Solar cooling with an ammonia-water-absorption refrigeration machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a single-stage ammonia-water absorption refrigeration machine in a batch process without solution pump and without rectification, consisting of a generator ( 1 ) with pressure reducer ( 29 ) and solution concentration optimization ( 3 ), absorber ( 14 ), condenser ( 25 ), evaporator ( 24 ), wherein the generator ( 1 ) together with a back-cooled input vessel ( 3 ) and the pressure reducer form a structural and pressure unit, in which the pressure reducer ( 29 ), at the start of each operating cycle, reduces the generator pressure below the absorber pressure, in such a way that from there via a check valve ( 69 ) solution flows in the back-cooled generator input vessel ( 3 ), fills it, and from there the solution gradually flows, following gravity, into a hot zone ( 1 ), which advantageously but not necessarily consists of a preheating zone ( 11 ) that is heated by the absorber ( 18 ) and an externally heated hot zone ( 12 ), where ammonia vapor is formed, which is directed by a siphon duct ( 8 ) from below through the residual solution still situated in the generator input vessel ( 3 ) and where, from the top end of this generator inlet vessel, a gas line leads through a check valve ( 27 ) to the condenser ( 25 ), while the boiled solution flowing out of the hot zone ( 1 ) flows through the pressure reducer ( 29 ) and through a check valve ( 40 ) as well as a pressure reduction stage ( 17 ) to the absorber ( 14 ).

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A single step ammonia-water cooling machine working in a batch process defined by sequential operating cycles, in order to pass ammonia gas from below through the rest of the solution still remaining in the back-cooled generator intake chamber ( 3 ) from where it passes through another gas conduit at an upper end portion of the back-cooled generator intake chamber via a check valve ( 27 ) to the condenser ( 25 ), the cooling machine having no solution pump and no distillation column, the cooling machine comprising
 a generator ( 1 ) including a pressure reducer ( 29 ) and a back-cooled generator intake chamber ( 3 ), an absorber ( 14 ), a condenser ( 25 ) and an evaporator ( 24 ),   wherein the generator ( 1 ) together with the back-cooled generator intake chamber ( 3 ) and the pressure reducer ( 29 ) form a construction module unit and a common pressure unit,   wherein the pressure reducer ( 29 ) reduces the pressure in the generator to below the pressure in the absorber at the beginning of each operating cycle with a check valve ( 2 ) so that a solution flows via the check valve ( 2 ) into and fills the back-cooled generator intake chamber ( 3 ) from where the solution flows by gravity gradually into a hot zone of the generator ( 1 ) which includes an externally heated hot zone ( 12 ), where ammonia vapor is generated, and a siphon ( 8 ) through which the ammonia vapor flows from below through the solution remaining in the generator intake chamber ( 3 ),   a gas conduit for flowing the ammonia vapor from an upper end portion of the generator intake chamber via a check valve ( 27 ) to the condenser ( 25 ), and   a conduit for flowing weak solution out of the hot zone of the generator ( 1 ) and directing through the pressure reducer ( 29 ) and a check valve ( 40 ) to the absorber ( 14 ).   
     
     
         12 . A cooling machine according to  claim 11  wherein a hot zone of the generator ( 1 ) includes a preheating zone ( 11 ) that is heated by the absorber ( 18 ). 
     
     
         13 . A cooling machine according to  claim 11  wherein the back-cooled generator intake chamber is coupled to three siphons or lifters ( 4 ,  8 ,  9 ) a first one of which comprising
 a relatively small first conduit extending from a bottom of the intake chamber ( 3 ) upwardly to a maximum fill level of the chamber where the small conduit turns downwardly and leads to a small catch basin ( 5 ) positioned below the intake chamber ( 3 ) which is vented via a conduit ( 6 ) to an upper portion of the intake chamber and which is connected via a conduit ( 7 ) that may include a regulating device to the heated generator zone ( 1 ) located beneath the catch basin, 
 a second one of the siphons or lifters ( 8 ) comprising a second conduit that extends upwardly from an upper portion of the heated zone ( 1 ) to above an upper edge of the back-cooled intake chamber ( 3 ) where it is diverted downwardly into a lower portion of the cooled intake chamber ( 3 ), and 
 a third one of the siphons or lifters ( 9 ) comprising a third conduit that extends downwardly from the upper portion of the back-cooled intake chamber ( 3 ) into a relatively small solution catch basin ( 10 ) in an intake to the heated zone of the generator. 
 
     
     
         14 . A cooling machine according to  claim 11  wherein the pressure reducer ( 29 ) comprises first and second cooled containers ( 32 ,  33 ) which are arranged above each other which are connected by first and second additional conduits ( 34 ,  36 ) through which solution or gas from the generator ( 1 ) flows first from the lower container ( 32 ) to the upper container ( 33 ) and then through a check valve ( 40 ) to the absorber ( 14 ),
 wherein the first additional conduit ( 34 ) connects a lower portion of the upper container ( 33 ) with a lower portion of the lower container ( 32 ) and the second additional conduit ( 36 ) initially extends from an upper portion of the lower container ( 32 ) downwardly, then turns from the lower portion of the lower container ( 32 ) to an upward direction and leads into the lower portion of the upper container ( 33 ). 
 
     
     
         15 . A cooling machine according to  claim 13  wherein the pressure reducer ( 29 ) comprises first and second cooled containers ( 32 ,  33 ) which are arranged above each other which are connected by first and second additional conduits ( 34 ,  36 ) through which solution or gas from the generator ( 1 ) flows first from the lower container ( 32 ) to the upper container ( 33 ) and then through a check valve ( 40 ) to the absorber ( 14 ),
 wherein the first additional conduit ( 34 ) connects a lower portion of the upper container ( 33 ) with a lower portion of the lower container ( 32 ) and the second additional conduit ( 36 ) initially extends from an upper portion of the lower container ( 32 ) downwardly, then turns from the lower portion of the lower container ( 32 ) to an upward direction and leads into the lower portion of the upper container ( 33 ). 
 
     
     
         16 . A cooling machine according to  claim 14  including a third additional conduit ( 37 ) in the pressure reducer ( 29 ) which branches from about a mid-portion of the second additional conduit ( 36 ) in the lower container ( 32 ) and initially extends upwardly from there and then turns downwardly into a lower portion of the second additional conduit ( 36 ) that extends upwardly to the upper container ( 33 ). ( FIG. 2B ) 
     
     
         17 . A cooling machine according to  claim 15  including a third additional conduit ( 37 ) in the pressure reducer ( 29 ) which branches from about a mid-portion of the second additional conduit ( 36 ) in the lower container ( 32 ) and initially extends upwardly from there and then turns downwardly into a lower portion of the second additional conduit ( 36 ) that extends upwardly to the upper container ( 33 ). ( FIG. 2B ) 
     
     
         18 . A cooling machine according to  claim 14  wherein the first additional conduit ( 34 ) descending from the upper container ( 33 ) of the pressure reducer ( 29 ) does not lead directly into the lower portion of the lower container ( 32 ) and includes a U-shaped tube ( 35 ) which has a lowermost point that defines the lowest point of the entire pressure reducer ( 29 ),
 wherein the second additional conduit ( 36 ) includes a control valve ( 42 ) in a portion of the second additional conduit extending upwardly, and 
 wherein the pressure reducer ( 29 ) includes a second check valve ( 41 ) that is parallel to the first check valve ( 40 ) in the flow direction toward the absorber ( 14 ) and that is fed by two parallel flows through fourth and fifth conduits ( 38 ,  39 ), the fourth conduit leading from the lower portion of the lower container ( 32 ) upwardly to the second check valve ( 41 ), and the fifth conduit ( 39 ) leading from an upper portion of the lower container ( 32 ) initially downwardly, which turns upwardly in the lower portion of the lower container and then leads to the second check valve  41 . ( FIG. 2C ) 
 
     
     
         19 . A cooling machine according to  claim 16  wherein the first additional conduit ( 34 ) descending from the upper container ( 33 ) of the pressure reducer ( 29 ) does not lead directly into the lower portion of the lower container ( 32 ) and includes a U-shaped tube ( 35 ) which has a lowermost point that defines the lowest point of the entire pressure reducer ( 29 ),
 wherein the second additional conduit ( 36 ) includes a control valve ( 42 ) in a portion of the second additional conduit extending upwardly, and 
 wherein the pressure reducer ( 29 ) includes a second check valve ( 41 ) that is parallel to the first check valve ( 40 ) in the flow direction toward the absorber ( 14 ) and that is fed by two parallel flows through fourth and fifth conduits ( 38 ,  39 ), the fourth conduit leading from the lower portion of the lower container ( 32 ) upwardly to the second check valve ( 41 ), and the fifth conduit ( 39 ) leading from an upper portion of the lower container ( 32 ) initially downwardly, which turns upwardly in the lower portion of the lower container and then leads to the second check valve  41 . ( FIG. 2C ) 
 
     
     
         20 . A cooling machine according to  claim 11  wherein the absorber ( 14 ) includes first and second sections ( 18 ,  19 ) and a discharge receptacle ( 21 ),
 wherein a hot weak solution flows upwardly, absorbs ammonia vapor and heat energy generated thereby and is fed to a pre-heating zone ( 11 ) of the generator ( 1 ) via a heat exchanger ( 62 ), a resulting cooled solution being further back-cooled in the second section ( 19 ) located above the first section and from which the solution flows gravitationally downward and absorbs additional ammonia before the solution flows to a lower portion of the discharge collection receptacle ( 21 ) located below which is being cooled by a liquid medium and from where the generator intake chamber ( 3 ) aspirates solution at the beginning of each cycle. ( FIG. 3 ) 
 
     
     
         21 . A cooling machine according to  claim 20  including a three-way valve in the flow of the cooling medium to the absorber discharge collection receptacle ( 21 ) which permits to temporarily heat the flow of a hot medium through a cooling jacket associated with the collection receptacle ( 21 ). 
     
     
         22 . A cooling machine according to  claim 20  wherein the pressure reducer includes a heat exchanger ( 63 ) having a primary side where the solution flowing from the generator ( 1 ,  12 ) to the pressure reducer ( 29 ) is being cooled and a secondary side where the solution flowing from the pressure reducer ( 29 ) to the absorber is being heated again. 
     
     
         23 . A cooling machine according to  claim 21  wherein the pressure reducer includes a heat exchanger ( 63 ) having a primary side where the solution flowing from the generator ( 1 ,  12 ) to the pressure reducer ( 29 ) is being cooled and a secondary side where the solution flowing from the pressure reducer ( 29 ) to the absorber is being heated again. 
     
     
         24 . A cooling machine according to  claim 11  wherein, except for storage containers ( 20 ,  21 ,  28 ), the control valves ( 7 ,  17 ,  17 ′,  26 ,  42 ) and the closure valves ( 22 ,  23 ) and conduits leading to them are substantially incorporated in a heat insulated stack of plates ( 50 ) that is formed of serially arranged specifically designed form plates ( 44 ) made of an elastic sealing material which have holes and channel-like sections for flowing liquids and gases, separation plates ( 49 ) made of sheet metal in which the holes extend transversely to the planes of the separation plates for flowing the liquids or gases, relatively stronger metallic outer plates ( 43 ), and screws, clamps and other metallic means which press the plates together so that between each two form plates ( 44 ) a separation plate ( 49 ) is positioned and between each two separation plates ( 49 ) a form plate ( 44 ) is positioned except at any desired location of the stack of plates ( 50 ) where a hydraulic pressure cushion, which comprises an elastic, closed sealing strip that extends along peripheries of the plates and is compressed between or is bonded to said two separation plates ( 49 ), is substituted for a form plate ( 44 ) so that a hydraulic liquid or a curing liquid resin can be injected under high pressure between the two separation plates; and
 wherein additionally the different pressure zones on each form plate ( 44 ) of the entire stack of plates ( 50 ) are separated from each other by lines of elastic sealing elements ( 46 ) that project from the surfaces of the form plates, which are formed by bonding continuous elastic sealing strips ( 68 ) to each form plate or by forming narrow channels along intended sealing lines ( 65 ) in each form plate into which sealing strings ( 66 ) made of a sealing elastomer are placed, and 
 wherein in the stack of plates ( 50 ) the components of the cooling machine are arranged so that the hot section ( 54 ) of the generator ( 1 ,  12 ) is at a lowest position, followed in an upward direction by heat exchangers ( 62 ,  63 ) where the temperature is lowered in the upward direction from relatively hot to relatively cold ( 55 ), above which the cooled portions of the absorber ( 19 ), the generator ( 1 ,  3 ,  5 ), the pressure reducer ( 29 ) and, at the uppermost position, the cold evaporator ( 24 ) are located, and 
 wherein at a border between the back-cooled ( 56 ) zone and the cold evaporator zone ( 58 ) openings ( 53 ) are arranged in the metallic separation plates ( 49 ) and the outer plates ( 53 ) which define only narrow connecting ridges ( 69 ) as needed for rigidity or where channels ( 70 ) in the form plates connect the evaporator with the remainder of the cooling machine. 
 
     
     
         25 . A cooling machine according to  claim 11  including a storage receptacle ( 20 ) between the exit from the pressure reducer ( 31 ) and the inlet to the absorber ( 18 ) but after the throttle ( 17 ) to absorber ( 14 ),
 wherein at the outlet from the condenser ( 25 ) and ahead of the pressure step or reduction ( 26 ) another storage receptacle ( 28 ) is located, and 
 wherein the user of the system can close the intakes and outlets of the storage receptacles ( 20 ,  28 ) as well as the absorber outlet receptacle ( 21 ) and the respective inlets and outlets can be closed with closure means ( 17 ,  17 ′,  22 ,  23 ,  26 ,  27 ) by a user of the cooling machine.