Diffusion barrier using protective layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigeration systems using flammable refrigerants face challenges with adsorbent degradation due to contamination from various contaminants, leading to reduced sorption capacity and potential refrigerant leaks, especially in complex, hermetically sealed systems.
Innovation Solution
A sorption channel design with protective layers upstream and downstream of the main adsorber, using tailored adsorbents and materials to selectively bind contaminants, and a sorption channel geometry that prevents contamination and maintains adsorber effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sorption channel is open to the housing interior and environment, then gas flow and refrigerant capture are enabled, but contaminants diffuse into the adsorber causing degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The adsorber is segmented into multiple functional zones: a first protective layer (hydrophobic material) upstream, the main adsorber material in the middle, and a second protective layer (hydrophilic material) downstream. This segmentation allows each zone to handle specific contaminants, protecting the main adsorber while maintaining system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Protective layers act as intermediary barriers between the environment/housing and the main adsorber. The hydrophobic upstream layer mediates by repelling water-containing contaminants, while the hydrophilic downstream layer mediates by attracting and binding water vapor, preventing both from degrading the main adsorber.
2Reliability
If protective layers are added upstream and downstream of the main adsorber, then contamination is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective layers are implemented as porous materials with specific hydrophobic or hydrophilic properties. These porous structures provide effective contamination protection through their material characteristics rather than complex geometric arrangements, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The adsorber assembly uses composite material construction, combining hydrophobic materials (upstream protective layer), activated carbon or similar adsorbents (main adsorber), and hydrophilic materials (downstream protective layer). This composite approach achieves multiple protection functions through material properties rather than mechanical complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If flammable refrigerants are used, then environmental safety is improved, but system safety risks increase due to leakage potential
Solution Approach 1:
The protective layers are pre-installed in the sorption channel before operation begins. They proactively prevent contaminant diffusion and adsorber degradation before any leakage can occur, ensuring the adsorber maintains its refrigerant-capturing effectiveness throughout the system's operational life, thereby addressing safety concerns preemptively.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective layers create a protected environment around the main adsorber, effectively isolating it from harmful contaminants in the housing and external environment. This creates an inert-like protective zone that ensures the adsorber's long-term reliability and safety functionality.
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 design effectively protects the main adsorber from contamination, maintaining its sorption capacity and preventing refrigerant leaks, ensuring safe operation of thermodynamic cycles with flammable refrigerants.
Implementation Method 1
a first protective layer (16, 17, 18) made of a hydrophobic material upstream of the main adsorber (19)
Implementation Method 2
a second protective layer (20, 21, 22) made of a hydrophilic material downstream of the main adsorber (19)
Implementation Method 3
the main adsorber (19) through which gas which may contain the working fluid can flow, wherein the working fluid can be absorbed by the main adsorber (19)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a heat pump system with a heat pump using a flammable refrigerant, wherein the heat pump system comprises a sorption bed with adsorbent for absorbing escaping refrigerant, characterized in that the heat pump system comprises protective layers arranged in such a way as to protect the adsorbent from contamination.