Adsorption system

Abstract

An adsorption system can be used as part of a climate control system in a vehicle or in any other space requiring heating or cooling.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A climate control system comprising:
 an output of a first adsorbent bed fluidly connected to an input of a condenser;   an output of the condenser fluidly connected to an input of a first reservoir;   an output of the first reservoir fluidly connected to a first expansion valve;   the first expansion valve fluidly connected to an input of an evaporator; and   an output of the evaporator fluidly connected to an input of the first adsorbent bed.   
     
     
         15 . The climate control system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 an output of a second adsorbent bed fluidly connected to the input of the condenser;   the output of the condenser fluidly connected to an input of a second reservoir;   an output of the second reservoir fluidly connected to a second expansion valve;   the second expansion valve fluidly connected to the input of the evaporator; and   the output of the evaporator fluidly connected to an input of the second adsorbent bed.   
     
     
         16 . The climate control system of  claim 14 , wherein the first adsorbent bed configured to become operational upon opening the first thermal expansion valve, thereby allowing a fluid to pass through the evaporator before entering the first adsorbent bed. 
     
     
         17 . The climate control system of  claim 16 , wherein the system is configured to allow to the fluid to pass from the first adsorbent bed through the condenser and the first reservoir before returning to the first expansion valve. 
     
     
         18 . The climate control system of  claim 15 , wherein the second adsorbent bed is configured to become operational upon opening the second thermal expansion valve, thereby allowing the fluid to pass through the evaporator before entering the second adsorbent bed. 
     
     
         19 . The climate control system of  claim 18 , wherein the system is configured to allow fluid to pass from the second adsorbent bed through the condenser and the second reservoir before returning to the second expansion valve. 
     
     
         20 . The climate control system of  claim 14 , wherein the first adsorbent bed comprises:
 a plurality of plates;   a layer including an adsorbent material adjacent to a portion of at least one plate; and   a plurality of passages between the plates.   
     
     
         21 . A method for cooling a vehicle, the method comprising:
 releasing a fluid from a reservoir through a thermal expansion valve;   passing the fluid from the thermal expansion valve through an evaporator and into an adsorbent bed, thereby causing the temperature of the evaporator to decrease; and   passing air over the evaporator and into a vehicle cabin to cool the vehicle cabin.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising cooling the adsorbent bed to maintain the adsorbent bed at an allowable operating temperature. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the adsorbent bed comprises an adsorbent material comprising 13X, MCM-41, MFI, VPI-5, MOF-199, M.sub.g-MOF-74, ZIF, MOF-5, MOF-177, MOF-210, graphite flakes, carbon nanotubes, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         24 . A method for heating a vehicle, the method comprising:
 releasing a fluid from a reservoir through a thermal expansion valve;   passing the fluid from the thermal expansion valve through an evaporator and into an adsorbent bed, thereby causing the temperature of the adsorbent bed to increase; and   transferring heat from the adsorbent bed into a vehicle cabin to heat the vehicle cabin.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising maintaining the temperature of the evaporator above the freezing point of the fluid. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the temperature of the evaporator is maintained above a freezing point of the fluid by providing heat to the evaporator from a heat source comprising ambient air, waste heat, an auxiliary heater, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         27 . A method for controlling vehicle climate, the method comprising:
 operating a first climate control system comprising a first adsorbent bed until a first reservoir of fluid is depleted;   deactivating the first climate control system when the first reservoir of fluid is depleted and activating a second climate control system comprising a second adsorbent bed; and   replenishing the first reservoir with fluid while the second climate control system is activated.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 operating the second climate control system until a second reservoir of fluid is depleted;   deactivating the second climate control system when the second reservoir of fluid is depleted;   reactivating the first climate control system; and replenishing the second reservoir with fluid while the first climate control system is operating.