A heating/cooling system for furnishing employs an electrochemical heat transfer device. An electrochemical heat transfer device may be an electrochemical hydrogen compressor that pumps hydrogen into and out of a tank having a metal hydride forming alloy therein. The absorption of hydrogen by the metal hydride forming alloy is exothermic, produces heat, and the desorption of the hydrogen from the metal hydride forming alloy is endothermic and draws heat in. An electrochemical hydrogen compressor may be configured between to tanks and pump hydrogen back and forth to form a heat transfer device. A heat exchange device may be coupled with the tank or may comprise the outer surface of the tank to transfer heat to an object or to the surroundings. A closed loop may be configured having two tanks and one or two electrochemical hydrogen compressors to pump the hydrogen in a loop around the system.

An example device includes a photovoltaic (PV) unit and a desiccant-based passive cooling component that is thermally coupled to the PV unit. The desiccant-based passive cooling component is configured to sorb, under first conditions, moisture from an environment that surrounds the device, via at least one of adsorption or absorption, and evaporate, under second conditions that are different from the first conditions, at least a portion of the moisture.

An electrochemical heat transfer device utilizes an electrochemical hydrogen compressor to pump hydrogen into and out of a reservoir having a metal hydride forming alloy therein. The absorption of hydrogen by the metal hydride forming alloy is exothermic, produces heat, and the desorption of the hydrogen from the metal hydride forming alloy is endothermic and draws heat in. An electrochemical hydrogen compressor may be configured between to reservoirs and pump hydrogen back and forth to form a heat transfer device. A heat exchange device may be coupled with the reservoir or may comprise the outer surface of the reservoir to transfer heat to an object or to the surroundings. A closed loop may be configured having two reservoirs and one or two electrochemical hydrogen compressors to pump the hydrogen in a loop around the system.

An electrochemical heat transfer device utilizes an electrochemical hydrogen compressor to pump hydrogen into and out of a reservoir having a metal hydride forming alloy therein. The absorption of hydrogen by the metal hydride forming alloy is exothermic, produces heat, and the desorption of the hydrogen from the metal hydride forming alloy is endothermic and draws heat in. An electrochemical hydrogen compressor may be configured between to reservoirs and pump hydrogen back and forth to form a heat transfer device. A heat exchange device may be coupled with the reservoir or may comprise the outer surface of the reservoir to transfer heat to an object or to the surroundings. A closed loop may be configured having two reservoirs and one or two electrochemical hydrogen compressors to pump the hydrogen in a loop around the system.

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.

A lithium bromide refrigeration system is disclosed, including: a generator having a liquid storage cavity and connected to a heating apparatus; an absorber having an inner cavity; an evaporator above the absorber, the evaporator including an evaporation chamber communicated with the inner cavity; a vacuum pump connected to the absorber, the vacuum pump being configured for vacuumizing the inner cavity. The generator is provided with a spraying pipe communicated with the liquid storage cavity, an outlet of the spraying pipe is located at an upper part of the inner cavity, the absorber is provided with a liquid extraction pipe communicated with the inner cavity, and an outlet of the liquid extraction pipe is located at an upper part of the liquid storage cavity. The system further includes a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the spraying pipe and the liquid extraction pipe.

An integrated receiver drier and economizer (RDE) includes a tank having a hollow interior receiving a first flow of a refrigerant therein, the first flow of the refrigerant including a liquid phase of the refrigerant accumulating within a liquid containing portion of the hollow interior of the tank. An economizer receiving a second flow of the refrigerant through an interior thereof is at least partially submerged in the liquid containing portion of the tank. The economizer forms a heat exchanging structure configured to exchange heat between the first flow of the refrigerant passing over an exterior of the economizer and the second flow of the refrigerant passing through the interior of the economizer. A desiccant is disposed in the liquid containing portion of the tank downstream of the economizer with respect to the first flow of the refrigerant through the hollow interior of the tank.

An electrochemical heat transfer device for a hot water tank utilizes an electrochemical hydrogen compressor to pump hydrogen into and out of a tank having a metal hydride forming alloy therein. The absorption of hydrogen by the metal hydride forming alloy is exothermic, produces heat, and the desorption of the hydrogen from the metal hydride forming alloy is endothermic and draws heat in. An electrochemical hydrogen compressor may be configured between to tanks and pump hydrogen back and forth to form a heat transfer device, such as a hot water heater. A heat transfer device may be coupled with the tank or may comprise the outer surface of the tank to transfer heat to an object or to the surroundings. A closed loop may be configured having two tanks and one or two electrochemical hydrogen compressors to pump the hydrogen in a loop around the system.

An electrochemical heat transfer device for a hot water tank utilizes an electrochemical hydrogen compressor to pump hydrogen into and out of a tank having a metal hydride forming alloy therein. The absorption of hydrogen by the metal hydride forming alloy is exothermic, produces heat, and the desorption of the hydrogen from the metal hydride forming alloy is endothermic and draws heat in. An electrochemical hydrogen compressor may be configured between to tanks and pump hydrogen back and forth to form a heat transfer device, such as a hot water heater. A heat transfer device may be coupled with the tank or may comprise the outer surface of the tank to transfer heat to an object or to the surroundings. A closed loop may be configured having two tanks and one or two electrochemical hydrogen compressors to pump the hydrogen in a loop around the system.

Disclosed is a system for conditioning air, the system comprising: a heat exchanger comprising a plurality of heat transfer tubes extending between an accumulation header and an outlet header, an internal volume, and an external surface, wherein an air mover is disposed in fluid communication with an air mover in fluid communication with an air inlet and an air outlet, wherein the air mover is configured to urge a flow of air to be conditioned across the external surface of the heat exchanger, a reactor comprising an adsorbent material, a reactor inlet in fluid communication with the outlet header, and a reactor outlet, a vacuum pump comprising a vacuum pump inlet in fluid communication with the reactor outlet and a vacuum pump outlet in fluid communication with a system exhaust.