Adsorption/desorption heating, cooling, and energy storage process and apparatus

Abstract

The invention described herein enables a variety of heating, cooling, energy transformation, and energy storage options with a small number or components. Described are Pressure Swing Adsorption and Pressure Swing Desorption cycles, processes, and apparatuses including multiple sorption beds and active energy input by a pump and energy storage as pressure differentials. A preferred embodiment includes two activated carbon sorption beds, water vapor as the adsorbate, control valves, and a compressor or vacuum pump. In operation these components provide a range of heating, cooling, and energy storage options. Operational cycles are described.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 ) A thermal energy transfer system comprising;
 an adsorbate pump,   an adsorbate,   an adsorbent within a first sorption bed,   wherein said pump performs a process selected from the group consisting of; said pump raises pressure within said first sorption bed whereby exothermic adsorption occurs and when said adsorption occurs, a system performance curve results wherein, said curve is derived from at least one equilibrium adsorption or desorption isotherm curve with an inflexion point slope greater than 0.1 mol/kg/kPa, said exothermic energy being transferred to heat an application,   and said pump lowers pressure within said first sorption bed whereby endothermic desorption occurs and when said desorption occurs a system performance curve results wherein, said curve is derived from at least one equilibrium adsorption or desorption isotherm curve with an inflexion point slope greater than 0.1 mol/kg/kPa, said endothermic energy being transferred from an application to cool it.   
     
     
         2 ) The thermal energy transfer system of  claim 1  wherein said equilibrium adsorption or desorption isotherm curve is classified by IUPAC as exhibiting at least one isotherm selected from the group consisting of a Type II isotherm, a Type III isotherm, a Type IV isotherm, a Type V isotherm, and a Type VI isotherm. 
     
     
         3 ) The thermal energy transfer system of  claim 1  wherein a second sorption bed is provided and said pump performs one selected from the group consisting of; said pump lowers pressure within said second sorption bed, and said pump raises pressure within said second sorption bed. 
     
     
         4 ) The thermal energy transfer system of  claim 3  wherein a valve is provided and when said pump is not operated said valve is opened to allow adsorbate to flow in a direction selected from the group consisting of from said first sorption bed at a higher pressure to said second sorption bed at a lower pressure and from said second sorption bed at a higher pressure to said first sorption bed at a lower pressure. 
     
     
         5 ) The thermal energy transfer system of  claim 1  wherein a secondary fluid is provided to transfer thermal energy in a process selected from the group consisting of; said thermal energy is transferred from said first sorption bed to said secondary fluid to said application, and said thermal energy is transferred from said application to said secondary fluid to said first sorption bed. 
     
     
         6 ) The thermal energy transfer system of  claim 1  wherein said thermal energy is transferred to or from one selected from the group consisting of a building, a refrigerator, a freezer, a movable vehicle, a substrate, a heater, a ground source, and an air source. 
     
     
         7 ) The thermal energy transfer system of  claim 1  wherein at least one equilibrium adsorption or desorption isotherm curve of said system performance curve displays a pressure ratio P H /P L  of less than 20.0. 
     
     
         8 ) The thermal energy transfer system of  claim 1  wherein said adsorbate comprises one selected from the group consisting of water and carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         9 ) thermal energy transfer system of  claim 1  wherein said adsorbent comprises one selected from the group consisting of activated carbon and activated alumina. 
     
     
         10 ) The thermal energy transfer system of  claim 1  wherein at least one equilibrium adsorption or desorption isotherm curve of said performance curve displays a product of Δq*ΔH greater than 5 kJ/kg, where Δq is the change in the adsorbed phase loading and ΔH is the heat of adsorption or the heat of desorption. 
     
     
         11 ) A thermal energy transfer system comprising;
 A valve,   an adsorbate,   an adsorbent within a first sorption bed,   wherein said valve performs a process selected from the group consisting of; said valve opens causing a pressure increase within said first sorption bed whereby exothermic adsorption occurs and when said adsorption occurs, a system performance curve results wherein, said curve is derived from at least one equilibrium adsorption or desorption isotherm curve with an inflexion point slope greater than 0.1 mol/kg/kPa, said exothermic energy being transferred to heat an application,   and said valve opens causing a pressure decrease within said first sorption bed whereby endothermic desorption occurs and when said desorption occurs a system performance curve results wherein, said curve is derived from at least one equilibrium adsorption or desorption isotherm curve with an inflexion point slope greater than 0.1 mol/kg/kPa, said endothermic energy being transferred from an application to cool it.   
     
     
         12 ) The thermal energy transfer system of  claim 11  wherein said equilibrium adsorption or desorption isotherm curve is classified by IUPAC as exhibiting at least one isotherm selected from the group consisting of a Type II isotherm, a Type III isotherm, a Type IV isotherm, a Type V isotherm, and a Type VI isotherm. 
     
     
         13 ) The thermal energy transfer system of  claim 11  wherein a second sorption bed is provided and said valve performs one selected from the group consisting of; said valve opens to lower pressure within said second sorption bed, and said valve opens to raise pressure within said second sorption bed. 
     
     
         14 ) The thermal energy transfer system of  claim 11  wherein a pump is provided and said pump is operated in one selected from the group consisting of said pump increases pressure in said first sorption bed and said pump decreases pressure in said first sorption bed. 
     
     
         15 ) The thermal energy transfer system of  claim 11  wherein a secondary fluid is provided to transfer thermal energy in a process selected from the group consisting of; said thermal energy is transferred from said first sorption bed to said secondary fluid to said application, and said thermal energy is transferred from said application to said secondary fluid to said first sorption bed. 
     
     
         16 ) The thermal energy transfer system of  claim 11  wherein said thermal energy is transferred to or from one selected from the group consisting of a building, a refrigerator, a freezer, a movable vehicle, a substrate, a heater, a ground source, and an air source. 
     
     
         17 ) The thermal energy transfer system of  claim 11  wherein at least one equilibrium adsorption or desorption isotherm curve of said system performance curve displays a P H /P L  of less than 20.0. 
     
     
         18 ) The thermal energy transfer system of  claim 11  wherein said adsorbate comprises one selected from the group consisting of water and carbon dioxide 
     
     
         19 ) The thermal energy transfer system of  claim 11  wherein said adsorbent comprises one selected from the group consisting of activated carbon and activated alumina. 
     
     
         20 ) The thermal energy transfer system of  claim 11  wherein at least at least one equilibrium adsorption or desorption isotherm curve of said system performance curve displays a product of Δq*ΔH greater than 5 kJ/kg, where Δq is the change in the adsorbed phase loading and ΔH is the heat of adsorption or the heat of desorption.