Sorption heat pump and sorption cycle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sorption heat pumps do not generate usable heat during defrosting and experience component wear due to intermittent compressor operation and pressure changes during switching between normal and defrost modes.
Innovation Solution
A sorption heat pump design that includes a cooling device with a bypass to run a partial flow of concentrated solution at high pressure through cooling registers during defrost operation, utilizing excess heat for defrosting and reducing mass flow and pressure changes, thereby reducing heating power and component loading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cooling device uses conventional defrosting methods, then the air cooler can be defrosted, but no usable heat is generated during defrosting and component wear increases due to pressure changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful frost accumulation on air coolers into a beneficial heating opportunity. During defrost operation, the concentrated solution flows through the defrosting air cooler at high pressure, and the heat that would otherwise be wasted is used to melt the frost. This eliminates the need for separate heating sources and converts a maintenance problem into a useful heating function.
Solution Approach 2:
The concentrated solution serves multiple functions: it provides cooling during normal operation and provides heating during defrost operation. The same fluid circuit and heat transfer mechanism are used for both cooling and defrosting, eliminating the need for separate systems and improving overall system efficiency.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the compressor operates intermittently to match load demands, then energy efficiency improves, but component wear increases due to abrupt pressure changes during switching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic operation of the sorption cycle by allowing the cooling device to selectively activate and deactivate individual cooling registers based on load demands. The concentrated solution flow is dynamically redirected between active cooling registers and defrosting registers, enabling continuous adaptation to changing thermal loads without abrupt system shutdowns and restarts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary defrosting action by maintaining the concentrated solution in a high-pressure state ready for immediate defrost operation. The bypass allows the concentrated solution to be pre-positioned in the defrosting air cooler, so when defrost is needed, the heat transfer can begin immediately without waiting for pressure equilibration or system reconfiguration.
3Productivity
If a partial flow of concentrated solution is run through the cooling register at high pressure during defrost, then defrosting efficiency improves and component wear reduces, but heating power during defrosting increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses partial flow of concentrated solution through the defrosting air cooler instead of the full flow used during normal cooling operation. This partial action provides sufficient heat for defrosting while avoiding excessive heating power requirements. The bypass configuration allows precise control of the partial flow rate to match the actual defrosting needs.
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
Improves efficiency during defrosting by using excess heat and minimizing component wear by maintaining constant pressures, allowing for efficient and rapid defrosting while reducing the heating power required during the process.
Implementation Method 1
the concentrated solution absorbs a second heat from ambient air in the respective air cooler and thereby expels the refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
an absorber in which the diluted solution absorbs the refrigerant at a high-pressure level and emits a first heat
Implementation Method 3
the concentrated solution is expanded to a low-pressure level during normal operation of the respective cooling register
Data Source
AI summary
A sorption heat pump including a gaseous refrigerant and a liquid solvent; a diluted solution and a concentrated solution, wherein the diluted solution and the concentrated solution are single phase mixes of the solvent and the refrigerant; an absorber in which the diluted solution absorbs the refrigerant at a high-pressure level and emits a first heat; and a cooling device including plural cooling registers, each cooling register including an air cooler and an expansion valve in which the concentrated solution is expanded to a low-pressure level during normal operation of the cooling register so that the concentrated solution absorbs a second heat from ambient air in the air cooler and expels the refrigerant, wherein each air cooler is defrostable individually by supplying a third heat to the air cooler in a defrost operation of the air cooler that interrupts the normal operation of the air cooler.