Adsorption heat exchanger

Abstract

An adsorption heat exchanger may comprise a stack of alternating adsorption layers and heat transfer layers. Separator plates may separate the adsorption layers from the heat transfer layers. The adsorption layer may include a first corrugated sheet positioned between and brazed to the adsorption zone facing side of two separator sheets. The first corrugated sheet and the exposed portions of the adsorption zone facing side of the separator sheets may be coated with an adsorptive material. The heat transfer layer may include a second corrugated sheet positioned between and brazed to the heat transfer zone facing side of two separator sheets. The second corrugated sheet may be oriented about 90° to the first corrugated sheet.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 at least one adsorption layer having an adsorption zone corrugated sheet, at least a portion of said adsorption zone corrugated sheet having an adsorptive material coating;   at least one heat transfer layer having a heat transfer zone corrugated sheet, said heat transfer layer positioned parallel to said adsorption layer; and   a separator plate positioned between and in contact with said adsorption zone corrugated sheet and said heat transfer zone corrugated sheet.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said adsorption zone corrugated sheet includes at least one adsorption zone fin, said adsorption zone fin having an adsorption fin height of between about 0.10 inches and about 0.5 inches. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said adsorption zone fin has an adsorption fin thickness of between about 0.001 inches and about 0.01 inches. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said adsorption zone corrugated sheet includes a plurality of adsorption zone fins, a density of said adsorption zone fins is between about 7 fins/inch and about 28 fins/inch. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said adsorption layer is oriented in a direction 90° of said heat transfer layer. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said adsorptive material coating has an adsorptive coating thickness of between about 0.004 inches and about 0.040 inches. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said adsorption zone corrugated sheet includes at least one adsorption zone contact portion positioned parallel to and in contact with said separator plate. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said separator plate has an adsorptive material coating. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said separator plate has a separator plate thickness between about 0.003 inches and about 0.1 inches. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said heat transfer zone corrugated sheet includes at least one heat transfer zone fin, said heat transfer zone fin having a heat transfer fin height of between about 0.04 inches and about 0.2 inches. 
   
   
       11 . An apparatus comprising:
 an adsorption zone corrugated sheet having a plurality of adsorption zone fins and a plurality of adsorption zone contact portions;   a heat transfer zone corrugated sheet positioned parallel to and oriented 90° of said adsorption zone corrugated sheet;   a separator sheet having an adsorption zone facing side and a heat transfer zone facing side, said separator sheet positioned between and in contact with said adsorption zone corrugated sheet and said heat transfer corrugated sheet; and   an adsorptive material coating in contact with at least one adsorption zone fin.   
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said adsorptive material coating is in contact with at least a portion of said adsorption zone facing side. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said adsorptive material coating is in contact with at least one adsorption zone contact portion. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said adsorptive material coating comprises at least one of silica gel, aluminas, silicas, zeolites, activated carbon, metal chlorides, metal hydrides, supported Na 2 SO4, synthetic polymers, or mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said heat transfer zone corrugated sheet has a plurality of heat transfer zone fins, a density of said heat transfer zone fins is between about 10 fins/inch and about 30 fins/inch. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said adsorptive material coating has an adsorptive coating thickness of less than about 0.5 mm. 
   
   
       17 . An apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of adsorption layers;   a plurality of heat transfer layers, said plurality of adsorption layers and said plurality of heat transfer layers positioned such that a stacked arrangement of alternating adsorption layers and heat transfer layers is formed, said plurality of adsorption layers and said plurality of heat transfer layers forming at least one adsorption layer/heat transfer layer pair; and   a separator plate positioned between and in contact with said adsorption layer/heat transfer layer pair.   
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein at least one adsorption layer includes two adsorption zone header bars positioned parallel to an adsorption flow line of said adsorption layer and positioned such that one adsorption zone header bar is at one side of said adsorption layer and the other adsorption zone header bar is at the opposing side of said adsorption layer. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein at least one said adsorption layer has an adsorptive coating thickness of between about 0.004 inches and about 0.04 inches. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising at least one side plate positioned parallel to said plurality of adsorption layers and positioned at a side of said stacked arrangement of alternating adsorption layers and heat transfer layers.