A solar powered absorption cooling system employing refrigerant-absorbent solutions such as water and lithium bromide and hybrid storage capabilities, and a method of employing the system in refrigeration and air conditioning units. The system includes a first temperature control valve and second temperature control valve that together regulate the flow of solar heating fluid into the generator and substantially reduce absorbent crystal formation.

A system and method for the applying solar heating to an absorption cooling system. Described is either single or double absorption cooling systems in which in a first embodiment the normal generator function of a traditional absorption cooling system is removed from the absorption cooling system and is placed within a solar parabolic trough that acts as a hybrid solar absorber/generator for the absorption cooling system. In a second embodiment the normal condenser function of a traditional absorption cooling system is also removed from the absorption cooling system and placed within the solar parabolic trough, resulting in a hybrid absorber/generator/condenser of the absorption cooling system.

A solar environmental control system includes a solar powered apparatus and a heat transfer apparatus. The solar collection apparatus includes a solar collector for absorbing solar energy, a heat storage medium, and a generator. A heat transfer fluid circulates between the solar collector, the heat storage medium, and the generator.

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.

A heat exchanging device includes a regenerator that heats an absorbent by external energy and generates a vapor refrigerant by evaporating a refrigerant from the absorbent, a condenser that generates a liquid refrigerant by cooling and liquefying the vapor refrigerant, an evaporator that generates a vapor refrigerant by vaporizing the vapor refrigerant, an absorber that absorbs the liquid refrigerant into the absorbent, and first and second cover members arranged opposite to each other. The evaporator absorbs heat from a space on a second cover member side in a space between the first and second cover members through the second cover member. The absorber dissipates the heat from a space on a first cover member side in the space between the first and second cover members through the first cover member, and circulates the refrigerant and the absorbent.

A system may include a beverage compartment with a beverage positioned therein, a wetted material disposed about the beverage, at least one sorption cartridge, and a vacuum pump. The sorption cartridge may be in communication with the beverage compartment, and the vacuum pump may be in communication with the sorption cartridge to create a vacuum in the sorption cartridge and the beverage compartment, causing water to evaporate from the wetted material and be captured by the sorption cartridge, thereby lowering the temperature of the wetted material and in turn cooling the beverage. In some instances, the sorption cartridge may be detached from the vacuum pump and the beverage compartment to discharge the captured water therein by way of solar energy. In other instances, the sorption cartridge may be in communication with a heater assembly to blow heated air through the sorption cartridge to discharge the captured water therein.

The present invention presents a thermochemical energy storage system. The system includes a membrane-based thermochemical reactor. The reactor includes a solution channel having an absorbent-containing solution flowing therethrough and a refrigerant channel having a refrigerant flowing therethrough along with first and second fluid channels. A porous membrane is positioned between the refrigerant channel and the solution channel; the porous membrane permits flow of vapor molecules therethrough while restricting flow of absorbent molecules. The system further includes a solution storage repository in fluid communication with the solution channel and a refrigerant repository in fluid communication with the refrigerant channel. The system can be used in high-density, high-efficiency, and low-temperature energy storage systems. The membrane-based reactor offers a large specific surface area and integrates solution/refrigerant flows, which enables formation of a highly compact reactor exhibiting strong heat/mass transfer. In some embodiments, direct diffusion of water molecules through the membrane makes it possible to lower the required charging temperatures.

The present invention provides a heat pump that includes an absorber/evaporator module having a solution channel and a refrigerant channel along with first and second liquid channels. A porous membrane is positioned between the refrigerant channel and the solution channel; the porous membrane permits flow of vapor molecules therethrough while restricting flow of absorbent molecules. A membrane-based generator/condenser module with a similar structure is in fluid communication with the absorber/evaporator module. The membrane-based modules offer a large specific surface area with integrated solution/refrigerant flows, which enables formation of a highly compact heat pump exhibiting strong heat/mass transfer.

A heating and cooling system powered by renewable energy and assisted with geothermal energy includes a solar cycling unit, a supercritical carbon dioxide (S—CO.sub.2) unit, and a refrigerant cycling unit. Solar energy obtained at the solar cycling unit may be used to power the S—CO.sub.2 cycling unit. To do so, the solar cycling unit utilizes a solar collector, a thermal energy storage, and a heat exchanger along with a first working fluid which is preferably molten salt or Therminol. Next, the energy generated at the S—CO.sub.2 cycling unit, which preferably circulates S—CO.sub.2 as a second working fluid, may be used to operate the refrigerant cycling unit. In the refrigerant cycling unit, Tetrafluroethene is preferably used as the third working fluid to produce required cooling effects. Additionally, geothermal heat exchangers may be integrated into the system for use during varying weather conditions.

Systems and methods for heat exchange during gas adsorption and desorption cycling, one method including removing heat from an adsorbent material during gas adsorption to the adsorbent material; storing the removed heat for later use during desorption of gas from the adsorbent material; heating the adsorbent material during desorption of gas from the adsorbent material using at least a portion of the removed heat; and recycling heat during the step of heating to prepare a working fluid for the step of removing heat via temperature reduction of the working fluid.