Collecting reservoir and method for recovering working medium in sorption devices

Abstract

The invention relates to a sorption device, wherein working medium that escapes when inert gas flows out is collected in a collecting reservoir ( 1 ), and wherein said working medium can be returned from the collecting reservoir to a part of the sorption device that is different from the collecting reservoir. The invention further relates to a method for recovering working medium and the use of a collecting reservoir to collect working medium and return working medium to a sorption process.

1 . A sorption device comprising
 at least one collecting reservoir,   a condenser,   a desorber and   a working medium,   wherein the at least one collecting reservoir is directly or indirectly connected to the condenser, and wherein at least one throttle element is provided between the collecting reservoir and the condenser,   wherein the sorption device is configured so that working medium that escapes during the flowing out of inert gas is collected in the collecting reservoir, and   said working medium can be returned from the collecting reservoir into a part of the sorption device that is different from the collecting reservoir.   
     
     
         2 . The sorption device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sorption device moreover comprises an inert gas trap and the collecting reservoir is connected to the condenser via said inert gas trap. 
     
     
         3 . The sorption device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a first throttle element is provided between the inert gas trap and the collecting reservoir and a second throttle element is provided between the condenser and the inert gas trap. 
     
     
         4 . The sorption device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the collecting reservoir comprises internal baffle plates. 
     
     
         5 . The sorption device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sorption device is an adsorption device. 
     
     
         6 . The sorption device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the collecting reservoir has at least one opening. 
     
     
         7 . The sorption device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sorption device comprises a plurality of collecting reservoirs arranged in a row. 
     
     
         8 . The sorption device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the collecting reservoir is made from metal and/or plastic. 
     
     
         9 . The sorption device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the collecting reservoir comprises a coolant source and/or cooling fins. 
     
     
         10 . A method for recovering working medium in a sorption process of a sorption device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 exited working medium that has escaped during the removal of inert gases is collected in the collecting reservoir and is returned from the collecting reservoir into a part of the sorption device that is different from the collecting reservoir.   
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , comprising the following steps:
 a. introducing a vaporous working medium from the desorber into the condenser, wherein the working medium at least partially condenses in the condenser and the inert gas collects in the condenser,   b. increasing pressure in the condenser,   c. opening a throttle element provided between the condenser and the collecting reservoir, wherein the inert gas and the working medium flow from the condenser into the collecting reservoir,   d. collecting the working medium in the collecting reservoir, and   e. returning the working medium into a part of the sorption device that is different from the collecting reservoir.   
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein
 the collecting reservoir is connected to the condenser via an inert gas trap, and wherein the method comprises:
 (i) cooling the inert gas trap using a cooling element to a temperature that is lower, the same or similar to that of the condenser, 
 (ii) introducing a vaporous working medium from the desorber or a desorber unit into the condenser, wherein the working medium at least partially condenses in the condenser and the inert gas collects in the condenser, 
 (iii) opening a throttle element provided between the condenser and the inert gas trap, wherein the inert gas and vaporous working medium flow from the condenser into the inert gas trap, 
 (iv) heating the inert gas trap, 
 (v) opening a throttle element provided between the inert gas trap and the collecting reservoir, through which the inert gas and the working medium flow out from the inert gas trap into the collecting reservoir, 
 (vi) collecting the working medium in the collecting reservoir, and 
 (vii) returning the working medium into a part of the sorption device that is different from the collecting reservoir. 
   
     
     
         13 . A method for collecting and returning working medium in a sorption process, wherein
 the collecting reservoir is attached to a sorption unit and wherein the working medium flows, during the removal of inert gas from a sorption unit, into a collecting reservoir, and wherein the working medium that flowed out is returned into the sorption unit.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the working medium is returned in a liquid form. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the working medium condenses in the collecting reservoir. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the collecting reservoir is connected to an inert gas trap of the sorption unit. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the working medium is sucked back by vacuum pressure. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the sorption device is an adsorption cooling machine. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the pressure in the condenser is increased by heating.