JP2007519881A5 - - Google Patents

Claims (31)

In the method of transferring heat using the first and second gas adsorbing materials, the second material is thermally relatively isolated from the first material, but the gas is continuously communicated. And
(I) heating the first material to desorb the gas adsorbed on the first material, and the gas generated thereby is sent to the second material and adsorbed;
(Ii) cooling the first material so that the gas desorbs from the second material and is then adsorbed again to the first material;
A heat transfer method whereby the second material is cooled by desorbing a gas therefrom.   The method of claim 1, wherein in step (i), the first material is heated by heat conduction from a relatively hot fluid stream.   The method of claim 2 wherein the relatively hot fluid stream is a waste process gas or liquid.   4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein during the period in which the first material is heated, the second material is cooled with respect to the first material by heat conduction through a cooling fluid stream.   The method of claim 4, wherein the cooling fluid stream is an ambient air stream.   6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in step (ii) the first material is cooled with respect to the second material by heat conduction to the surroundings or by heat conduction by a cooling fluid stream.   The method of claim 6, wherein the cooling fluid stream is an ambient air stream.   8. In step (ii), when the second material is being cooled by desorption of gas from the material, the second material is used to cool another fluid. The method according to claim 1.   9. The method of claim 8, wherein the other fluid stream is a process gas or liquid that requires cooling.   When desorption from the second material is complete, the second material is allowed to be slightly heated by heat conduction from the other fluid stream, the temperature of which is before the gas is adsorbed onto it. 10. A method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the second material is just at a temperature sufficient to restore its temperature to a level corresponding to the temperature of step (i).   The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first gas adsorbent material has an adsorption power different from that of the second gas adsorbent material.   The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the first gas adsorbent material is a material different from the second gas adsorbent material.   The method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the first gas adsorbent material is zeolite and the second gas adsorbent material is activated carbon.   The method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the gas adsorbed on the first and second materials is carbon dioxide.   15. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gas is pressurized with respect to ambient pressure.   The method of claim 15, wherein the gas is pressurized to about 0.5 MPa.   17. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the gas and the first and second materials are generally at ambient temperature prior to the starting step (i).   In a heat transfer device comprising a chamber having a first part containing a first adsorbent material and a second part containing a second adsorbent material, the first and second parts are always A heat transfer device connected in such a way as to allow continuous gas communication therebetween and is relatively thermally isolated from each other.   The first and second portions are configured to minimize conduction of conduction heat between the first portion and the second portion while allowing continuous gas communication between the portions. The device of claim 18 joined by sections.   20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the section is a conduit having a width that is small compared to the width of the first and second chamber portions adjacent thereto.   21. Apparatus according to any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein one or more heat conducting elements are disposed in the first and second chamber portions together with the first and second adsorbent materials.   Each heat transfer element includes a metal wire mesh that enhances heat communication between the exterior of the chamber portion and the adsorbent material therein, through each of the first and second adsorbent materials. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the mass transport rate is increased.   19. The first and second chamber portions are each configured to be positioned in an intermediate flow of a respective fluid flow so as to conduct heat between each fluid and those portions. 23. The apparatus according to any one of items 22.   24. Apparatus according to any one of claims 18 to 23, wherein the first and second materials are each packed in a respective portion of the chamber.   24. An apparatus according to any one of claims 18 to 23, wherein the first and second materials are defined in claim 12 or 13. In a system for continuously conducting heat from a first fluid stream and continuously cooling a second fluid stream, the system can be in thermal communication with the first and second fluid streams, respectively. First and second devices, each device comprising a chamber having separated first and second adsorbent materials, each device being operable in the following stages: Yes, that is,
(1) The first material is heated by thermal communication with the first fluid stream so as to desorb the gas adsorbed on the first material, whereby the gas is sent to the second material. And
(2) The first material is cooled so that the gas is desorbed from the second material and sent from there so that it is again adsorbed to the first material, from which the second material is gaseous And the second fluid stream is cooled by thermal communication with the second material,
the system,
While the first device is operated under step (1) to heat the first material of the first device using the first fluid stream, the second device is under step (2). And the gas is operated to cool the second fluid stream by desorbing from the second material of the second device;
Thereafter, the first fluid flow can be directed to the second device, operated under stage (1) of the second device, the second fluid flow directed to the first device, and the first device Operated under stage (2) of the equipment of
Thereby, a system for efficiently conducting continuous conduction of heat from the first fluid stream and continuously cooling the second fluid stream.   27. The system of claim 26, comprising a plurality of first devices and a plurality of second devices.   28. The system of claim 26 or 27, wherein the first and second devices are operated in parallel.   And a valve for selectively switching the flow of the first and second fluid flows between the first device and the second device, and between the second device and the first device, respectively. 29. A system according to any one of claims 26 to 28, comprising, thereby maintaining continuous conduction of heat from the first fluid stream and continuous cooling of the second fluid stream.   30. The system according to any one of claims 26 to 29, wherein each of the first and second devices is configured as defined in any one of claims 18 to 25.   31. A system according to any one of claims 26 to 30, wherein each of the first and second devices is operated using the method described in any one of claims 1 to 17.