Disclosed is an adsorption-based heat pump useful for refrigeration and cooling/heating for applications such as HVACs and chillers. Adsorption is a surface phenomenon where a solid substance (adsorbent) attracts molecules of a gas or solution (refrigerant or adsorbate) on its surface. The latent heat of the adsorbate provides the heating/cooling effect. The novel adsorption heat pump enhances heat and/or mass transfer to and from the adsorbate. One embodiment comprises at least one evaporator, at least one desorber (adsorbent heating apparatus), at least one adsorbent cooling apparatus and at least one condenser. The embodiment employs different techniques to enhance heat and/or mass transfer.

The present invention provides a heat pump apparatus comprising a Rankine cycle and an Carnot cycle part when implemented for cooling. The Rankine cycle comprises an evaporator configured for evaporating by direct evaporation water received from an external water source. An expander receives steam from the evaporator and drives a compressor compressing the fluid of the Carnot cycle. The fluid is thereafter condensed in a condenser and evaporated in an absorber.

The present invention provides a heat pump apparatus comprising a Rankine cycle and an Carnot cycle part when implemented for cooling. The Rankine cycle comprises an evaporator configured for evaporating by direct evaporation water received from an external water source. An expander receives steam from the evaporator and drives a compressor compressing the fluid of the Carnot cycle. The fluid is thereafter condensed in a condenser and evaporated in an absorber.

There is disclosed a heat-transferring device comprising a buffer tank (1), a reactor vessel (2) in thermal contact with the buffer tank, wherein an active substance is held inside the reactor vessel, a burner (A), a reactor heating loop adapted to transfer heat from the burner to the active substance in the reactor vessel, a reactor cooling loop adapted to transfer heat from the active substance in the reactor vessel to the buffer tank, a volatile liquid reservoir (14) in fluid contact with the reactor vessel, an evaporator (15) in fluid contact with the volatile liquid reservoir, a volatile liquid in the volatile liquid reservoir, with the ability to be absorbed by the active substance at a first temperature and desorbed by the active substance at a higher temperature, an exhaust gas pipe (10,11,12) from the burner to the volatile liquid reservoir to heat it.

There is disclosed a heat-transferring device comprising a buffer tank (1), a reactor vessel (2) in thermal contact with the buffer tank, wherein an active substance is held inside the reactor vessel, a burner (A), a reactor heating loop adapted to transfer heat from the burner to the active substance in the reactor vessel, a reactor cooling loop adapted to transfer heat from the active substance in the reactor vessel to the buffer tank, a volatile liquid reservoir (14) in fluid contact with the reactor vessel, an evaporator (15) in fluid contact with the volatile liquid reservoir, a volatile liquid in the volatile liquid reservoir, with the ability to be absorbed by the active substance at a first temperature and desorbed by the active substance at a higher temperature, an exhaust gas pipe (10,11,12) from the burner to the volatile liquid reservoir to heat it.

A sorption heat pump, comprising a gaseous refrigerant; a liquid solvent; a lean solution and a rich solution, wherein the lean solution and the rich solution are single phase mixes of the liquid solvent and the refrigerant; a first absorber in which the lean solution absorbs a first partial flow of the refrigerant under a pressure drop; a second absorber in which the lean solution absorbs a second partial flow of the refrigerant directly thereafter while respectively dissipating heat; and an expeller in which the rich solution absorbs ambient heat and expels the refrigerant, a down tube arranged between an outlet for the lean solution from the first absorber and an inlet for the lean solution into the second absorber, wherein a hydrostatic pressure of a liquid column of the lean solution in the down tube compensates the pressure drop.

A sorption heat pump, comprising a gaseous refrigerant; a liquid solvent; a lean solution and a rich solution, wherein the lean solution and the rich solution are single phase mixes of the liquid solvent and the refrigerant; a first absorber in which the lean solution absorbs a first partial flow of the refrigerant under a pressure drop; a second absorber in which the lean solution absorbs a second partial flow of the refrigerant directly thereafter while respectively dissipating heat; and an expeller in which the rich solution absorbs ambient heat and expels the refrigerant, a down tube arranged between an outlet for the lean solution from the first absorber and an inlet for the lean solution into the second absorber, wherein a hydrostatic pressure of a liquid column of the lean solution in the down tube compensates the pressure drop.

A refrigerator based on a molecular sieve, including a first molecular sieve device, a second molecular sieve device, a reversing valve, and a balancing valve, wherein an air flow alternately passes through the first molecular sieve device and the second molecular sieve device through the reversing valve, and then flows back through the balancing valve, so that the first molecular sieve device and the second molecular sieve device are regenerated. The first molecular sieve device and the second molecular sieve device are capable of separating a refrigerant from a depressurized gas, and the refrigerant is condensed after reaching a certain concentration to become a liquid refrigerant, and then enters an evaporator again for refrigeration.

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.

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.