Integration of Thermochemical Heat Storage System with Waste heat Recovery Systems

Abstract

A waste heat recovery for use with refrigeration means and space heating/water heating to meet various seasonal demands on refrigeration and heating energy is disclosed. The system is intended for use with refrigeration means of the conventional type including a compressor and a condenser through which a compressible refrigerant is circulated. The system integrates a refrigeration system and a heating utilization system through a thermochemical system functioning as a heat transfer system and thermochemical energy storage system. Wherein the heat transfer system is used for absorbing the waste heat normally dissipated in the condenser and for discharging the recovered thermal energy to a heat utilization system for space heating and/or water heating, the thermochemical energy storage system is used for converting the waste heat collected into chemical energy for seasonal storage. The waste heat recovery system is designed with a feature that operations of the refrigeration system and the heat utilization system are de-coupled so that the refrigeration system and the heat utilization system can be operated independently at different times on demand. This feature makes implementation of the waste heat recovery system viable for more residential houses, commercial establishments, and industrial processes applications.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat recovery system for recovering waste heat from refrigeration mean for space heating and water heating comprising:
 a. A conventional refrigeration mean;   b. A waste heat transfer system;   c. A thermochemical heat storage system;   d. A heat utilization system.   
     
     
         2 . The heat recovery system for recovering waste heat from refrigeration mean for space heating and water heating as cited in  claim 1 , wherein said refrigeration means includes a compressor, a condenser, a throttle and an evaporator; the modifications including the methods of:
 a. Inserting a waste heat transfer system/module (TCM Module) between the compressor and the condenser;   b. Installing a TCM Module as cited in  claim 2 a, and changing said condenser with a suitably designed and reduced capacity;   c. Replacing said condenser as cited in claim  2 a, with a suitable designed TCM Module.   
     
     
         3 . The heat recovery system for recovering waste heat from refrigeration mean for space heating and water heating as cited in  claim 1 , wherein said waste heat transfer system comprising:
 a. At least a thermochemical heat storage module (TCM module);   b. At least a water condenser/evaporator connected to said TCM module;   c. At least a water tank connected to said water condenser/evaporator through a controlling valve for regulating water level in said water condenser/evaporator and connected to said TCM module through another controlling valve for feeding water for salt hydration;   d. At least a pump supplying cooling water in circulation to said water condenser/evaporator;   e. A reservoir or a ground storage connected to said pump and said water condenser/evaporator for cooling water supply.   
     
     
         4 . The heat recovery system for recovering waste heat from refrigeration mean for space heating and water heating as cited in  claim 1 , wherein said thermochemical heat storage system comprises a thermochemical heat storage module (TCM module), containing:
 a. At least a container with inlet and outlet openings for refrigerant, water and water vapor;   b. Heat exchanger blocks formed with refrigerant tubes;   c. Appropriately selected salt which is packed on said heat exchanger blocks as cited in  4 b.   
     
     
         5 . The heat recovery system for recovering waste heat from refrigeration mean for space heating and water heating as cited in  claim 1 , wherein said heat utilization system comprising:
 a. At least a TCM module;   b. At least a water condenser/evaporator connected to said TCM module;   c. At least a water tank connected to said water condenser/evaporator through a controlling valve and to said TCM module through another controlling valve;   d. At least a pump supplying circulating water to said water condenser/evaporator;   e. At least a heat exchanger connected to said pump and said water condenser/evaporator and other possible heating appliances functioning as water heater.   
     
     
         6 . The heat recovery system for recovering waste heat from refrigeration mean for space heating and water heating as cited in  claim 1 , wherein said integrated waste heat recovery system comprising:
 a. Valves located in various positions in the piping system and being controlled by means of an apparatus (control system) so that the operations of the said waste heat transfer system and the said utilization system can be isolated or de-coupled, i.e. the said two systems do not have to be operated simultaneously;   b. An apparatus (control system) as cited in claim  6 a comprising controlling modules and various sensing and switching devices (temperature, pressure, water level) at various locations of the piping systems.