초록 ▼

A regenerative sorption compressor assembly for use in a sorption compressor/refrigerator system. The regenerative sorption compressor assembly of the present invention comprises a series of sorption compressor elements connected to a flowing loop of heat transport fluid. The compressor elements are

A regenerative sorption compressor assembly for use in a sorption compressor/refrigerator system. The regenerative sorption compressor assembly of the present invention comprises a series of sorption compressor elements connected to a flowing loop of heat transport fluid. The compressor elements are heated and cooled by the heat transport fluid. At some point in the loop the fluid path is broken and the fluid is diverted to a heat source. At another point in the loop the fluid path is broken and the fluid is diverted to a heat sink. The points at which the heating and cooling flows are diverted are switched from compressor element to element in the direction of fluid flow at such a rate that the thermal capacity rate of the fluid in the heat transport loop relative to the moving switch point is equal and opposite to the thermal capacity rate of the compressor assembly relative to the switch point. The unique thermal recovery concept of the present invention provides a significant improvement in operating efficiency for a cryogenic refrigerator.

대표청구항 ▼

A regenerative sorption compressor assembly, the assembly of the type having compressor elements containing a sorbent material and a refrigerant gas and being in intimate contact with a heating and cooling fluid carrier for applying and removing heat, respectively, from the compressor elements; the

A regenerative sorption compressor assembly, the assembly of the type having compressor elements containing a sorbent material and a refrigerant gas and being in intimate contact with a heating and cooling fluid carrier for applying and removing heat, respectively, from the compressor elements; the assembly comprising: at least four of said compressor elements arranged in a continuous serial thermal fluid loop; at least four of heat switching devices, one such device being respectively connected to each of said compressor elements in said thermal fluid loop; a heat source and a heat sink; a heat transport fluid and means for causing said heat transport fluid to circulate through said thermal fluid loop at a controlled rate; each said heat switching device being also connected to said heat source and to said heat sink and being selectively switchable to permit the compressor element to which it is connected to be thermally isolated from the heat source and heat sink or to connect such compressor element to either the heat source or the heat sink; means for selectively switching said heat switching devices so that at any one time one such heat switching device is configured for heat transfer from said heat source; another such heat switching device is configured for heat transfer to said heat sink, and the remaining such heat switching devices are configured for thermal isolation from both the heat source and the heat sink; and means for controlling said switching sequentially around said loop for maximizing the thermal operating efficiency of said compressor assembly; wherein said plurality of compressor elements comprises an even number of compressor elements; said plurality of heat switching devices comprise one such device per compressor element; alternating compressor elements in said thermal fluid loop being each connected by a respective first one of said heat switching devices to said heat source, each said first heat switching device being selectively switchable to thermally connect said compressor elements to said heat source or to thermally isolate said compressor element from said heat source; and the remaining said compressor elements being each connected by a respective second one of said heat switching devices to said heat sink, each said second heat switching device being selectively switchable to thermally connect said compressor elements to said heat sink or to thermally isolate said compressor element from said heat sink.