Ammonia-Water Absorption Machine with Integrated GAX Heat Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ammonia-water absorption machines face limitations in performance, cost, and operational range, with advanced systems encountering deployment obstacles and standard machines reaching performance limits, necessitating improvements in efficiency, cost reduction, and expanded operational conditions.
Innovation Solution
The absorption machine design incorporates separation bottles and plate heat exchangers to reduce bulk, enhance maintenance accessibility, and achieve higher performance coefficients, allowing dual function as both a refrigeration and heat pump system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If standard absorption machine architecture is used, then basic refrigeration function is achieved, but performance is limited and footprint is large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the generator and absorber heat exchangers into a single integrated unit, allowing heat exchange between the strong solution leaving the generator and the weak solution entering the absorber. This merging reduces the number of separate components and overall machine footprint while improving thermal efficiency and performance coefficient.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated heat exchanger serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both the generator heat exchanger and the absorber heat exchanger, enabling heat recovery and improving system efficiency. This multi-functionality contributes to higher performance coefficients in a compact configuration.
2Productivity
If advanced GAX architecture is used, then performance is improved, but deployment is limited and complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a simplified GAX (Generator-Absorber Heat Exchange) architecture by merging the generator and absorber heat exchangers into one unit. This reduces system complexity compared to traditional separate configurations while maintaining the performance benefits of heat exchange between generator and absorber streams.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses internal heat exchange where the hot strong solution from the generator directly heats the incoming weak solution in the absorber. This self-service heat recovery mechanism improves performance without requiring additional external heating systems or complex control mechanisms.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional machine design is used, then basic functionality is achieved, but maintenance is difficult and cost is high
Solution Approach 1:
The absorption machine is divided into modular functional units including the integrated generator-absorber heat exchanger, condenser, evaporator, and solution heat exchanger. This segmentation allows for easier manufacturing, assembly, and maintenance as individual modules can be independently accessed, replaced, or repaired without disassembling the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
By merging the generator and absorber heat exchangers into a single integrated unit with internal heat exchange, the patent reduces the total number of separate components. This simplification lowers manufacturing costs and improves maintenance accessibility by reducing the number of connections and interfaces that require servicing.
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 enables higher performance coefficients, reduces manufacturing costs, and simplifies maintenance while enabling efficient heat recovery and operation across a broader range of conditions.
Implementation Method 1
an absorber configured to cause the lean solution and the first external heat transfer fluid to interact thermally so as to transform the lean solution into a rich solution
Implementation Method 2
transform the lean solution into a rich solution, preferably so as to increase the mass concentration of the second fluid
Implementation Method 3
A first heat exchange device configured to thermally interact the rich solution with the lean solution so as to modify, preferably increase, the temperature of the rich solution
Implementation Method 4
A heat generator configured to thermally interact the lean solution with a second external heat transfer fluid, preferably so as to increase the temperature of the lean solution
Implementation Method 5
A condenser configured to allow the refrigerant solution and the third external heat transfer fluid to interact thermally in order to condense the refrigerant solution
Implementation Method 6
An evaporator configured to allow the refrigerant solution and a fourth external heat transfer fluid to interact thermally in such a way as to modify the temperature of the fourth external heat transfer fluid by evaporating at least part of the refrigerant solution
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an absorption machine (1000) comprising a circulating mixture (100), the machine (1000) having a first configuration in which the machine (1000) produces cold and a second configuration in which the machine (1000) produces heat, said circulating mixture (100) having, depending on its position in said machine, a so-called lean solution (110), a so-called condensed solution (120), a so-called rich solution (130), and a so-called refrigerant solution (140), said machine (1000) comprising at least: • An absorber (1100); • A first heat exchange device (1200); • A heat generator (1600); • A condenser (1700); • An evaporator (1900); • A first separation vessel (1410); • A second separation vessel (1420); • A third separation vessel (1430).