Pressure Swing Adsorption Beds for Heating, Cooling, and Energy Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heating and cooling systems, such as temperature swing adsorption and absorption systems, require excessive heat input for desorption, leading to low COP efficiency and lack integration of mechanical energy inputs for pressure swing adsorption and desorption processes.
Innovation Solution
The system employs pressure swing adsorption and desorption cycles with mechanical energy input to drive exothermic adsorption and endothermic desorption processes, eliminating the need for evaporators and condensers, and leveraging pressure differentials for concurrent heating and cooling applications using multiple adsorption beds and electronic control systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If temperature swing adsorption and absorption systems are used for heating and cooling, then the systems can provide thermal energy transfer, but excessive heat input is required for desorption leading to low COP efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the driving parameter from thermal (temperature swing) to mechanical (pressure swing). By using pressure changes instead of temperature changes to drive adsorption and desorption processes, the system eliminates the need for excessive heat input, thereby improving COP efficiency while maintaining heating and cooling functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the thermal field system (temperature swing requiring heat input) with a mechanical field system (pressure swing using compressors or expanders). This substitution eliminates the inefficient heat input requirement for desorption while maintaining the core adsorption-desorption functionality for heating and cooling
2Ease of operation
If prior art temperature swing adsorption systems are used, then cooling can be achieved, but the desorption process is not directly utilized for cooling applications and requires evaporators and condensers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the evaporator and condenser components from the system by directly utilizing the desorption process in the sorption bed for cooling applications. This simplification removes unnecessary components while maintaining cooling functionality through direct pressure swing desorption
Solution Approach 2:
The sorption bed is designed to perform multiple functions: adsorption for heating, desorption for cooling, and energy storage. By making the sorption bed multi-functional, the system eliminates the need for separate evaporators and condensers, reducing device complexity while maintaining ease of operation
3Use of energy by moving object
If mechanical energy input is used for pressure swing adsorption, then energy efficiency is improved, but the system requires integration of compressors and control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the compression and expansion processes themselves to drive the adsorption and desorption cycles. The mechanical energy input from compressors or expanders directly facilitates the pressure swing needed for the adsorption process, making the system self-sufficient and improving energy efficiency without requiring additional complex 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 approach enhances energy efficiency by achieving higher COP compared to prior art, enabling effective energy storage and transfer without concurrent mechanical work input, and integrates heating and cooling functions in a single cycle.
Implementation Method 1
Adsorption is emerging as an important process for separating fluids, heating, cooling, molecule storage, and energy storage
Implementation Method 2
the desorption in the sorption bed is applied directly to a cooling application such as cooling a building
Implementation Method 3
Mechanical energy input 'pressure swing adsorption' driven compression and phase change effect
Implementation Method 4
mechanical energy input 'pressure swing desorption' driven compression and phase change effect
Data Source
AI summary
The invention described herein enables a variety of heating, cooling, energy transformation, and energy storage options with a small number or components. Described are Pressure Swing Adsorption and Pressure Swing Desorption cycles, processes, and apparatuses including multiple sorption beds and active energy input by a pump and energy storage as pressure differentials. A preferred embodiment includes two zeolite 13X sorption beds, CO2 adsorbate, solenoid valves, and a compressor pump. In operation these components provide a range of heating, cooling, and energy storage options. Operational cycles are described.