Adsorption apparatus comprising a heat recovery system

Abstract

An adsorption apparatus having at least a first and second adsorber unit, each of which is connected to a feed line and return line. Each adsorber unit operates alternately in a desorption phase as a desorber wherein heat is dissipated from the heat transfer medium to the desorber, and in an adsorption phase as an adsorber wherein heat is dissipated from the adsorber to the medium. A heating circuit having a heat source for heating the heat transfer medium and a cooling circuit having a heat sink for cooling the medium are provided. A control unit alternately switches the feed and return lines individually between the heating circuit and the cooling circuit in such a way that the return line with the highest temperature supplies heat transfer medium to the heating circuit.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for heat recovery in an adsorption machine comprising at least a first and a second adsorber unit which are each connected to a forward motion (VL) and a return motion (RL), in order to supply heat from a heat transfer medium of the first adsorber unit conducted through the forward motion (VL) to the second adsorber unit or to remove said heat from the first adsorber unit to the heat transfer medium and further comprising at least two heat transfer medium circuits, namely a heating circuit with a heat source for heating up of the heat transfer medium, and a cooling circuit with a heat sink for cooling of the heat transfer medium, wherein
 each adsorber unit works alternately in a desorption phase as a desorber, wherein heat is removed from the heat transfer medium to the desorber and in an adsorption phase as an adsorber, wherein heat is removed from the adsorber to the heat transfer medium; and   the forward motions (VL) and the return motions (RL) are switched individually alternately to the heating circuit and the cooling circuit in such a way that the return motion with the highest temperature always feeds its heat transfer medium to the heating circuit;   characterized in that in the transition of the first adsorber unit from the desorption phase to the adsorption phase and in the transition of the second adsorber unit from the adsorption phase to the desorption phase or vice versa, first the forward motion (VL) of the first adsorber unit which is connected as the new desorber is connected to the heating circuit so that the new desorber is fed from the heating circuit and thus heated up, and the return motion (RL) of this new desorber continues to be connected to the cooling circuit until the temperature level of the heat transfer medium in the return motion (RL) is increased by a preset extent, or is warmer than the return motion (RL) of the second adsorber unit, and the return motion (RL) of the second adsorber is connected to the cooling circuit so that this second adsorber is cooled and the still warm return motion (RL) of the second adsorber continues to remain connected to the heating circuit until the temperature of the heat transfer medium in the return motion (RL) has decreased by a predetermined extent, or up to or below the temperature of the return motion (RL) of the ether second adsorber unit.   
     
     
         22 . The method in accordance with claim  11 , characterized in that the return motion (RL) with the lowest temperature is always switched in such a way that it feeds its heat transfer medium to the cooling circuit. 
     
     
         23 . The method in accordance with claim  12 , characterized in that the switching of the forward motions (VL) and of the return motions (RL) takes place by means of a control unit which compares the temperatures of the return motions (RL) with each other. 
     
     
         24 . The method in accordance with claim  11 , characterized in that the switching of the forward motions (VL) and of the return motions (RL) takes place by means of a control unit which compares the temperatures of the return motions (RL) with each other.