Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
  • F16K11/00—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves
  • F16K11/02—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit
  • F16K11/08—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit comprising only taps or cocks
  • F16K11/085—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit comprising only taps or cocks with cylindrical plug
  • F16K11/0856—Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valves; Pipe fittings incorporating such valves with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit comprising only taps or cocks with cylindrical plug having all the connecting conduits situated in more than one plane perpendicular to the axis of the plug
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
  • F16K5/00—Plug valves; Taps or cocks comprising only cut-off apparatus having at least one of the sealing faces shaped as a more or less complete surface of a solid of revolution, the opening and closing movement being predominantly rotary
  • F16K5/04—Plug valves; Taps or cocks comprising only cut-off apparatus having at least one of the sealing faces shaped as a more or less complete surface of a solid of revolution, the opening and closing movement being predominantly rotary with plugs having cylindrical surfaces; Packings therefor
  • F16K5/0457—Packings
  • F16K5/0464—Packings in the housing
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
  • F16K5/00—Plug valves; Taps or cocks comprising only cut-off apparatus having at least one of the sealing faces shaped as a more or less complete surface of a solid of revolution, the opening and closing movement being predominantly rotary
  • F16K5/04—Plug valves; Taps or cocks comprising only cut-off apparatus having at least one of the sealing faces shaped as a more or less complete surface of a solid of revolution, the opening and closing movement being predominantly rotary with plugs having cylindrical surfaces; Packings therefor
  • F16K5/0457—Packings
  • F16K5/0478—Packings on the plug
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
  • F25B17/00—Sorption machines, plants or systems, operating intermittently, e.g. absorption or adsorption type
  • F25B17/08—Sorption machines, plants or systems, operating intermittently, e.g. absorption or adsorption type the absorbent or adsorbent being a solid, e.g. salt
  • F25B17/083—Sorption machines, plants or systems, operating intermittently, e.g. absorption or adsorption type the absorbent or adsorbent being a solid, e.g. salt with two or more boiler-sorbers operating alternately
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
  • F25B49/00—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
  • F25B49/04—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for sorption type machines, plants or systems
  • F25B49/043—Operating continuously
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02A30/00—Adapting or protecting infrastructure or their operation
  • Y02A30/27—Relating to heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC] technologies
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
  • Y02B30/00—Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC]
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
  • Y02B30/00—Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC]
  • Y02B30/62—Absorption based systems

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a cooling system. More in particular, the present invention relates to a cooling system that is based on solid adsorption/absorption. The present invention is further related to a reactor vessel and rotary valve used in such cooling system.
• Solid adsorption/absorption is a process by which a material is adsorbed to or absorbed in a solid.
• the material can for instance be in a liquid or gas phase.
• heat is generated.
• the material is released from the solid, energy is required. This process can be used to design a cooling system.
• Figure 1 illustrates a known system for cooling using solid sorption.
• the system comprises a reaction vessel 1 comprising a housing 2.
• Reaction vessel 1 can be divided into an accumulator part 3 and a condenser/evaporator part 4.
• Accumulator part 3 comprises a suitable solid such as a Silica gel. This gel is able to adsorb water onto its surface.
• Accumulator part 3 further comprises an inlet 5 and an outlet 6 to allow a suitable thermal medium to flow through accumulator part 3, thereby either cooling or heating the solid.
• An example of such thermal medium is water.
• Condenser/evaporator part 4 comprises a condenser unit and an evaporator unit, which may be embodied by the same element, unit, or structure.
• An example thereof is an assembly of plates onto which a gaseous medium may condensate or from which a liquid may evaporate.
• Both accumulator part 3 and condenser/evaporator part 4 may be provided with a system of pipes, tubes, and/or conduits to guide thermal medium through the relevant part and to bring the thermal medium in contact with or close proximity to either the solid, the condenser unit and/or the evaporator unit.
• reaction vessel 1 As a starting point, it is assumed that every component in the system is at an ambient temperature of 20 degrees centigrade. A balance exists in accumulator part 3 between the process of desorption of water from the Silica gel and the process of adsorption of water vapor to the Silica gel. In condenser/evaporator part 4, a similar balance exists. This balance is determined by the partial pressure of the water vapor in reactor vessel 1, which in the equilibrium state is equal in both parts. Typically, at 20 degrees centigrade, the partial pressure is in the range of 10-20 mbar. It should be noted that reactor vessel 1 is evacuated to a low pressure during manufacturing.
• inlet 5 and outlet 6 of accumulator part 3 are connected to a source of heated thermal medium.
• inlet 5 receives water that has been heated by an external heat source, such as the Sun, or excess heat generated in another process.
• This same water exits reactor vessel 1 through outlet 6, although at a lower temperature.
• a closed system may be used, wherein the water that flows out of outlet 6 is heated by the external source and is then fed back to reactor vessel 1 through inlet 5.
• a pump may be used to circulate the water.
• this equilibrium is achieved at a partial water vapor pressure within the range of 5 - 50 mbar.
• the amount of water that is adsorbed to the Silica gel equals the amount of water that is desorbed from the Silica gel.
• the amount of water in the Silica gel is limited due to the fact that water has already desorbed.
• reactor vessel 1 After reaching the equilibrium, reactor vessel 1 is said to be charged. Next, reactor vessel 1 can be discharged. To that end, water to be cooled having for instance a temperature within a range of 10 - 25 degrees centigrade is fed to inlet 7 of condenser/evaporator part 4. At the same time, water, preferably with a lower temperature than before, i.e. within a range of 10 - 40 degrees centigrade, is fed to inlet 5 of accumulator part 3. Due to the lower temperature, there will be more water vapor adsorbing to the Silica gel than water desorbing from the Silica gel. Effectively, heat will be generated in the solid. This heat can be removed from the solid by the water that is fed to accumulator part 3 via inlet 5. Also the heated water leaving outlet 6 can be used for heating purposes in other systems or it may be discarded.
• Figure 2 illustrates a known general layout for connecting the reactor vessel of figure 1.
• reactor vessel 1 is connected to a heating system 21, a first cooling system 22, a second cooling system 23, and a third cooling system 24 using a plurality of valves 25-28.
• first cooling system 22 may provide a second flow of thermal medium to the condenser unit via inlet 7.
• material desorbs from the solid and condenses at the condenser unit, wherein heat generated during the condensation is transported away using the second flow of thermal medium supplied to the condenser unit.
• heat may be provided to the evaporation unit using a third flow of thermal medium coming from second cooling system 23, and third cooling system 24 may provide a fourth flow of thermal medium to the accumulator part.
• material evaporates and adsorbs to and/or absorbs in the solid, wherein heat generated during the adsorption and/or absorption is transported away using the fourth flow of thermal medium supplied to the accumulator part.
• Heating system 21, first 22, second 23, and third cooling systems 24 may be closed systems, wherein a flow of thermal medium entering a respective inlet is collected at the corresponding outlet.
• Each of heating system 21, first 22, second 23, and third cooling systems 24 may comprise a pump for circulating the thermal medium.
• the thermal media used in the heating system and the cooling systems need not be identical, although this is normally the case.
• the system further comprises a control unit 20 for controlling the plurality of valves 25- 28, heating system 21, and cooling systems 22-24.
• Heating system 21 may be configured for heating the first flow of thermal medium collected at outlet 6 of the accumulation part of reactor vessel 1 and to supply the heated first flow to inlet 5.
• First cooling system 22 may be configured for cooling the second flow of thermal medium collected at outlet 8 of the condenser/evaporator part and to supply the cooled second flow to inlet 7.
• Second cooling system 23 may be configured to supply a third flow of thermal medium to be cooled during the discharging state to inlet 7.
• Second cooling system 23 may comprise an in- house cooling network, wherein thermal medium in the third flow flows through the cooling network thereby absorbing heat generated in the house. This thermal medium is then fed to inlet 7, wherein it will be cooled by condenser/evaporator part 4 to then emerge at outlet 8.
• Third cooling system 24 may be configured for cooling the fourth flow of thermal medium.
• a temperature of the thermal medium in the first flow may be higher than a temperature of the thermal medium in the second, third and fourth flows, and a temperature of the thermal medium in the second and fourth flows may be higher than a temperature of the thermal medium in the third flow.
• Exemplary temperature ranges in the first, second, third, and fourth flows are 60-90 degrees centigrade, 15-40 degrees centigrade, 10-40 degrees centigrade, and 15-40 degrees centigrade, respectively.
• the system in figure 2 can be used for cooling the third flow of thermal medium. To that end, energy is supplied through the first flow of thermal medium, and excess heat is transported away using the second and fourth flows of thermal medium. The excess heat may be discarded, for instance using a cooler that releases the heat to the outside, or the heat may be used for other purposes, such as heating.
• the system may also be used for heating.
• energy is supplied using the first and third flows of thermal medium whereas energy can be extracted from the system using the second and fourth flows of thermal medium.
• Such use of the system can be advantageous during the winter, wherein water heated by the Sun is used for the first and/or third flows of thermal medium.
• heating system 21 and second cooling system 23 can be identical or these systems can be made to use the same flow of thermal medium, i.e. a flow of thermal medium that is heated by the Sun.
• Figure 3 shows a system comprising two reactor vessels 1 similar to reactor vessel 1 depicted in figure 1.
• first and third cooling systems 22, 24 are identical.
• the second and fourth flow of thermal medium therefore originate from the same cooling system thereby having the same or a similar temperature.
• the system comprises a first cooling system 9 providing cooling water, or other suitable thermal medium, having a temperature in a first range for instance between 15 and 40degrees centigrade, and a second cooling system 10 providing water to be cooled, or other suitable thermal medium, having a temperature in a second range for instance between 10 and 40 degrees centigrade.
• the system further comprises a heating system 11 providing heating water, or other suitable thermal medium, having a temperature in a third range for instance between 60 and 90 degrees centigrade.
• connection between cooling systems 9, 10 and heating system 11 and the various inlets and outlets 5-8 of reactor vessels 1 is achieved using a plurality of external valves 12.
• Cooling systems 9, 10 and heating system 11 may each comprise a pump to pump the water through the system of tubes, pipes, or conduits.
• the system in figure 3 comprises a control unit 13 to control heating system 11, cooling systems 9, 10 and external valves 12. Furthermore, one of the reactor vessels 1 is charging whereas the other reactor vessel 1 is discharging.
• FIG 3 illustrates the situation wherein cooling system 9 provides water at relatively low temperatures to the accumulator part of reactor vessel 1 on the left, which is operating in the discharging state, whereas it also provides water to the condenser/evaporator part of reactor vessel 1 on the right, which is operating in the charging state.
• Heating system 11 provides heated water to the accumulator part of reactor vessel 1 on the right
• cooling system 10 provides water to be cooled to the condenser/evaporator part of reactor vessel 1 on the left.
• External valves 12 can be embodied as rotary valves.
• a rotary valve comprises a hollow elongated outer body having at least two through outer openings, and an elongated inner body provided with at least one channel that extends between a pair of inner openings.
• the inner body is rotatably received in the outer body, and the outer body and inner body are configured to allow a mutual rotation to align a pair of the outer openings with a pair of the inner openings to define a passage between the outer openings.
• Rotary valves as described above are known in the art. These valves can for instance be used in hydraulic systems, either in low pressure or high pressure applications. Depending on the pressure of the fluid to be transported through the valve, requirements for sealing may be very stringent.
• Important parameters for rotary valves in general are the amount of leakage between outer openings which are not connected via a channel in the inner body, and the flow resistance encountered by a fluid in the passage between connected outer openings. For instance, if water flowing towards heating system 11, typically having a temperature of 60-90 degrees centigrade, leaks in the upper right external valve 12 towards inlet 5 of the left reactor vessel 1, which is operating in the discharging state, performance may be degraded.
• cooling system 10 comprises water to be cooled, for instance water that has been heated inside a house.
• Cooling system 9 may comprise a cooler that is mounted external to the house, whereas heating system 11 can be connected to a solar collector that heats water. Assuming an ambient temperature of for instance 25 degrees centigrade, cooling can be obtained using the energy collected by the solar collector.
• a drawback of the system depicted in figure 3 is related to the compactness of the system. Being a system configured for use in a single house, the system should have a compact form. Prior art solutions for external valves 12 do not meet these requirements. In addition, components in external valves 12 may wear during use. There is therefore a demand for a compact external valve for which critical components can be readily replaced and for which leakage between the outer openings is low.
• a further drawback of the system depicted in figure 3 is related to the regulation of cooling power in the system. Known systems primarily respond to a change in the temperature of the thermal medium that is supplied to the system.
• a further drawback of the system depicted in figure 3 is related to the power of the cooling process that is observed during use.
• the applicant has found that the amount of energy that is extracted from the water to be cooled per unit time is not constant or not constant to a sufficient degree. In extreme situations, cooling is obtained in an intermittent manner. Therefore, a demand exists for a solution which offers a more constant cooling power over time.
• An object of the present invention is to provide a cooling system that meets at least one of the abovementioned demands.
• the object of the invention is achieved with a reactor vessel that comprises a housing, an accumulator part arranged in the housing and comprising a solid suitable for the adsorption or absorption of a material, and a condenser/evaporator part arranged in the housing and comprising a condenser unit to enable condensation of the material and an evaporator unit to enable evaporation of the material.
• the reactor vessel is characterized in that the housing comprises an internal valve control opening, and in that the reactor vessel further comprises an internal valve arranged inside the housing and configured for regulating a flow of material between the accumulator part and the condenser/evaporator part, , wherein the internal valve is operable between a fully opened position, allowing material to flow, and a closed position, essentially preventing material to flow.
• the reactor vessel further comprises
• a bellows connected to the housing in a region near the internal valve control opening and closing said opening, the bellows forming a non-permeable barrier for the material inside the housing, wherein the bellows can extend or retract in a first direction and wherein the internal valve is mechanically coupled to the bellows.
• the reactor vessel is further characterized in that it comprises an actuation unit configured for extending or retracting the bellows in said first direction thereby actuating the internal valve via the mechanical coupling.
• the internal valve is arranged in the housing, in a low pressure environment. This complicates the use of moving parts and the communication between the internal valve and controlling circuitry outside of the reactor vessel.
• the actuation unit is preferably placed outside of the reactor vessel to avoid contamination and to prevent degradation of the actuation unit caused by temperature and humidity variations that occur inside the reactor vessel.
• An example of an actuation unit is an electric motor, or a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator. Manual operation of the internal valve is not excluded.
• the actuation unit outside of the reactor vessel because the mechanical action required to operate the internal valve is transferred from the actuator unit on the outside to the interval valve via the bellows and the mechanical coupling between the bellows and the internal valve.
• the bellows Being a non-permeable barrier to the material inside the reactor vessel, which material can be in a gas or liquid phase, the bellows prevents leakage of material to the outside, or leakage of contaminants from the outside. Consequently, the internal value can be controlled from the outside.
• the internal valve can then be used to regulate the flow of material inside the reactor vessel.
• the internal valve may comprise a first member fixedly mounted to an inner wall of the housing or to an outer wall of the housing on an inside thereof, a second member arranged inside the housing and which can be displaced with respect to the first member.
• the first member and the second member co-act to form a further barrier dividing the reactor vessel in a first and second part, the first part comprising the accumulator part, the second part comprising the condenser/evaporator part.
• the further barrier is non-permeable for the material, either fully or to a sufficient extent.
• the reactor vessel In the fully closed position, material cannot flow between the accumulator part and the condenser/evaporator part, or this flow is severely impeded.
• This feature allows the reactor vessel to be used as an energy storage. For example, when the reactor vessel is fully charged, the internal valve may be closed completely allowing the separation of the water from the Silica gel to be maintained over time. At a later time, the reactor vessel can be discharged to provide cooling. However, in the mean time, energy required to achieve this cooling is stored in the reactor vessel.
• the first member may comprise an inwardly protruding edge mounted on an inner wall of the housing or on an outer wall of the housing on an inside thereof, wherein the edge defines a valve opening.
• the edge may be integrally connected with the inner wall or outer wall or it may be a separate component, or part thereof, that has been fixedly attached to the inner wall or to the outer wall.
• the second member may have a disc or plate shape. It may be adapted to completely close the valve opening in the closed position.
• the bellows may be connected to an edge of the internal valve control opening.
• the connection may be a welded connection.
• the bellows may be connected to an inner wall of the housing or to an outer wall of the housing on an inside thereof.
• the bellows have a circumferential edge, which edge is connected to the housing and which encloses the internal valve control opening.
• the reactor vessel may further comprise an actuation member for mechanically coupling the bellows to the actuation unit.
• the internal valve may further comprise a connecting member that mechanically couples the bellows to the second member.
• the connecting member may comprise a shaft, wherein the actuation member and the connecting member are preferably integrally connected.
• the actuation member preferably comprises a shaft.
• the bellows may be directly coupled to the second member, for instance by a welded connection or both components may be integrally formed.
• the bellows may have an elongated hollow shape, such as a cylindrical or conical shape.
• the bellows may comprise bending and/or folding lines that extend at least partially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bellows for the purpose of the extending or retracting of the bellows in the first direction.
• the bellows should be construed as a sealing element that is able to extend or retract depending on the mechanical movement that is required to operate the internal valve, which sealing element provides a non-permeable barrier to the material inside the reactor vessel.
• the bellows may be made of one or more materials from the group consisting of steel, non-ferromagnetic materials, stainless steel, copper, natural and/or synthetic rubber, and plastic organic polymer materials.
• the material used may be in the form of thin plates or rings connected to each other at the bending and/or folding lines.
• the bending and/or folding lines may be formed in a hollow tube or other structure to provide the necessary flexibility to extend and retract.
• the condenser unit may be identical to the evaporator unit.
• the condenser unit may comprise a plurality of pipes, tubes, or conduits to transport a thermal medium.
• the condenser unit may further comprise a plurality of condenser plates, wherein the pipes, tubes, or conduits contact the condenser plates to exchange heat with the thermal medium.
• the condenser unit and the evaporator unit are identical and comprise a network of pipes through which thermal medium flows.
• the condenser unit will be at least partially submersed in a pool of liquid material that was condensed during the previous charging state. Due to the heat transferred to the material via the thermal medium flowing in for instance a network of pipes, and due to the low pressure in the reactor vessel, material will evaporate. More in particular, the material will start to boil, causing material to be splashed onto the pipes that are situated above the material liquid- vapor interface. From there, material will subsequently evaporate. This process of indirect evaporation is in addition to the direct evaporation of material from the pool of liquid material into the space of the liquid- vapor interface. The addition of plates, thermally connected to the pipes, may improve the evaporation and condensing process.
• the accumulator part may comprise an inlet and outlet to enable a flow of thermal medium through the accumulator part to heat or cool the solid
• the condenser/evaporator part may comprise an inlet and outlet to enable a flow of thermal medium through the condenser/evaporator part to cool the condenser unit or to heat the evaporator unit. It is not required that the flow of thermal medium to cool or heat a relevant part concerns the same thermal medium, nor is it required that the thermal medium for the accumulator part and the condenser/evaporator part is identical.
• the reactor vessel may be operable in a charging state, wherein heat is provided to the solid using a first flow of thermal medium and wherein a second flow of thermal medium is provided to the condenser unit, causing material to desorb from the solid and to condensate at the condenser unit, wherein heat generated during the condensation is transported away using the second flow of thermal medium supplied to the condenser unit.
• the reactor vessel may be further operable in a discharging state, wherein heat is provided to the evaporation unit using a third flow of thermal medium and wherein a fourth flow of thermal medium is provided to the accumulator part, causing material to evaporate and to adsorb to and/or absorb in the solid, wherein heat generated during the adsorption and/or absorption is transported away using the fourth flow of thermal medium supplied to the accumulator part.
• the present invention further provides a solid sorption cooling system, which system comprises a pair of reactor vessels as defined above, a heating system for providing the first flow of thermal medium, a first cooling system for providing the second flow of thermal medium, a second cooling system for providing the third flow of thermal medium, and a third cooling system for providing the fourth flow of thermal medium.
• the system according to the invention further comprises a valve system for connecting the heating system, and the first, second, and third cooling systems to the pair of reactor vessels. It also comprises an input unit for inputting a desired amount of cooling power, and a control unit for controlling the valve system, the first, second, and third cooling systems, the heating system, and the internal valves of the pair of reaction vessels.
• the control unit is configured to switch the system between a first working state wherein a first reactor vessel of said pair of reactor vessels operates in the charging state and a second reactor vessel of said pair of reactor vessels operates in the discharging state, and a second working state wherein the second reactor vessel operates in the charging state and the first reactor vessel in the discharging state.
• the control unit is further configured to control the internal valves of the pair of reactor valves in accordance with an inputted desired amount of cooling power.
• the control range may correspond to one or more levels in between the levels corresponding to a fully closed or opened internal valve. It should be noted that in the first and second working states the internal valve for each reactor vessel is at least partially opened to allow material to flow between the accumulator part and the condenser/evaporator part.
• the accumulator parts of the first and second reactors vessels may be connected to the heating system if these reactor vessels operate in the charging state, and the accumulator parts of the first and second reactors vessels may be connected to the third cooling system if these reactor vessels operate in the discharging state. Furthermore, the condenser/evaporator parts of the first and second reactors vessels may be connected to the first cooling system if these reactor vessels operate in the charging state, and the condenser/evaporator parts of the first and second reactors vessels may be connected to the second cooling system if these reactor vessels operate in the discharging state.
• the heating system, the first, second, and third cooling systems may be closed systems, wherein a flow of thermal medium entering a respective inlet is collected at the corresponding outlet.
• the heating system, first, second, and third cooling systems may each comprise a pump for circulating the thermal medium.
• the heating system may be configured for heating the first flow of thermal medium collected at the outlet of the accumulation part of the pair of reactor vessels, wherein the first cooling system may be configured for cooling the second flow of thermal medium collected at the outlet of the condenser/evaporator part, wherein the second cooling system may be configured to supply a third flow of thermal medium to be cooled during the discharging state, and wherein the third cooling system may be configured for cooling the fourth flow of thermal medium.
• a temperature of the thermal medium in the first flow may be higher than a temperature of the thermal medium in the second, third and fourth flows, and a temperature of the thermal medium in the second and fourth flows may be higher than a temperature of the thermal medium in the third flow.
• the first and third cooling systems are identical.
• the second and fourth flow of thermal medium may originate from the same cooling system thereby having the same or a similar temperature.
• the control unit may be configured to switch the system to a third working state in which the internal valve is fully closed, and wherein the heating system, the first, second, and third cooling systems are switched off or wherein these systems are not providing a flow of thermal medium to the reactor vessels.
• the control unit may be configured to switch from the first to the second working state when a first predetermined amount of time has expired since the start of the first working state and the control unit may be configured to switch from the second to the first working state when a second predetermined amount of time has expired since the start of the second working state.
• the first and second predetermined amounts of time are preferably identical.
• the control unit may be configured to switch from the first to the second working state or vice versa in dependence of a detected temperature of the solid, a temperature of the thermal medium exiting the accumulator part and/or condenser/evaporator part and/or a partial pressure of the material in the reactor vessel. It should be apparent to the skilled person that suitable sensors may be arranged in or outside of the reactor vessel to measure the relevant pressure and/or temperature.
• the thermal medium may comprise at least one of the group consisting of water, a hydrocarbon, Freon, an alcohol such as methanol, and ammonia.
• the solid suitable for the adsorption or absorption of a material may comprise Silica gel or Sodium Sulphide.
• the material that is adsorbed or absorbed by the suitable solid may comprise water.
• the object of the invention is also achieved with a reactor vessel comprising a housing, an accumulator part arranged in the housing and comprising a solid suitable for the adsorption or absorption of a material, a condenser/evaporator part arranged in the housing and comprising a condenser unit to enable the condensing of the material and an evaporator unit to enable evaporation of the material.
• the reactor vessel is operable in a charging state, wherein heat is provided to the solid and wherein the condenser unit is cooled thereby causing material to desorb from the solid and to condensate at the condenser unit, and a discharging state, wherein heat is provided to the evaporator unit and wherein the solid is cooled thereby causing material to be evaporated at the evaporator unit and adsorbed to and/or absorbed in the solid.
• the evaporator unit comprises a bubble unit having a surface with a plurality of irregularities, wherein the bubble unit is fixedly mounted in the reactor vessel at least partly submersed in the liquid material during at least part of the discharging state, wherein a size of the irregularities is adapted to cause the generation of bubbles inside the liquid material during the evaporation process to improve a thermal mixing of the liquid material.
• the applicant has realized that a cause for the irregular cooling power of the reactor vessel can be found in the condenser/evaporator part.
• the evaporator unit is at least partially submersed in the liquid material. This material has condensed on the condenser unit during the charging state. During evaporation, heat is extracted from the region near the material vapour/gas - liquid material interface. Consequently, the temperature of the liquid material near this interface is substantially less than the liquid material that is for instance close to a bottom of the housing. Due to the lowering of the temperature near the interface, the process of evaporation will be slowed down.
• the generation of bubbles by the bubble unit reduces or eliminates this problem.
• the bubbles will generate vortices or other types of material flow in the liquid material. This will ensure that the low temperature liquid material is mixed with the higher temperature liquid material. The resulting evaporation process is therefore more constant over time. The same holds for the associated cooling power of the reactor vessel.
• the irregularities may comprise at least one of the group consisting of holes, ridges, pointed structures, edges, and indentations. Furthermore, a characteristic size of the irregularities lies within a range of 0.5 - 5 millimeters. Here, a characteristic size corresponds to a size of the irregularity that determines the sizes of the bubbles that are generated. For instance, for a through hole, the size could correspond to a diameter of the hole or to a depth of the hole.
• the bubble unit is preferably made from a hydrophobic material or material composition. Hydrophobic material or a composition of such material(s) further improves the generation of bubbles.
• the bubble unit may comprise a plate provided with a plurality of through openings.
• a ratio of an area of the plate occupied by the through openings and a remaining area of the plate may be larger than 1 :2, more preferably larger than 1 : 1.
• the plate may be arranged at or near a bottom of the condenser/evaporator part. It may have thickness in a range between 0,5 and 5 millimeter.
• the characteristic size of the opening, such as an internal diameter, may be in a range between 0,5 and 10 millimeter.
• the condenser unit may be identical to the evaporator unit.
• the condenser unit may comprise a plurality of pipes, tubes, or conduits to transport a thermal medium.
• the condenser unit may further comprise a plurality of condenser plates, wherein the pipes, tubes, or conduits contact the condenser plates to exchange heat with the thermal medium.
• the condenser unit and the evaporator unit are identical and comprise a network of pipes through which thermal medium flows.
• the condenser unit will be at least partially submersed in a pool of liquid material that was condensed during the previous charging state. Due to the heat transferred to the material via the thermal medium flowing in for instance a network of pipes, and due to the low pressure in the reactor vessel, material will evaporate. More in particular, the material will start to boil, causing material to be splashed onto the pipes that are situated above the material liquid-vapor interface. From there, material will subsequently evaporate.
• This process of indirect evaporation is in addition to the direct evaporation of material from the pool of liquid material into the space of the liquid- vapor interface.
• the addition of plates, thermally connected to the pipes, may improve the evaporation and condensing process.
• the bubble unit may be mounted in between the condenser/evaporation unit and an inner wall of the housing.
• liquid material formed by the condensation process falls down towards a bottom of the reactor vessel.
• the condenser/evaporation unit is typically mounted at least partially in the pool of liquid material that is formed near this bottom.
• the accumulator part may comprise an inlet and outlet to enable a flow of thermal medium through the accumulator part to heat or cool the solid
• the condenser/evaporator part may comprise an inlet and outlet to enable a flow of thermal medium through the condenser/evaporator part to cool the condenser unit or to heat the evaporator unit. It is not required that the flow of thermal medium to cool or heat a relevant part concerns the same thermal medium, nor is it required that the thermal medium for the accumulator part and the condenser/evaporator part is identical.
• heat may be provided to the solid using a first flow of thermal medium and wherein a second flow of thermal medium may be provided to the condenser unit, causing material to desorb from the solid and to condensate at the condenser unit, wherein heat generated during the condensation is transported away using the second flow of thermal medium supplied to the condenser unit, and wherein in the discharging state, heat may be provided to the evaporation unit using a third flow of thermal medium and wherein a fourth flow of thermal medium may be provided to the accumulator part, causing material to evaporate and to adsorb to and/or absorb in the solid, wherein heat generated during the adsorption and/or absorption is transported away using the fourth flow of thermal medium supplied to the accumulator part.
• the present invention further provides a cooling system that comprises a pair of reactor vessels as described above, a heating system for providing the first flow of thermal medium, a first cooling system for providing the second flow of thermal medium, a second cooling system for providing the third flow of thermal medium, a third cooling system for providing the fourth flow of thermal medium, a valve system for connecting the heating system, the first, second, and third cooling systems to the pair of reactor vessels, and a control unit for controlling the valve system, the first, second, and third cooling systems, and the heating system of the pair of reaction vessels and the valve system.
• a cooling system that comprises a pair of reactor vessels as described above, a heating system for providing the first flow of thermal medium, a first cooling system for providing the second flow of thermal medium, a second cooling system for providing the third flow of thermal medium, a third cooling system for providing the fourth flow of thermal medium, a valve system for connecting the heating system, the first, second, and third cooling systems to the pair of reactor vessels, and a control unit for controlling the valve system, the first, second, and
• the control unit is configured to switch the system between a first working state wherein a first reactor vessel of said pair of reactor vessels operates in the charging state and a second reactor vessel of said pair of reactor vessels operates in the discharging state, and a second working state wherein the second reactor vessel operates in the charging state and the first reactor vessel in the discharging state.
• the accumulator parts of the first and second reactors vessels may be connected to the heating system if these reactor vessels operate in the charging state, and the accumulator parts of the first and second reactors vessels may be connected to the third cooling system if these reactor vessels operate in the discharging state.
• the condenser/evaporator parts of the first and second reactors vessels may be connected to the first cooling system if these reactor vessels operate in the charging state, and the condenser/evaporator parts of the first and second reactors vessels may be connected to the second cooling system if these reactor vessels operate in the discharging state.
• the heating system, the first, second, and third cooling systems may be closed systems, wherein a flow of thermal medium entering a respective inlet is collected at the corresponding outlet, wherein the heating system, the first, second, and third cooling systems each preferably comprising a pump for circulating the thermal medium.
• the heating system may be configured for heating the first flow of thermal medium collected at the outlet of the accumulation part of the pair of reactor vessels, wherein the first cooling system may be configured for cooling the second flow of thermal medium collected at the outlet of the condenser/evaporator part, wherein the second cooling system may be configured to supply a third flow of thermal medium to be cooled during the discharging state, and wherein the third cooling system may be configured for cooling the fourth flow of thermal medium.
• a temperature of the medium in the first flow may be larger than a temperature of the thermal medium in the second, third and fourth flows, and a temperature of the thermal medium in the second and fourth flows may be larger than a temperature of the thermal medium in the third flow.
• the first and third cooling systems are identical.
• the second and fourth flow of thermal medium may originate from the same cooling system thereby having the same or a similar temperature.
• the control unit may be configured to switch from the first to the second working state when a first predetermined amount of time has expired since the start of the first working state and the control unit may be configured to switch from the second to the first working state when a second predetermined amount of time has expired since the start of the second working state.
• the first and second predetermined amounts of time are preferably identical.
• the control unit may be configured to switch from the first to the second working state or vice versa in dependence of a detected temperature of the solid, a temperature of the thermal medium exiting the accumulator part and/or condenser/evaporator part and/or a partial pressure of the material in the reactor vessel.
• suitable sensors may be arranged in or outside of the reactor vessel to measure the relevant pressure and/or temperature.
• the thermal medium may comprise at least one of the group consisting of water, a hydrocarbon, Freon, an alcohol such as methanol, and ammonia.
• the solid suitable for the adsorption or absorption of a material may comprise Silica gel or Sodium Sulphide.
• the material that is adsorbed or absorbed by the suitable solid may comprise water.
• the object of the invention is also achieved with a rotary valve that is characterized in that the rotary valve further comprises, for each pair of inner and outer openings that may be aligned, a resilient sealing unit that is mounted in a wall of the inner or outer body, around the inner opening or outer opening, respectively, wherein the wall comprises a support surface which supports the resilient sealing unit, wherein the resilient sealing unit extends between the inner and outer body to seal a connection between the inner and outer opening when these openings are aligned.
• a clearance is observed between the inner body and the outer body to allow for their mutual rotation.
• the resilient sealing unit preferably crosses this clearance completely, such that the connection between the inner and outer opening is fully sealed, or at least to a sufficient extent.
• the sealing unit preferably slips against either the inner body or the outer body.
• the resilient sealing unit preferably comprises a resilient member and a sealing member, wherein the resilient member is arranged in between the support surface and the sealing member, wherein the resilient member exerts a spring force on the sealing member.
• the outer body or the inner body preferably pushes the sealing member against the resilient member which lies against the support surface. Due to the compression of the resilient member, it will exert a spring force onto the sealing member to counteract the pushing force.
• the amount of force by which the sealing member pushes against the outer or inner body therefore depends on the amount of compression of the resilient member when the inner body is mounted in the outer body. This will largely determine the amount of force that is required to rotate the inner body with respect to the outer body.
• the resilient member may be a hollow mechanical gasket, preferably having a torus shape, a toric joint, and/or an O-ring made using a resilient material, such as an elastomeric material.
• An outer surface of the sealing member, which faces away from the resilient member, may follow a surface of the wall of the outer or inner body in which the resilient sealing unit is not mounted. For instance, if the sealing unit is mounted in the inner body, the outer surface of the sealing member may follow the inner surface of the wall of the outer body.
• the sealing member may be shaped such that a circumferential edge of the sealing member contacts the wall of the inner or outer body. Again, when the sealing unit is mounted in the inner body, a circumferential edge of the sealing member facing the outer body preferably contacts the inner surface of the wall of the outer body.
• the resilient sealing unit may be mounted in the wall of the outer body, wherein the support surface is formed by a recess in an inner surface of the wall of the outer body.
• the resilient sealing unit may be mounted in the wall of the inner body, wherein the support surface is formed by a recess in an outer surface of the wall of the inner body.
• the resilient sealing unit is mounted in the wall of the outer body, wherein the rotary valve further comprises a support element for providing the support surface, wherein the support element is preferably releasably mounted in the outer body. Should the sealing member or the resilient member wear during use, it may be easily replaced by removing the support element after which the members become accessible.
• the rotary valve may further comprise a recess in an outer surface of the wall of the outer body surrounding the outer opening, wherein the support element comprises a supporting ring mounted in said recess for providing the support surface, and wherein the resilient sealing unit extends from the supporting ring through the outer opening.
• the supporting ring may comprise a mounting flange on a side directed away from the resilient sealing unit. Such flange may allow the connection of pipes or ducts to the rotary valve.
• the mounting flange may for instance be provided with an internal and/or external screw thread.
• the rotary valve may further comprise a first sealing between the supporting ring and the wall of the outer body. Additionally or alternatively, the rotary valve may further comprise a second sealing between the resilient sealing unit and the supporting ring.
• the rotary valve may further comprise clamping means for clamping the supporting element in the wall of the outer body.
• the supporting element may also be screwed or otherwise be releasably connected to the wall of the outer body.
• the first and second sealing may be resilient, for instance comprising resilient materials, such as an O-ring. Furthermore, the second sealing may be part of the resilient sealing unit.
• the inner body preferably has a cylindrical shape.
• the at least one channel preferably extends in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the inner body. More than one channel of the at least one channel may extend in a plane.
• the inner body and the outer body may each comprise a plurality of inner openings and outer openings, respectively, which are adjacently arranged along the longitudinal axis. This may further allow the rotary valve to be divided in different regions along the longitudinal axis, each region comprising a plurality of inner and outer openings and at least one channel, all having substantially the same position along the longitudinal axis. If the channels only extend in a plane, the outer openings for different regions cannot communicate with each other. Each region therefore acts as an independent rotary valve with the exception that the mechanical action, i.e. the rotary movement, of the inner body and/or outer body is coupled.
• the at least channel may be curved or it may comprise a plurality of connected segments, which segments are arranged at an angle with respect to each other. This allows the flow resistance of the channels to be reduced. This is particularly important for flows of fluid, such as a liquid, at relatively low pressures, as possible pressure drops over the channel may be significant.
• the rotary valve may further comprise an actuator, such as a motor, for rotating the inner body with respect to the outer body.
• an actuator such as a motor
• the outer body is stationarily arranged whereas the inner body is connected to the actuator.
• the present invention further provides a solid sorption cooling system comprising a pair of solid sorption reactor vessels, a heating system for providing the first flow of thermal medium, a first cooling system for providing the second flow of thermal medium, a second cooling system for providing the third flow of thermal medium, a third cooling system for providing the fourth flow of thermal medium, a valve system for connecting the heating system, the first, second, and third cooling systems to the pair of reactor vessels, and a control unit for controlling the valve system, the first, second, and third cooling systems, and the heating system of the pair of reaction vessels and the valve system.
• a solid sorption cooling system comprising a pair of solid sorption reactor vessels, a heating system for providing the first flow of thermal medium, a first cooling system for providing the second flow of thermal medium, a second cooling system for providing the third flow of thermal medium, a third cooling system for providing the fourth flow of thermal medium, a valve system for connecting the heating system, the first, second, and third cooling systems to the pair of reactor vessels, and a control unit for controlling the valve system,
• valve system comprises a pair of rotary valves as described above.
• the control unit is configured to switch the system between a first working state wherein a first reactor vessel of said pair of reactor vessels operates in the charging state and a second reactor vessel of said pair of reactor vessels operates in the discharging state, and a second working state wherein the second reactor vessel operates in the charging state and the first reactor vessel in the discharging state.
• each reactor vessel may be embodied as described above.
• each reactor vessel of said pair of reactor vessels may comprises a housing, an accumulator part arranged in the housing and comprising a solid suitable for the adsorption or absorption of a material, a condenser/evaporator part arranged in the housing and comprising a condenser unit to enable condensation of the material and an evaporator unit to enable evaporation of the material.
• the reactor vessel may be operable in a charging state, wherein heat is provided to the solid and wherein the condenser unit is cooled thereby causing material to desorb from the solid and to condensate at the condenser unit, and a discharging state, wherein heat is provided to the evaporator unit and wherein the solid is cooled thereby causing material to be evaporated at the evaporator unit and adsorbed to and/or absorbed in the solid.
• the accumulator part may comprise an inlet and outlet to enable a flow of thermal medium through the accumulator part to heat or cool said solid
• the condenser/evaporator part may comprise an inlet and outlet to enable a flow of thermal medium through the condenser/evaporator part to cool the condenser unit or to heat the evaporator unit.
• heat may be provided to the solid using a first flow of thermal medium and wherein a second flow of thermal medium may be provided to the condenser unit, causing material to desorb from the solid and to condensate at the condenser unit, wherein heat generated during the condensation is transported away using the second flow of thermal medium supplied to the condenser unit, and wherein in the discharging state, heat may be provided to the evaporation unit using a third flow of thermal medium and wherein a fourth flow of thermal medium may be provided to the accumulator part, causing material to evaporate and to adsorb to and/or absorb in the solid, wherein heat generated during the adsorption and/or absorption is transported away using the fourth flow of thermal medium supplied to the accumulator part.
• the accumulator parts of the first and second reactors vessels may be connected to the heating system if these reactor vessels operate in the charging state, and the accumulator parts of the first and second reactors vessels may be connected to the third cooling system if these reactor vessels operate in the discharging state.
• the condenser/evaporator parts of the first and second reactors vessels may be connected to the first cooling system if these reactor vessels operate in the charging state, and the condenser/evaporator parts of the first and second reactors vessels may be connected to the second cooling system if these reactor vessels operate in the discharging state.
• the heating system, the first, second, and third cooling systems may be closed systems, wherein a flow of thermal medium entering a respective inlet is collected at the corresponding outlet.
• Each of the heating system, first, second, and third cooling systems may comprise a pump for circulating the thermal medium.
• the heating system may be configured for heating the first flow of thermal medium collected at the outlet of the accumulation part of the pair of reactor vessels, wherein the first cooling system may be configured for cooling the second flow of thermal medium collected at the outlet of the condenser/evaporator part, wherein the second cooling system may be configured to supply a third flow of thermal medium to be cooled during the discharging state, and wherein the third cooling system may be configured for cooling the fourth flow of thermal medium.
• a temperature of the thermal medium in the first flow may be higher than a temperature of the thermal medium in the second, third and fourth flows, and a temperature of the thermal medium in the second and fourth flows may be higher than a temperature of the thermal medium in the third flow.
• the first and third cooling systems are identical.
• the second and fourth flow of thermal medium may originate from the same cooling system thereby having the same or a similar temperature.
• the control unit may be configured to switch from the first to the second working state when a first predetermined amount of time has expired since the start of the first working state and the control unit may be configured to switch from the second to the first working state when a second predetermined amount of time has expired since the start of the second working state.
• the first and second predetermined amounts of time are preferably identical.
• the control unit may be configured to switch from the first to the second working state or vice versa in dependence of a detected temperature of the solid, a temperature of the thermal medium exiting the accumulator part and/or condenser/evaporator part and/or a partial pressure of the material in the reactor vessel. It should be apparent to the skilled person, that suitable sensors may be arranged in or outside of the reactor vessel to measure the relevant pressure and/or temperature.
• the condenser unit may be identical to the evaporator unit, and wherein the condenser unit may comprise a plurality of condenser plates. More in particular, the condenser/evaporation unit may comprise a plurality of pipes, tubes, or conduits to transport a thermal medium, wherein the pipes, tubes, or conduits contact the condenser plates to exchange heat with the thermal medium.
• the solid in the accumulator part may be a Silica gel or Sodium Sulphide, whereas the thermal medium comprises or consists of water.
• Figure 1 illustrates a known embodiment of a reactor vessel for sorption cooling
• Figure 2 illustrates a known general layout for connecting the reactor vessel of figure 1 ;
• Figure 3 illustrates a known system for sorption cooling comprising the reactor vessel of figure 1;
• Figure 4 illustrates a perspective cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a reactor vessel according to the present invention
• Figure 5A illustrates a schematic view of the internal valve comprised in the reactor vessel of figure 4 in fully closed position
• Figure 5B illustrates a schematic view of a different embodiment for the internal valve
• Figure 6 illustrates a detailed cross sectional view of the internal valve comprised in the reactor vessel of figure 4 in fully opened position
• Figure 7 illustrates a schematic view of the bubble unit comprised in the reactor vessel of figure 4.
• Figure 8 illustrates a first embodiment of a rotary valve according to the present invention
• Figures 9A and 9B present an exploded view and a cross sectional view of the first embodiment, respectively;
• FIGS. 1 OA- IOC show three different arrangements of the resilient sealing unit in accordance with the present invention.
• Figure 11 A and 1 IB present an exploded view and a cross sectional view of a second embodiment of a rotary valve according to the present invention, respectively.
• FIG. 4 presents a perspective cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a reactor vessel 101 in accordance with the present invention.
• Reaction vessel 101 comprises a housing 102 in which an accumulator part 103 and a condenser/evaporator part 104 are arranged.
• Accumulator part 103 comprises a tube-and-fin heat exchanger 130 of which tubing 131 is connected to inlet
• a gauze or netting 133 is provided around exchanger 130, whereas a Silica gel or other suitable solid such as Sodium Sulphide is present in the spaces between the fins 132 of exchanger 130. Gauze or netting 133 ensures that the solid is kept within exchanger 130.
• Other types of heat exchanges may be employed, and the invention is not limited to the tube-and-fin heat exchanger depicted in figure 4.
• Condenser/evaporator part 104 comprises a plurality tubes or pipes 141, which are connected to inlet 107 and outlet 108, which, in figure 4, are arranged one behind the other.
• Tubes or pipes 141 may be connected to a plurality of plates (not shown) to assist in the condensing and evaporating process.
• tubes or pipes 141 are at least partially submersed in liquid water 150 or other material suitable for sorption cooling.
• Tubes or pipes 141 are helically wound to provide efficient use of the space in reactor vessel 101. More in particular, several helixes are present that are connected in parallel to provide an optimal filling of the available space.
• reactor vessel 101 comprises a bubble unit in the form of a 310 millimeter perforated plate 190 comprising a plurality of through openings 191, see figure 7.
• Plate 190 is made from hydrophobic material, such as Polytetrafluoroethylene. The inner diameter of the through openings is 1 millimeter.
• Reactor vessel 101 comprises a vacuum valve 135, which allows reactor vessel 101 to be evacuated during manufacturing, possibly with the addition of heat to remove contaminants. After fabrication, vacuum valve 135 is closed.
• Figure 4 also illustrates an internal valve 160 for regulating the flow of material between accumulator part 103 and evaporator/condenser part 104. Valve 160 is also illustrated in figure 5A (fully closed) and figure 6 (fully opened).
• valve 160 is mechanically coupled to a bellows 161, which in turn is connected to housing 102 in a region near an internal valve control opening 162 in housing 102.
• Bellows 161 is made from a flexible and/or elastic material that presents a non-permeable barrier for the material inside housing 102. It can extend or retract in the longitudinal direction of reactor vessel 101.
• Bellows 161 is connected to a coupling member 163. The latter is coupled via a shaft 164 to an actuation unit 165 mounted using mounting structure 166 on top of reactor vessel 101.
• Actuation unit 165 can be controlled to cause a translation of coupling member 163 in the longitudinal direction.
• Actuation unit 165 may be embodied by a known electrical motor.
• Coupling member 163 is connected to valve 160 through two shafts 167. Each shaft 167 is coupled to a clamping plate 168 that, together with a clamping plate 169, clamps a valve plate 170, see figure 6.
• a pin 171 is inserted through clamping plate 169, valve plate 170, and clamping plate 168.
• clamping plate 168 is provided with a pin accommodating unit 172, in which pin 171 is received.
• Pin accommodating unit 172 and pin 171 comprise co-acting screw threads to allow them to be coupled.
• Pin 171 comprises a stop 173 to prevent pin 171 to be inserted too deeply and to further clamp valve plate 170 in between clamping plates 168, 169.
• separate screws may be used to couple clamping plates 168, 169 and valve plate 170.
• Valve plate 170 is provided with a recess to accommodate an O-ring 184 to seal the connection between valve plate 170 and clamping plate 168 to prevent leakage of material between accumulator part 103 and evaporator/condenser part 104 via a possible space between valve plate 170 and clamping plate 168 and a space between pin 171 on the one hand and valve plate 170 and clamping plate 169 on the other hand.
• Valve plate 170 forms one member of internal valve 160.
• a second member is formed by an inwardly protruding ring 174.
• an edge 175 is formed that can co-operate with an edge 176 on valve plate 170 to close the opening between accumulator part 103 and evaporator/condenser part 104.
• Near edge 176 valve plate 170 comprises a recess in which an O-ring 177 is received.
• a guiding plate 178 is mounted in housing 102 using mounting structures 179 that are fixedly attached to housing 102.
• the actual connection between mounting structures 179 and guiding plate 178 is achieved using adjusting screws 180 by means of which the positioning of guiding plate 178 can be changed, if so required.
• Guiding plate 178 comprises an opening in which pin 171 is received. By guiding pin 171, the translational movement of internal valve 160 is guided. It should be noted that guiding plate 178 normally comprises a bar shaped metal part which is solely used for guiding pin 171.
• Housing 102 can be made of two parts 102_1, 102_2. Each part is connected to a respective mounting flange 181, 182. Both housing parts 102_1, 102_2 can be connected using screws 183 through mounting flanges 181, 182. At the same time, ring 174 can be fixed.
• An integrally formed housing may be used in which ring 174 is directly attached to an inside of housing 102, for instance by means of welding.
• valve plate 170 will retract and coupling member 163 will move upwards. This same motion is transferred to valve plate 170 through shafts 167 and clamping plate 168. This will cause edges 175, 176 to separate thereby creating an opening between accumulator part 103 and evaporator/condenser part 104. Material can flow between both parts 103, 104 through the opening between edges 175, 176 and around guiding plate 178.
• valve 160 can be closed by a downward movement of valve plate 170.
• material is no longer able to flow between accumulator part 103 and evaporation/condenser part 104.
• the internal valve according to the present invention allows for a high performance sealing between accumulator part 103 and evaporation/condenser part 104 in case the valve is closed. This allows energy to be stored for longer periods of time. In other words, the separation of the material from its corresponding sorption solid can be maintained allowing reaction vessel 101 to remain in the charged state.
• bellows 161 should provide a non-permeable barrier to the water inside reactor vessel 101. The same holds for the first and second member of internal valve 160. In addition, bellows 161 should be shaped in such a manner that retraction or extension in the longitudinal direction is made possible.
• the present invention is not limited to a particular movement and/or reversible deformation of bellows 161.
• bellows 161 can be made using sheets of stainless steal which are provided with folding lines or bending lines allowing bellows 161 to perform a retraction or extraction.
• bellows 161 can be made from a flexible and/or elastic material which is stretched when coupling member 163 moves downwards and/or which is compressed when coupling member 163 moves upwards.
• FIG. 5B illustrates a different embodiment of the internal valve in accordance with the present invention.
• similar components are indicated by identical reference signs.
• some parts have been left out for clarity.
• reactor vessel 101 comprises an inner wall 192 which divides reactor vessel 101 in the accumulator part 103 and the condenser/evaporator part 104.
• Inner wall 192 presents a non-permeable barrier for the material that is desorbed from the solid in accumulator part 103.
• Inner wall 192 is connected to the outer wall of housing 102.
• inner wall 192 has a chimney shape that ends near bellows 161.
• the coupling member and valve plate are embodied into a single valve member 193.
• An O-ring 194 is arranged either in the side of valve member 193 or in a top region of inner wall 192 to prevent leakage between the accumulator part 103 and the
• valve member 193 is most in the most downward position, corresponding to the fully closed position.
• Figure 8 illustrates a first embodiment of a rotary valve 201 according to the present invention. It comprises an inner body 202 and an outer body 203. Inner body 202 is rotatably received in outer body 203. Furthermore, outer body 203 comprises outer openings 204. Inner body 202 comprises inner openings 205, see figure 9 A. Between inner openings 205, one or more channels extend. By rotating inner body 202 with respect to outer body 201, inner and outer openings 204, 205 may be aligned thereby forming a passage between outer openings 204, via inner openings 205 and the one or more channels.
• the invention is not limited to the case wherein a passage is formed between two outer openings 204. Alternatively, channels may cross inside inner body 202, for instance by a T-junction. This would allow a passage to be formed from one outer opening to two or more outer openings. However, in the remainder of this text, one channel exists between two inner openings.
• a resilient sealing unit is mounted in a wall of inner body 202 or outer body 203, around an inner opening 205 or outer opening 204, respectively.
• Figure 9 A illustrates the resilient sealing unit, which in the embodiment depicted in figure 8, comprises a resilient member 206 and a sealing member 207.
• Resilient member 206 comprises an O-ring.
• the embodiment in figure 8 comprises a support element 208, in the form of a ring, which provides a support surface. Ring 208 is mounted inside outer opening.
• another O-ring or other sealing member 209 is arranged in between ring 208 and a flange 210 in the wall of outer body 203.
• Ring 208 provides a support surface against which O-ring 206 rests.
• the latter exerts a spring force onto sealing member 207, which protrudes from outer opening 204 towards inner body 202.
• the side of sealing member 207 facing inner body 202 is shaped to follow the outer surface of inner body 202. Consequently, an edge of sealing member 207 is in contact with or is arranged near inner body 202 such that the connection between an inner opening 205 and outer opening 204, if these openings are aligned, is sufficiently sealed.
• the sealing properties can be improved by increasing the force by which the sealing member 207 is pressed against inner body 202. On the other hand, such increase would result in a higher friction between inner body 202 and outer body 203. Consequently, more force would be required to rotate inner body 202 with respect to outer body 203.
• sealing member 207 presses against a wall of inner body 202 and it surrounds a single inner opening 205. Moreover, the opening inside sealing member 207, the opening in ring 208, and an internal diameter of inner opening 205 and the channel that extends therefrom, are all adjusted to each other to provide a low flow resistance. More in particular, the flow resistance is reduced even further by appropriately forming the channel inside inner body 202. By ensuring that this channel has a curved shape instead of sharp bends or by using a plurality of segments that are connected at an angle with respect to each other, a significant reduction in flow resistance can be obtained.
• Bars 211 that provide the clamping of ring 208 are arranged along the longitudinal axis inside the wall of outer body 203. This avoids the use of mounting elements, such as screws, on the outside surface of outer body 203.
• ring 208 is provided with a flange 212 to which pipes can be connected.
• flange 212 could be provided with a screw thread on the inside thereof, as illustrated by screw thread 212B, or the screw thread is provided on the outside of flange 212.
• ring 208 is provided with, is connected with, or is integrally formed with a connecting element to allow pipes or ducts to be connected.
• rotary valve 201 comprises two further rings 213, 214 to provide a sealing between inner body 202 and outer body 203.
• inner body 202 comprises an edge 215 that co-acts with a recess 216 in outer body 203 to restrict the movement in longitudinal direction to one direction only.
• Inner body 202 can be fully fixed in the longitudinal direction by mounting a plate (not shown) on top of outer body 203, wherein the plate is provided with an opening to guide rod part 217 of inner body 202. As a result, edge 215 of inner body 202 will be clamped between such plate and outer body 203.
• a motor for actuating inner body 202 can for instance be mounted on the plate.
• Rod part 217 can in such case be coupled with and/or connected to a drive shaft of the motor.
• Rotary valve 201 as depicted in figure 8 is an 8-way valve. It can be divided into two regions in the longitudinal direction. In each region, four inner and outer openings 204, 205 are available. Outer openings 204 from different regions do not or hardly communicate with each other. Rotary valve 201 can therefore be regarded as a combination of two independent 4-way rotary valves of which the inner bodies 202 are mechanically coupled. It should be noted that the invention can equally be applied to rotary valves having even more regions, each time having the inner bodies mechanically coupled.
• inner body 202 comprises two channels per region. If the outer openings 204 are numbered pl-p4 in a circumferential direction, and if the channels are configured to connect two adjacent outer openings 204, the following outer openings 204 may be simultaneously connected to each other via the channels in inner body 202: pl-p2 & p3-p4, p2-p3 & pl-p4.
• inner body 202 could comprise a channel that is provided with a T-junction, thereby forming a connection between three inner openings 205. In such case, inner body 202 may be rotated to connect three outer openings 204 to each other.
• Figures 1 OA- IOC illustrate further examples of how the resilient sealing unit may be arranged in the rotary valve.
• Figure 10A depicts an embodiment wherein the resilient sealing unit comprises a resilient member 306 and sealing member 307 which are arranged in a wall of inner body 302.
• resilient member 306 is arranged in between sealing member 307 and the wall of inner body 302 and exerts a spring force onto sealing member 307 causing the latter to contact or approach the outer body 303.
• inner body 302 and outer body 303 are spaced apart to allow for their mutual rotation, leakage can be expected in this embodiment when outer openings 304 and inner openings 305 are not aligned. Fluid, for instance a liquid, can flow in the space between inner body 302 and outer body 303, causing leakage between outer openings 304.
• sealing member 307 On a side facing outer body 303, sealing member 307 follows the wall of outer body 303. Sealing member 307 thereby defines a circumferential edge which contacts or approaches outer body 303. When inner opening 305 and outer opening 304 are aligned, this edge is positioned against or near the wall of outer body 303 around outer opening 304.
• sealing member 407 On a side facing inner body 402, sealing member 407 follows the wall of inner body 402. Sealing member 407 thereby defines a circumferential edge which contacts or approaches inner body 402. When inner opening 405 and outer opening 404 are aligned, this edge is positioned against or near the wall of inner body 402 around inner opening 405.
• the embodiment depicted in figure IOC has the same advantage compared to figure 8 as the embodiment illustrated in figure 10B.
• This embodiment corresponds most to the embodiment in figure 8 in that the resilient sealing unit is arranged in the wall of outer body 503 and in that the sealing member 507 extends more or less through the outer opening 504.
• a support element 511 providing a support surface is arranged in or on the wall of outer body 503, which support element may be releasably connected to outer body 503 using screws 511 or the like. Similar to the embodiment depicted in figure 8, this embodiment can be readily assembled as the resilient sealing unit can be mounted to outer body 503 after inner body 502 is inserted in the outer body 503.
• sealing member 507 follows the wall of inner body 502.
• Sealing member 507 thereby defines a circumferential edge which contacts or approaches inner body 502. When inner opening 505 and outer opening 504 are aligned, this edge is positioned against or near the wall of inner body 502 around inner opening 505.
• FIGs 11 A and 1 IB illustrate a second embodiment of a rotary valve 601 according to the present invention, which corresponds most to the embodiment depicted in figure 10A.
• the resilient sealing unit comprising a resilient member 606 in the form of an O-ring and a sealing member 607, are arranged in a wall of inner body 602. Sealing member 607 is pushed towards outer body 603. Upon contact, the edge of sealing member 607 provides a sealing of the connection between inner opening 605 and outer opening 604. More in particular, on a side facing inner body 602, sealing member 607 follows the wall of inner body 602. Sealing member 607 thereby defines a circumferential edge which contacts or approaches inner body 602. When inner opening 605 and outer opening 604 are aligned, this edge is positioned against or near the wall of inner body 602 around inner opening 605.
• Rotary valve 601 further comprises two O-rings 613, 614 to provide a sealing between inner body 602 and outer body 603.
• a flange 620 is provided at the bottom of inner body 602 that prevents inner body 602 to move further upwards relative to outer body 603.
• a ring 621 is provided that engages in a groove 622 in inner body 602 and which rings 621 rests on top of outer body 603.
• a plate 630 can be mounted on top of outer body 603 to support an actuator 640, such as a motor, to rotate inner body 602.
• both the inner body and outer body have a cylindrical shape. The present invention is not limited to this shape.
• the inner body and the outer body may both be made from a polymeric plastic material, such as Polyurethane, Polyethylene, Polypropylene, or Polyoxy methylene.
• a polymeric plastic material such as Polyurethane, Polyethylene, Polypropylene, or Polyoxy methylene.
• Such material is characterized by a low thermal conductivity, especially when compared to stainless steel. This would allow the flow of fluid in different regions of the rotary valve to be largely thermally isolated.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Sorption Type Refrigeration Machines (AREA)

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• 2014
  • 2014-10-10 EP EP14783832.0A patent/EP3204701A1/de active Pending
  • 2014-10-10 WO PCT/EP2014/071815 patent/WO2016055127A1/en active Application Filing

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