Systems and methods of continuous cooling at cryogenic temperatures. One exemplary aspect involves a refrigeration system that includes: a chamber adapted to hold liquid and gaseous coolant received from a cooling pot; a first adsorption pump having an inlet end in fluid communication with the chamber, the first adsorption pump configured to capture gas from the liquid and gaseous coolant when the first adsorption pump is enabled; a second adsorption pump having an inlet end in fluid communication with the chamber, the second adsorption pump configured to capture gas from the liquid and gaseous coolant when the second adsorption pump is enabled; a first heater or heat switch for desorbing the gas captured by the first adsorption pump; and a second heater or heat switch for desorbing the gas captured by the second adsorption pump.

A heating and cooling system for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine is provided. The system comprises at least one exhaust pipe conveying exhaust gases away from the engine, and a reactor vessel located in the exhaust pipe and containing an absorbent salt and a refrigerant fluid. A condenser is in fluid communication with the reactor vessel, and receives refrigerant vapour from the reactor when exhaust gases heat the reactor vessel in the exhaust pipe. An evaporator is locatable in a cab of the vehicle and is in fluid communication with the condenser and the reactor vessel. The evaporator receives condensed refrigerant from the condenser so as to cool the air surrounding the evaporator, and returning refrigerant vapour to the reactor vessel. A method of cooling a driver environment of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine is also provided, as is a vehicle incorporating the heating and cooling system.

An adsorption refrigeration device includes a first chamber with an adsorber/desorber material and a second chamber with an evaporator/condenser device. The first and second chambers are in fluid connection via a pipeline. The fluid connection between the chambers is blocked in a first functional position and opened in a second functional position via a valve device that is arranged in the pipeline. The valve device has a valve element with a variable diameter. The valve element has two functional positions. In the first functional position, the valve element has a first diameter by which it fills an internal cross section of the pipeline with tight contact with an inner wall of the pipeline. In the second functional position, the valve element has a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter such that a gap is opened between the inner wall of the pipeline and the valve element.

A heat pump system generates cooling by evaporating a refrigerant using an evaporator, and generates cooling by using a compressor to desorb refrigerant that has been evaporated by the evaporator and adsorbed at an adsorption device.

A method includes forming a carbon aerogel on a substrate to produce a highly adsorptive structure. The carbon aerogel is characterized by having physical characteristics of in-situ formation on the substrate.

Adsorption heat exchanger devices (11, 30) are provided for solid sorption refrigeration systems (1). Such a device includes a heat exchanger (12) having a plurality of projections (17) arranged for extending into an adsorbate of the system (1) in use. An adsorption structure (13, 31) is formed on the heat exchanger (12) for adsorption of said adsorbate. The adsorption structure (13, 31) comprises a plurality of elongate adsorption elements (20) extending outwardly from each of said projections (17) of the heat exchanger (12).

A method for changing a temperature of the interior volume of a thermally insulated space to a preset temperature and maintaining it at the preset temperature using two thermochemical systems which can be connected to an external energy source. The reactor of one of the systems is heated until fully regenerated, while the other system keeps the temperature at the preset temperature; when the reactor is fully regenerated, the system comprising the regenerated reactor is used to maintain the preset temperature and the reactor of the other system is heated to regenerate it as long as it is connected to the external energy source.

A chemical heat pump includes a reaction section containing a heat storage material, a condensing section enabling a phase transition between water vapor and water, a connecting section connecting the reaction section and the condensing section, a valve adapted to open or close the connecting section, and a first fluid passage. The reaction section contains a plurality of heat storage materials having respective different conversion temperatures at which the heat storage material and the hydrate thereof are converted into each other. The plurality of heat storage materials and the first fluid passage are arranged so that the fluid flowing in the first fluid passage can perform heat exchanges with the heat storage materials in such a manner that the higher the conversion temperature of the heat storage material, the closer the position of the heat exchange to the first side of the first fluid passage.

A valve for an adsorption heat pump may be adjustable between a closed position, a first open position, a second open position, and at least one intermediate position. The valve may include a first channel, a second channel, a third channel, a first valve unit, a second valve unit, and a spring element providing a closing force upon the first valve body and the second valve body. The valve may also include an actuating drive configured to hold the valve in position without power. The actuating drive may include a stepping motor and a gear unit constructed and arranged to hold the valve in position via a currentless holding moment. The first valve unit and the second valve unit may have a valve opening characteristic of a flow coefficient dependent on an adjustment path that is not linear. The valve opening characteristic may include at least one flat region.

In one aspect, a heat exchanger layer for an adsorption bed heat exchanger assembly is provided. The heat exchanger layer includes at least one fluid tube configured to supply a heat transfer fluid, a sorbent containment structure having a plurality of compartments, and a sorbent disposed within the plurality of compartments.