Method for the controlled removal of foreign gases from a sorption device with an inert gas trap

Abstract

The invention concerns a method which enables an inert gas to be removed from an inert gas trap during operation of a sorption machine, in particular an absorption machine, thus ensuring improved control of the removal.

1 . A method for removing a foreign gas from a sorption machine, wherein the sorption machine comprises at least
 one adsorber and one desorber, or one adsorber-desorber unit,   one vaporizer and one condenser, or one vaporizer-condenser unit,   one working medium,   one restrictor element, and   one inert gas trap,   wherein the inert gas trap comprises at least one cooling element and one discharge element, the method comprising:   a) cooling of the inert gas trap with the at least one cooling element to a temperature that is lower, equal to or approximately equal to a temperature of the condenser;   b) introducing the working medium, which is vaporous, from the desorber or the adsorber-desorber unit into the condenser, the working medium condensing at least partially in the condenser and the foreign gas collecting in the condenser;   c) opening a restrictor element arranged between the condenser and the inert gas trap, the foreign gas and the working medium flowing out of the condenser into the inert gas trap;   d) heating the inert gas trap;   e) opening a discharge device through which the foreign gas can flow out of the inert gas trap;   wherein one of a) to e) is initiated by a control signal selected from the group consisting of quantity of inert gas, drop in performance, number of cycles, time of operation and a combination thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein step d) is initiated by the control signal and the method begins sequentially at d).   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the control signal activates the inert gas trap as soon as predefined parameter values are reached.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a quantity of the inert gas is determined via a temperature and/or pressure measurement. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein a temperature sensor is arranged on the condenser and/or a pressure sensor is arranged on the condenser and/or on the desorber or on the adsorber-desorber unit, the control signal depending on a quantity of the inert gas from measured values of the pressure and/or temperature sensor.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein a) to e) are repeated in sequence several times.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein a the quantity of inert gas is determined at the end or in the middle of a cycle.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein a quantity of the inert gas is determined upon conclusion of the condensation process.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the quantity of inert gas is determined over several seconds at the end of a cycle or the average quantity of inert gas is determined over the entire cycle.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the sorption method is an adsorption method.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the working medium is a refrigerant.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the refrigerant is water.