Integrated absorption-cycle refrigeration and power generation system

Abstract

An integrated power and refrigeration system is disclosed. The integrated system includes a solution comprising an absorber fluid and a working fluid that can be selectively dissolved into the absorber fluid. The integrated system also includes a first subsystem configured to extract heat from an external cooling load by pumping the solution through a vapor absorption cycle and a second subsystem configured to provide power by accepting a first portion of the solution from the first subsystem, extracting at least a portion of the working fluid from the accepted solution, heating the extracted working fluid, using the heated extracted working fluid to drive a turbine that is coupled to a power generator, and then returning the extracted working fluid and the remaining accepted solution to the first subsystem.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not applicable.Statement Regarding Federally Sponsored Research or Development

[0002] Not applicable.BACKGROUND

[0003] 1. Field

[0004] The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods of generating refrigeration and power and, in particular, mobile systems that use waste heat to improve the performance of refrigeration and power generation systems.

[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0006] A traditional passive absorption-cycle refrigerator uses ammonia and water as ammonia will dissolve in water at certain temperatures and pressures. The ammonia can be extracted from the ammonia-water solution using heat while maintaining a constant pressure, as ammonia boils at −33 degrees C. at a pressure of 1 atmosphere. In a ground-based system, such as the propane-powered refrigerators used in recreational vehicles, there is no pump in the absorption-cycle system. The cooling cycle starts with liquefied ammonia entering an evaporator at r...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0024]The following description discloses embodiments of an integrated power generation and refrigeration system driven by a heat source and a cooling medium. In certain embodiments, the heat source is waste heat from a device such as a propulsion engine. In certain embodiments, the cooling medium is ambient air.

[0025]The disclosed systems use a pair of fluids wherein one of the fluids, referred to herein as a “working fluid,” will dissolve into the other fluid, referred to as an “absorber fluid,” under certain conditions of temperature and pressure to form a solution. The working fluid can be extracted from a solution of the two fluids under certain other conditions of temperature and pressure. An exemplary pair of fluids is ammonia as the working fluid and water as the absorber fluid. Another pair of fluids uses water as the working fluid and lithium bromide as the absorber fluid.

[0026]The amount of working fluid dissolved into the absorber fluid is different at various points in ...

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not applicable.Statement Regarding Federally Sponsored Research or Development

[0002] Not applicable.BACKGROUND

[0003] 1. Field

[0004] The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods of generating refrigeration and power and, in particular, mobile systems that use waste heat to improve the performance of refrigeration and power generation systems.

[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0006] A traditional passive absorption-cycle refrigerator uses ammonia and water as ammonia will dissolve in water at certain temperatures and pressures. The ammonia can be extracted from the ammonia-water solution using heat while maintaining a constant pressure, as ammonia boils at −33 degrees C. at a pressure of 1 atmosphere. In a ground-based system, such as the propane-powered refrigerators used in recreational vehicles, there is no pump in the absorption-cycle system. The cooling cycle starts with liquefied ammonia entering an evaporator at r...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0024]The following description discloses embodiments of an integrated power generation and refrigeration system driven by a heat source and a cooling medium. In certain embodiments, the heat source is waste heat from a device such as a propulsion engine. In certain embodiments, the cooling medium is ambient air.

[0025]The disclosed systems use a pair of fluids wherein one of the fluids, referred to herein as a “working fluid,” will dissolve into the other fluid, referred to as an “absorber fluid,” under certain conditions of temperature and pressure to form a solution. The working fluid can be extracted from a solution of the two fluids under certain other conditions of temperature and pressure. An exemplary pair of fluids is ammonia as the working fluid and water as the absorber fluid. Another pair of fluids uses water as the working fluid and lithium bromide as the absorber fluid.

[0026]The amount of working fluid dissolved into the absorber fluid is different at various points in ...

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