Absorption heat pump device including discharge of the combustion fumes to an evaporator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas engine absorption heat pumps face inefficiencies due to reliance on outside air, high installation costs, and regulatory challenges with ammonia use, particularly at low temperatures and in indoor installations, where they struggle to maximize energy recovery and performance.
Innovation Solution
A gas absorption heat pump design that includes a sealed chamber for ammonia protection, optimized energy recovery through a water/smoke heat exchanger, and internal installation, allowing direct heating of the refrigerant/absorbent fluid mixture, with a configuration that heats exterior air before use in the evaporator, reducing external unit requirements and enhancing performance across varying temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If gas engine absorption heat pumps use outside air for evaporator cooling, then the device can operate with simple configuration, but the energy recovery is insufficient and performance degrades at low temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the outside air intake function with the evaporator cooling function by directing combustion fumes directly into the evaporator chamber. This integration allows the evaporator to utilize the thermal energy from combustion fumes for preheating air while simultaneously providing cooling, thereby improving energy recovery efficiency without significantly increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces combustion fumes as an intermediary medium between the generator and the evaporator. Instead of directly exhausting fumes to the environment, they are routed through the evaporator where they serve as a heat transfer medium, enabling energy recovery and improving overall system performance particularly in cold conditions.
2Ease of manufacture
If gas engine absorption heat pumps are installed indoors, then installation costs are reduced and space is saved, but ammonia leakage risks increase and regulatory compliance becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential harm of ammonia leakage into a beneficial containment strategy by implementing a sealed chamber design. The chamber that could potentially trap leaked ammonia is instead designed as a controlled environment where combustion fumes are safely directed and contained, transforming a hazard into a feature that enhances both safety and indoor installation feasibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an inert-like controlled environment within the sealed chamber by continuously introducing combustion fumes and maintaining positive pressure. This approach prevents ammonia from escaping to the surrounding indoor environment, effectively isolating the refrigerant within a controlled zone and reducing leakage risks while enabling indoor installation.
3Device complexity
If combustion fumes are discharged directly to the environment, then the system operates with simple exhaust configuration, but energy recovery is maximized lost and environmental performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by utilizing its own combustion fumes as a resource rather than treating them as waste. The evaporator is designed to automatically capture and utilize the thermal energy from combustion fumes that would otherwise be exhausted, enabling the system to recover energy internally without requiring external heat recovery equipment or complex exhaust treatment systems.
4Productivity
If the evaporator uses ambient air directly, then the heat exchange efficiency is adequate for mild conditions, but performance significantly degrades at low temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by preheating the air entering the evaporator using combustion fumes before the evaporation process occurs. This preheating action ensures that the evaporator always operates with air at an elevated temperature, maintaining efficient heat exchange performance across a wider temperature range including cold conditions, without requiring active temperature control mechanisms.
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 design enhances overall performance by up to 25% and reduces installation and manufacturing costs, while ensuring compliance with ammonia regulations by containing leaks within a sealed chamber, enabling efficient heating and potentially air conditioning applications.
Implementation Method 1
a configuration that heats exterior air before use in the evaporator
Implementation Method 2
heat resulting from the combustion of the gas G is used to desorb the refrigerant fluid
Implementation Method 3
optimized energy recovery through a water/smoke heat exchanger
Implementation Method 4
a gas absorption heat pump device comprising means for evacuating combustion fumes from the gas generator at the level of the evaporator
Implementation Method 5
The purpose of the sorbent is to be able to absorb the refrigerant fluid at a certain temperature and pressure
Implementation Method 6
In the case where the sorbent is a solid, we speak of adsorption
Implementation Method 7
a refrigerant fluid (or refrigerant) which changes state so that it mainly takes or releases its latent heat to the desired location
Implementation Method 8
evaporated at low pressure in an evaporator 9
Implementation Method 9
the gaseous refrigerant fluid F1 is quantified to it condensed in a condenser 7
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention mainly relates to a gas absorption heat pump device (1) comprising: - a pair of coolant/absorbent fluids, wherein the coolant fluid (F1, F2) is subjected to state changes inside the device (1); - a gas combustion (G) generator (2) for heating a rich solution (S1) of a mixture of coolant/absorbent fluids so as to desorb a gaseous coolant fluid (F1) therefrom; - a condenser (7) for condensing the gaseous coolant fluid (F1) into a liquid coolant fluid (F2); - an evaporator (9) for evaporating the liquid coolant fluid (F2) so as to obtain a gaseous coolant fluid (F1) at the outlet; and - an absorber (6)for bringing the gaseous coolant fluid (F1) into contact with a weak solution (S2) of a mixture of coolant/absorbent fluids coming from desorption of the coolant fluid, after heating in the generator (2), so as to form a rich solution (S1) of a mixture of coolant/absorbent fluids returning to the generator (2). Said device is characterized in that the generator (2) comprises a first pipe (13) for discharging the combustion fumes, in that the evaporator (9) is at least partially located in a second pipe (14) comprising an outside air inlet (E1) and an outside air outlet (E2), and in that the first pipe (13) leads into the second pipe (14) so that the heat from the combustion fumes is used for heating the air used in the evaporator (9).