Sorption-based subcooler

Abstract

A cooling system is provided and includes a compressor, an expansion valve, a gas cooler through which a refrigerant received from the compressor passes toward the expansion valve in a supercritical state, an evaporator interposed between the expansion valve and the compressor and a vapor sorption subcooling system. The vapor sorption subcooling system includes a desorber disposed to remove heat from refrigerant flowing from the gas cooler toward the expansion valve.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooling system, comprising:
 a compressor;   an expansion valve;   a gas cooler through which a refrigerant received from the compressor passes toward the expansion valve in a supercritical state;   an evaporator interposed between the expansion valve and the compressor; and   a vapor sorption subcooling system comprising a desorber disposed to remove heat from refrigerant flowing from the gas cooler toward the expansion valve.   
     
     
         2 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an ejector downstream from the desorber. 
     
     
         3 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , wherein the vapor sorption subcooling system comprises a vapor absorption subcooling system. 
     
     
         4 . The cooling system according to  claim 3 , wherein a subcooling refrigerant of the vapor absorption subcooling system comprises a natural, low greenhouse warming potential (GWP), low ozone depletion potential (ODP) and non-flammable refrigerant. 
     
     
         5 . The cooling system according to  claim 3 , wherein a subcooling refrigerant of the vapor absorption subcooling system comprises carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         6 . The cooling system according to  claim 3 , wherein the vapor absorption subcooling system comprises:
 a subcooling compressor, which is receptive of subcooling refrigerant from the desorber;   an absorber for subcooling refrigerant absorption by an absorbent;   a subcooling gas cooler through which the subcooling refrigerant received from the subcooling compressor passes toward the absorber in a supercritical state; and   a pump configured to pump at least the absorbent from the desorber to the absorber.   
     
     
         7 . The cooling system according to  claim 6 , wherein the absorbent comprises an ionic liquid. 
     
     
         8 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , wherein the vapor sorption subcooling system comprises a vapor adsorption subcooling system. 
     
     
         9 . The cooling system according to  claim 8 , wherein a subcooling refrigerant of the vapor adsorption subcooling system comprises a natural, low greenhouse warming potential (GWP), low ozone depletion potential (ODP) and non-flammable refrigerant. 
     
     
         10 . The cooling system according to  claim 8 , wherein a subcooling refrigerant of the vapor adsorption subcooling system comprises carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         11 . The cooling system according to  claim 8 , wherein the vapor adsorption subcooling system comprises:
 a subcooling compressor, which is receptive of subcooling refrigerant from the desorber;   an adsorber disposed in parallel with the desorber for subcooling refrigerant adsorption by an adsorbent; and   a subcooling gas cooler through which the subcooling refrigerant received from the subcooling compressor passes toward the adsorber and the desorber in a supercritical state.   
     
     
         12 . The cooling system according to  claim 11 , wherein the adsorbent comprises a solid adsorbent and the solid adsorbent comprises activated carbon or a metal organic framework (MOF). 
     
     
         13 . The cooling system according to  claim 11 , wherein two or more sorption beds are used as adsorbers and desorbers to provide subcooling 
     
     
         14 . A vapor absorption subcooling system, comprising:
 a desorber in which a first refrigerant is cooled;   a subcooling compressor, which is receptive of subcooling refrigerant from the desorber;   an absorber for subcooling refrigerant absorption by an absorbent;   a subcooling gas cooler through which the subcooling refrigerant received from the subcooling compressor passes toward the absorber in a supercritical state; and   a pump configured to pump at least the absorbent from the desorber to the absorber.   
     
     
         15 . The vapor absorption subcooling system according to  claim 14 , wherein the subcooling refrigerant comprises at least one or more of natural, low greenhouse warming potential (GWP), low ozone depletion potential (ODP), non-flammable refrigerant and carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         16 . The vapor absorption subcooling system according to  claim 13 , wherein the absorbent comprises an ionic liquid. 
     
     
         17 . A vapor adsorption subcooling system, comprising:
 a desorber in which a first refrigerant is cooled;   a subcooling compressor, which is receptive of subcooling refrigerant from the desorber;   an adsorber disposed in parallel with the desorber for subcooling refrigerant adsorption by an adsorbent; and   a subcooling gas cooler through which the subcooling refrigerant received from the subcooling compressor passes toward the adsorber and the desorber in a supercritical state.   
     
     
         18 . The vapor adsorption subcooling system according to  claim 16 , wherein the subcooling refrigerant comprises at least one of:
 a natural, low greenhouse warming potential (GWP), low ozone depletion potential (ODP) and non-flammable refrigerant; and   carbon dioxide.   
     
     
         19 . The vapor adsorption subcooling system according to  claim 16 , wherein the adsorbent comprises a solid adsorbent and the solid adsorbent comprises activated carbon or a metal organic framework (MOF). 
     
     
         20 . The vapor adsorption subcooling system according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 the desorber comprises multiple desorbers,   the adsorber comprises multiple adsorbers,   each one of the multiple adsorbers is paired with a corresponding one of the multiple desorbers to form respective combined beds, and   each of the combined beds is independently operable at a different adsorption stage.