An apparatus for enhancing adsorption refrigeration using ion wind and a method of using the same

Abstract

This invention discloses a device and its method of use for ion wind-enhanced adsorption refrigeration, belonging to the field of air conditioning and refrigeration technology. It includes: an adsorption bed mechanism, an adsorption unit, an evaporation chamber, and a condensation chamber, all positioned on the upper part of the adsorption bed mechanism and connected to a first chamber and a second chamber via pipes; pipes three and four are connected to both sides of the first chamber for heating or cooling the adsorption unit; pipes one and two are connected to both sides of the second chamber for heating or cooling the adsorption unit; the evaporation chamber and the condensation chamber are connected via pipe five. The adsorbent module of this invention is placed in a tiered manner. This tiered placement allows for sufficient contact between the adsorbent and refrigerant, resulting in complete adsorption. Similarly, during desorption, the multi-tiered arrangement increases the contact area with the external environment, leading to more complete desorption. Appropriate multi-tiered arrangements can be selected when dealing with different adsorption materials.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of air conditioning and refrigeration technology, specifically relating to a device and its method of use that utilizes ion wind to enhance adsorption refrigeration. Background Technology

[0003] Current adsorption refrigeration technology still faces bottlenecks. First, the adsorption / desorption kinetics of the adsorbent are slow, resulting in excessively long cycle times and reduced energy utilization efficiency. Second, limited by the heat transfer performance and mass transfer efficiency of the adsorbent, the adsorption and desorption processes are often incomplete, making it difficult to increase the cooling capacity. Furthermore, existing technologies often rely on complex heat pump systems or two-stage mass return designs (such as Chinese invention patent CN201710898358.4), which, while partially improving efficiency, result in large, complex systems that are difficult to miniaturize for everyday applications. Another typical approach (such as Chinese utility model patent CN201420760867.2) improves efficiency through thermal coupling between a heat pump and the adsorption bed, but still faces problems such as incomplete desorption and high equipment costs. These shortcomings severely restrict the promotion and commercialization of adsorption refrigeration technology.

[0004] To address these shortcomings, this invention proposes a novel device that utilizes ion wind to enhance adsorption refrigeration, thereby resolving the aforementioned problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention provides a device and its method for using ion wind to enhance adsorption refrigeration, aiming to improve refrigeration efficiency while optimizing the device's compactness, and providing a breakthrough path for the application of adsorption refrigeration technology in miniaturized and highly dynamic scenarios.

[0006] This invention provides a device for enhanced adsorption refrigeration using ion wind, the technical solution of which is as follows: The adsorption bed mechanism includes a first chamber and a second chamber, which are used for alternating adsorption and desorption operations, respectively. The first chamber and the second chamber are equipped with adsorption units, each adsorption unit comprising multiple graded adsorbent modules and multiple ion wind devices. The adsorbent modules are used to adsorb and desorb refrigerant. During the adsorption or desorption stage, the ion wind devices are activated by applying voltage. An evaporation chamber is located at the lower part of the adsorption bed mechanism and is connected to the first chamber and the second chamber via a pipe; A condensation chamber is located at the top of the adsorption bed mechanism and is connected to the first chamber and the second chamber via a pipe; The first chamber is connected to pipes three and four on both sides, which are used to heat or cool the adsorption unit. The second chamber is connected to two pipes, one and two, on its two sides, for heating or cooling the adsorption unit. The evaporation chamber and the condensation chamber are connected by a pipe.

[0007] Furthermore, the ion wind device includes a needle electrode and a mesh electrode, with the needle electrode being the negative electrode and the mesh electrode being the positive electrode. The charged particles generated by ionization collide with water molecules to form an ion wind flow, which accelerates the directional flow of refrigerant vapor in the adsorption bed.

[0008] Furthermore, a valve 2 is provided on the pipe connecting the evaporation chamber and the first chamber, a valve 1 is provided on the pipe connecting the evaporation chamber and the second chamber, a valve 4 is provided on the pipe connecting the condensation chamber and the first chamber, and a valve 3 is provided on the pipe connecting the condensation chamber and the first chamber.

[0009] Furthermore, each of the adsorbent modules corresponds to a set of ion wind devices.

[0010] Furthermore, the condensing chamber is equipped with a cold water pipe for condensing the desorbed refrigerant vapor into a liquid state and returning it to the evaporating chamber through the pipe.

[0011] Furthermore, the adsorbent module uses zeolite or activated carbon.

[0012] A method of using a device that utilizes ion wind to enhance adsorption refrigeration includes the following steps: S1, Adsorption stage: Cold water is introduced into the second chamber through cold water pipes one and two, valve three is closed, valve one is opened, the adsorbent module is cooled, and water vapor enters the second chamber from the evaporation chamber. At this time, the ion wind device in the second chamber is turned on, with the needle electrode as the negative electrode and the mesh electrode as the positive electrode, ionizing the water vapor in the chamber to form ion wind, which causes the water vapor to move upward and combine with the adsorbent material. S2, Desorption stage: Hot water is introduced into pipes three and four of the first chamber to heat the adsorbent material. Valve two is closed and valve four is opened. The adsorbent material is heated and separated from the water vapor. At this time, the ion wind device is turned on, with the needle electrode as the negative electrode and the mesh electrode as the positive electrode. The water vapor in the chamber is ionized to form an ion wind, which promotes the water vapor to move upward. S3, Cooling Circulation: Water vapor enters the condensation chamber and comes into contact with the cold water pipe above, causing the water vapor to condense into liquid water, which then flows back to the evaporation chamber through the pipe. S4. Alternating Cycle: After the first and second chambers have completed desorption and adsorption, the heat source and cold source input are switched, so that the first chamber switches to the adsorption stage and the second chamber switches to the desorption stage, thereby allowing the two chambers to exchange functions and enter a cycle. S5. Completing steps S1-S4 constitutes one cycle.

[0013] The beneficial effects of this invention are: 1. The present invention incorporates an ion wind device into the adsorption-type refrigeration equipment. The ion wind device consists of a needle electrode and a mesh electrode. During adsorption and desorption, the ion wind device is energized, with the needle electrode as the negative electrode and the mesh electrode as the positive electrode. By constructing a non-uniform electric field, water molecules are ionized into charged particles. At the same time, the charged particles are accelerated, causing them to collide with water molecules and generate momentum exchange, thereby inducing the generation of an ion wind flow. This accelerates the movement speed of water vapor during adsorption and desorption, allowing it to contact the adsorbent more quickly, thus speeding up the adsorption and desorption rate.

[0014] 2. In this invention, the adsorbent module is placed in a tiered manner. This tiered placement ensures sufficient contact between the adsorbent module and the refrigerant (i.e., the adsorbed material), resulting in complete adsorption. Similarly, during desorption, the multi-tiered arrangement increases the contact area with the external environment, leading to more complete desorption. A suitable multi-tiered arrangement can be selected when dealing with different adsorbent materials.

[0015] 3. The system structure of this invention is relatively simple, with no moving parts, which makes it easy to maintain and service. Users do not need to perform maintenance frequently, thereby reducing operating costs. Attached Figure Description

[0016] For ease of explanation, the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the ion wind device of the present invention.

[0018] In the diagram: 1. Valve 1; 2. Valve 2; 3. Valve 3; 4. Valve 4; 5. Adsorbent module; 6. Needle electrode; 7. Mesh electrode; 8. Pipe 1; 9. Pipe 2; 10. Pipe 3; 11. Pipe 4; 12. Evaporation chamber; 13. Condensation chamber; 14. Cold water pipe; 15. Pipe 5; 16. First chamber; 17. Second chamber. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The following are specific embodiments of the present invention described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, further illustrating the technical solutions of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Specific details, such as particular configurations and components, are provided in the following description merely to aid in a comprehensive understanding of the embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, those skilled in the art should understand that various changes and modifications can be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, for clarity and brevity, descriptions of known functions and structures have been omitted.

[0020] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this invention can be combined with each other.

[0021] like Figures 1 to 2 A specific embodiment of an adsorption-based refrigeration device using ion wind enhancement is shown, comprising: an adsorption bed mechanism including a first chamber 16 and a second chamber 17, used for alternating adsorption and desorption operations respectively; adsorption units are arranged in the first chamber 16 and the second chamber 17, each adsorption unit including multiple graded adsorbent modules 5 and multiple ion wind devices, the adsorbent modules 5 being used for adsorbing and desorbing refrigerant; during the adsorption or desorption stage, the ion wind devices are activated by applying voltage; an evaporation chamber 12 is located at the lower part of the adsorption bed mechanism and is connected to the first chamber 16 and the second chamber 17 via pipes. The two chambers 17 are connected; the condensing chamber 13 is located on the upper part of the adsorption bed mechanism and is connected to the first chamber 16 and the second chamber 17 through a pipe. The condensing chamber 13 is equipped with a cold water pipe 14, which is used to condense the desorbed refrigerant vapor into liquid and return it to the evaporation chamber through pipe 5 15; pipes 3 10 and 4 11 are connected to both sides of the first chamber 16 respectively, which are used to heat or cool the adsorption unit; pipes 1 8 and 2 9 are connected to both sides of the second chamber 17 respectively, which are used to heat or cool the adsorption unit; the evaporation chamber 12 and the condensing chamber 13 are connected through pipe 5 15.

[0022] Specifically, the adsorbent is divided into multiple adsorbent modules 8, and an ion wind device is added. The heating and cooling pipes are moved to both sides, which optimizes the problem of excessively long circulation cycles in adsorption refrigeration equipment. The addition of an ion wind device to the adsorption refrigeration equipment greatly increases the circulation speed.

[0023] Specifically, the ion wind device includes a needle electrode 6 and a mesh electrode 7. The ion wind device constructs a non-uniform electric field, with the needle electrode 6 as the negative electrode and the mesh electrode 7 as the positive electrode, to ionize air molecules and dissociate them into charged particles while accelerating the charged particles, thereby generating an ion wind flow and enhancing the adsorption and desorption process of the adsorbent material.

[0024] Specifically, water vapor enters the condensation chamber 13 and comes into contact with the cold water pipe 14 above, causing the water vapor to condense into liquid water, which then flows back to the evaporation chamber 12 through pipe 15.

[0025] Specifically, valve 2 is provided on the pipe connecting evaporator 12 and first chamber 16, valve 1 is provided on the pipe connecting evaporator 12 and second chamber 17, valve 4 is provided on the pipe connecting condenser 13 and first chamber 16, and valve 3 is provided on the pipe connecting condenser 13 and first chamber 16.

[0026] Specifically, when valve 2 is closed and valve 4 is opened, the first chamber 16 can be used for desorption, and when valve 2 is opened and valve 4 is closed, the first chamber 16 can be used for adsorption.

[0027] Specifically, when valve 3 is closed and valve 1 is opened, the second chamber 17 can be used for adsorption, and when valve 3 is opened and valve 1 is closed, the first chamber 17 can be used for desorption.

[0028] Specifically, by changing the state of each valve in conjunction with the switching of the hot and cold sources, the functions of the first chamber 16 and the second chamber 17 can be interchanged.

[0029] In other preferred embodiments, each adsorbent module 5 corresponds to a set of ion wind devices.

[0030] Specifically, each ion wind device serves a single adsorbent module 5 and can dynamically adjust the electric field strength and ion wind direction according to the module's current operating state (adsorption or desorption). Each ion wind device can independently control the airflow distribution to ensure uniform diffusion of water vapor within the module. The directional layout of the electrodes (needle-mesh structure) eliminates areas of stagnant airflow inside the adsorbent.

[0031] In other preferred embodiments, the adsorbent module 5 is made of zeolite or activated carbon, and the refrigerant is water or methanol. Water (suitable for refrigeration above 0°C) or methanol (suitable for low-temperature refrigeration) needs to form a highly efficient working fluid pair with the adsorbent (such as activated carbon or zeolite).

[0032] Specifically, zeolite (suitable for water vapor adsorption) and activated carbon (suitable for organic refrigerants such as methanol) are clearly the preferred options due to their high adsorption capacity and thermal stability.

[0033] Specifically, the adsorbent module 5 is perpendicular to the direction of the electric field, allowing the ion wind flow to directly penetrate the adsorbent, thereby enhancing the diffusion of the gaseous refrigerant and the regeneration of the adsorbent.

[0034] A method of using a device that utilizes ion wind to enhance adsorption refrigeration: the desorption process is first performed in the first chamber 16, and the adsorption process is performed in the second chamber 17.

[0035] During adsorption in the second chamber 17, cold water flows through pipes 8 and 9 to absorb the condensation heat generated when the adsorbent module 5 adsorbs water. Valve 1 on the lower right side opens, and water vapor enters the second chamber 17 from the evaporation chamber 12. At this time, the ion wind device in the second chamber 17 is activated, with needle electrode 6 as the negative electrode and mesh electrode 7 as the positive electrode. The water vapor in the second chamber 17 is ionized to form an ion wind, which causes the water vapor to move upward and combine with the adsorbent module 5. At this time, valve 3 on the upper right side closes.

[0036] Meanwhile, in the first chamber 16, a desorption process is carried out. Hot water flows into pipes 3 10 and 4 11 to heat the adsorbent module 5. The adsorbent module 5 desorbs water vapor when heated. The lower valve 2 closes, and the adsorbent module 5 separates from the water vapor when heated. At this time, the ion wind device is turned on. The needle electrode 6 is the negative electrode and the mesh electrode 7 is the positive electrode. The water vapor in the chamber is ionized to form an ion wind, which causes the water vapor to move upward. At this time, the upper valve 4 opens.

[0037] Water vapor enters the condensation chamber 13 and comes into contact with the cold water pipe 14 above, causing the water vapor to condense into liquid water, which then flows back to the evaporation chamber 12 through pipe 15. When the adsorbent module 5 in the first chamber 16 and the second chamber 17 has completely adsorbed and desorbed, the functions of the first chamber 16 and the second chamber 17 are interchanged, that is, the first chamber 16 performs adsorption and the second chamber 17 performs desorption.

[0038] At this time, when the first chamber 16 is adsorbing, cold water flows in pipes 10 and 11 to absorb the condensation heat generated when the adsorbent module 5 adsorbs water. The valve 2 on the lower left side is opened, and water vapor enters the first chamber 16 from the evaporation chamber 12. At this time, the ion wind device in the first chamber 16 is turned on, with the needle electrode 6 as the negative electrode and the mesh electrode 7 as the positive electrode. The water vapor in the chamber is ionized to form an ion wind, which causes the water vapor to move upward and combine with the adsorbent module 5. At this time, the valve 4 on the upper right side is closed.

[0039] Meanwhile, in the second chamber 17, the desorption process takes place. Hot water flows through pipes 1-8 and 2-9, heating the adsorbent module 5. The adsorbent module 5 desorbs water vapor when heated, and the lower valve 1 closes. The adsorbent module 5 is heated and separated from the water vapor. At this time, the ion wind device is turned on, with the needle electrode 6 as the negative electrode and the mesh electrode 7 as the positive electrode. The water vapor in the chamber is ionized to form an ion wind, which causes the water vapor to move upward. At this time, the upper valve 3 opens.

[0040] Water vapor enters the condensation chamber 13 and comes into contact with the cold water pipe 14 above, causing the water vapor to condense into liquid water, which then flows back to the evaporation chamber 12 through pipe 15.

[0041] The completion of the above process constitutes one cycle.

[0042] It should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of exemplary embodiments according to the invention. As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0043] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "upper" and "lower" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limiting this invention.

[0044] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0045] Those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains may make various modifications or additions to the specific embodiments described, or use similar methods to replace them, without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A device for enhanced adsorption refrigeration using ion wind, characterized in that, include: The adsorption bed mechanism includes a first chamber and a second chamber, which are used for alternating adsorption and desorption operations, respectively. The first chamber and the second chamber are equipped with adsorption units, each adsorption unit comprising multiple graded adsorbent modules and multiple ion wind devices. The adsorbent modules are used to adsorb and desorb refrigerant. During the adsorption or desorption stage, the ion wind devices are activated by applying voltage. An evaporation chamber is located at the lower part of the adsorption bed mechanism and is connected to the first chamber and the second chamber via a pipe; A condensation chamber is located at the top of the adsorption bed mechanism and is connected to the first chamber and the second chamber via a pipe; The first chamber is connected to pipes three and four on both sides, which are used to heat or cool the adsorption unit. The second chamber is connected to two pipes, one and two, on its two sides, for heating or cooling the adsorption unit. The evaporation chamber and the condensation chamber are connected by a pipe.

2. The device for enhanced adsorption refrigeration using ion wind according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ion wind device includes a needle electrode and a mesh electrode. The needle electrode is the negative electrode and the mesh electrode is the positive electrode. The charged particles generated by ionization collide with water molecules to form an ion wind flow, which accelerates the directional flow of refrigerant vapor in the adsorption bed.

3. The device for enhanced adsorption refrigeration using ion wind according to claim 1, characterized in that, Valve 2 is installed on the pipe connecting the evaporation chamber and the first chamber; valve 1 is installed on the pipe connecting the evaporation chamber and the second chamber; valve 4 is installed on the pipe connecting the condensation chamber and the first chamber; and valve 3 is installed on the pipe connecting the condensation chamber and the first chamber.

4. The device for enhanced adsorption refrigeration using ion wind according to claim 2, characterized in that, Each of the adsorbent modules corresponds to a set of ion wind devices.

5. The device for enhanced adsorption refrigeration using ion wind according to claim 1, characterized in that, The condenser chamber is equipped with a cold water pipe, which is used to condense the desorbed refrigerant vapor into liquid and return it to the evaporator chamber through the pipe.

6. The device for enhanced adsorption refrigeration using ion wind according to claim 1, characterized in that, The adsorbent module uses zeolite or activated carbon.

7. The method of using the device according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1, Adsorption stage: Cold water is introduced into the second chamber through cold water pipes one and two, valve three is closed, valve one is opened, the adsorbent module is cooled, and water vapor enters the second chamber from the evaporation chamber. At this time, the ion wind device in the second chamber is turned on, with the needle electrode as the negative electrode and the mesh electrode as the positive electrode, ionizing the water vapor in the chamber to form ion wind, which causes the water vapor to move upward and combine with the adsorbent material. S2, Desorption stage: Hot water is introduced into pipes three and four of the first chamber to heat the adsorbent material. Valve two is closed and valve four is opened. The adsorbent material is heated and separated from the water vapor. At this time, the ion wind device is turned on, with the needle electrode as the negative electrode and the mesh electrode as the positive electrode. The water vapor in the chamber is ionized to form an ion wind, which promotes the water vapor to move upward. S3, Cooling Circulation: Water vapor enters the condensation chamber and comes into contact with the cold water pipe above, causing the water vapor to condense into liquid water, which then flows back to the evaporation chamber through the pipe. S4. Alternating Cycle: After the first and second chambers have completed desorption and adsorption, the heat source and cold source input are switched, so that the first chamber switches to the adsorption stage and the second chamber switches to the desorption stage, thereby allowing the two chambers to exchange functions and enter a cycle. S5. Completing steps S1-S4 constitutes one cycle.

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