Adsorption Cell Geometry for Thermal Wave Compressor Compactness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adsorption heat pump systems are bulky due to low pressures used for water vapor condensation and evaporation, limiting specific cooling power (SCP) and coefficient of performance (COP), and there is a need for more efficient and compact designs.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a thermal wave operation with adsorption cells having a high contact area between the heat transfer fluid channel and solid adsorption material, with a characteristic dimension of less than 1 cm, and a method involving four phases of operation to enhance SCP while maintaining high COP, using a cluster of adsorption cells with optimized manifold arrangements and heat transfer fluid management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If water is used as refrigerant with reduced pressures for condensation and evaporation, then the system can operate with non-freon gases harmless to the ozone layer, but the specific cooling power (SCP) is lowered and the system becomes bulky in size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating pressure parameters of the adsorption compressor to enable operation at higher pressures, which increases the density of the refrigerant vapor and thereby increases the specific cooling power (SCP) while reducing the required system volume. This parameter change allows the system to maintain environmental compatibility while improving compactness.
2Productivity
If thermal wave operation is applied to increase efficiency, then the heat pump performance is substantially increased, but the system complexity increases due to the need for precise temperature profile control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by alternately heating and cooling the two adsorption beds in a cyclic manner. This periodic operation creates the thermal wave effect where one bed is in desorption mode while the other is in adsorption mode, thereby maintaining continuous refrigerant circulation and improving heat pump performance without requiring complex continuous control systems.
3Ease of operation
If batch cooling and batch heating of adsorbing material is used, then the system operation is simple, but the cooling power is not substantially constant and efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves continuity of useful action by operating two adsorption beds in parallel with opposite phases. While one bed undergoes desorption (producing refrigerant vapor), the other undergoes adsorption (consuming refrigerant vapor). This continuous alternating operation ensures that refrigerant is continuously circulated through the system, maintaining constant cooling power output.
4Productivity
If the characteristic dimension of adsorption material is reduced to enhance thermal wave propagation, then the SCP is improved, but the heat transfer surface area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent compensates for the reduced heat transfer surface area by optimizing the geometric configuration and arrangement of the adsorption material particles. By controlling particle size distribution, porosity, and spatial arrangement, the system enhances thermal wave propagation through the adsorption bed while maintaining effective heat transfer surface area through three-dimensional optimization of the particle structure.
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 approach results in improved SCP and COP, achieving a more compact and efficient adsorption compressor system with enhanced thermal wave propagation and refrigerant adsorption/desorption efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The adsorbing vapor is forced out of the solid adsorption material by heating the material with a heat transfer fluid
Implementation Method 2
the water vapor is condensed in a high pressure condenser
Implementation Method 3
the condensed water is guided through a pressure release valve, where due to the Joules Thomson effect, the temperature decreases substantially adiabatically
Implementation Method 4
In a low pressure evaporator, the water is re-evaporated and can be returned through a set of check valves to that adsorption bed that is cold and accepting the vapor to adsorb. The evaporator provides the actual thermal cooling power of the heat pump.
Implementation Method 5
the water vapor originating from the adsorption beds is guided through a set of check valves to a condenser of a heat pump
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention is directed to an adsorption cell suitable for a thermal wave operated adsorption compressor comprising: - an elongated solid adsorption material; - an elongated heat transfer fluid (HTF) channel in direct heat transferring contact with the outside surface of the solid adsorption material, wherein the characteristic dimension r (e.g. the radius) and the length L of said adsorption material are chosen such that L/r > 10, more preferably larger than 15, most preferably larger than 20.