The invention relates to an adsorption heat pump, having an adsorber device, comprising a solid adsorbent, an evaporator, a condenser or an evaporator/condenser and an operating medium in an operating circuit, wherein the operating circuit has a gaseous half-circuit between the evaporator, the adsorber device and the condenser or the evaporator/condenser and the adsorber device, in which gaseous half-circuit the operating medium is gaseous, and a liquid half-circuit which is configured between the evaporator and the condenser and in which the operating medium is liquid, wherein the liquid half-circuit contains a liquid functional medium which can be mixed with the operating medium and lowers the vapor pressure of the operating medium, with a vapor pressure at 25° C. of below 0.2 mbar. In a method for operating an absorption heat pump with an operating circuit comprising an adsorber, an evaporator and a condenser or an evaporator/condenser and an operating medium which is circulated between the adsorber, the evaporator and the condenser, the operating medium is mixed, when running through the operating circuit, within the liquid half-circuit with a liquid functional medium which lowers the vapor pressure, and the operating medium is separated from the functional medium before the transfer into the gaseous half-circuit of the operating circuit.

Improvements in technologies for separating a working fluid from an absorbent, such as in absorption heat pumps, are provided. An absorption based system may be operated under a thermodynamic cycle(s) that use a semipermeable barrier(s) and related technologies to continuously regenerate working solution and absorbent rather than relying solely on a thermally driven generator for the regenerative function. In an aspect, the system utilizes a differential solubility technique for regeneration in which a separator device has a semipermeable barrier and receives solution containing working fluid absorbed into an absorbent. A solubility reducing substance is mixed with the solution in the separator. The substance reduces the solubility of the working fluid in the absorbent to separate the two. The absorbent is permeable to the semipermeable barrier whereas the solubility reducing substance is not, thereby allowing absorbent to flow out of the separator while the substance is retained therein.

A solar collection system includes an absorption refrigeration system to generate water from atmospheric moisture, and to do so without the use of an electrically operated compressor. At least a portion of the solar energy captured by the solar collection system is used to operate the absorption refrigeration cycle. The absorption refrigeration cycle provides cooling that causes water in the atmosphere to condense into a liquid that can be collected and used for various applications. As one example, the collected liquid can be used for the cleaning of the solar collection system of contaminants like dust or bird drippings. In other applications, the water can be used outside the solar collection system including, but not limited to, irrigation, drinking, and other industrial purposes.

There is disclosed a heat-transferring device comprising a buffer tank (1), a reactor vessel (2) in thermal contact with the buffer tank, wherein an active substance is held inside the reactor vessel, a burner (A), a reactor heating loop adapted to transfer heat from the burner to the active substance in the reactor vessel, a reactor cooling loop adapted to transfer heat from the active substance in the reactor vessel to the buffer tank, a volatile liquid reservoir (14) in fluid contact with the reactor vessel, an evaporator (15) in fluid contact with the volatile liquid reservoir, a volatile liquid in the volatile liquid reservoir, with the ability to be absorbed by the active substance at a first temperature and desorbed by the active substance at a higher temperature, an exhaust gas pipe (10,11,12) from the burner to the volatile liquid reservoir to heat it.

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.

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.

An absorption chiller includes a boiler with a vessel for storing a working fluid and a heat source configured to heat the working fluid. A first device is configured to cool the working fluid, and a second device is configured to cool the working fluid. A flow path is arranged to enable the working fluid to flow from the boiler through the first device, through the second device and back to the boiler. A first waste heat source is generated by the first device when cooling the working fluid. The first waste heat source is configured to heat the working fluid along the flow path after exiting the second device and prior to re-entering the boiler.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system that includes a vapor compression system and an absorption heat pump. The vapor compression system includes a compressor configured to circulate refrigerant through the vapor compression system, an evaporator configured to place the refrigerant in thermal communication with a low temperature heat source, and a condenser configured to place the refrigerant in thermal communication with an intermediate fluid loop. The absorption heat pump includes an absorption evaporator configured to place a working fluid in thermal communication with the intermediate fluid loop, an absorber configured to mix the working fluid in an absorbent to form a mixture, a generator configured to heat the mixture and separate the working fluid from the absorbent, and an absorbent condenser configured to place the working fluid in thermal communication with a heating fluid.

A heat storage system using a heat storage container having a tubular body, an adsorbent that is accommodated in the tubular body, generates heat by adsorption of an adsorbate and absorbs heat by desorption of the adsorbate, and a flow channel that penetrates the tubular body in a longitudinal direction, the heat storage system comprising a diffusion layer for transporting the adsorbate in liquid phase from the flow channel to the adsorbent, wherein the adsorbate is transported to the flow channel, the adsorbate is transported to the diffusion layer, a part of the adsorbate transported to the diffusion layer is adsorbed on the adsorbent, the adsorbent releases heat, and the remaining adsorbate is vaporized by the heat to become heat transport fluid.