Air-conditioning system with integrated sorbent body

Abstract

An air conditioning system for a vehicle includes a refrigerant circulating through a closed system including a condenser, a compressor, and an evaporator. A sorbent body, which may be a desiccant-entrained polymer, is disposed inside the compressor to remove moisture from the refrigerant passing therethrough.

What we claim is: 
     
         1 . An air conditioning system for a vehicle, the air conditioning system comprising:
 an evaporator;   a condenser; and   a compressor comprising:
 a housing defining an inlet in fluid communication with the evaporator, a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the condenser, and at least one interior fluid path fluidly connecting the inlet and the outlet; 
 at least one piston disposed in the housing and configured to compress fluid in the interior fluid path; and 
 a sorbent body disposed in the interior fluid path. 
   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the sorbent body comprises an injection molded sorbent. 
     
     
         3 . The air-conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises an end cap comprising at least one cavity defining a portion of the internal fluid path, the sorbent body being disposed in the at least one cavity. 
     
     
         4 . The air-conditioning system of  claim 3 , wherein the sorbent body is an injection molded sorbent configured to be retained in the at least one cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The air-conditioning system of  claim 4 , further comprising a retention mechanism configured to retain the injection molded sorbent in the at least one cavity. 
     
     
         6 . The air-conditioning system of  claim 4 , wherein the injection molded sorbent is configured to be press fit into the at least one cavity. 
     
     
         7 . The air-conditioning system of  claim 4 , wherein the injection molded sorbent comprises a body and a hole extending through the body, the compressor further comprising a fastener extending at least partially through the hole to retain the injection molded sorbent in the at least one cavity. 
     
     
         8 . A compressor comprising:
 a housing;   an inlet port;   an outlet port;   an internal channel fluidly connecting the inlet port and the outlet port;   at least one piston disposed in fluid communication with the internal channel, a first portion of the internal channel between the inlet port and the at least one piston comprising a low-pressure portion and a portion of the internal channel between the at least one piston and the outlet port comprising a high-pressure portion; and   a molded sorbent body disposed in the high-pressure portion of the internal channel.   
     
     
         9 . The compressor of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the housing includes a main body and an end cap removably sealable to the main body;   the at least one piston is disposed in the main body;   the high-pressure portion is at least partially defined by a cavity in the cap; and   the molded sorbent body is disposed in the cavity in the cap.   
     
     
         10 . The compressor of  claim 8 , wherein the molded sorbent body is secured in the cavity. 
     
     
         11 . The compressor of  claim 10 , wherein the molded sorbent body is press fit into the cavity. 
     
     
         12 . The compressor of  claim 10 , further comprising a fastener configured to secure the molded sorbent body in the cavity, the fastener comprising at least one of a tab, a threaded fastener, or a flange. 
     
     
         13 . The compressor of  claim 8 , wherein the molded sorbent body is an injection molded desiccant-entrained polymer. 
     
     
         14 . The compressor of  claim 8 , wherein the molded sorbent body comprises a polymer and at least one of zeolite or molecular sieve. 
     
     
         15 . An air conditioning system for a vehicle, the air conditioning system comprising:
 an evaporator;   a condenser; and   a compressor,   wherein the evaporator, the condenser and the compressor are in fluid communication and comprise a closed fluid system through which a refrigerant circulates, the compressor comprising:
 a housing defining an inlet in fluid communication with the evaporator, an outlet in fluid communication with the condenser, and at least one interior fluid path fluidly connecting the inlet and the outlet; 
 a plurality of pistons disposed in the housing and configured to compress the refrigerant in the interior fluid path, a first portion of the internal fluid path between the inlet port and the plurality of pistons comprising a low-pressure portion and a second portion of the internal fluid path between the plurality of pistons and the outlet port comprising a high-pressure portion; and 
 a molded sorbent body disposed in the high-pressure portion of the interior fluid path. 
   
     
     
         16 . The air conditioning system of  claim 15 , wherein the molded sorbent body comprises an injection-molded, desiccant-entrained polymer configured for retention in the high-pressure portion. 
     
     
         17 . The air conditioning system of  claim 16 , wherein the sorbent body comprises from about 30% to about 70% desiccant and from about 30% to about 70% polymer. 
     
     
         18 . The air condition system of  claim 17 , wherein the molded sorbent body comprises at least one of molecular sieve, zeolite or activated carbon. 
     
     
         19 . The air conditioning system of  claim 15 , wherein the molded sorbent body is press-fit into the high-pressure portion of the interior fluid path. 
     
     
         20 . The air conditioning system of  claim 15 , wherein the compressor further comprises a fastener configured to secure the molded sorbent body in the high-pressure portion of the interior fluid path.