Multi-effect cooling system utilizing heat from an engine

Abstract

A method of operating a multi-effect cooling system uses heat generated from an engine having an exhaust system and cooling system. The multi-effect cooling system includes, a primary desorber and a secondary desorber. The primary desorber is heated using heat from the exhaust system. The secondary desorber is heated using heat from the cooling system.

1 . A method of operating a multi-effect cooling system, including a primary desorber and a secondary desorber, utilizing heat generated from an engine having an exhaust system and cooling system, the method comprising: 
 heating the primary desorber using heat from the exhaust system; and    heating the secondary desorber using heat from the cooling system.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of heating the primary desorber comprises heating a primary generator, wherein the step of heating the secondary desorber comprises heating a secondary generator, and wherein the primary desorber comprises the primary generator and the secondary desorber comprises the secondary generator.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the multi-effect cooling system further includes a primary condenser, the method further comprising: 
 collecting heat dissipated by the primary condenser; and    transferring the collected heat from the primary condenser to the secondary generator.    
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 collecting and transferring the collected heat using at least one of a heat pipe and a thermosiphon.    
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the multi-effect cooling system further includes an absorber and a secondary condenser and wherein the engine is contained on a vehicle, the method further comprising: 
 dispersing heat generated from at least one of the absorber and the secondary condenser using air moving relative to the vehicle.    
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the multi-effect cooling system further includes an absorber and a secondary condenser and wherein the engine is contained on a vehicle, the method further comprising: 
 dispersing heat generated from at least one of the absorber and the secondary condenser using water in contact with the vehicle.    
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the multi-effect cooling system further includes a primary absorber, the method further comprising: 
 collecting heat dissipated by the primary absorber; and    transferring the collected heat from the primary absorber to the secondary generator.    
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the multi-effect cooling system further includes a condenser and a secondary absorber and wherein the engine is contained on a vehicle, the method further comprising: 
 dispersing heat generated from at least one of the condenser and the secondary absorber using air moving relative to the vehicle.    
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the multi-effect cooling system further includes a condenser and a secondary absorber and wherein the engine is contained on a vehicle, the method further comprising: 
 dispersing heat generated from at least one of the condenser and the secondary absorber using water in contact with the vehicle.    
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of heating the primary desorber comprises heating a primary adsorber chamber, wherein the step of heating the secondary desorber comprises heating a secondary adsorber chamber, and wherein the primary desorber comprises the primary adsorber chamber and the secondary desorber comprises the secondary adsorber chamber.  
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the multi-effect cooling system further includes a primary condenser, the method further comprising: 
 collecting heat dissipated by the primary condenser; and    transferring the collected heat from the primary condenser to the secondary adsorber chamber.    
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 collecting and transferring the collected heat using at least one of a heat pipe and a thermosiphon.    
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the multi-effect cooling system further includes a secondary condenser and wherein the engine is contained on a vehicle, the method further comprising: 
 dispersing heat generated from at least one of the secondary adsorber chamber and the secondary condenser using at least one of air and water outside of the vehicle.    
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 10 , the method further comprising: 
 collecting heat dissipated by the primary adsorber chamber; and    transferring the collected heat from the primary adsorber chamber to the secondary adsorber chamber.    
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the multi-effect cooling system further includes a condenser and wherein the engine is contained on a vehicle, the method further comprising: 
 dispersing heat generated from at least one of the condenser and the secondary adsorber chamber using at least one of air and water outside of the vehicle.    
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cooling system includes a cooling fluid for collecting heat dissipated by the engine and wherein the step of heating the secondary desorber comprises heating the secondary desorber with heat collected from the engine by the cooling fluid.  
   
   
       17 . A vehicle comprising: 
 an engine having an exhaust system and a cooling system, both the exhaust system and cooling system conveying heat generated from the engine;    a multi-effect cooling system having a primary desorber and a secondary desorber;    means for heating the primary desorber using heat from the exhaust system of the engine; and    means for heating the secondary desorber using heat from the cooling system of the engine.    
   
   
       18 . The vehicle of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 means for removing heat from the multi-effect cooling system using at least one of air moving relative to the vehicle and water outside of the vehicle.    
   
   
       19 . The vehicle of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 means for reusing heat generated from the multi-effect cooling system.    
   
   
       20 . The vehicle of  claim 17 , wherein the primary desorber further comprises: 
 means for desorbing a refrigerant from a solid adsorbent.    
   
   
       21 . The vehicle of  claim 17 , wherein the primary desorber further comprises: 
 means for desorbing a refrigerant from a liquid absorbent.    
   
   
       22 . A multi-effect cooling system for a vehicle including an engine having an exhaust system and a cooling system, the cooling system comprising: 
 a primary desorber;    a secondary desorber;    a primary heat exchanger for supplying heat to the primary desorber from the exhaust system; and    a secondary heat exchanger for supplying heat to the secondary desorber from the cooling system.    
   
   
       23 . The multi-effect cooling system of  claim 22 , wherein the primary desorber comprises a primary generator and the secondary desorber comprises a secondary generator.  
   
   
       24 . The multi-effect cooling system of  claim 23 , further comprising a primary condenser and wherein the secondary heat exchanger also supplies heat to the secondary generator from the primary condenser.  
   
   
       25 . The multi-effect cooling system of  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 an absorber;    a secondary condenser; and    a third heat exchanger for dissipating heat generated from the absorber or the secondary condenser.    
   
   
       26 . The multi-effect cooling system of  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 a pyroelectric device for converting the dissipated heat to electrical energy.    
   
   
       27 . The multi-effect cooling system of  claim 23 , further comprising a primary absorber and wherein the secondary heat exchanger also supplies heat to the secondary generator from the primary adsorber.  
   
   
       28 . The multi-effect cooling system of  claim 27 , further comprising: 
 a secondary absorber;    a condenser; and    a third heat exchanger for dissipating heat generated from the secondary absorber or the condenser.    
   
   
       29 . The multi-effect cooling system of  claim 22 , wherein the primary desorber comprises a primary adsorber chamber and the secondary desorber comprises a secondary adsorber chamber.  
   
   
       30 . The multi-effect cooling system of  claim 29 , further comprising a primary condenser and wherein the secondary heat exchanger also supplies heat to the secondary adsorber chamber from the primary condenser.  
   
   
       31 . The multi-effect cooling system of  claim 30 , further comprising: 
 a secondary condenser; and    a third heat exchanger for dissipating heat generated from the primary adsorber chamber or the secondary condenser.    
   
   
       32 . The multi-effect cooling system of  claim 31 , further comprising: 
 a pyroelectric device for converting the dissipated heat to electrical energy.    
   
   
       33 . The multi-effect cooling system of  claim 29 , wherein the secondary heat exchanger also supplies heat to the secondary adsorber from the primary adsorber.  
   
   
       34 . The multi-effect cooling system of  claim 33 , further comprising: 
 a condenser; and    a third heat exchanger for dissipating heat generated from the secondary absorber or the condenser.