Absorption heat pump device

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Solution Overview

Problem

In absorption heat pump devices, the absorbing liquid can flow back into the evaporator due to vehicle movement, leading to reduced performance as it mixes with refrigerant, making it difficult to control the concentration of the absorbing liquid effectively.

Innovation Solution

The absorber is equipped with a membrane member that surrounds and covers the heat exchange section, allowing the absorbing liquid to be stored inside and preventing its backflow into the evaporator, while a rotating application section ensures efficient absorption of refrigerant vapor by applying the liquid to the outer surface of the heat exchangers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the absorber is designed with a conventional structure where absorbing liquid is stored in the bottom of the absorber, then the device structure is simple, but the absorbing liquid flows back into the evaporator due to vehicle inclination and shaking, causing performance reduction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice structure simplicityVSAvoidabsorption refrigeration cycle performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The absorber is divided into two functional zones: an upper absorption section where refrigerant vapor is absorbed, and a lower storage section where diluted absorbing liquid is collected. This segmentation prevents the absorbing liquid from flowing back into the evaporator while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A liquid barrier is introduced as an intermediary substance between the absorption section and the storage section. This liquid barrier prevents the diluted absorbing liquid from flowing upward into the evaporator, solving the backflow problem without complex mechanical structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the absorbing liquid concentration is not properly controlled due to backflow mixing with refrigerant, then the device structure remains simple, but the absorption refrigeration cycle performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconcentration control systemVSAvoidabsorption refrigeration cycle efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The absorber is segmented into an upper absorption section and a lower storage section, physically separating the refrigerant absorption process from the liquid storage. This prevents mixing of diluted absorbing liquid with refrigerant, maintaining proper concentration control without adding complex control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A liquid barrier acts as an intermediary that prevents the diluted absorbing liquid from flowing upward and mixing with the refrigerant in the evaporator, thereby maintaining the required concentration control without additional control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This configuration prevents the backflow of absorbing liquid into the evaporator, maintaining the performance of the absorption refrigeration cycle even when the device is mounted on a vehicle, ensuring continuous and efficient absorption of refrigerant vapor.

Implementation Method 1

the membrane member is made of a material through which only gas can pass but a liquid substance cannot pass

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophobic porous membrane permeation: Semipermeable Membrane

Implementation Method 2

the absorbing liquid supplied into the module from an inlet port at one end of the hydrophobic porous membrane absorbs refrigerant vapor that has passed through the hydrophobic porous membrane via the vapor passage from the evaporator, and absorption heat is transferred to a cooling water side through the heat transfer body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 3

absorption heat is transferred to a cooling water side through the heat transfer body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP3306229B1Absorption heat pump device
Publication Date: 2020.02.26 AISIN SEIKI KK
  • EP3306229B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3306229B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3306229B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

An absorption heat pump device capable of suppressing a reduction in performance as the absorption heat pump device resulting from improper control of the concentration of an absorbing liquid due to the inclination, shaking, etc. of a vehicle body at the time of mounting the absorption heat pump device on a vehicle is provided. An absorption heat pump device (100) in which an absorbing liquid absorbs refrigerant vapor includes an evaporator (30) that evaporates a refrigerant and an absorber (40) in which the refrigerant vapor evaporated in the evaporator is absorbed by the absorbing liquid. The absorber includes a heat exchange section (42) that removes absorption heat of the refrigerant vapor into the absorbing liquid and a membrane member (45), disposed so as to surround and cover the heat exchange section that the absorbing liquid contacts, through which the refrigerant vapor can pass but the absorbing liquid cannot pass.