Utilization of waste heat using fiber sorbent system

Abstract

A method for creating work by adsorption end desorption of a working fluid on an fiber sorption system which has a plurality of tubular hollow fibers within a vessel which is connected to a work device. Each fiber is in the form of a tubular, elongated body composed of a sorbent material capable of adsorbing a working fluid such as carbon dioxide. The fibers have an inner surface adjacent the hollow interior and an outer surface, one of which has a coating layer which is impermeable to both a working fluid and thermal fluid. The system is operated by passing a thermal cooling fluid in contact with the fibers to cool the fibers and passing the working fluid over the fibers in contact with the surface of the cooled fibers which does not have the coating layer so that the working fluid is adsorbed on the fibers, the adsorbed working fluid is then desorbed from the fibers by passing a thermal heating fluid in contact with the fibers to heat the fibers; the pressurized, desorbed working fluid is then passed to a work device connected to the vessel.

1 . A method for creating work by adsorption and desorption of a working fluid on an fiber sorption system comprising a plurality of tubular hollow fibers located within a vessel which is connected to a work device, each fiber being in the form of an elongated body composed of a sorbent material and hinder material, the body having a hollow interior with an outer surface and an inner surface adjacent the hollow interior one of the inner surface and the outer surface having a coating layer formed thereon which is impermeable to both a working fluid and thermal fluid, the method comprising:
 passing a thermal cooling fluid in contact with the fibers to cool the fibers,   passing the working fluid in contact with the surface of the cooled fibers not having the coating layer to adsorb the working fluid on the fibers,   passing a thermal heating fluid in contact with the fibers to heat the fibers and desorb the adsorbed working fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , in which the coating layer is formed on the inner surface of the hollow fiber and (i) the thermal fluid is in contact with the inner surface of the hollow fiber and (ii) the working fluid is in contact with the outer surface of the hollow fiber. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , in which the coating layer is selected from poly(vinyl chloride), poly(vinylidene chloride), poly(vinyl floride), poly(vinylidene floride), ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, poly vinyl alcohol, polyamides, polyethyene, polypropylene, polyesters, polyimides, polyacrylonitrile, polysulfone, polyurethane. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the sorbent material is a zeolite. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , in which the zeolite is zeolite 13X. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the working fluid comprises carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the thermal cooling fluid and the thermal heating fluid are capable of mixing within the vessel. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , in which the thermal heating fluid comprises steam. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , in which the thermal cooling fluid comprises water. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , in which the coating layer is formed on the outer surface of the hollow fiber and (i) the thermal fluid is in contact with the outer surface of the hollow fiber and (ii) the working fluid is in contact with the inner surface of the hollow fiber. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , in which the coating layer is selected from poly(vinyl chloride), poly(vinylidene chloride), poly(vinyl floride), poly(vinylidene floride), ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, poly vinyl alcohol, polyamides, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyesters, polyimides, polyacrylonitrile, polysulfone, polyurethane. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , in which the sorbent material is a zeolite. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , in which the zeolite is zeolite 13X. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the working fluid comprises carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the thermal cooling fluid and the thermal heating fluid are capable of mixing within the vessel. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , in which the thermal heating fluid comprises steam. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , in which the thermal cooling fluid comprises water. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  in which desorbed pressurized working fluid is directed from the vessel to the connected work device to generate work. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 18  in which the work device comprises an expansion valve. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19  in which the work device comprises an expansion valve to provide refrigeration. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 18  in which the work device comprises a turboexpander. 
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 18  in which the thermal fluid includes a surfactant to reduce interfacial tension between the thermal fluid and the coating.