Absorption heat pump system and method of using the same

Abstract

An absorption heat pump system that can include a first assembly, a second assembly, and a thermal coupler is disclosed herein. The first assembly can include a condenser and an evaporator. The second assembly can include an absorber, a desorber, and a heat exchanger. The thermal coupler can include a first gas inlet, a second fluid inlet, and a mixed fluid outlet. The system can be configured with a first gas outlet of the desorber in fluid communication with the first gas inlet of the thermal coupler, and the mixed fluid outlet of the thermal coupler in fluid communication with a mixed fluid inlet of the evaporator. The system can also include a coolant absorber inlet and outlet on the absorber and a coolant condenser inlet and outlet on the condenser, with the coolant absorber outlet in fluid communication with the coolant condenser inlet.

1 . An absorption heat pump system comprising:
 a first assembly comprising a condenser and an evaporator, wherein a refrigerant outlet of said condenser is in fluid communication with a refrigerant inlet of said evaporator;   a second assembly comprising an absorber, a desorber, and a heat exchanger, wherein a solution outlet of said absorber is in fluid communication with a solution inlet of said desorber, an absorbent outlet of said desorber is in fluid communication with an absorbent inlet of said absorber, and said heat exchanger is disposed in fluid communication between said absorber and said desorber; and   a thermal coupler comprising a first gas inlet, a second fluid inlet, and a heated fluid outlet,   wherein a refrigerant outlet of said evaporator is in fluid communication with a refrigerant inlet of said absorber, a refrigerant outlet of said desorber is in fluid communication with a refrigerant inlet of said condenser, and wherein a first gas outlet of said desorber is in fluid communication with said first gas inlet of said thermal coupler, and said heated fluid outlet of said thermal coupler is in fluid communication with a heated fluid inlet of said evaporator.   
     
     
         2 . The absorption heat pump system according to  claim 1 , wherein said thermal coupler comprises a mixer. 
     
     
         3 . The absorption heat pump system according to  claim 1 , wherein said thermal coupler comprises a heat exchanger. 
     
     
         4 . The absorption heat pump system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said absorber further comprises a coolant absorber inlet and a coolant absorber outlet,   said condenser further comprises a coolant condenser inlet and a coolant condenser outlet, and   wherein said coolant absorber outlet is in fluid communication with said coolant condenser inlet and a pump driving a process fluid from said absorber coolant outlet to said condenser coolant inlet.   
     
     
         5 . The absorption heat pump system according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a refrigerant fluid comprising water, and   an absorbent fluid comprising a liquid comprising lithium bromide (LiBr).   
     
     
         6 . The absorption heat pump system according to  claim 1 , wherein said evaporator has an operating temperature greater than 5° C. 
     
     
         7 . A method of using an absorption heat pump comprising:
 providing an absorption heat pump system;   receiving a first gas from a desorber of said absorption heat pump system;   forming a third fluid comprising said exhaust gas and a second gas; and   delivering said third fluid to an evaporator of said absorption heat pump system.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein said first gas comprises exhaust from said desorber. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein said second gas comprises air. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 introducing a process fluid to an absorber of said absorption heat pump system before passing said process fluid to a condenser of said absorption heat pump system,   wherein a temperature of said process fluid exiting said condenser is greater than a temperature of said process fluid exiting said absorber.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising
 circulating a refrigerant fluid from said evaporator through an absorber of said absorption heat pump system then through said desorber then through a condenser of said absorption heat pump system;   circulating an absorbent fluid between said absorber and said desorber; and   wherein said refrigerant fluid comprises water, and   said absorbent fluid comprises LiBr.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving refrigerant fluid comprising a vapor phase in said absorber;   receiving absorbent fluid in said absorber;   forming a solution comprising said refrigerant fluid comprising a vapor phase and said absorbent fluid, wherein said solution has a concentration of less than 65% LiBr immediately after exiting said absorber.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising operating said evaporator at a temperature greater than 5° C. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising operating said absorption heat pump system without forming LiBr crystals proximate said absorber. 
     
     
         15 . A method of using an absorption heat pump comprising:
 providing an absorption heat pump system;   coupling an exhaust gas from a desorber of said absorption heat pump system with a second fluid to form a second heated fluid; and   delivering said second heated fluid to an evaporator of said absorption heat pump system.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said coupling comprises mixing said exhaust gas and said second fluid to form said second heated fluid. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said coupling comprises heat transfer from said exhaust gas to said second fluid through at least one solid surface to form said second heated fluid. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 circulating a refrigerant fluid from an evaporator of said absorption heat pump system through said absorber then through a desorber of said absorption heat pump system then through said condenser;   circulating an absorbent fluid between said absorber and said desorber; and   wherein said refrigerant fluid comprises water, and   said absorbent fluid comprises LiBr.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15 , farther comprising operating said evaporator at a temperature greater than 5° C. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15 , farther comprising operating said absorption heat pump system without forming LiBr crystals proximate said absorber.