Absorption refrigeration cycles; apparatus; and, methods

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to improvements in refrigeration cycles. This disclosure relates to preferred processing of solution from absorber arrangements of absorption refrigeration cycles, to separate out refrigerant liquid. Examples are provided. A variety of equipment configurations, techniques, and processes are disclosed, as examples.

1 . A process of conducting an absorption refrigeration cycle; the process comprising steps of:
 (a) processing dilute solution into concentrated solute solution and refrigerant liquid without a step of vaporizing and condensing refrigerant contained in the dilute solution;   (b) directing at least a portion the refrigerant liquid into a first evaporator arrangement to vaporize at least a portion of the refrigerant;   (c) directing the concentrated solute solution into an absorber arrangement; and,   (d) directing vaporized refrigerant from an evaporator arrangement into an absorber arrangement, for absorption of the refrigerant into concentrated solute solution therein.   
     
     
         2 . A process according to  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the step of processing dilute solution comprises applied electric field processing. 
 
     
     
         3 . A process according to  claim 2  wherein:
 (a) the step of processing dilute solution comprises at least one of electrodialysis; electrodeionization; capacitive deionization; and, membrane capacitive deionization. 
 
     
     
         4 . A process according to  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the step of processing dilute solution comprises membrane-based processing. 
 
     
     
         5 . A process according to  claim 4  wherein:
 (a) the step of processing dilute solution comprises reverse osmosis processing. 
 
     
     
         6 . A process of conducting an absorption refrigeration cycle in accord  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the step of directing the refrigerant liquid, from the step of processing, comprises directing the refrigerant liquid into the first evaporator arrangement without further dilution of the refrigerant liquid. 
 
     
     
         7 . A process according to  claim 6  wherein:
 (a) the step of directing the concentrated solution into an absorption arrangement comprises directing concentrated solution from a membrane-based processing step into an absorber arrangement without further concentration. 
 
     
     
         8 . A process according to  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the step of directing vaporized refrigerant comprises directing the refrigerant into the absorber arrangement into which the concentrated solute solution is directed. 
 
     
     
         9 . A process according to  claim 8  wherein:
 (a) the step of directing concentrated solute solution into an absorber arrangement comprises directing concentrated solute solution, from the step of processing dilute solution, into the absorber arrangement into which the vaporized refrigerant is directed. 
 
     
     
         10 . A process according to  claim 9  wherein:
 (a) not all of the concentrated solute solution, from the step of processing dilute solution, is directed into the absorber arrangement in which the vaporized refrigerant is directed. 
 
     
     
         11 . A process according to  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the step of processing dilute solution comprises a combination of membrane-based processing and applied electric field processing. 
 
     
     
         12 . An absorption refrigeration cycle comprising:
 (a) at least a first absorber arrangement configured to absorb refrigerant gas, from a first evaporator arrangement, into a solution to provide a dilute solution;   (b) a least a first evaporator arrangement configured to receive refrigerant liquid and to process at least a portion of the refrigerant liquid into refrigerant gas; and,   (c) a non-vaporizing solution processing unit system configured to process dilute solution into: strong solution; and, refrigerant liquid, at least a portion of which refrigerant liquid is for direction to the first evaporator arrangement.   
     
     
         13 . An absorption refrigeration cycle according to  claim 12  wherein:
 (a) the non-vaporizing solution processing unit system comprises at least an applied electric field processing unit system. 
 
     
     
         14 . An absorption refrigeration cycle according to  claim 12  wherein:
 (a) the non-vaporizing solution processing unit system comprises at a membrane-based solution processing unit system. 
 
     
     
         15 . An absorption refrigeration cycle according to  claim 14  wherein:
 (a) the membrane-based solution processing unit system includes at least one reverse osmosis unit having: a high pressure side inlet; a high pressure side outlet; a low pressure side inlet; and, a low pressure side outlet. 
 
     
     
         16 . An absorption refrigeration cycle according to  claim 12  wherein:
 (a) the first absorber arrangement is configured to absorb refrigerant gas into strong solution, to provide dilute solution. 
 
     
     
         17 . An absorption refrigeration cycle according to  claim 12  wherein:
 (a) the non-vaporizing solution processing unit system is configured to process the dilute solution from the absorber arrangement into: the strong solution; and, a refrigerant liquid for direction to the first evaporator. 
 
     
     
         18 . An absorption refrigeration cycle according  claim 12  wherein:
 (a) the non-vaporizing solution processing unit system includes both an applied electric field solution processing unit system and a membrane-based processing unit system. 
 
     
     
         19 . A process of conducting an absorption refrigeration cycle; the process comprising steps of:
 (a) processing dilute solution into concentrated solute solution and refrigerant liquid by at least one of membrane-based processing and applied electric field processing;   (b) directing at least a portion the refrigerant liquid into a first evaporator arrangement to vaporize at least a portion of the refrigerant;   (c) directing the concentrated solute solution into an absorber arrangement; and,   (d) directing vaporized refrigerant from an evaporator arrangement into an absorber arrangement, for absorption of the refrigerant into concentrated solute solution therein.   
     
     
         20 . An absorption refrigeration cycle comprising:
 (a) at least a first absorber arrangement configured to absorb refrigerant gas, from a first evaporator arrangement, into a solution to provide a dilute solution;   (b) a least a first evaporator arrangement configured to receive refrigerant liquid and to process at least a portion of the refrigerant liquid into refrigerant gas; and,   (c) a processing unit system configured to process dilute solution into: strong solution; and, refrigerant liquid, at least a portion of which refrigerant liquid is for direction to the first evaporator arrangement; the solution processing unit system comprising at least one of: a membrane-based processing unit system; and, an applied electric field processing unit system.