Absorption chiller system with a transport membrane heat exchanger
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling and drying systems for fluids, such as air and exhaust gas from internal combustion engines, consume a significant amount of energy due to the use of pumps and other energy-consuming devices, and the removal of water vapor requires substantial energy input.
Innovation Solution
An absorption chiller system with an evaporator section that includes a transport membrane heat exchanger, utilizing ceramic membrane tubes under vacuum pressures to transfer both heat and water from the fluid to the refrigerant, effectively cooling and drying the fluid without excessive energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional cooling systems are used to reduce the specific volume of exhaust gas, then the specific volume is reduced, but a significant amount of energy is consumed due to pumps and other energy-consuming devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical cooling systems (pumps, compressors) with a thermodynamic absorption cooling system that uses heat-driven refrigerant evaporation and condensation cycles to cool and compress exhaust gas, eliminating the need for high-energy mechanical devices
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes phase transitions of the refrigerant (evaporation from liquid to vapor in the evaporator, condensation from vapor to liquid in the condenser) to transfer heat from the exhaust gas, providing cooling without mechanical work input
2Loss of substance
If water vapor is removed from exhaust gas using current techniques, then water is removed, but a significant amount of energy is required
Solution Approach 1:
The absorption chiller uses phase transition of the refrigerant (evaporation and condensation) to cool the exhaust gas, which reduces the temperature and condenses water vapor without requiring high-energy mechanical dehumidification processes
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigerant acts as an intermediary substance that absorbs heat from the exhaust gas during evaporation and releases heat during condensation, enabling indirect cooling and water vapor condensation without direct contact or high-energy input
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system efficiently cools and dries fluids by vaporizing the refrigerant under low vacuum pressures, maintaining a pressure differential that enhances water migration across the membrane, thereby reducing energy usage and improving the efficiency of the cooling process.
Implementation Method 1
The first flow path is operable to flow the refrigerant therethrough under a vacuum pressure that is low enough to vaporize the refrigerant within the first flow path
Implementation Method 2
Heat is transferred from the fluid in the second flow path to the refrigerant in the first flow path through a membrane-based material of the transport membrane heat exchanger
Implementation Method 3
maintaining a pressure differential that enhances water migration across the membrane
Data Source
AI summary
An absorption chiller system includes a generator section, a condenser section, an evaporator section and an absorber section all in fluid communication with each other and which operate to circulate a refrigerant therethrough. The evaporator section includes a transport membrane heat exchanger. The transport membrane heat exchanger includes a first and a second flow path. The first flow path is operable to flow the refrigerant therethrough under a vacuum pressure that is low enough to vaporize the refrigerant within the first flow path. The second flow path is operable to pass a fluid having water therethrough. Both water and heat are transferred from the fluid in the second flow path to the refrigerant in the first flow path through a membrane-based material of the transport membrane heat exchanger, such that the fluid passing through the second flow path has at least a portion of its water removed and is cooled.