Apparatus and Method for Removing a Gas from a System, System for Vaporizing and Heat Pump

Abstract

An apparatus for removing a first gas from a system including a second different gas, includes a collecting basin for collecting the first gas, wherein the collecting basin includes a variable inlet opening for letting in the first gas into the collecting basin, wherein the inlet opening can be brought into communication with the system, and a variable outlet opening for letting out the first gas from the collecting basin, wherein the variable outlet opening is not in communication with the system, and a generator for generating a pressure within the collecting basin, which is higher than the pressure of an atmosphere outside the variable outlet opening, wherein the inlet opening and the outlet opening are implemented such that in a discharge mode at a pressure within the collecting basin which is higher than the pressure in the atmosphere, the inlet opening has a higher fluid resistance than the outlet opening, such that the second gas can be output from the collecting basin via the outlet opening, and that in a collecting mode the outlet opening has a higher fluid resistance than the inlet opening.

1 . An apparatus for removing a first gas from a system comprising a second different gas, comprising:
 a collecting basin for collecting the first gas, the collecting basin comprising:
 a variable inlet opening for letting in the first gas into the collecting basin, wherein the inlet opening can be brought into communication with the system; 
 a variable outlet opening for letting out the first gas from the collecting basin, wherein the variable outlet opening is not in communication with the system; and 
   a generator for generating a pressure in the collecting basin that is higher than the pressure of an atmosphere outside the variable outlet opening;   the inlet opening and the outlet opening being implemented such that in a discharge mode, at a pressure in the collecting basin that is higher than the pressure in the atmosphere, the inlet opening comprises a higher fluid resistance than the outlet opening, such that the second gas can be output from the collecting basin via the outlet opening, and that in a collecting mode the outlet opening comprises a higher fluid resistance than the inlet opening.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the generator for increasing comprises a heater, which is implemented to vaporize a liquid representing, in a gaseous state, the second gas. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the second gas is water vapor, and the first gas is a different gas than water vapor, such as air, O 2 , N 2 , CO 2  and wherein the liquid is water. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the inlet opening is a one-way valve unit, which is implemented to load gas from the system into the collecting basin with a fluid resistance that is smaller than a fluid resistance that the gas has to overcome for reaching the system from the collecting basin. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the inlet opening comprises a flap or a check valve. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the outlet opening is a normally closed pressure relief valve, which is implemented to open independently when an internal pressure of the collecting basin is higher than a pressure outside the system. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein an operating pressure within the system is smaller than a pressure outside the system. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the operating pressure of the system is smaller than 1/50 of a pressure outside the system. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the collecting basin is dimensioned such that it can take up an amount of liquid and that vaporizing the amount of liquid is sufficient to increase the pressure within the collecting basin to a pressure that is higher than a pressure outside the outlet opening. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the generator for increasing is implemented to automatically generate the pressure periodically or at certain events, and to terminate a pressure increase again after a time period or a further event. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the inlet opening or the outlet opening comprise passive valves, which are implemented to be opened or closed depending on pressure differences applied to the same. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the collecting basin is arranged or implemented such that the collecting basin comprises a region whose operating temperature is lower than an operating temperature at the location of the system, with which the inlet opening of the collecting basin can be brought into communication. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the temperature at the location in the collecting basin is so low that the first gas condenses when it comes into the vicinity of the location, while the first gas in the system is present outside the collecting basin at a temperature that is so high that the first gas condenses less than in the collecting basin or not at all. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  comprising an inlet region connected to the collecting basin via a neck. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the inlet region comprises a funnel shape such that the inlet region tapers towards the neck. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a laminarization material is arranged on the inlet region for influencing a gas flow into the neck such that it is more laminar after leaving the laminarization material compared to before entering the laminarization material. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the inlet region is arranged in a liquefier of a heat pump, while at least part of the collecting basin is arranged in an evaporator of a heat pump. 
     
     
         18 . A system for vaporizing, comprising:
 an evaporator cover that is implemented to maintain a pressure within the system that is smaller than a pressure outside the system:   an apparatus for removing a first gas from a system comprising a second different gas, comprising:   a collecting basin for collecting the first gas, the collecting basin comprising:
 a variable inlet opening for letting in the first gas into the collecting basin, wherein the inlet opening can be brought into communication with the system; 
 a variable outlet opening for letting out the first gas from the collecting basin, wherein the variable outlet opening is not in communication with the system; and 
   a generator for generating a pressure in the collecting basin that is higher than the pressure of an atmosphere outside the variable outlet opening;   the inlet opening and the outlet opening being implemented such that in a discharge mode, at a pressure in the collecting basin that is higher than the pressure in the atmosphere, the inlet opening comprises a higher fluid resistance than the outlet opening, such that the second gas can be output from the collecting basin via the outlet opening, and that in a collecting mode the outlet opening comprises a higher fluid resistance than the inlet opening,   wherein the inlet opening of the collecting basin is arranged such that the inlet opening communicates with an evaporator region within the evaporator cover.   
     
     
         19 . The system for vaporizing according to  claim 18 , wherein the evaporator cover is further implemented to receive an operating liquid to be vaporized, and wherein the inlet opening of the collecting basin is implemented such that the same is at the height of a level of the liquid during operation of the system for vaporizing, such that the first gas can be brought into the collecting basin through the inlet opening in a gravitational manner. 
     
     
         20 . The system for vaporizing according to  claim 18 , wherein the collecting basin is arranged in the operating liquid. 
     
     
         21 . The system for vaporizing according to  claim 18 , wherein the collecting basin comprises an operating liquid that can be heated for generating the second gas in the collecting basin, and wherein the operating liquid is the same liquid as within the collecting basin. 
     
     
         22 . The system for vaporizing according to  claim 18 , wherein the operating liquid is water. 
     
     
         23 . A heat pump, comprising:
 an evaporator comprising a system for vaporizing, the system comprising:   an evaporator cover that is implemented to maintain a pressure within the system that is smaller than a pressure outside the system;   an apparatus for removing a first gas from a system comprising a second different gas, comprising:   a collecting basin for collecting the first gas, the collecting basin comprising:
 a variable inlet opening for letting in the first gas into the collecting basin, wherein the inlet opening can be brought into communication with the system; 
 a variable outlet opening for letting out the first gas from the collecting basin, wherein the variable outlet opening is not in communication with the system; and 
   a generator for generating a pressure in the collecting basin that is higher than the pressure of an atmosphere outside the variable outlet opening;   the inlet opening and the outlet opening being implemented such that in a discharge mode, at a pressure in the collecting basin that is higher than the pressure in the atmosphere, the inlet opening comprises a higher fluid resistance than the outlet opening, such that the second gas can be output from the collecting basin via the outlet opening, and that in a collecting mode the outlet opening comprises a higher fluid resistance than the inlet opening,   wherein the inlet opening of the collecting basin is arranged such that the inlet opening communicates with an evaporator region within the evaporator cover;   a compressor coupled to the evaporator for compressing vapor generated by the evaporator; and   a liquefier coupled to the compressor for acquiring compressed vapor.   
     
     
         24 . A liquefier comprising:
 a liquefier region where a first gas and, as a second gas, a gaseous operating fluid to be liquefied exists, and   an apparatus for removing the first gas from a system comprising a second different gas, comprising:   a collecting basin for collecting the first gas, the collecting basin comprising:
 a variable inlet opening for letting in the first gas into the collecting basin, wherein the inlet opening can be brought into communication with the system; 
 a variable outlet opening for letting out the first gas from the collecting basin, wherein the variable outlet opening is not in communication with the system; and 
   a generator for generating a pressure in the collecting basin that is higher than the pressure of an atmosphere outside the variable outlet opening;   the inlet opening and the outlet opening being implemented such that in a discharge mode, at a pressure in the collecting basin that is higher than the pressure in the atmosphere, the inlet opening comprises a higher fluid resistance than the outlet opening, such that the second gas can be output from the collecting basin via the outlet opening, and that in a collecting mode the outlet opening comprises a higher fluid resistance than the inlet opening.   
     
     
         25 . The liquefier according to  claim 24 , which is implemented for a heat pump,
 wherein the liquefier region comprises a gas supply region and a foreign gas collection region, wherein the gas supply region and the foreign gas collection region are separated by a separator, such that a higher foreign gas concentration occurs in the foreign gas collection region compared to the gas supply region, and   wherein the apparatus for removing the first gas is arranged with regard to the foreign gas collection region such that foreign gas can enter into a collecting basin of the apparatus.   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein a laminarizer and/or a turbulence generator are arranged. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein the liquefier comprises a liquefier outlet across which liquefier water runs off, which can be brought in contact with water vapor within the supply region for the purpose of liquefying. 
     
     
         28 . The liquefier according to  claim 24 , wherein an evaporator is arranged below the liquefier in installation direction, and wherein a supply region of the apparatus for removing a foreign gas is arranged within the liquefier, and at least one region of the collecting basin is arranged within the evaporator of outside a heat pump, for thermally communicating more with the environment of the heat pump than with the evaporator or the liquefier. 
     
     
         29 . A method for removing a first gas from a system comprising a second different gas, comprising:
 in a collection mode, collecting the first gas;   in a discharge mode, discharging the first gas from the collecting basin into an atmosphere outside the system; and   in response to an event, increasing the pressure within the collecting basin by introducing the second gas into the collecting basin;   wherein in the collecting mode the inlet opening comprises a lower fluid resistance than the outlet opening, and   wherein in the discharge mode the inlet opening comprises a higher fluid resistance than the outlet opening.   
     
     
         30 . A computer program comprising a program code for performing the method for removing a first gas from a system comprising a second different gas, the method comprising:
 in a collection mode, collecting the first gas;   in a discharge mode, discharging the first gas from the collecting basin into an atmosphere outside the system; and   in response to an event, increasing the pressure within the collecting basin by introducing the second gas into the collecting basin;   wherein in the collecting mode the inlet opening comprises a lower fluid resistance than the outlet opening, and   wherein in the discharge mode the inlet opening comprises a higher fluid resistance than the outlet opening,   when the method runs on a computer.