in parallel to one another, which repeats the heating and cooling of the refrigerant circulating the refrigerant cycle at an interval of a predetermined time. Each of the compressing portions is provided with the cylindrical body having the refrigerant charged therein, the refrigerant pipe coiled around its body, the refrigerant heating load mounted in close to the refrigerant pipe for increasing the pressure of the refrigerant, the solenoid valve mounted at the inlet and outlet if the refrigerant, which is opened/closed according to the control of the microcomputer and means for detecting the temperature of the refrigerant, in which one side of the body and the refrigerant pipe is connected through the solenoid valve and the refrigerant outlet to the condenser as part of the refrigerant cycle, and the other side is connected through the check valve to the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Dawn Bae, Dong-Yul Nam
  • Patent number: 5526648
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sorption method for air-conditioning vehicles, especially electric vehicles, and a device for working the method. To achieve rapid cooling or heating by means of vehicle air conditioning while achieving improved manufacturing, cost, and weight advantages, it is proposed that the sorption unit, composed of a storage container with sorbent, a supply container with sorbate, and a steam duct connecting the containers with one another, is evacuated only to perform an adsorption process employing a vacuum pump and is vented for desorption. The sorbent located in the storage container is traversed by hot air for desorption, said air, moistened with sorbate after passing through, being vented to the environment past the supply container after flowing through a vent line that branches off the steam duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Jurgen Wertenbach, Gunter Abersfelder
  • Patent number: 5309985
    Abstract: Apparatus and process are disclosed for sorption heat pumping at high efficiency in a smooth and continuous manner using a multiplicity of stationary triplex sorption modules. The hermetically sealed trisorption modules, each of which contains at least two solid sorbents, are free of pumps, valves, restrictors, or any similar devices for flow control of refrigerant or sorbent. The apparatus contains no moving parts beyond a small number of control and motive devices for the heat transfer fluids. The preferred refrigerant is ammonia and the preferred sorbents are the solid type with monovariant equilibrium, e.g., BaCl.sub.2, SrCl.sub.2, CaCl.sub.2, MnCl.sub.2, FeCl.sub.2 and SrBr.sub.2.The apparatus is preferably adapted for residential or small-scale commercial space-conditioning applications, and operates at double-effect efficiency in both the heating and cooling modes without inter-module heat transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Inventor: Donald C. Erickson
  • Patent number: 5289695
    Abstract: A relatively lightweight cooling device and method utilizing adsorption of perspirated water vapor to permit evaporative cooling of a person wearing a sealed suit for defined time periods. The device can be constructed in the form of a rectangular pad or the like having an open cell foam adjacent the person's skin to permit static transport of perspirated water vapor to an adsorbent layer. The open cell foam or a separate material acts as a thermal insulator to prevent heat flow back toward the skin resulting from the exothermic heat of adsorption produced by the adsorbent layer. In lieu of static movement of the water vapor, a small fan can be operatively associated with the fan for actively moving the water vapor to a single point to enhance the evaporative cooling, particularly where a smaller amount of adsorbent material is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Mainstream Engineering Corp.
    Inventors: Clyde F. Parrish, Robert P. Scaringe
  • Patent number: RE34542
    Abstract: A system for storing chemical energy comprises first and second vessels, the first containing a liquid solution of an alkali or alkaline earth metal hydroxide, halide, or thiocyanate, or ammonium halide or thiocynate at an initial concentration of between about 30% to abotu 80%, by weight, the second vessel containing liquid, a space about the liquid in each vessel and a conduit communicating between the spaces having a valve for selectively allowing liquid vapor to pass between the spaces, means for heating the solution to a temperature above about 80.degree. F., means for cooling the liquid to a temperature below about 55.degree. F., and heat exchange means for transferring heat from the heated solution and for transferring heat to the cooled liquid. Water is the preferred liquid although ammonia, lower alcohols, and polyols such as glycerol, glycols, polyglycols, glycol ethers, lower aliphatic amines and alkanol amines, and mixtures thereof, may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Rocky Research
    Inventor: Uwe Rockenfeller