An adsorption refrigerator comprising a first adsorber containing a first adsorbent capable of adsorbing and desorbing a first adsorbent refrigerant, a second adsorber containing a second adsorbent capable of adsorbing and desorbing the first adsorbent refrigerant, a first evaporator capable of evaporating the first adsorbent refrigerant under reduced pressure to cool a first working fluid, a first condenser capable of condensing the first adsorbent refrigerant in gaseous state, a third adsorber containing a third adsorbent capable of adsorbing and desorbing a second adsorbent refrigerant, a fourth adsorber containing a fourth adsorbent capable of adsorbing and desorbing the second adsorbent refrigerant, a second evaporator capable of evaporating the second adsorbent refrigerant under reduced pressure to cool a second working fluid, a second condenser capable of condensing the second adsorbent refrigerant in gaseous state, a first heat exchanger capable of applying heat absorbed from a first heat source to a first heating medium, a second heat exchanger capable of removing and releasing heat from a second heating medium, and a heat recovery path where a third heating medium performs recovery of adsorption heat generated by adsorption-driving of the first adsorber or the second adsorber and performs heat application of regeneration-driving of the third adsorber or the fourth adsorber.

A Step Flow control device and methods therefore provide instructions to control operation of various absorption chiller components based on measured load or temperature information. Operating an absorption chiller according to Step Flow balances the flow of heat energy through the absorption chiller to increase efficiency and prevent crystallization. The control device may be integrated into various components of an absorption chiller or may be remote therefrom. In this manner, Step Flow can be used in new absorption chiller installations or be used to retrofit existing installations.

A sorption module may include a housing enclosing a working chamber including a sorption zone and a phase change zone arranged therein. The sorption module may also include a sorption structure, which may be arranged in the sorption zone and coupled in a heat-transmitting manner to a sorption path for guiding a sorption path medium, and a phase change structure, which may be arranged in the phase change zone and coupled in a heat-transmitting manner to a phase change path for guiding a phase change path medium. The sorption module may further include a control device configured to control a fluidic connection through which a working medium may be reversibly displaceable between the sorption zone and the phase change zone. The control device may include an actuator configured to control the fluidic connection depending on an adjustment of the actuator and an actuating drive configured to adjust the actuator.

The invention described herein enables a variety of heating, cooling, energy transformation, and energy storage options with a small number or components. Described are Pressure Swing Adsorption and Pressure Swing Desorption cycles, processes, and apparatuses including multiple sorption beds and active energy input by a pump and energy storage as pressure differentials. A preferred embodiment includes two activated carbon sorption beds, water vapor as the adsorbate, control valves, and a compressor or vacuum pump. In operation these components provide a range of heating, cooling, and energy storage options. Operational cycles are described.

An absorption cooling system that includes a plurality of solar collectors, a generator containing a dilute absorbent-refrigerant solution, a condenser, an evaporator, an absorber, a heat exchanger located between the generator and the absorber, first, second, and third storage tanks, a first temperature control valve located between the solar collectors and the first storage tank, a second temperature control valve located between the first storage tank and the generator, and a plurality of additional valves, wherein the first temperature control valve and the second temperature control valve are configured to regulate a flow of a heating fluid into the generator by automatically toggling between an open mode or a closed mode in response to a controller signal indicating a presence or an absence of a set point of a solid absorbent content in the dilute absorbent-refrigerant solution of the generator.

An absorption cooling system that includes a plurality of solar collectors, a generator containing a dilute absorbent-refrigerant solution, a condenser, an evaporator, an absorber, a heat exchanger located between the generator and the absorber, first, second, and third storage tanks, a first temperature control valve located between the solar collectors and the first storage tank, a second temperature control valve located between the first storage tank and the generator, and a plurality of additional valves, wherein the first temperature control valve and the second temperature control valve are configured to regulate a flow of a heating fluid into the generator by automatically toggling between an open mode or a closed mode in response to a controller signal indicating a presence or an absence of a set point of a solid absorbent content in the dilute absorbent-refrigerant solution of the generator.

A regulation method for an inverter compressor in a refrigeration system including establishing a working area via limit values for evaporation temperatures, condensation temperatures, compressor speeds, maximum compression ratio, and maximum reheat value, and measuring working values of the compressor in terms of evaporation temperature, condensation temperature, and compression ratio. If the compressor operates outside the established working area, the method includes modifying the working parameters of the compressor by acting on elements to be selected among the compressor speed, the opening angle of the expansion valve, and a combination thereof. If the compressor does not go back to the working area within a certain time, the method includes stopping operation of the compressor and triggering an alarm.

An absorption chiller refrigerator system with an evaporator-absorber section and a generator-condenser section disposed together within a housing. The evaporator-absorber system has an evaporator section having an evaporator and an absorber disposed together within the evaporator section but separated by a perforated plate within the evaporator section. The generator condenser system has a generator section having a generator and a condenser disposed together within the generator section but separated by a perforated plate within the generator section. Perforations in the perforated plate of each of the evaporator section and the generator section are cone-shaped passages.

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.