Heat pumps
US6263682A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 14, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jul 24, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 14, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02B30/62
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A rotary heat pump 10 comprises a vapor generator 20, a condenser 24/34, an evaporator 42 and an absorber 40 interconnected to provide cyclic fluid flow paths for a volatile fluid component and an absorbent fluid therefor. To allow operation of the pump close to the crystallisation boundary the pump includes crystallisation control means which cause the temperature of the fluid in the region prone to crystallisation to be raised when the onset of crystallisation is detected. For example the pressure increase upstream of a crystallisation site may cause warm fluid to be diverted directly or indirectly to increase the fluid temperature at the crystallisation site. The Specification also describes features for controlling the absorbent mixture flow rate; for controlling the concentration thereof; for damping a scoop pump; for assuming flow onto the generator face; for pressure relief and extended operation of the pump; to novel heat exchangers; to metal compositions for the heat pump, and to hydrogen getters for use in heat pumps.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.