Absorption chiller and system incorporating the same

Abstract

A device, such as an absorption chiller sub-system, is provided. The absorption chiller sub-system can include an evaporator and an absorber. The evaporator can be configured to receive a liquid first working fluid and to produce first working fluid vapor. The absorber can be configured to receive and combine first working fluid vapor and a second working fluid, for example, so as to release thermal energy. A divider having opposing first and second sides in respective fluid communication with the evaporator and the absorber can also be included. The divider can be configured to allow first working fluid vapor to pass therethrough between the first and second sides and to inhibit movement of liquid first working fluid therethrough between the first and second sides. Associated systems and methods are also provided.

1 . A device comprising:
 an evaporator configured to receive a liquid first working fluid and to produce first working fluid vapor;   an absorber configured to receive and combine first working fluid vapor and a second working fluid   a divider having opposing first and second sides in respective fluid communication with said evaporator and said absorber, said divider being configured to allow first working fluid vapor to pass therethrough between said first and second sides and to inhibit movement of liquid first working fluid therethrough between said first and second sides.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said evaporator is coupled to said first side of said divider and said absorber is coupled to said second side of said divider. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said absorber is configured to combine at least some first working fluid vapor passing through said divider and a second working fluid so as to cause at least some first working fluid vapor passing through said divider to become liquid. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said divider includes a membrane. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said divider defines holes therethrough. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said absorber is configured to combine at least some first working fluid vapor passing through said divider and a second working fluid so as to release thermal energy. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said absorber is configured to receive a second working fluid such that an equilibrium second partial pressure of first working fluid vapor at said second side is less than a first partial pressure of first working fluid vapor at said first side. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said evaporator is configured to receive liquid NH 3  as the liquid first working fluid. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said absorber is configured to receive at least one of water or a mixture of water and NH 3  as the second working fluid. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said evaporator is configured such that a total pressure therein is at least twice a partial pressure of first working fluid vapor at said first side. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein said absorber is configured such that a total pressure therein is at least twice a partial pressure of first working fluid vapor at said second side. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said evaporator is configured to receive liquid water and to produce water vapor, and said absorber is configured to combine water vapor passing through said divider and a relatively concentrated solution containing lithium bromide so to produce a relatively diluted solution containing lithium bromide. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein each of said evaporator and said absorber is configured such that a respective total pressure therein is greater than or equal to about atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein said divider defines holes therethrough having diameters less than or equal to about 100 nm. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein said divider is formed at least partially of substantially hydrophobic material such that holes defined by said divider are defined by said substantially hydrophobic material. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein said substantially hydrophobic material includes at least one of polytetrafluoroethylene, polypropylene, or polyvinylidene fluoride. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a generator configured to receive the relatively diluted solution containing lithium bromide from said absorber and to produce separate outputs of water vapor and the relatively concentrated solution containing lithium bromide; and   a condenser configured to receive water vapor from said generator and to provide liquid water to said evaporator.   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , further comprising a second divider configured to allow water vapor to pass therethrough and to inhibit movement of liquid water therethrough, wherein said generator and said condenser are in fluid communication with opposing sides of said second divider such that water vapor from said generator can pass through said second divider to said condenser while liquid water in said generator is substantially prevented from reaching said condenser. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a geothermal well; and   a heat exchanger,   wherein each of said condenser, absorber, and evaporator are configured to selectively thermally communicate with said geothermal well and said heat exchanger.   
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , further comprising a water heater, wherein said device is configured such that thermal energy is transferred from said absorber and said condenser into a heated fluid stream, and thermal energy is transferred from a cooled fluid stream into the liquid first working fluid, the heated fluid stream being in selective fluid communication with each of said water heater, said heat exchanger, and said geothermal well, and the cooled fluid stream being in selective fluid communication with each of said heat exchanger and said geothermal well. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein said geothermal well and said heat exchanger are configured to selectively exchange thermal energy directly therebetween and to avoid exchanging thermal energy with each of said generator, condenser, evaporator, and absorber. 
     
     
         22 . A method comprising:
 providing a device including
 an evaporator, 
 an absorber, and 
 a divider having opposing first and second sides in fluid communication with the evaporator and the absorber, respectively, and configured to allow first working fluid vapor to pass therethrough between the first and second sides and to inhibit movement of liquid first working fluid therethrough between the first and second sides; 
   providing liquid first working fluid to the evaporator so as to produce first working fluid vapor that contacts the first side of the divider;   receiving at the absorber first working fluid vapor passing through the divider from the first side to the second side and a second working fluid; and   combining in the absorber at least some first working fluid vapor passing through the divider and the second working fluid.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said combining at least some first working fluid vapor passing through the divider and the second working fluid includes combining at least some first working fluid vapor passing through the divider and the second working fluid so as to cause at least some of the first working fluid vapor passing through the divider to become liquid. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said combining at least some first working fluid vapor passing through the divider and the second working fluid includes combining at least some first working fluid vapor passing through the divider and the second working fluid so as to release thermal energy. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said providing a liquid first working fluid to the evaporator includes providing liquid water to the evaporator so as to produce water vapor, and said combining in the absorber at least some first working fluid vapor and the second working fluid includes combining at least some water vapor and a relatively concentrated solution containing lithium bromide. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said providing liquid water to the evaporator so as to produce water vapor includes providing liquid water to the evaporator so as to produce water vapor with a first partial pressure at the first side, and said receiving at the absorber a relatively concentrated solution containing lithium bromide includes receiving at the absorber a relatively concentrated solution containing lithium bromide such that an equilibrium second partial pressure of water vapor at the second side is less than the first partial pressure at the first side. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said providing a device includes providing a device that includes a divider formed at least partially of substantially hydrophobic material and defining holes therethrough, the holes having diameters less than or equal to about 100 nm. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising
 supplying thermal energy to a relatively diluted solution containing lithium bromide so as to cause water to evaporate out and thereby produce the relatively concentrated solution containing lithium bromide; and   removing thermal energy from the water vapor produced from the relatively diluted solution containing lithium bromide so as to produce liquid water to be provided to the evaporator.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 selectively transferring the thermal energy removed from the water vapor produced from the relatively diluted solution containing lithium bromide and transferring thermal energy from the absorber to a heated fluid stream;   selectively transferring thermal energy from a cooled fluid stream to the liquid water circulated to the evaporator;   selectively transferring thermal energy between the heated fluid stream and at least one of a heat exchanger or a geothermal well; and   selectively transferring thermal energy between the cooled fluid stream and at least one of the heat exchanger and the geothermal well.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 selecting a target temperature; and   causing, when the target temperature is higher than a ground temperature of the geothermal well, a geothermal fluid stream to circulate between the geothermal well and the heat exchanger without receiving the thermal energy removed from the water vapor produced from the relatively diluted solution containing lithium bromide and without exchanging thermal energy with the absorber.   
     
     
         31 . A device comprising:
 a first working fluid;   a second working fluid;   a divider having opposing first and second sides in respective fluid communication with said evaporator and said absorber, said divider being configured such that first working fluid vapor passes therethrough while movement of liquid first working fluid therethrough is inhibited;   an evaporator in fluid communication with said first side, said evaporator receiving said first working fluid as liquid first working fluid and producing first working fluid vapor with a first partial pressure at said first side; and   an absorber that receives said second working fluid under conditions such that an equilibrium second partial pressure of first working fluid vapor at said second side is less than the first partial pressure, such that said first working fluid vapor moves from said first side to said second side and is combined with said second working fluid in said absorber.   
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein said second working fluid is received in said absorber as liquid second working fluid and combined with first working fluid vapor passing through said divider so as to cause at least some of said first working fluid vapor passing through said divider to become liquid. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein a total pressure in said evaporator is at least twice the first partial pressure.