Stacked Plate Adsorption Chiller for Low-Pressure Heat Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional adsorption chillers require large, heavy, and expensive vacuum vessels to achieve low pressures for refrigerant portions, which limits their material efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
The use of a plate-based adsorption chiller design with stacked plates having flow fields on their surfaces to transfer heat between fluid and refrigerant sides, allowing for low-pressure operation and efficient heat transfer without the need for large vacuum vessels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional adsorption chillers use large vacuum vessels to achieve low pressures, then low-pressure operation is achieved, but the system becomes heavy, expensive, and material-inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the vacuum system into multiple separate chambers (evacuable chamber for refrigerant, separate evacuatable chamber for adsorbent) instead of using a single large vacuum vessel. This segmentation allows each chamber to be independently evacuated to lower pressures, achieving reliable low-pressure operation while reducing the overall weight and material requirements compared to a conventional single large vacuum vessel
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single large three-dimensional vacuum vessel to multiple smaller chambers arranged in a stacked configuration. This dimensional reorganization allows the system to achieve the same low-pressure function with reduced total volume and weight, as the stacked plate structure efficiently utilizes space and reduces material requirements
2Reliability
If conventional adsorption chillers use large vacuum vessels, then low pressures are maintained, but material costs and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum system is segmented into multiple independent chambers that can be separately evacuated and sealed. This segmentation simplifies the overall structure by eliminating the need for a single large complex vacuum vessel, while maintaining reliable low-pressure operation through multiple smaller, more manageable chambers
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested structure where adsorbent material is contained within the evacuatable chamber, which is itself part of the larger stacked plate assembly. This nesting approach reduces device complexity by integrating multiple functions (adsorbent containment, vacuum sealing, heat transfer) into a compact multi-chamber structure
3Ease of manufacture
If stacked plates are used for heat transfer, then material efficiency improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat transfer system is segmented into multiple identical stacked plates, each with integrated flow fields on both sides. This segmentation improves material efficiency as each plate is optimized for heat transfer, while the modular nature of identical repeating units actually simplifies manufacturing compared to a single complex custom component
Solution Approach 2:
Each plate in the stack serves multiple functions: heat transfer, fluid distribution, structural support, and vacuum sealing. This multi-functionality improves material efficiency by eliminating the need for separate components, while the universal design of identical plates simplifies manufacturing through standardization
4Productivity
If flow fields are integrated on plate surfaces, then heat transfer efficiency improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flow fields are pre-formed on the plate surfaces during plate manufacturing, before assembly into the stacked configuration. This preliminary action ensures high heat transfer efficiency is built into the base material, while the precision requirements are managed at the plate fabrication stage rather than during final assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the flow field geometry and distribution parameters on the plate surfaces to maximize heat transfer efficiency. By carefully controlling these parameters during plate manufacturing, high heat transfer performance is achieved while managing fabrication precision through standardized design parameters
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 design achieves material efficiency by using most of the metal for heat transfer, reducing material costs and maintaining low pressures within the adsorption system, while allowing for simultaneous cooling and regeneration modes.
Implementation Method 1
stacked plates having flow fields on their surfaces to transfer heat between fluid and refrigerant sides
Implementation Method 2
An adsorbent material is disposed within the refrigerant passages
Data Source
AI summary
A subassembly for an adsorption chiller includes an adsorption component that includes a plurality of plates arranged in a stack. Refrigerant passages are defined between refrigerant sides of adjacent pairs of the plates in the stack. An adsorbent material is disposed within the refrigerant passages.