Methods for refrigeration and heat pump cycles
Improved hydrogen-hydride absorption systems for improving the energy utilization in refrigeration and heat pump cycles comprise reactor systems for chemically forming three or more hydride components, means for supplying heat to and removing heat from the hydride in the respective systems, and means for conveying hydrogen between the several reactor systems.
A method for deriving improved heat pump effects from a narrowly temperature differential thermal source and sink by means of three or more hydride components is achieved by successive pressure staging between a series of hydride components over the narrow temperature range of the thermal source.A method for deriving improved energy utilization of a high temperature thermal source for refrigeration by means of three or more hydride components is effected by cascading pressure differences between hydride components.A method for the combined improvement of power production and thermal energy recovery at a higher intermediate temperature than the low temperature energy rejection of the power cycle by the heat pump effects, which method employs the cascading of pressure differences between hydride component systems.
For continuouslysupplying relatively high pressure hydrogen gas, a plurality of hydride-dehydride reactors are provided and are operated in out-of-phase or staggered sequence so that during the period when low-pressure, relatively cool hydrogen gas is being charged toone of the reactors, another is being activated and another is being dehydrided to produce high pressure hydrogen gas. The pressure energy of the gas thus developed in the hydride reactors is used for continuously developing power and refrigeration,following which the hydrogen gas, at reduced energy, is recycled to the reactors to recommence the HDH cycle. In order to chemically compress the hydrogen gas in the form of its hydride, a low-grade thermal source is utilized to supply heat to theseveral reactors.
Methods for deriving refrigeration and heat pumpeffects are described. One hydride component system operates as the equivalent of a mechanical refrigeration system. A low temperature thermal sink is provided by supplying the heat of desorption to a reactor of this hydride component system. Thehydride component system then rejects energy as the heat of absorption at an intermediate temperature. The second hydride component system operates as the equivalent of a heat engine cycle. A thermal source at a relatively high temperature supplies theheat of desorption to this component system and heat is rejected as the heat of absorption at an intermediate temperature.
In the method of operation of the heat pump absorption cycle, the heat engine cycle equivalent of one hydride component system operates from an intermediate temperature thermal source which provides the heat of desorption. The heat of absorptionis rejected to a low temperature thermal source. The second component hydride system which operates as an equivalent mechanical refrigeration system has, as its refrigeration load, a thermal source at an intermediate temperature which provides the heatof desorption. The heat of absorption is rejected at a high temperature which is the heat pump effect.
Improved absorption refrigeration and heat pump systems and methods for effective energy utilization are presented by this invention. Refrigeration and heating are continuously and efficiently generated directly from the heats of desorption andabsorption, respectively, of three or more cascaded hydride component systems.
The improved refrigeration is achieved by cascading or paralleling operation of three or more hydride component systems so as to decrease the hydrogen pressure in stages over a relatively narrow temperature differential between thermal source andthermal sink. Each cascading between hydride components requires a thermal source at a relatively low temperature and a heat output at a slightly higher temperature. The entire cycle is completed by raising the last component hydride system to a muchhigher temperature so that the equilibrium pressure is great enough to hydride the first hydride component system in the process of cascading between hydride components.
The improved heat pump system works by pressure staging between hydride component systems so as to increase the hydrogen pressure. Each pressure stage between hydride components requires a thermal sink at a relatively low temperature, and athermal source at a slightly higher temperature. The entire cycle is completed when the last hydride component system in the cascade has raised the hydrogen pressure sufficiently to hydride the first hydride component system in the pressure staging.
Another aspect of the invention allows for improved efficiency in heat engine cycles for the production of power by allowing them to operate with lower temperature thermal sinks. The use of the cascaded heat pump system with the thermallyrejected energy of the heat engine cycle allows heat to be output at a higher temperature than the thermal sink, thus providing useful thermal sources.
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