A sorption heat pump having an evaporator containing a working fluid to evaporate the fluid to produce a gas, a sorber containing a sorption material to sorb the gas during a sorption phase, a vapor pathway connecting the evaporator and sorber, and a thermal control unit controlling the rate of vapor flow between the evaporator and sorber through the pathway, and being selectively operable to permit, stop and restart the flow of gas through the pathway. The pump may be used with a compartment storing temperature sensitive material. The evaporator may be positioned inside and the sorber outside the compartment, or the sorber may be positioned inside and the evaporator outside the compartment. The pump may be used in an apparatus including both cool and warm compartments, with an insulation layer in each. A method is disclosed for reusing the pump after the sorption material has been sorbed.

A sorption heat pump having an evaporator containing a working fluid to evaporate the fluid to produce a gas, a sorber containing a sorption material to sorb the gas during a sorption phase, a vapor pathway connecting the evaporator and sorber, and a thermal control unit controlling the rate of vapor flow between the evaporator and sorber through the pathway, and being selectively operable to permit, stop and restart the flow of gas through the pathway. The pump may be used with a compartment storing temperature sensitive material. The evaporator may be positioned inside and the sorber outside the compartment, or the sorber may be positioned inside and the evaporator outside the compartment. The pump may be used in an apparatus including both cool and warm compartments, with an insulation layer in each. A method is disclosed for reusing the pump after the sorption material has been sorbed.

A temperature controller for a sorption system having an evaporator to produce a gas, a sorber containing a sorption material to sorb the gas during a sorption phase, a flow channel extending between the evaporator and sorber to provide a gas pathway connecting them, a valve to control the rate of gas flow in the flow channel, and a temperature sensor positioned to measure the temperature of an evaporator surface or the air adjacent thereto indicative of an evaporator surface temperature, and generate a temperature signal. The controller includes an inflatable member having first and second inflation states, and a control unit configured to evaluate the temperature signal and in response control the state of inflation of the inflatable member and thereby the operation of the valve to control the rate of gas flow between the evaporator and sorber through the gas pathway.

A temperature controller for a sorption system having an evaporator to produce a gas, a sorber containing a sorption material to sorb the gas during a sorption phase, a flow channel extending between the evaporator and sorber to provide a gas pathway connecting them, a valve to control the rate of gas flow in the flow channel, and a temperature sensor positioned to measure the temperature of an evaporator surface or the air adjacent thereto indicative of an evaporator surface temperature, and generate a temperature signal. The controller includes an inflatable member having first and second inflation states, and a control unit configured to evaluate the temperature signal and in response control the state of inflation of the inflatable member and thereby the operation of the valve to control the rate of gas flow between the evaporator and sorber through the gas pathway.

A process for producing spherical activated carbon is complex; therefore, an adsorbent that has an effective adsorption amount larger than or equal to that of spherical activated carbon and that is easily produced is desired. An adsorption heat pump uses, as refrigerant, carbon dioxide and uses, as an adsorbent, a metal-organic framework including a metal ion and an organic ligand. The metal-organic framework is, for example, MOF-200.

A process for producing spherical activated carbon is complex; therefore, an adsorbent that has an effective adsorption amount larger than or equal to that of spherical activated carbon and that is easily produced is desired. An adsorption heat pump uses, as refrigerant, carbon dioxide and uses, as an adsorbent, a metal-organic framework including a metal ion and an organic ligand. The metal-organic framework is, for example, MOF-200.

The invention provides a heat pump system and method heat pump system comprising a first Shape-Memory Alloy (SMA) or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) core and adapted to convert movement of the core into energy in response to a temper-reature change. A second Shape-Memory Alloy (SMA) or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) core in fluid communication with the first core and adapted to convert movement of the second core into energy. A third Shape-Memory Alloy (SMA) or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) or elastocaloric core in fluid communication with the first and second cores and adapted to convert movement of the third core into energy. The first core, second core and the third core are arranged in series and a control system provides waste pressure from the first core to the second core and/or third core.

The invention provides a heat pump system and method heat pump system comprising a first Shape-Memory Alloy (SMA) or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) core and adapted to convert movement of the core into energy in response to a temper-reature change. A second Shape-Memory Alloy (SMA) or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) core in fluid communication with the first core and adapted to convert movement of the second core into energy. A third Shape-Memory Alloy (SMA) or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) or elastocaloric core in fluid communication with the first and second cores and adapted to convert movement of the third core into energy. The first core, second core and the third core are arranged in series and a control system provides waste pressure from the first core to the second core and/or third core.

An in-vehicle absorption heat pump device includes: a regenerator including a gas-liquid separation unit that separates a diluted absorbent containing a refrigerant into the refrigerant and a concentrated absorbent separated from the diluted absorbent; a condenser that condenses a refrigerant vapor separated from the diluted absorbent in the gas-liquid separation unit; an evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant condensed in the condenser; an absorber that causes the refrigerant evaporated by the evaporator to be absorbed into the concentrated absorbent separated from the diluted absorbent in the gas-liquid separation unit; and a storage tank that stores both the diluted absorbent discharged from the absorber and the refrigerant discharged from the evaporator. The storage tank is integrally provided below both the absorber and the evaporator, and communicates with both the absorber and the evaporator.

An in-vehicle absorption heat pump device includes: a regenerator including a gas-liquid separation unit that separates a diluted absorbent containing a refrigerant into the refrigerant and a concentrated absorbent separated from the diluted absorbent; a condenser that condenses a refrigerant vapor separated from the diluted absorbent in the gas-liquid separation unit; an evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant condensed in the condenser; an absorber that causes the refrigerant evaporated by the evaporator to be absorbed into the concentrated absorbent separated from the diluted absorbent in the gas-liquid separation unit; and a storage tank that stores both the diluted absorbent discharged from the absorber and the refrigerant discharged from the evaporator. The storage tank is integrally provided below both the absorber and the evaporator, and communicates with both the absorber and the evaporator.