A system includes an evacuated tube solar adsorption heat pump (ETSAHP) module. The ETSAHP module includes a transparent or semi-transparent tube configured to receive heat input from solar energy, the tube having a hollow interior, a top section, and a bottom section opposite the top section, an adsorbent bed comprising a plurality of adsorbent beads and positioned at the top section of the tube and configured to absorb solar energy, an adsorbent bed cage configured to contain the adsorbent bed at the top section of the tube, a threshold configured to stabilize the adsorbent container within the tube, and a condenser/evaporator positioned at the bottom section of the tube and spaced apart from the adsorbent bed.

A system includes an evacuated tube solar adsorption heat pump (ETSAHP) module. The ETSAHP module includes a transparent or semi-transparent tube configured to receive heat input from solar energy, the tube having a hollow interior, a top section, and a bottom section opposite the top section, an adsorbent bed comprising a plurality of adsorbent beads and positioned at the top section of the tube and configured to absorb solar energy, an adsorbent bed cage configured to contain the adsorbent bed at the top section of the tube, a threshold configured to stabilize the adsorbent container within the tube, and a condenser/evaporator positioned at the bottom section of the tube and spaced apart from the adsorbent bed.

A solution flows through a salinate chamber and a desalinate chamber of an electrochemical cell. Solutes are moved from the desalinate chamber to the salinate chamber to create respective solvent and concentrate streams from the desalinate and salinate chambers. The concentrate stream flows to a recombination cell where it is combined with a solvent. The combination causes at least one of an absorption of heat within the recombination cell and emission of heat from the recombination cell.

A solution flows through a salinate chamber and a desalinate chamber of an electrochemical cell. Solutes are moved from the desalinate chamber to the salinate chamber to create respective solvent and concentrate streams from the desalinate and salinate chambers. The concentrate stream flows to a recombination cell where it is combined with a solvent. The combination causes at least one of an absorption of heat within the recombination cell and emission of heat from the recombination cell.

A high-efficiency, motorless purge system for closed-cycle absorption heat pumps, adapted for both absorption heat transformers and absorption chillers, using a series of valves to control the entry and exit of absorbent solution into a low-pressure, secondary absorption vessel. A small percentage of the total circulating solution is forced under pressure into the secondary absorption vessel via a spray nozzle, causing adiabatic absorption of absorbate vapor by the solution. Non-condensable gases accumulate in the secondary absorber until a certain vapor pressure is reached, upon which, gas, and possibly liquid, are transferred to an exhaust vessel having an exit vent for non-condensable gases. In an absorption chiller system, the secondary absorber has an internal heat exchanger to lower the temperature of the solution within, to facilitate the absorption process.

A high-efficiency, motorless purge system for closed-cycle absorption heat pumps, adapted for both absorption heat transformers and absorption chillers, using a series of valves to control the entry and exit of absorbent solution into a low-pressure, secondary absorption vessel. A small percentage of the total circulating solution is forced under pressure into the secondary absorption vessel via a spray nozzle, causing adiabatic absorption of absorbate vapor by the solution. Non-condensable gases accumulate in the secondary absorber until a certain vapor pressure is reached, upon which, gas, and possibly liquid, are transferred to an exhaust vessel having an exit vent for non-condensable gases. In an absorption chiller system, the secondary absorber has an internal heat exchanger to lower the temperature of the solution within, to facilitate the absorption process.

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.

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 smart desert geothermal heat pump for air conditioning and domestic water cooling includes a heat pump having heat exchange piping adapted for installation underground in desert sand adjacent a structure to be heated/cooled. The heat pump draws heat from the sand to heat air in the structure in a heating cycle and draws heat from the structure to sink in the ground in a cooling cycle to cool the structure. A processor has an artificial intelligence machine learning unit configured to store historical weather data and mean heat pump on/off times by calendar date in Big Data tall arrays, and periodically re-computes mean heat pump on/off times by calendar date. A controller connected to the processor and at least one switch on the heat pump automatically switches between heating and cooling cycles and turns the pump on and off according to the median re-computed heat pump on/off times.

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.