Absorption Heat Pump Membrane Structure Against Liquid Backflow
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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 performance reduction in absorption refrigeration cycles.
Innovation Solution
An absorption heat pump device with a membrane member that surrounds and covers the heat exchange section, allowing refrigerant vapor to pass while preventing the absorbing liquid from passing, thereby preventing backflow into the evaporator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the absorber is configured with a module including a hydrophobic porous membrane and heat transfer body, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but the absorbing liquid may flow back into the evaporator through the vapor passage due to vehicle inclination and shaking
Solution Approach 1:
The absorber is divided into two distinct spaces: a first space containing the heat transfer body for heat exchange, and a second space for storing the absorbing liquid. The hydrophobic porous membrane separates these spaces, allowing vapor passage while preventing liquid backflow. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining heat exchange efficiency while preventing harmful liquid backflow that would degrade system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrophobic porous membrane acts as an intermediary element between the heat exchange section and the absorbing liquid storage section. It selectively permits refrigerant vapor to pass through for absorption while blocking the absorbing liquid from flowing back into the evaporator, thus maintaining both heat exchange efficiency and system reliability.
2Device complexity
If the absorbing liquid is stored in the bottom of the absorber, then the structure is simplified, but the absorbing liquid mixes with refrigerant in the evaporator due to vehicle movement
Solution Approach 1:
The absorber is segmented into a first space for heat exchange and a second space for liquid storage, separated by a hydrophobic porous membrane. This segmentation prevents direct contact between the stored absorbing liquid and the evaporator, eliminating the risk of liquid-refrigerant mixing while maintaining structural simplicity and ensuring reliable operation under vehicle conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrophobic porous membrane functions as a thin film barrier that selectively separates the absorbing liquid storage space from the vapor passage. This thin film structure prevents liquid backflow into the evaporator while allowing vapor permeation, thus maintaining reliability without significantly increasing device complexity.
3Reliability
If a membrane member is added to surround the heat exchange section, then backflow of absorbing liquid is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A membrane member surrounding the heat exchange section is introduced to prevent absorbing liquid backflow. While this increases device complexity, it ensures reliable operation by maintaining proper separation between liquid and vapor phases, which is critical for absorption refrigeration cycle performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane member is constructed using composite material structure with hydrophobic porous properties, combining multiple functional characteristics (vapor permeability, liquid impermeability) into a single component. This approach prevents liquid backflow while minimizing the increase in device complexity through material-level solutions rather than structural additions.
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 maintains the performance of the absorption refrigeration cycle by preventing the backflow of absorbing liquid and mixing of refrigerant, even when the device is mounted on a vehicle.
Implementation Method 1
a membrane member, 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
Implementation Method 2
an absorption heat pump device in which an absorbing liquid absorbs refrigerant vapor
Implementation Method 3
a heat exchange section that removes absorption heat of the refrigerant vapor into the absorbing liquid
Implementation Method 4
an evaporator that evaporates a refrigerant
Data Source
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 in which an absorbing liquid absorbs refrigerant vapor includes an evaporator that evaporates a refrigerant and an absorber in which the refrigerant vapor evaporated in the evaporator is absorbed by the absorbing liquid. The absorber includes a heat exchange section that removes absorption heat of the refrigerant vapor into the absorbing liquid and a membrane member, 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.