A conditioning system for a conditioned interior space includes a vapor compression system, an evaporative cooling system, and a controller. The vapor compression system includes an evaporator, a condenser, a refrigerant active fluid for flowing between the evaporator and the condenser, a first fan to produce a first airflow toward the conditioned interior space, and a second fan for producing a second airflow from the condenser toward an exterior space. The evaporative cooling system includes a first tank containing a non-refrigerant active fluid, and a heat exchange device fluidically coupled to the first tank to receive the non-refrigerant active fluid. The first fan is positioned to produce the first airflow through the heat exchange device toward the conditioned interior space. The controller is programmed to control cooperative operation of the vapor compression system and the evaporative cooling system to condition the conditioned interior space.

The present invention pertains to systems, methods, and compositions for liquid phase change, including for active cloud point, e.g., critical solution temperature, adjustment and heating or cooling, e.g., refrigeration, cycles. In some embodiments heat is absorbed, released or both due to phase changes in a liquid system. Advantageously, the phase changes may be controlled by controlling the ingredients or amounts of certain components of the liquid system. Advantages may include lower capital expenditures, lower operating expenses, or both for a diverse and wide range of heating and cooling applications. Such applications include, for example, cooling of data centers, cooled transportation of goods, refrigeration, heat pumps, extractions, ocean thermal energy conversion, and de-icing of roads to name just a few.

The present invention pertains to systems, methods, and compositions for liquid phase change, including for active cloud point, e.g., critical solution temperature, adjustment and heating or cooling, e.g., refrigeration, cycles. In some embodiments heat is absorbed, released or both due to phase changes in a liquid system. Advantageously, the phase changes may be controlled by controlling the ingredients or amounts of certain components of the liquid system. Advantages may include lower capital expenditures, lower operating expenses, or both for a diverse and wide range of heating and cooling applications. Such applications include, for example, cooling of data centers, cooled transportation of goods, refrigeration, heat pumps, extractions, ocean thermal energy conversion, and de-icing of roads to name just a few.

A switching device sequentially switches from having an evaporator-condenser generate an adsorbate and an adsorbent adsorb the adsorbate, to having an evaporator-condenser condense the adsorbate and an adsorbent desorb the adsorbate, such that the evaporator-condenser that generates the adsorbate and the adsorbent that adsorbs the adsorbate face each other, and the evaporator-condenser that condenses the adsorbate and the adsorbent that desorbs the adsorbate face each other. Accordingly, one adsorbent repeatedly desorbs and adsorbs in alternation, and another adsorbent repeatedly adsorbs and desorbs in alternation.

A switching device sequentially switches from having an evaporator-condenser generate an adsorbate and an adsorbent adsorb the adsorbate, to having an evaporator-condenser condense the adsorbate and an adsorbent desorb the adsorbate, such that the evaporator-condenser that generates the adsorbate and the adsorbent that adsorbs the adsorbate face each other, and the evaporator-condenser that condenses the adsorbate and the adsorbent that desorbs the adsorbate face each other. Accordingly, one adsorbent repeatedly desorbs and adsorbs in alternation, and another adsorbent repeatedly adsorbs and desorbs in alternation.

An adsorption system can be used as part of a climate control system in a vehicle or in any other space requiring heating or cooling. The adsorbent system can include an enclosure, a plurality of layers arranged in a stack inside the enclosure, and a vapor channel inside the enclosure.

An adsorption system can be used as part of a climate control system in a vehicle or in any other space requiring heating or cooling. The adsorbent system can include an enclosure, a plurality of layers arranged in a stack inside the enclosure, and a vapor channel inside the enclosure.

A heat exchanger includes: a first heat transfer tube unit including first heat transfer tubes arranged in parallel along a first direction within a horizontal plane; and a second heat transfer tube unit including second heat transfer tubes arranged in parallel with one another along a second direction that intersects the first direction within the horizontal plane. Each of the first heat transfer tubes and the second heat transfer tubes includes: straight portions arranged in parallel in a vertical direction; and one or more curved portions that make end portions of the straight portions communicate with each other. The straight portions of the first heat transfer tube unit and the straight portions of the first heat transfer tube unit are stacked on each other alternately.

A heat exchanger includes: a first heat transfer tube unit including first heat transfer tubes arranged in parallel along a first direction within a horizontal plane; and a second heat transfer tube unit including second heat transfer tubes arranged in parallel with one another along a second direction that intersects the first direction within the horizontal plane. Each of the first heat transfer tubes and the second heat transfer tubes includes: straight portions arranged in parallel in a vertical direction; and one or more curved portions that make end portions of the straight portions communicate with each other. The straight portions of the first heat transfer tube unit and the straight portions of the first heat transfer tube unit are stacked on each other alternately.

An absorber unit 1a includes a first absorber 13a and a second absorber 13b. The first absorber 13a includes a first heat transfer tube group 11a and a first dripper 12a. The second absorber 13b includes a second heat transfer tube group 11b and a second dripper 12b. The first heat transfer tube group 11a has a first end portion 11m, and the second heat transfer tube group 11b has a second end portion 11n. In the first end portion 11m and the second end portion 11n, a shortest distance D1 is larger than a shortest distance D2. The shortest distance D1 is a shortest distance, in a gravity direction, between the outer surfaces of a specific pair of heat transfer tubes 10 adjacent to each other in the first end portion 11m. The shortest distance D2 is a shortest distance, in the gravity direction, between the outer surfaces of a pair of heat transfer tubes 10 in the second end portion 11n that form rows corresponding to the specific pair of heat transfer tubes 10.