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...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention aims to use waste heat to create useful power or refrigeration. To achieve this, the invention uses a special fluid that can be dissolved into another fluid to reduce the pressure needed to heat the solution. The working fluid is then extracted at a higher pressure to power a turbine or provide cooling. Overall, this invention allows for more efficient use of waste heat and the creation of useful products.

Problems solved by technology

Traditional vapor-compression refrigeration system are driven by electrical power that is a significant load on an aircraft power generation system.

While it may be easier to compress a liquid, such as the ammonia-water solution used in a traditional vapor absorption cycle refrigeration system, to a specified pressure rather than to compress a gas to this same pressure, a traditional absorption-cycle refrigeration system will not operate in a variable-orientation and / or variable acceleration environment such as on-board an aircraft.

As such, neither of the traditional vapor-compression or vapor absorption systems met this need.

Conversion of such “low-grade” heat into electrical power or directly into refrigeration can be inherently inefficient if the size and weight of the conversion equipment is low.

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