WO2011141970A1

WO2011141970A1 - Sorption type cooler

Info

Publication number: WO2011141970A1
Application number: PCT/JP2010/003273
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shouichi Tanaka
Original assignee: Three Eye Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2010-05-14
Filing date: 2010-05-14
Publication date: 2011-11-17

Abstract

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple sorption type cooler with superior energy efficiency and, a superior cold heat generation performance. The radiating members, the heating member and the heat-absorbing member are disposed between the sorbate containers and the sorbent containers individually. The heat conduction members come into contact with either one of both two containers which are adjacent to the heat conduction member. By means of moving of at least one of the containers and the heat conduction members, the contact states between the containers and the heat conduction members are changed. As the result, the operation-changing of the sorption type cooler is realized. According to another preferred embodiment, the sorbate container (23A) and the sorbent container (21B) are moved relatively. The sorbate container (23A) is connected to the sorbent container (21A) by the pipe (37A). The sorbent container (21B) is connected to the sorbate container (23B) by the pipe (37B). The sorbate container generates the cold heat, when the sorbate container (23A) comes into contact with the sorbent container (21B). The sorbent in the sorbent containers (21A and 21B) is desorbed, when the sorbate container (23A) removes the sorbent container (21B). As the result, the cooler can generates the cold heat with a low temperature, even though a temperature of the heating member (27) is not high.

Description

SORPTION TYPE COOLER

Background of the Invention

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sorption type cooler in particular a thermally regenerated sorption type cooler using the low temperature heat source. The sorption as the technical term means both of an adsorption using a solid adsorbent and an absorption using a liquid absorbent.

2. Description of the Related Art
The absorption type cooler using the liquid absorbent is produced. However, the absorption type cooler dealing the solution absorbent under a high negative pressure has complicate structure. The adsorption type cooler using the solid adsorbent has simple structure in comparison with the absorption type cooler.

U. S. Patent No. 5,768,098 discloses the adsorption type cooler having an adsorbent container and a sorbate container communicated with a pipe. U. S. Patent No. 4,034,569 discloses the adsorption type cooler heated by solar heat. Many inventors make efforts for realizing a compact adsorption type cooler with improved efficiency and generating performance of the cold heat. However, any adsorption type cooler with a reasonable price is not realized in the commercial market yet. This fact suggests that prior arts described about the adsorption type cooler have some kind of problems.

The sorption type cooler executes a sorption operation and a regeneration operation alternately. In the regeneration operation, the sorbate removes from the sorbent. In the sorption operation, the sorbate is adsorbed or absorbed by the solid adsorbent or the liquid absorbent. A temperature-changing period for changing the temperature of the solvent and the sorbate is executed between these two operations. In the regeneration operation, the sorbent container is heated, and the sorbate container is cooled. The sorbate is accumulated in the sorbate container. In the sorption operation, the sorbent container is cooled, and the sorbate is adsorbed or absorbed by the sorbent in the sorbent container. As a result, the sorbate container is cooled.

Heating and radiating of the sorbent container are carried out alternately. The radiating and heat-absorbing of the sorbate container are carried out alternately. In before, the changing of the operations is executed by changing the coolant fluid passages with dampers or valves. However, the changing of the fluid passages requires complicated and expensive structure. Furthermore, a large thermal resistance of a boundary layer between the fluid and the indirect heat exchanger restricts the heat transfer.

It is necessary for the indirect heat exchanger to have many fins for reducing the thermal resistance, because the temperature difference given to the indirect heat exchanger is very small. However, the fins fixed on the containers as the indirect heat exchanger increase the sensitive heat energy loss of the containers largely during the temperature-changing period. Furthermore, the cold-heat-generation is almost stopped during the temperature-change period. In other words, the sensitive heat capacity of the fins decreases both of the cold-heat-generating ability and the energy efficiency.

Generally, water (steam) with a low vaporizing pressure at the operating temperature is employed as the sorbate. Accordingly, a weight of the container increases, because the container must have thick walls. The thick walls of the container decrease the energy efficiency and the cold heat generation performance of the cooler.

Summary of the Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a compact and simple sorption type cooler with an excellent efficiency and an excellent cold heat generation performance.

The sorption type cooler of the invention has a sorbent container (21, 22), a sorbate container (23, 24) and movable heat conduction members (25-28). The heat conduction member includes radiating members (25-26), a heating member (27) and a heat-absorbing member (28), which are come into contact with the containers (21-24) alternately. The cooler does not require changing the fluid passages. Furthermore, the temperature drop can be reduced, because the thermal resistance between the heat conduction members and the containers become small. The heat conduction member with the low temperature is separated from the container for the temperature-rising period of the container. The heat conduction member with the high temperature is separated from the container for the temperature-falling period of the container. As a result, the sensitive temperature energy losses of the container are reduced largely. In addition, the small light weighting of the cooler is realized.

Advantages of the present invention is explained in detail. The thermal resistance of the container must be reduced to increase the heat generation performance (the quantity of the heat flux), because the temperature difference between the containers is small. Accordingly, the conventional container needs large-sized fins. However, the mass of the large-sized fins decreases the sensitive heat energy loss and the cold heat generation ability and increases the weight. It becomes difficult to install the cooler in an engine room of a car or a roof of a house or the car. This problem is solved by employing the movable heat conduction members coming into contact with the containers alternately.

The inorganic porous materials such as zeolite, active carbon and silicagel can be adopted as sorbent (sorption agent). Furthermore, organic water-absorbing gel such as polyacrylic acid-based materials can be adopted. It is suitable to use a solution of ammoniacal water or a solution of ethanol water or a mixture gas with steam and hydrogen, as the sorbent. As a result, both of the thickness and the mass of the container can be decreased, because the negative pressure of the container can be reduced. Copper or aluminum alloy is suitable for the heat conduction member. A sphere-shaped container or a cylinder-shaped container is suitable to decrease the weight.

According to a preferred embodiment, the sorbent container (21, 22) is disposed between the heating member (27) and the radiating member (25, 26). The sorbate container (23, 24) is disposed between the heat-absorbing member (28) and the heat radiating member (25, 26). The heat conduction member (25-28) works on coming and going. The operation state of the container (21-24) can be hereby changed by simple mechanism.

According to another preferred embodiment, the heat conduction member (25-28) arranged between the sorbent container (21, 22) and the sorbate container (23, 24) touches the sorbent container (21, 22) and the sorbate container (23, 24) alternately. The heat conduction member (25-28) hereby can approximately always transport the heat. According to another suitable embodiment, two container pairs consisting of the sorbent container (21) and the sorbate container (23) each perform reverse operation each other. The cold heat can be hereby produced approximately continually by simple mechanism. According to another suitable embodiment, the two container pairs and at least four of the heat conduction members (25-28) are surrounded by insulation walls.

According to another suitable embodiment, each heat conduction member (25-28) is accommodated individually in each room sectioned with the insulation wall and the container. According to another suitable embodiment, each of the sorbent container (21, 22), the sorbate container (23, 24) and the heat conduction members (25-28) has a partial-cylinder-shaped contact surface. According to another suitable embodiment, the sorbent container (21, 22), the sorbate container (23, 24) and the heat conduction members (25-28) have an approximately flat contact surface. According to another suitable embodiment, the heat conduction member (25-28) transmits the heat to outer heat resource through a heat pipe.

According to another suitable embodiment, the heating member (27) is heated by the engine coolant of the internal combustion engine. In addition, the heating member (27) is heated by the fluid of the fuel cell. According to another suitable embodiment, the heating member (27) is heated by a solar heat collector (1) or a solar battery. According to another suitable embodiment, the sorption-type cooler (2) is arranged backside of the solar heat collector (1). According to another suitable embodiment, the solar heat collector (1) serves as the heating member (27) of the sorption-type cooler (2).

According to another suitable embodiment, the heating member (27), the radiating member (25) and the heat-absorbing member (28) are fixed to housing. The sorbent container (21, 22) and the sorbate container (23, 24) are moved. Accordingly, the heat passage connected to the heat conduction members (25-28) can be fixed.

According to another suitable embodiment, the heating member (27) has at least one of a solar heat collector and a solar battery. The sorbent containers (21, 22) are arranged near a back surface of at least one of the solar heat collector and the solar battery. The radiating members (25, 26) are arranged between the sorbent containers (21, 22) and the sorbate containers (23, 24). The sorbate containers (23, 24) are arranged between the radiating members (25, 26) and the heat-absorbing member (28). The sorption type cooler driven with solar heat can be hereby constituted compactly.

According to another suitable embodiment, the heating member (27) is fixed on a back surface of at least one of the solar heat collector and the solar battery. The radiating member (25) is adjacent to the heating member (27) across the sorbent containers (21, 22). The sorbate containers (23, 24) are arranged between the radiating member (26) and the heat-absorbing member (28). The sorbate containers (23, 24), the radiating member (26) and the heat-absorbing member (28) are disposed at a lower position than the sorbate containers (23, 24), the radiating member (26) and the heat-absorbing member (28). The pipe (37) connected the sorbent containers (21, 22) and the sorbate containers (23, 24) are extending in a height direction. According to another suitable embodiment, the radiating members (25) and the radiating member (26) are fixed respectively to different two air ducts in which a cooling wind flows each.

According to another suitable embodiment, the sorbate container accommodates a combination member such as cotton or cloth in order to keep the sorbate. Therefore, the liquid sorbate such as the water is not scattered from the sorbate container even though the vehicle vibrates. Metal fibers are mixed in the cotton or the cloth in order to increase the heat conductivity. The cloth or the cotton can be produced from carbon fibers. According to another suitable embodiment, the pipe is connected to the sorbent container (21, 22) and the sorbate container (23, 24) through the seal member with a high thermal resistance.

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing a solar heat cooler of the first embodiment. Figure 2 is a schematic plan view showing a fundamental operation of the sorption type cooler shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a sectional plan view of the sorption type cooler shown in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a front elevation showing arrangement of the sorbent container. Figure 5 is a front elevation showing arrangement of the heating member and the heat-absorbing member. Figure 6 is a sectional view showing connection of a pipe and the sorbent container. Figure 7 is a block diagram showing a sorption type cooler of the second embodiment. Figure 8 is a schematic sectional view of the cooler shown in Figure 7. Figure 9 is a schematic view showing the arrangement of the heat conduction members shown in Figure 7. Figure 10 is a cross-section view of the third embodiment. Figure 11 is a schematic vertical section view showing the sorption type cooler of the fourth embodiment. Figure 12 is a schematic vertical section view showing the sorption type cooler of which the heat conduction members are moved to the right direction. Figure 13 is a schematic vertical section view showing the hold operation of the sorption type cooler shown in Figure 11. Figure 14 is a schematic vertical section view showing the sorption type cooler of the fifth embodiment. Figure 15 is a schematic vertical section view showing the sorption type cooler of the fifth embodiment. Figure 16 is a schematic vertical section view showing the sorption type cooler of the fifth embodiment. Figure 17 is a block diagram showing the sorption type cooler for a car of the sixth embodiment. Figure 18 is a block diagram showing the cold-heat-generating sorption type cooler of the seventh embodiment. Figure 19 is a block diagram showing the adsorbent-regenerating sorption type cooler of the seventh embodiment. Figure 20 is a schematic vertical cross-section showing the cold-heat-generating solar heat air conditioner of the eighth embodiment. Figure 21 is a schematic vertical cross-section showing the adsorbent-regenerating solar heat air conditioner of the eighth embodiment.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

(The first embodiment)
A solar heat air conditioner of the first embodiment is explained referring to Figure 1. Figure 1 is a block diagram of this solar heat air conditioner. A solar heat collector 1 supplies the heat to a sorption type cooler 2 through a heat pipe 4. The cold heat produced by the sorption type cooler 2 is supplied to an indoor heat exchanger 3 through a heat pipe 5. The heat pipe, the solar heat collector 1 and the indoor heat exchanger 3 are well-known. Their explanation is abbreviated. Coolant fluids such as the air flow and the water flow can be adopted instead of the heat pipe.

Structure of the sorption type cooler 2 is explained referring to Figure 2. Figure 2 shows the heat transportation of the sorption type cooler 2. The sorption type cooler 2 has sorbent containers 21-22, sorbate containers 23-24, radiating members 25-26, a heating member 27 and a heat-absorbing member 28.
The sorbent container 21 and the sorbate container 23 are connected by a pipe in which a steam stream as the sorbate flows. The sorbent container 22 and the sorbate container 24 are connected by another pipe through in which a steam stream as the sorbate flows. These pipes (not shown) are connected to center portions of upper end surfaces of the cylinder-shaped containers 21-24 formed of metal plates.

The sorbent containers 21-22 accommodate a sorbent member consisting of an active carbon or zeolite or the organic polymer such as crosslinked sodium poliacrylate, which can adsorb the sorbate gas such as the steam. The water solutions such as LiBr solution can be adopted as the sorbent member, too. Metal filaments are accommodated in the containers 21-24 so as to improve the heat conductance of the containers 21-24. The sorbent containers 21-22 and the sorbate containers 23-24 are arranged 90 degrees apart around axis 29 each other.

The radiating members 25-26, the heating member 27 and the heat-absorbing member 28 constitutes a heat conduction member with an ax-shaped horizontal section each. The heat conduction members 25-28 are formed by aluminum. The heat conduction members 25-28 have partial-cylinder-shaped side surfaces A and B each. The radiating member 25 is arranged between the

containers

21 and 23. The radiating member 26 is arranged between the

containers

22 and 24. The heating member 27 is arranged between the

containers

21 and 22. The heat-absorbing member 28 is arranged between the

containers

23 and 24.

Side surfaces A and B of the heat conduction members 25-28 have a shape that can adhere to the side surfaces of containers 21-24. Each of heat conduction members 25-28 are fixed to each of arms extending to the radius direction on the horizontal plane from the axis 29 extending to the vertical direction. Each of the arms has a low thermal conductivity. The heat conduction members 25-28 driven by a geared motor move to the CW direction and the CCW direction alternately.

The heat pipe 4 has a condensation portion accommodated in the heating member 27. The heat pipe 5 has an evaporation portion accommodated in the heat-absorbing portion 28. The radiating members 25-26 are connected to the fresh air heat exchanger through the other heat pipes. The other cooling means for cooling the radiating members 25-26 can be employed instead of the heat pipe cooling the radiating members 25-26.

Operation of the sorption type cooler 2 is explained below. Figure 2 shows the state that the axis 29 was moved to the CCW direction. The radiating member 25 comes in contact with the sorbent container 21. The radiating member 26 comes in contact with the sorbate container 24. The heating member 27 comes in contact with the sorbent container 22. The heat-absorbing member 28 comes in contact with the sorbate container 23. In other words, each side surface A of the heat conduction members 25-28 adheres to the cylindrical surface of the containers 21-24. As a result, water in the sorbate container 23 evaporates.

Steam is adsorbed by sorbent in the sorbent container 21. The sorbent container 21 is radiated by the radiating member 25. The cooled sorbate container 23 absorbs the heat from the heat-absorbing member 28. The radiating member 25 radiates the heat to the fresh air. The heat-absorbing member 28 absorbs the heat from the indoor heat exchanger 3. The steam as the sorbate separated from the sorbent in the sorbent container 22 condenses in the sorbate container 24 cooled by the radiating member 26.

In other words, the sorbent container 21 and the sorbate container 23 perform the sorption operation. The sorbent container 22 and the sorbate container 24 performs the desorption operation. In other words, the containers 21-24 operate the heat-swing type cold heat generation alternately.

The pressures and the temperatures of the containers 21-24 changes in accordance with the executing time of these sorption and desorption. The heat conduction members 25-28 are moved to the opposite direction after detecting the above-mentioned parameter reaches a predetermined value. The state that the heat conduction members 25-28 have moved to the CW direction is shown in Figure 3.

A cylinder-shaped insulation member 30 covers the axis 29. The outer peripherary of the insulation member 30 adheres to each outer peripherary of containers 21-24. The block-shaped insulation member 31 adheres to an inner surface of the housing which is not illustrated. The insulation member 31 surrounds the heat conduction members 25-28 and the containers 21-24. The insulation members 30-31 form four rooms accommodating each one of the heat conduction members 25-28.

By moving the heat conduction members 25-28 to the CW direction, the radiating member 25 comes in contact with the sorbate container 23. The radiating member 26 comes in contact with the sorbent container 22. The heating member 27 comes in contact with the sorbent container 21. The heat-absorbing member 28 comes in contact with the sorbate container 24.
In other words, side surfaces B of the heat conduction members 25-28 adheres to the cylindrical surfaces of the containers 21-24 separately.

Steam evaporated from the sorbate container 24 is adsorbed by the adsorbent in the sorbent container 22. The sorbent container 22 radiates the heat to the radiating member 26. The sorbate container 24 absorbs the heat from the heat-absorbing member 28. The radiating member 26 radiates the heat in fresh air. The heat-absorbing member 28 absorbs the heat from the indoor heat exchanger 3.

The sorbent container 21 heated by the heating member 27 produces the steam. The steam is condensed in the sorbate container 23 cooled by the radiating member 25. In other words, the sorbent container 21 and the sorbate container 23 performs the desorption operation. The sorbent container 22 and the sorbate container 24 perform the adsorption operation.

The heat conduction members 25-28 are moved to the opposite direction after detecting the above-mentioned changing of the pressures and the temperatures. By means of moving the heat conduction members 25-28 periodically, the heating member 27 gives the solar heat to the sorbent containers 21-22 alternately. The radiating member 25 radiates the sorbent container 21 and the sorbate container 23 alternately. The radiating member 26 radiates the sorbent container 22 and the sorbate container 24 alternately. The heat-absorbing member 28 is cooled by the

sorbate containers

23 and 24 alternately.

Permanent magnets 32 are fixed on the side surfaces A and B of the heat conduction members 25-28 as shown in Figure 3. Each permanent magnet 32 increases the thermal conductivity between the heat conduction members 25-28 and the containers 21-24. As a result, the thermal resistance between the heat conduction members 25-28 and the containers 21-24 are decreased.

In Figure 3, containers 21-24 have can-shaped bodies 33 made by a plating steel plate. The sorbent 34 in the sorbent container 21-22 consists of well-known adsorbent materials adsorbing water. The sorbate containers 23-24 accommodate cloth or fibers including metal fibers. An elastic pipe 35 extends axially along the central portion of the sorbent container 21-22. The elastic pipes 35 consist of porous resin pipes which the steam can flow through. The elastic pipe 35 has a steam passage extending to a longitudinal direction of the pipes 35.

Figure 4 shows the sorbent containers 21-22. The motor 36 swings the heat conduction members 25-28 to the CW direction and to the CCW direction alternately. The pipe 37 communicates upper end portions of the sorbent containers 21-22 to upper end portions of the sorbate containers 23-24. The containers 21-24 are fixed on a base 38.

Figure 5 shows the heating member 27 and the heat-absorbing member 28. The heating member 27 is fixed to an upper end portion of the arm 27A projecting from the axis 29 toward the diameter direction. The heat-absorbing member 28 is fixed to an upper end portion of the arm 28A projecting from the axis 29 toward the diameter direction. The heat pipes 4-5 wrapped by an insulation member are inserted from the upper end of the axis 29 into the axis 29. The heat pipe 4 reaches inside of the heating member 27 through the arm 27A. Heat pipe 5 reaches inside of the heat-absorbing member 28 through arm 28A.

Structure of the radiating member 25-26 is essentially same as the members 27-28. The radiating members 25-26 are connected thermally to the fresh air heat exchanger by the heat pipes. The heat pipe can be deformed elastically. Figure 6 shows the pipe 37 and the sorbent container 21. In Figure 6, an end wall 39 of the can body 33 consists of a steel plate. A glass seal portion 40 seals a gap between the pipe 37 and the end wall 39. The end wall 39 is jointed to the upper end portion of the can body 33. Pipe 37 is fitted into a central hole of the end wall 39. It is preferable to make the pipe from ceramic or glass in order to increase the heat conduction resistance of the pipe 37.

(The second embodiment)
The solar heat air conditioner of the second embodiment is explained referring to Figure 7. A plate-shaped sorption type cooler 2 is fixed on a back surface of the solar heat collector 1. A fresh air heat exchanger 6 is fixed under the sorption type cooler 2. In other words, the sorption type cooler 2 is disposed between the solar heat collector 1 as a heating source and the fresh air heat exchanger 6 as a heat radiation source.

The solar heat collector 1 collects the solar heat. A top surface of the solar heat collector 1 consists of a glass plate. The fresh air heat exchanger 6 made from a metal plate has a duct 60 in which a cooling wind flows from a left inlet to a right outlet (not shown). Many cooling fins made of metal plates are accommodated in the duct 60. The illustration of the cooling fin is abbreviated.

The cooling wind is generated by a motor (not shown). The motor fan is driven by an electric power generated by a solar battery (not shown). The solar battery supplies the electric power for moving the heating members 27-27, the radiating members 25-26 and the heat-absorbing member 28. The heat-absorbing member of the sorption type cooler 2 supplies the cold heat to the indoor heat exchanger 3 through the heat pipe 5.

Structure of the sorption type cooler 2 is explained referring to Figure 8. Figure 8 shows a cross section extending along a line A-A shown in Figure 7. However, illustration of the insulation member 7 is abbreviated. The sorbent container 21-22 and the sorbate container 23-24 are arranged to one line away from a predetermined distance each other to a horizontal direction. The containers 21-24 are arranged in order of the sorbent container 21, the sorbate container 23, the sorbate container 24 and the sorbent container 22. Structure of the containers 21-24 is fundamentally same as the containers 21-24 of the embodiment 1.

The sorption type cooler 2 has two heating members 27.
One of the heating members 27 is arranged in the left side of the sorbent container 21. The other one of the heating members 27 is disposed in the right side of the sorbent container 22. The radiating member 25 is disposed between the sorbent container 21 and the sorbate container 23. The radiating member 26 is disposed between the sorbent container 22 and the sorbate container 24. The heat-absorbing member 28 is disposed between the sorbate containers 23-24. The steam flows through the pipe 37 connecting the sorbent container 21 and the sorbate container 23. The steam flows through the pipe 37 connecting the sorbent container 22 and the sorbate container 24.

Heat pipe 4 connects thermally the heat-collecting plate 10 of the solar heat collector 1 to the heating member 27. Heat pipe 8 connects thermally the cooling fin 60 of the fresh air heat exchanger 6 to the radiating member 25-26. Heat pipe 5 connects thermally the heat-absorbing member 28 to the indoor heat exchanger 3 as shown in Figure 7.

The operation of this sorption type cooler 2 is essentially same as it of the embodiment 1. The left heating member 27 touches the sorbent container 21, and the left radiating member 25 touches the sorbate container 23, when the heat conduction members 25-28 is moved to the right direction as shown in Figure 8. The steam is sent to the sorbate container 23 from the sorbent container 21. In other words, the desorption operation is performed. The right heating member 27 is separated from the sorbent container 22. The right radiating member 26 comes in contact with the sorbent container 22. The heat-absorbing member 28 comes in contact with the sorbate container 24.
The steam is sent to the sorbent container 22. In other words, the sorption operation is performed.

Figure 9 shows schematically the state after moving of the heat conduction members 25-28 to the left direction. The reverse operation is performed, when the heat conduction members 25-28 had moved to the left direction. As a result, the heat-absorbing member 28 is almost always cooled. The solar heat collector 1 almost always heats either one of the heating members 27. The fresh air heat exchanger 6 almost always cools the radiating members 25-26. According to this embodiment, the compact sorption type cooler is realized.

(The third embodiment)
A solar heat air conditioner of the third embodiment is explained referring to Figure 10. Figure 10 shows a partial cross-section view in the vertical direction. The solar heat air conditioner has a roof portion 100 and a ground portion 110. The roof portion 100 is fixed on a roof or an outer wall of a house or a building.

The roof portion 100 has a flat-panel-shaped solar battery 101, the heating member 27, the sorbent containers 21-22, the radiating member 25 and an air duct 102. The solar battery 101 is fixed on the plate-shaped heating member 27. The heating member 27 is heated by the solar battery 101. The plate-shaped radiating member 25 is fixed on the thick panel-shaped air duct 102. In the air duct 102, many fins 103 are inserted. A cooling wind generated by a motor-fan 103 flows through the air duct 102. Accordingly, the radiating member 25 is cooled by the cooling wind via the fins 103 in the air duct 102.

The

sorbent containers

21 and 22 are arranged in a space between the heating member 27 and the radiating member 25. A lower surface of the heating member 27 and an upper surface of the radiating member 25 have concave portions 104. The

sorbent containers

21 and 22 can come into contact with the concave portions 104 of the heating member 27 and the radiating member 25.

The

sorbent containers

21 and 22 are moved to an opposite direction each other. When the sorbent container 21 comes into contact with the heating member 27, the sorbent container 22 comes into contact with the radiating member 25. When the sorbent container 22 comes into contact with the heating member 27, the sorbent container 21 comes into contact with the radiating member 25.

The ground portion 110 has an air duct 111, the radiating member 26, the sorbate containers 23-24, the heat-absorbing member 28 and an air duct 112. The plate-shaped radiating member 26 is fixed on the thick panel-shaped air duct 111. In the air duct 111, many fins 113 are inserted.

A cooling wind generated by a motor-fan 114 flows through the air duct 111. Accordingly, the radiating member 26 is cooled by the cooling wind via the fins 113 in the air duct 111. The plate-shaped heat-absorbing member 28 is fixed to the thick panel-shaped air duct 112. In the air duct 112, many fins 113 are inserted. A cooled wind generated by a motor-fan 116 flows through the air duct 112.

Accordingly, the heat absorbing member 28 cools the cooled wind via the fins 113 in the air duct 112. The

sorbate containers

23 and 24 are arranged in a space between the radiating member 26 and the heat-absorbing member 28.

An inner surface of the radiating member 26 and an inner surface of the heat-absorbing member 28 have concave portions 124. The

sorbate containers

23 and 24 can come into contact with the concave portions 124 of the radiating member 26 and the heat-absorbing member 28.

The

sorbate containers

23 and 24 are moved to an opposite direction each other. When the sorbate container 23 comes into contact with the radiating member 26, the sorbate container 24 comes into contact with the heat-absorbing member 28. When the sorbate container 24 comes into contact with the radiating member 26, the sorbate container 23 comes into contact with a heat-absorbing member 28.

The sorbent container 21 and the sorbate container 23 are connected by the pipe 37. The sorbent container 22 and the sorbate container 24 are connected by the pipe 37. Consequently, when the one pair of the

containers

21 and 23 performs the cold heat generation, the other one pair of the

containers

22 and 24 performs the regeneration of the sorbent,

According to this embodiment, the solar heat cooler with a solar battery has simple structure, because it does not need a liquid pump. Furthermore, the pipes 37 extending vertically perform as the heat pipe transporting the heat.

By changing of the cooling wind from the motor-fan 114 and the cooled wind from the motor-fan 116, a warmed wind is supplied to the room by the motor fan 114. When the container 21 comes into contact with the heating member 27, and the container 23 comes into contact with the heat-absorbing member 28, the heat-absorbing member 28 becomes hot, and the motor-fan 116 supplies the warm wind to the room.

(The fourth embodiment)
A sorption type cooler 2 of the embodiment 4 is explained referring to Figure 11. Figure 11 is a vertical section view of the sorption type cooler 2. Flat containers 21-24 and heat conduction members 25-28 are accommodated in the inside of a box-shaped housing 200. The housing 200 is made from heat insulation material. The sorbent containers 21-22 accommodate the adsorbent adsorbing the steam as the sorbate.

The sorbate containers 23-24 accommodate the condensed water as the sorbate. The heat conduction members 25-28 consist of flat copper plates. The sorbent containers 21-22 are disposed at a central portion. The sorbate containers 23-24 are disposed at both sides. The containers 21-24 are arranged to one line away from a predetermined distance each other to a horizontal direction. The inside space in the housing 200 is divided into five rooms S1-S5 by the containers 21-24 arranged to equal distance.

The heat conduction members 25-28 are arranged in five room S1-S5 separately. The sorption type cooler 2 has two heat-absorbing member 28 arranged in rooms S1 and S5 positioned at both sides. The heating member 27 is disposed in the room S3 between the sorbent containers 21-22. The radiating member 25 is disposed in the room S2. The radiating member 26 is arranged in the room S4. The sorbate container 24 is connected to the sorbent container 22 by the pipe 37. The pipe 37 buried in the housing 200 connects the sorbent container 21 to the sorbate container 23.

The widths of rooms S1-S5 are bigger than the thickness of the heat conduction members 25-28. Therefore, the heat conduction members 25-28 can move to the traverse direction.
Heating member 27 heated by the outer heat resource has a high temperature (for example, 90 degrees Celsius). Radiating members 25-26 radiating the heat outside has a middle temperature (for example, 50 degrees Celsius). Heat-absorbing member 28 absorbing the heat from a cooled object has a low temperature (for example, 15 degrees Celsius).

The operation of the sorption type cooler 2 is essentially same as it of the

embodiments

1 and 2. When the heat conduction members 25-28 move to the left in Figure 11, the heating member 27 comes in contact with the sorbent container 21. The left radiating member 25 comes in contact with the sorbate container 23. The steam is sent to the sorbate container 23 from the sorbent container 21. In other words, the desorption operation is performed. The left heat-absorbing member 28 is separated from the sorbate container 23. The right radiating member 26 comes in contact with the sorbent container 22. The right heat-absorbing member 28 comes in contact with the sorbate container 24. The steam is sent from the sorbate container 24 to the sorbent container 22. In other words, the sorption operation is performed.

Figure 12 is a schematic view showing the state that the heat conduction members 25-28 move to the right direction.
The reverse operation is performed by this right operation of the heat conduction members 25-28. As a result, the heat-absorbing member 28 is almost always cooled down.

The sorption type cooler 2 of this embodiment performs a heat-holding operation explained referring to Figure 13. In Figure 13, all heat conduction members 25-28 are separated from all containers 21-24. As a result, the steam generation and the sorbent regeneration of the containers 21-24 are almost stopped, because thermal conductance between the heat conduction members 25-28 and the containers 21-24 are decreased largely. Pipe 37 can have a valve for controlling the steam-flow.

(The fifth embodiment)
A sorption type cooler 2 of the fifth embodiment is explained referring to Figures 14-16. Figure 14 shows a vertical cross section of the sorption type cooler 2, which is cut to the front/rear direction. Figures 15-16 shows a vertical section of the sorption type cooler 2, which is cut to the right/left direction. Flat containers 21-24 and heat conduction members 25-28 are accommodated in a box-shaped housing 300. Housing 300 consists of heat insulation material. A top surface of the housing 300 consists of the solar heat collector 1.

The sorbent containers 21-22, the sorbate containers 23-24 and the heat conduction members 25-28 are accommodated in the housing 300. Partition walls 300A-300B consisting of insulation materials are disposed at the central area of the inner space of the housing 300. The heat-absorbing member 28 is disposed on a bottom of housing 300. The radiating member 25 is arranged at an intermediate portion of the housing in the height direction. The sorbent containers 21-22 are arranged at both sides of the partition wall 300A.

The sorbate containers 23-24 are arranged at both sides of the partition wall 300B. One of pipes 37 communicates the sorbent container 21 and the sorbate container 23. Another one of pipes 37 communicates the sorbent container 22 and the sorbate container 24. The containers 21-24 move to a height direction together.

In Figure 15, the sorbent container 21 comes in contact with a lower surface of the solar heat collector 1. The sorbent container 22 comes in contact with the top surface of the radiating member 25. The sorbate container 23 comes in contact with a lower surface of the radiating member 25. The sorbate container 24 comes in contact with the top surface of the heat-absorbing 28. In other words, the

containers

21 and 23 performs the desorption operation.

Containers

22 and 24 perform the adsorption operation.

In Figure 16, the sorbent container 22 comes in contact with the lower surface of solar heat collector 1. The sorbent container 21 comes in contact with the top surface of the radiating member 25. The sorbate container 24 comes in contact with the lower surface of the radiating member 25. The sorbate container 23 comes in contact with the top surface of the heat-absorbing 28. In other words, the

containers

21 and 23 perform the adsorption operation. The

containers

22 and 24 perform desorption operation. This sorption type cooler 2 using the solar heat can abbreviate the heating member 27.

(An arranged embodiment)
In the Figures 14-16, the solar heat collector 1 works as the heating member 27. Instead of the solar heat collector 1, a solar battery can be employed as the heating member 27 of the sorption type cooler of the invention. It is preferable that semiconductor cells of the solar battery are fixed on a flat plate working as the heating member 27. As the result, the flat plate working as the heating member 27 works at the radiating plate radiating the semiconductor cells of the solar battery and works as one electrode of the solar battery.

(The sixth embodiment)
The sixth embodiment is explained referring to Figure 17. The sorption type cooler 2 is disposed in an engine room of a car having the internal combustion engine 400. The cooler 2 is essentially same as the sorption type cooler explained in the embodiment 2 shown in Figure 8. However, in the cooler 2 shown in Figure 17, the heating members 27-27, the radiating members 25-26 and the heat-absorbing member 28 are fixed, and the containers 21-24 are moved horizontally.

The heating members 27-27 and a radiator 401 are connected each other by a water pipe 402. The radiating members 25-26 and a condenser 403 is connected each other by a water pipe 404. The heat-absorbing member 28 and an indoor indirect heat exchanger 405 is connected each other by a water pipe 406.

The condenser 403 is arranged in front of the radiator 401. The condenser 403 and the radiator 401 are cooled in order. The cooled wind cools the heat exchanger 405. Pumps 407-409 circulate the water through the

pipes

402, 404 and 406. By moving the containers 21-24 to the left and the right alternately, the cooler 2 generates the cold heat.

(The seventh embodiment)
A sorption type cooler of the seventh embodiment is explained referring to Figure 18-19. Figure 18 is a schematic block diagram showing the cooler generating the cooled air. Figure 19 is a schematic block diagram showing the cooler regenerating the absorbent. The sorbent container 21A and the sorbate container 23A are connected by the pipe 37A. The sorbent container 21B and the sorbate container 23B are connected by the pipe 37B. The sorbent container 21A is arranged between the heating member 27 and the radiating member 25. The sorbate container 23A is arranged between the radiating member 25 and the sorbent container 21B. The sorbent container 21B is arranged between the sorbate container 23A and the heating member 27. The sorbate container 23B is arranged between the heat-absorbing member 28 and the radiating member 26. In this embodiment, the containers are moved, and the heat conduction members are fixed.

The cooled air generation is explained hereinafter. In Figure 18, the sorbent container 21A and the sorbate container 23A are moved to the right direction. The sorbent container 21B and the sorbate container 23B are moved to the left direction. As the result, the sorbent container 21A comes into contact with the radiating member 25. The sorbate container 23A comes into contact with the sorbent container 21B. The sorbate container 23B comes into contact with the heat-absorbing member 28.

As the result, the sorbate vapor vaporized from the sorbate container 23B is adsorbed by the sorbent in the sorbent container 21B. The heat generated in the sorbent container 21B heats the sorbate container 23A. The sorbate vapor vaporized from the sorbate container 23A is adsorbed by the sorbent in the sorbent container 21A. The heat generated in the sorbent container 21A heats the radiating member 25.

The regeneration of the sorbent is explained referring to Figure 19. The sorbent container 21A and the sorbate container 23A are moved to the left direction. The sorbent container 21B and the sorbate container 23B are moved to the right direction. As the result, the sorbate container 23A and the sorbent container 21B are removed each other. The

sorbent container

21A and 21B comes into contact with the heating members 27. The sorbate container 23A comes into contact with the radiating member 25. The sorbate container 23B comes into contact with the radiating member 26. As the result, the sorbate vapor vaporized from the sorbent container 21A is condensed in the sorbate container 23A. The sorbate vapor vaporized from the sorbent container 21B is condensed in the sorbate container 23B. In this embodiment, a temperature of the heat-absorbing member 28 falls down largely, even though the temperature of a pair of the heating members 27 is not high. It is preferable to use another one set of the containers and heat conduction members in order to generate the cold heat continuously.

(The eighth embodiment)
A solar heat air conditioner of the eighth embodiment is explained referring to Figures 20-21. Figure 20 is a schematic block diagram showing the solar heat air conditioner generating the cooled air. Figures 21 is a schematic block diagram showing the solar heat air conditioner regenerating the absorbent. This solar heat air conditioner is essentially same as the sorption type cooler shown in Figure 18-19.

The solar heat panel 101 is the heating member 27. The

sorbent containers

21A and 21B and the sorbate container 23A are accommodated between the solar heat panel 101 and the radiating member 25. The

containers

21A, 21B and 23A can move. The solar heat panel 101, the

sorbent containers

21A and 21B, the sorbate container 23A and the radiating member 25 constitute the roof portion 100 of the solar heat air conditioner of this invention.

The ground portion 110 of this invention has a housing 600, the radiating member 26, the sorbate container 23B, the heat-absorbing member 28 and the air guide 602. The housing 600 is fixed to an outer surface of the wall 601 of the house. The air guide 602 is fixed to an inner surface of the wall 601 of the house. The wall 601 has two

holes

603 and 604, through which the winds flows respectively. The sorbate container 23B is arranged between the radiating member 26 and the heat-absorbing member 28. The

containers

21A, 21B, 23A and 23B are moved.

The cooled air generation is explained referring to Figure 20. In Figure 20, the

sorbent container

21A and 21B move downward. The sorbate container 23A moves upward. The sorbate container 23B moves right direction. As the result, the sorbent container 21A comes into contact with the radiating member 25. The sorbent container 21B comes into contact with the sorbate container 23A. The sorbent container 23B comes into contact with the heat-absorbing member 28.

As the result, the sorbate vapor vaporized from the sorbate container 23B is adsorbed by the sorbent in the sorbent container 21B. The heat generated in the sorbent container 21B heats the sorbate container 23A. The sorbate vapor vaporized from the sorbate container 23A is adsorbed by the sorbent in the sorbent container 21A. The heat generated in the sorbent container 21A heats the radiating member 25. The room wind is circulated through the through-hole 604, the heat-absorbing member 28 and the through-hole 603 in turn. The air guide 602 changes the room wind.

The regeneration of the sorbent is explained referring to Figure 21. The

sorbent container

21A and 21B moves upward. The sorbate container 23A moves downward. The sorbate container 23B moves to the left direction. As the result, the sorbate container 23A and the sorbent container 21B are removed each other. The

sorbent container

21A and 21B comes into contact with the solar heat panel 101 as the heating members 27. The sorbate container 23A comes into contact with the radiating member 25. The sorbate container 23B comes into contact with the radiating member 26. As the result, the sorbate vapor vaporized from the sorbent container 21A is condensed in the sorbate container 23A. The sorbate vapor vaporized from the sorbent container 21B is condensed in the sorbate container 23B.

In this embodiment, a temperature of the heat-absorbing member 28 falls down largely, even though the temperature of the solar heat panel 101 is not high. It is preferable to use another one set of the containers and heat conduction members in order to generate the cold heat continuously.

In addition, the long pipe 37B jointing the sorbent container 21B and the sorbate container 23B performs a sensitive-heat-exchanger. In the cold-heat generation, the vapor in the pipe 37B is cooled by the pipes 37B. Accordingly, the vapor reached the sorbate container 23B has the low temperature. Furthermore, the vapor reached the sorbent container 21B has the high temperature.

Claims

A sorption type cooler having:
A) a sorbent container (21, 22) accommodating a sorbent which adsorbs or absorbs sorbate material;
B) a sorbate container (23, 24) accommodating the sorbate material; and
C) a pipe (37) connecting the sorbent container (21, 22) and the sorbate container (23, 24);
D) wherein the sorption type cooler has heat conduction members (25-28) including a heating member (27), a radiating member (25, 26) and a heat-absorbing member (28);
the heating member (27) heats the sorbent container (21, 22);
the heat-absorbing member (28) cools the sorbate container (23, 24);
the radiating member (25, 26) radiates the sorbent container (21, 22), when the heating member (27) and the sorbent container (21, 22) are removed each other;
the radiating member (25, 26) radiates the sorbate container (23, 24), when the heat-absorbing member (28) and the sorbate container (23, 24) are removed each other; and
one of the heat conduction members (25-28) and the containers move in order to touch and remove the other one of the heat conduction members (25-28) and the containers.
The sorption type cooler according to claim 1, wherein the sorbent container (21, 22) is arranged between the heating member (27) and the radiation member (25, 26);
the sorbate container (23, 24) is arranged between the heat-absorbing member (28) and the radiation member (25, 26); and
the moving heat conduction members (25-28) come into contact with the adjacent two containers (21-24) alternately.
The sorption type cooler according to claim 1, wherein the sorbent container (21, 22) is arranged between the heating member (27) and the radiation member (25, 26);
the sorbate container (23, 24) is arranged between the heat-absorbing member (28) and the radiation member (25, 26); and
the moving containers (21-24) come into contact with the adjacent two heat conduction members (25-28) alternately.
The sorption type cooler according to claim 1, wherein the one radiating member (25) arranged between the sorbent container (21) and the sorbate containers (23) comes into contact with the sorbent container (21) and the sorbate containers (23) alternately; and
the other one radiating member (26) arranged between the sorbent container (22) and the sorbate containers (24) comes into contact with the sorbent container (22) and the sorbate containers (24) alternately.
The sorption type cooler according to claim 4, wherein one pair of the sorbent container (21) and the sorbate containers (23) executes a regenerating operation, when the other one pair of the sorbent container (22) and the sorbate containers (24) executes a cold-heat-generating operation; and
the one pair of the sorbent container (21) and the sorbate containers (23) executes the cold-heat-generating operation, when the other one pair of the sorbent container (22) and the sorbate containers (24) executes the regenerating operation.
The sorption type cooler according to claim 1, wherein the heating member (27) has at least one of a solar heat collector and a solar battery;
the sorbent containers (21, 22) are arranged near a back surface of at least one of the solar heat collector and the solar battery;
the radiating members (25, 26) are arranged between the sorbent containers (21, 22) and the sorbate containers (23, 24); and
the sorbate containers (23, 24) are arranged between the radiating members (25, 26) and the heat-absorbing member (28).
The sorption type cooler according to claim 1, wherein the heating member (27) is fixed on a back surface of at least one of the solar heat collector and the solar battery;
the radiating member (25) is adjacent to the heating member (27) across the sorbent containers (21, 22);
the sorbate containers (23, 24) are arranged between the radiating member (26) and the heat-absorbing member (28);
the sorbate containers (23, 24), the radiating member (26) and the heat-absorbing member (28) are disposed at a lower position than the sorbate containers (23, 24), the radiating member (26) and the heat-absorbing member (28); and
the pipe (37) connected the sorbent containers (21, 22) and the sorbate containers (23, 24) are extending in a height direction.
The sorption type cooler according to claim 7, wherein the radiating members (25) and the radiating member (26) are fixed respectively to different two air ducts in which a cooling wind flows each.
The sorption type cooler according to claim 1, wherein the sorbent consists of an water-absorbing organic resin; and
the sorbate includes at least one of water-ammonia and water-ethyl alcohol.
The sorption type cooler according to claim 1, wherein the sorbate container (23A) and the sorbent container (21B) are moved relatively;
the sorbate container (23A) is connected to the sorbent container (21A) by the pipe (37A);
the sorbent container (21B) is connected to the sorbate container (23B) by the pipe (37B);
the sorbate container generates the cold heat, when the sorbate container (23A) comes into contact with the sorbent container (21B); and
the sorbent in the sorbent containers (21A and 21B) is desorbed, when the sorbate container (23A) removes the sorbent container (21B).