Split type adsorption air conditioning unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigeration systems, particularly vapor compression and adsorption units, face challenges such as high energy consumption, environmental impact due to synthetic refrigerants, and inefficiencies in cooling delivery, especially in smaller capacities and split configurations where the evaporator is not remote from the condenser and compressor units.
Innovation Solution
A split level sorption refrigeration system is introduced, where the evaporator is decoupled from the condenser and thermal compressor, allowing for orientation-free cooling with refrigerant flow optimization, eliminating the chilled water circuit and enabling remote cooling sections, using various adsorbent and refrigerant pairs with throttling devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If vapor compression systems use synthetic refrigerants like HFCs, then cooling efficiency is improved, but environmental harm increases due to ozone depletion and global warming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the refrigerant parameter from synthetic HFCs to natural refrigerants like ammonia or carbon dioxide, eliminating environmental harm while maintaining cooling efficiency through optimized heat exchanger design and system configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical vapor compression system with a thermally-driven absorption or adsorption system, eliminating the need for synthetic refrigerants and high-power compressors while achieving comparable cooling performance
2Productivity
If vapor compression systems use high-power electric compressors, then refrigerant circulation is improved, but energy consumption increases leading to high carbon footprint
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electric compressor with a thermal compressor (absorption or adsorption mechanism), where refrigerant circulation is driven by thermal energy from waste heat sources or solar energy instead of electrical power, dramatically reducing energy consumption and carbon footprint
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses waste heat from industrial processes or solar thermal energy to drive the refrigeration cycle, converting previously wasted thermal energy into useful cooling while eliminating dependence on electrical compressors
3Device complexity
If adsorption systems use unitary configuration with condenser and evaporator in same housing, then system simplicity is improved, but cooling delivery efficiency deteriorates for remote locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the adsorption system into separate modular components: an outdoor unit containing the adsorption beds and condenser, and an indoor unit containing the evaporator, connected by refrigerant lines, enabling flexible installation and efficient remote cooling delivery
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces refrigerant lines as intermediaries to connect the remotely located evaporator with the condenser and adsorption beds, enabling efficient heat and mass transfer across distributed components while maintaining system performance
4Productivity
If evaporator is connected to condenser through chilled water circuit, then cooling distribution is improved, but system complexity and capital cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the chilled water circuit from the system, using direct refrigerant expansion and evaporation in the evaporator to provide cooling, thereby simplifying system configuration and reducing capital costs while maintaining effective cooling distribution
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 enhances efficiency, reduces capital costs, and provides environmentally friendly cooling solutions by eliminating the need for synthetic refrigerants, improving cooling power delivery, and reducing energy consumption, while being suitable for both stationary and mobile applications.
Implementation Method 1
at least one compression means is a thermal compression means wherein said one thermal compression means is an adsorption unit
Implementation Method 2
a condensation means; the one or more suction line(s) providing discharged refrigerant fluid from each evaporation means through the one or more compression means to the condensation means
Implementation Method 3
each provided in a dedicated housing and comprising an evaporation means; the one or more suction line(s) providing discharged refrigerant fluid from each evaporation means
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a novel split level sorption refrigeration system. In particular, the present invention provides a split level sorption based unit as a novel method of using the traditional sorption based refrigeration unit. The present invention offers orientation free configuration with efficient cooling power delivery to the various cooling load locations which is achieved by splitting the evaporator of the sorption chiller from the sorption beds and the condenser.