With Solid Sorbent Patents (Class 62/480)
  • Publication number: 20110239692
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to process modifications and apparatus designs that are conducive towards minimizing temperature swings (?T) useful to yield operating pressures that provide work and/or refrigeration (e.g., electricity and/or refrigeration) in sorption systems. Such process modifications and designs are particularly suited to make use of waste heat in industrial process, (e.g., a chemical processing or petrochemical refining operation) in which low grade heat source(s) are used to drive the sorption system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Bhupender S. MINHAS, Ian A. CODY, Mohsen S. YEGANEH
  • Patent number: 8011193
    Abstract: A system and method for air-conditioning motor vehicles and, in particular, to an air-conditioning systems for motor vehicles having adsorption heat pumps. The apparatus includes a two adsorber chambers, each connected to a condenser and an evaporator via different connection elements; a vacuum shell for enclosing the adsorber chambers, the condenser, and the evaporator, wherein the vacuum shell is not self-supporting; and one or more adsorbers housed in the adsorber chambers, wherein the adsorbers are comprised of a carrier material coated by a sorbent. The method includes using an adsorption heat pump having one or more adsorber chambers, wherein adsorption and desorption are alternated between the adsorber chambers. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignees: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V., Sortech AG
    Inventors: Hans-Martin Henning, Walter Mittelbach
  • Patent number: 7836723
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Jonathan William Kaufman, Stephen M. Coleman, Ravikant T. Barot
  • Patent number: 7827815
    Abstract: A portable apparatus and method for providing a cooled liquid for vascular administration are disclosed. The portable apparatus includes a source of liquid for vascular administration, a cooling reservoir for receiving liquid from the source, and a sorption-based heat exchanger for cooling liquid in the cooling reservoir by a sorption-based process. The heat exchanger may include an evaporative area for receiving and vaporizing a refrigerant, a sorptive material for sorping vaporized refrigerant, and a heat exchange member for conducting thermal energy from liquid in the cooling reservoir into the evaporative area. Additional componentry may be provided for fluidly interconnecting and controlling the flow of liquid from the source to the cooling reservoir and from the cooling reservoir to a vascular interface device. Such componentry may be conveniently packaged in a sterilized manner together with at least the cooling reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Medivance, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary A. Carson, Marc E. Voorhees
  • Patent number: 7805960
    Abstract: The air conditioning system including at least one sensor of the thermal comfort of the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, and an apparatus having at least one pair of heat-exchanger units, each designed to increase and reduce said temperature at alternating intervals under the control of the sensor. Each heat-exchanger unit comprises a substrate having the property of absorbing and releasing heat according to the absorption of a gas. The two substrates are set in two hermetic casings in communication with one another through a compressor and a series of valves, which can be actuated so as to transfer the gas alternately from one to another of the two substrates. Each heat exchanger unit also includes an outlet conveyor with an outlet opening to the passenger compartment and another outlet opening towards the outside. The two outlets are controlled by hatches that can be actuated intermittently so as to send hot air or cold air continuously into the passenger compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventor: Daniela Magnetto
  • Patent number: 7775066
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Driss Stitou, Olivier Bertrand, Bernard Spinner, Bruno Spinner, legal representative, Caroline Spinner Brossard, legal representative, Anne Christel Spinner Kohler, legal representative, Nathalie Mazet, legal representative, Martin Spinner, legal representative
  • Patent number: 7673475
    Abstract: The invention concerns an absorption cooling system for a motor vehicle using water as coolant and an absorbent. Said system comprises a circuit designed to ensure circulation of the coolant, when the engine is stopped, from the evaporator (3) to the absorber (4) passing through the electromagnetic valve (10) through the continued operation of the evaporator pump (7) for a predetermined duration and through maintaining the electromagnetic valve (10) in open position after the engine has stopped for another predetermined duration before it is closed. The evaporator pump (7) is kept in operation upon closure of the electromagnetic valve (10) so as to allow the coolant to circulate in the circuit from the evaporator (3) to the boiler (1) passing through the exchanger (6). Said system enables, when the engine is stopped, the zones containing residual deposits of absorbent to be diluted thereby preventing crystallization of said residual deposits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Ecoclim SA
    Inventor: Vitale Bruzzo
  • Publication number: 20090301127
    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: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Jonathan William Kaufman, Stephen M. Coleman, Ravikant T. Barot
  • Patent number: 7621149
    Abstract: The invention relates to refrigeration at TU by a reversible sorption system. The method is implemented in an installation comprising an endothermic component (EC) and an exothermic component consisting of the reactors (1) and (2). The reactors (1) and (2) are in thermal contact, each of them constituting an active thermal mass for the other, and they are provided with heating means (6) and heat extraction means (5). (1), (2) and (EC) are provided with means for bringing them into selective communication, and reversible phenomena involving a gas G take place therein, the equilibrium curve for the phenomenon in (1) lying within a higher temperature range than that of the equilibrium curve for the phenomenon in (2), which is itself higher than that of the curve for the phenomenon in (EC) in the Clausius-Clapeyron plot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignees: Centre National de la Recherche, Universite de Perpignan
    Inventors: Driss Stitou, Pierre Neveu, Bernard Spinner, Bruno Spinner, legal representative, Caroline Spinner Brossard, legal representative, Anne Christel Spinner Kohler, legal representative, Camille Spinner, legal representative, Martin Spinner, legal representative
  • Publication number: 20090266101
    Abstract: beverage dispensing apparatus for enclosing and cooling a keg (1) containing a beverage, comprising means for guiding the beverage from the keg (1) to a dispending tap for controlling the beverage output from the dispensing apparatus. The apparatus comprises a cooling system provided with heat transfer means (4) being in direct thermal contact with the keg (1). The cooling system is provided with an adsorbent cooling device (3) comprising a liquid chamber (5) for containing and vaporizing a liquid working substance (8), and an adsorbent chamber (6) containing an adsorbent (9) for adsorbing the vaporized working substance. The liquid chamber (5) is connected through a control valve (12) with the adsorbent chamber (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Eric Mark Sloot, Joldert Maria Boersma, Hugui Wang, Marcelinus Johannus Maria Bruggeman, Roland Van Straaten, Paulus Cornelis Duineveld, Johan Bernard Kuperus
  • Patent number: 7578143
    Abstract: A thermal compressive device provides energy-efficient heating or cooling by exploiting heat regeneration in a sorption system. The device comprises an array of generator modules (7) arranged in two banks (10, 11) to either side of a heating zone (13). Heat carrier fluid is driven past the modules in a reversible direction. During one phase, generators in the first bank (10) are cooled and therefore in various stages of sorbate re-adsorption. Sorbate in associated evaporator region(s) (26) will boil, enabling cooling of surrounding fluid (33). Generators (7) in the other bank (11) will be in various stages of desorption. Sorbate in associated condenser region(s) (21) will condense, enabling heating of its environment. During the other phase, each generator (7) switches function, but cooling remains at evaporator regions (26) and heating at condenser regions (21). Each module may be a self-contained unit comprising generator (7), condenser (21) and evaporator (26) sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: University of Warwick
    Inventors: Robert Edward Critoph, Zacharie Tamainot-Telto
  • Patent number: 7568355
    Abstract: Disclosed is a humidity control device which is provided with an adsorptive element (81, 82) having a humidity control passageway (85) capable of adsorption of moisture from a first air stream and of release of moisture to a second air stream, and which provides an air stream, the humidity of which is conditioned in the adsorptive element (81, 82), to an indoor space. In the humidity control device, the adsorptive element (81, 82) is provided with an auxiliary passageway (86) through which a heating fluid flows when the adsorptive element (81, 82) is regenerated by releasing moisture to a second air stream from the humidity control passageway (85). As a result, during regeneration of the adsorptive element (81, 82) by releasing moisture to a second air stream, the amount of release moisture is increased, thereby enhancing the device performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Yabu
  • Patent number: 7490482
    Abstract: A two-liquid absorption refrigerator or space cooler of the cyclic type uses a spiral shaped Bourdon Tube as the refrigerant gas generator, with the lower end of the spiral disposed at a heat source. The generator may also function as the absorber vessel, thus greatly simplifying the operation of the device. In use, when ammonia depletion during the cooling cycle allows the generator to heat, it moves its lower end to a position removed from the heat source and begins to cool, thus allowing a charging cycle to replenish ammonia into the absorption liquid (usually water) in the generator. The device may thus function with only one moving part and without electricity, and further without control over the heating source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Inventor: Roland C. Lawes
  • Publication number: 20080314070
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Peter Maier-Laxhuber, Ralf Schmidt, Dipl.-Ing Reiner Worz, Andreas Becky, Gert Richter, Norbert Weinzierl, Manfred Binnen
  • Publication number: 20080216508
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: ZEO-TECH Zeolith-Technologie GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Maier-Laxhuber, Ralf Schmidt, Reiner Worz, Andreas Becky, Gert Richter, Norbert Weinzierl, Manfred Binnen
  • Publication number: 20080209920
    Abstract: A method is provided of operating an adsorption refrigeration system. The system comprises a primary adsorption pump which is arranged in communication with a primary chamber containing coolant, a secondary adsorption pump and a high fluid impedance conduit which places the secondary adsorption pump and primary chamber into communication. The method comprises saturating the primary and secondary adsorption pumps with coolant whilst each pump is at its respective operational temperature. The pumps are then heated above their operational temperatures to desorb the coolant such that the coolant pressure in the primary chamber and the secondary adsorption pump substantially equalises through the conduit whilst the primary chamber is cooled. The secondary adsorption pump is then cooled causing coolant gas to be adsorbed and therefore a reduction in temperature and pressure of the coolant in the primary chamber is effected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventor: Vladimir MIKHEEV
  • Patent number: 7410533
    Abstract: In a humidity controller apparatus for removing moisture from or adding moisture to process subject air which is to be supplied to an indoor space alternately using a first adsorption element (81) and a second adsorption element (82) by switching distribution routes for the process subject air in the casing (10), a suction-side wall (12) of the casing (10) has first and second inlet openings (13, 15) which are provided side by side. The casing (10) has a filter room (44) which is in communication with the first and second inlet openings (13, 15). The filter room (44) contains an air filter (71) for filtering the process subject air. With this structure, maintenance tasks for the air filter (71) are simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Yabu
  • Patent number: 7395677
    Abstract: An air conditioning system to treat a latent heat load and a sensible heat load in a room includes a plurality of utilization units, a heat source unit, and connection pipes that connect between the units. The utilization units include adsorbent heat exchangers provided with an adsorbent on the surface of each. The utilization units are configured to alternate between an adsorption process and a regeneration process. The heat source unit includes a compression mechanism and an accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryusuke Fujiyoshi, Tomohiro Yabu
  • Publication number: 20080104971
    Abstract: A thermal storage and transfer system includes a cooling system and method using ice or other frozen material with heat pipes to produce a cool airstream. Preferably, the ice is disposed in a container with the condensers and evaporators of the heat pipes respectively inside and outside the container. A fan blows air across the evaporator sections through a duct to circulate within an enclosed airspace to be cooled. A separate refrigeration system which may be used to independently cool the airspace also freezes water or another liquid to produce the ice or other frozen material in the container. The cooling system is broadly applicable, including use on motor vehicles to provide cooling for several hours when the vehicle engine is off. A heating system includes an adsorbent heat exchanger for extracting heat from exhaust gases of an engine and heating an enclosed airspace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicant: LS ENERGY SOLUTIONS, INC
    Inventor: Samuel M. Sami
  • Patent number: 7363965
    Abstract: An onboard hydrogen storage unit with heat transfer system for a hydrogen powered vehicle. The system includes a hydrogen storage vessel containing a hydrogen storage alloy configured to receive a stream of hydrogen and provide hydrogen for use in powering a vehicle. During refueling a cooling/heating loop is used to remove the heat of hydride formation from the hydrogen storage alloy and during operation of the vehicle the heating/cooling loop is used to supply heat to the hydrogen storage alloy to aid in hydrogen desorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Ovonic Hydrogen Systems LLC
    Inventors: Vitaliy Myasnikov, Rosa Young, Yang Li, Stanford R. Ovshinsky
  • Publication number: 20080028787
    Abstract: An adsorption type heat exchanger includes a heat exchange part, in which a thermal medium circulates, and adsorbents made of particles. The adsorbents are fixed on an outer surface of the heat exchange part, to adsorb refrigerant vapor when a temperature of the thermal medium is low, and to desorb the adsorbed refrigerant vapor when the temperature of the thermal medium is high. In addition, percents of the adsorbents having particle sizes about in a range from 0 to 42 ?m are about 90% and over of the whole adsorbents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Applicant: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Mieda, Seiji Inoue, Satoshi Inoue, Hisao Nagashima, Masaaki Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20080023181
    Abstract: An adsorption heat exchanger may comprise a stack of alternating adsorption layers and heat transfer layers. Separator plates may separate the adsorption layers from the heat transfer layers. The adsorption layer may include a first corrugated sheet positioned between and brazed to the adsorption zone facing side of two separator sheets. The first corrugated sheet and the exposed portions of the adsorption zone facing side of the separator sheets may be coated with an adsorptive material. The heat transfer layer may include a second corrugated sheet positioned between and brazed to the heat transfer zone facing side of two separator sheets. The second corrugated sheet may be oriented about 90° to the first corrugated sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: STEPHEN R. DUNNE, ALEXANDER M. BERSHITSKY
  • Patent number: 7305849
    Abstract: A sorptive heat exchanger (E), which presents a plurality of heat exchange channels (10) in thermal contact with respective sorption channels (11), where sorption material (12) is fixed on the internal surfaces of channels (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Mario Gualtiero Francesco Motta
    Inventors: Michael Karl Löffler, Hans-Martin Henning
  • Patent number: 7266949
    Abstract: A self-cooling beverage package having a first cavity (10) containing a beverage for consumption, a second cavity (20) forming a heat exchanger and containing a refrigerant liquid and its vapor, a third cavity (30) containing means of pumping by adsorption of said vapor and means (50) of putting said second cavity into communication with said third cavity, characterised in that the third cavity (30) has an external thermal insulation layer (35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Thermagen SA
    Inventors: Pierre Jeuch, Fadi Khairallah
  • Patent number: 7251955
    Abstract: A solid sorption heat pump is provided that includes an adsorber/desorber unit including a heat exchanger and a solid sorption material. The adsorber/desorber unit is placed in a common housing, which is sealed against the outside atmosphere, together with a condenser/evaporator unit, and the adsorber/desorber unit and the condenser/evaporator unit are separated from one another by an adsorbant-permeable element. The adsorber/desorber unit includes a thermoconductive absorbent holding body, which is connected in a thermoconductive manner to the heat exchanger. The absorbant holding body holds the sorption material, and provides stability to the adsorber/desorber unit. The interior of the common housing is subjected to the action of a negative pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Sortech, AG
    Inventor: Hans-Martin Henning
  • Patent number: 7240507
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for cooling a liquid comprising a cavity (2) containing a refrigerating liquid capable of evaporation under the effect of a depression maintained by a pump. The cavity includes at least a first wall (21) in contact with the liquid to be cooled, the first wall (21) being substantially conical such that its cross-sectional surface tapers from the base towards the top, and at least a second wall (22) forming the base of the conical shape and incorporating communication (30) between the cavity (2) of the exchanger and the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Thermagen
    Inventor: Pierre Jeuch
  • Patent number: 7213403
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: ZEO-TECH Zeolith-Technologie GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Maier-Laxhuber, Andreas Becky, Reiner Wörz, Gert Richter, Norbert Weinzierl
  • Patent number: 7213411
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Zeo-Tech Zeolith-Technologie GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Maier-Laxhuber, Andreas Becky, Reiner Wörz, Gert Richter, Norbert Weinzierl, Ralf Schmidt, Leo Totschnig, Christoph Grupp, Manfred Binnen
  • Patent number: 7188480
    Abstract: There is provided a system for pumping thermal energy. The system includes (a) a heater for heating a liquid, (b) a gas-liquid contactor for adding vapor from the liquid to a process gas to produce a vapor-containing gas, and (c) a membrane permeator for removing the vapor from the vapor-containing gas and for providing a resultant vapor. The system transfers a quantity of thermal energy from the heater to the resultant vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Inventor: Amos Korin
  • Patent number: 7185511
    Abstract: A composition for effecting heat transfer to or from a fluid, the composition comprising a primary adsorbent material, such as activated carbon, for adsorption of a gas, such as carbon dioxide, and a graphite material in an amount of 0.01 to 80% by weight of the total composition. A binder may also be included in the composition to aid heat transfer. The composition may be incorporated into an apparatus (12) that includes sealing means (14) for retaining the gas on the surface of the material and a release mechanism (16) for breakage of the seal, said apparatus being provided with a vessel (6) for holding fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Chemviron Carbon Limited
    Inventors: Thomas Anthony Ryan, Harry Sharrock
  • Patent number: 7100398
    Abstract: A method and installation is described for producing cold and/or heat, in a place where the latter are to be used, from one or more heat energy sources. The method is carried out in an installation comprising two or three assemblies of two reactors in which reversible phenomena involving a gas take place, said phenomena being exothermic in the sense of synthesis and endothermic in the sense of decomposition. The energy for the operation of the installation is supplied by a low temperature reactor of one or two assemblies. The installation is suitable for the remote production of cold or heat by means of the transport of gas at ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifiqe
    Inventors: Bernard Spinner, Jalel Labidi, Driss Stitou
  • Patent number: 7065981
    Abstract: A sorption unit for air-conditioning technology apparatus with sheets for heat emission, past which water vapor is passed. The sheets are provided with zeolite bodies which are designed to have surface contact with the sheets. Channels for vapor passage are defined between bodies arranged one beside the other. Lateral grooves are formed on the top and bottom surfaces of the zeolite bodies for communicating water vapor from the surface of the zeolite bodies to the channels. A buffer section and a condenser/evaporator unit complete the sorption unit to form an air-conditioning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Dometic AG
    Inventor: Bengt Ebbeson
  • Patent number: 7003979
    Abstract: A structure and method of manufacture for a sorber, wherein a mass of sorbent contained in a sorber enclosure comprises a plurality of sorbent disks stacked in face-to-face relation. The sorbent disks are formed from a solid sorbent material such as zeolite and contain surface features in at least one face of each disk which, when the disks are stacked, form passageways by which sorbate is distributed throughout the mass of sorbent material. In one embodiment, each sorbent disk is annular in shape and has a plurality of radial grooves which extend from the periphery of the disk to the aperture through the center of the disk. The disks are stacked face-to-face and an inner conductor is inserted through the center apertures of the disks. This assembly is then inserted into a conductive housing and is enclosed by a pair of end plugs or caps which are secured to the housing. A port in one of the end caps allows sorbate to enter and exit the sorber enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard Davidson
  • Patent number: 7000426
    Abstract: An adsorption refrigeration device comprising an evaporator chamber containing a refrigerant liquid that evaporates under the effect of a depression, a connecting device and an adsorption chamber containing an adsorbent capable of fixing the vapors of the refrigerant liquid, wherein the adsorbent is constituted by one or more rigid blocks comprising a plurality of cavities, at least one part of said cavities being feeder cavities capable of diffusing vapors of refrigerant liquid on the adsorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Thermagen (S.A.)
    Inventor: Pierre Jeuch
  • 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: 6973963
    Abstract: This invention provides a compact heat exchanger that has an effective geometry for heat transfer operations regardless of the heat conductivity of the material chosen for the fin materials. It has further been found that the use of adsorbent coated anodized aluminum for fin materials provides for a very efficient heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Stephen R. Dunne, Steven A. Bradley
  • Patent number: 6968711
    Abstract: Novel sorption cooling devices capable of providing cooling over an extended period of time are disclosed. The sorption cooling devices are particularly useful for temperature-controlled shipping containers that are required to maintain a temperature below ambient for a time sufficient to complete delivery of the container and its contents. The shipping containers can be utilized to cost-effectively transport temperature-sensitive products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Nanopore, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas M. Smith, Tamara L. O'Brien, Kevin H. Roderick, Lois X. Warren, Richard G. Perkes, Vanessa Sinclair, Quentin Shrimpton
  • Patent number: 6923018
    Abstract: An electro-desorption actuator comprises a fixed member, a movable member which is coupled to the fixed member, a pressure chamber which is disposed between the fixed member and the movable member, and a sorption compression system which is in communication with the pressure chamber. The sorption compression system comprises first and second electrical conductors, a sorbent which is positioned between the first and second conductors, a sorbate which is capable of combining with the sorbent in an adsorption reaction to form a sorbate/sorbent compound, and a power supply which is connected to the conductors and which is selectively actuated to generate a current that is conducted through the sorbate/sorbent compound to desorb the sorbate from the sorbent in a desorption reaction. The sorbate is communicated from the sorption compression system to the pressure chamber during the desorption reaction and from the pressure chamber back to the sorption compression system during the adsorption reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis M. Pfister, Charles M. Byrd, Howard L. Davidson, Charles J. Ingalz
  • Patent number: 6918430
    Abstract: An onboard hydrogen storage unit with heat transfer system for a hydrogen powered vehicle. The system includes a hydrogen storage vessel containing a hydrogen storage alloy configured to receive a stream of hydrogen and provide hydrogen for use in powering a vehicle. During refueling a cooling/heating loop is used to remove the heat of hydride formation from the hydrogen storage alloy and during operation of the vehicle the heating/cooling loop is used to supply heat to the hydrogen storage alloy to aid in hydrogen desorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Texaco Ovonic Hydrogen Systems LLC
    Inventors: Vitaliy Myasnikov, Rosa Young, Yang Li, Stanford R. Ovshinsky
  • Patent number: 6895780
    Abstract: A sorber for an electro-desorption compressor comprises a first plate which includes a first outer surface and a first inner surface generally parallel to the first outer surface, a second plate which includes a second outer surface and a second inner surface generally parallel to the second outer surface, a device for securing the first plate to the second plate to thereby form an enclosure for a sorbent between the first and second inner surfaces, and at least one first support spar which is attached to the first outer surface and which is aligned in a first direction along the first plate. In this manner, the first support spar increases the resistance of the first plate to bending in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles M. Byrd, Dennis M. Pfister
  • Patent number: 6895779
    Abstract: An adsorption refrigeration device having an evaporator containing a refrigerant liquid that evaporates under the effect of a depression and an adsorbent capable of fixing the vapors (V) of the refrigerant liquid. The adsorbent is in contact with a heat exchanger containing a cooling liquid that evaporates when the adsorbent (205) is heated, and the heat exchanger includes at least one aperture to the outside atmosphere constituted by at least one hole that limits the flow rate of the vapor of the cooling liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Thermagen
    Inventor: Pierre Jeuch
  • 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: 6865906
    Abstract: Portable refrigeration devices including methods for preparing heat sink materials for use in such devices, and the heat sink materials prepared in this way. The methods relate to the encapsulation of such materials, and the maximization of heat transfer efficiency to heat sink materials in such refrigeration devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Tempra Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Martin W. Sabin
  • Patent number: 6843071
    Abstract: Portable refrigeration devices (1) including methods for preparing sorbents (30) for use in such devices, and the sorbents (30) prepared in this way. The methods relate to the substantially complete degassing for the maximization of receiving refrigerant vapor from the evaporator chamber (10) of such refrigeration devices (1), and the maximization of heat transfer to heat sink materials (40) in such refrigeration devices (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Tempra Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Cullen M. Sabin, Zbigniew R. Paul, Martin W. Sabin
  • Publication number: 20040231346
    Abstract: Novel sorption cooling devices capable of providing cooling over an extended period of time are disclosed. The sorption cooling devices are particularly useful for temperature-controlled shipping containers that are required to maintain a temperature below ambient for a time sufficient to complete delivery of the container and its contents. The shipping containers can be utilized to cost-effectively transport temperature-sensitive products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Douglas M. Smith, Veronica Natividad, Tamara L. O'Brien, Kevin H. Roderick, Loix X. Warren, Richard G. Perkes, Vanessa Sinclair
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20040211205
    Abstract: A method and installation is described for producing cold and/or heat, in a place where the latter are to be used, from one or more heat energy sources. The method is carried out in an installation comprising two or three assemblies of two reactors in which reversible phenomena involving a gas take place, said phenomena being exothermic in the sense of synthesis and endothermic in the sense of decomposition. The energy for the operation of the installation is supplied by a low temperature reactor of one or two assemblies. The installation is suitable for the remote production of cold or heat by means of the transport of gas at ambient temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventors: Bernard Spinner, Jalel Labidi, Driss Stitou
  • Publication number: 20040211215
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Applicant: ZEO-TECH Zeolith-Technologie GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Maier-Laxhuber, Andreas Becky, Reiner Worz, Gert Richter, Norbert Weinzierl
  • Publication number: 20040194487
    Abstract: Refrigerated trolley for an aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Applicants: AIRBUS, ZECOOLS ZEOLITE COOLING SYSTEM
    Inventors: Luc Leroy, Bruno Alquier, Bertrand Halphen, Roland Tevels
  • Patent number: 6782712
    Abstract: An adsorption refrigeration system and method are provided, the system comprising an adsorption pump which, in use, is arranged in communication with a chamber containing liquid and gaseous coolant. The associated method comprises expanding the gaseous coolant into an auxiliary volume member so as to cause the removal of part of the gaseous coolant from the chamber. This causes a reduction in the temperature and pressure of the gaseous coolant in the chamber. The adsorption pump is then operated so as to further cool the chamber by causing the evaporation of the coolant liquid within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Oxford Instruments Superconductivity Limited
    Inventors: Vladmir Mikheev, Paul Geoffrey Noonan, Alvin Jon Adams