Patent US2562522A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4272268A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4272268A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Chemical heat pump
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1977-10-17
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Granted: 1981-06-09
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Expires: 1997-10-17
Abstract
Abstract A chemical heat pump system is disclosed for use in heating and cooling structures such as residences or commercial buildings. The system is particularly adapted to utilizing solar energy, but also increases the efficiency of other forms of thermal energy when solar energy is not available. When solar energy is not available for relatively short periods of time, the heat storage capacity of the chemical heat pump is utilized to heat the structure, as during nighttime hours. The design also permits home heating from solar energy when the sun is shining. The entire system may be conveniently rooftop located. In order to facilitate installation on existing structures, the absorber and vaporizer portions of the system may each be designed as flat, thin wall, thin pan vessels which materially increase the surface area available for heat transfer. In addition, this thin, flat configuration of the absorber and its thin walled (and therefore relatively flexible) construction permits substantial expansion and contraction of the absorber material during vaporization and absorption without generating voids which would interfere with heat transfer.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard Greiner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:41
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B35/00; F25B35/04; F24; F24D; F24D11/00; F24D11/02; F24D11/0257; F24D11/0264; F24S; F24S10/00; F24S10/20; F24S10/50; F24S20/00; F24S20/60; F24S20/67; F24S60/00; F24S60/20; F24S80/00; F24S80/50; F24S80/56; F24S80/58; F24S80/70; F25B17/00; F25B17/08; F25B27/00; F25B27/002; F25B27/007; F25B2315/00; F25B2315/003; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A30/00; Y02A30/27; Y02A30/272; Y02B; Y02B10/00; Y02B10/20; Y02B10/70; Y02B30/00; Y02B30/13; Y02B30/62; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02E10/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A chemical heat pump, comprising: a vaporizer container storing a material to be vaporized having a length or width which is at least ten times its thickness, said container being evacuated; a container storing a vapor absorptive chemical having a length or width which is at least ten times its thickness, said container being evacuated, said vapor absorptive chemical expanding and contracting as it absorbs and desorbs vapor, respectively, said container being subjected to a higher outside pressure than the evacuated inside pressure and having a sufficiently thin structure to permit said higher outside pressure to flex said structure during such expansion and contraction to prevent formation of voids in said vapor absorptive chemical; means exchanging heat through the walls of said vaporizer container and said chemical container; and a vapor conduit interconnecting said vaporizer container and said chemical container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
A chemical heat pump, comprising: a vaporizer container storing a material to be vaporized having a length or width which is at least ten times its thickness, said container being evacuated; a container storing a vapor absorptive chemical having a length or width which is at least ten times its thickness, said container being evacuated, said vapor absorptive chemical expanding and contracting as it absorbs and desorbs vapor, respectively, said container being subjected to a higher outside pressure than the evacuated inside pressure and having a sufficiently thin structure to permit said higher outside pressure to flex said structure during such expansion and contraction to prevent formation of voids in said vapor absorptive chemical; means exchanging heat through the walls of said vaporizer container and said chemical container; and a vapor conduit interconnecting said vaporizer container and said chemical container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A chemical heat pump, as defined in claim 1, wherein said vaporizer container comprises relatively thin upper and lower wall members separated by said thickness, said vaporizer container additionally comprising ribs separating said upper and lower walls and supporting the atmospheric load on said walls.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A chemical heat pump, as defined in claim 2, wherein said ribs are apertured to permit vapor flow throughout said vaporizer container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
A chemical heat pump, as defined in claim 1, wherein said vapor absorptive chemical container includes a relatively thin upper and lower wall separated by said thickness, said container additionally comprising a vapor permeable wall separating said upper and lower walls, said vapor permeable wall supporting said vapor absorptive chemical in contact with said upper wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A chemical heat pump, as defined in claim 4, wherein said vapor absorptive chemical container additionally comprises: plural ribs separating said vapor permeable wall from said lower wall to provide a vapor manifolding space, said ribs being apertured to permit free flow of vapor through said manifolding space.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A chemical heat pump as defined in claim 1, said vapor conduit further comprising: a trap mounted adjacent said first container, said trap providing convoluted path for vapor flow, said convoluted path eliminating liquid from passing through said conduit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A chemical heat pump, as defined in claim 6, wherein said trap includes stacked filter paper layers, each of which is apertured to provide a passage at a different location than the passage in adjacent filter paper members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
A chemical heat pump, as defined in claim 1, wherein said vapor absorptive chemical container comprises a wall which is sufficiently thin to permit said wall to move and thereby maintain intimate contact with said vapor absorptive chemical and to prevent voids in said vapor absorptive chemical as said vapor absorptive chemical expands and contracts during absorption and desorption of vapor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
105 words
A heating system, comprising: a first container storing a material to be vaporized; a second container storing a chemical for absorbing the vapors from said material, said second container in vapor communication with said first container, said second container having a thin, flexible wall separating the inside of said second container from an area outside said second container having a higher pressure than the pressure within said second container, said wall being positioned relative said chemical and sufficiently flexible to be bent by said pressures inside and outside said second container to expand and contract with said chemical during absorption and desorption of said vapor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
105 words
A heating system, comprising: a first container storing a material to be vaporized; a second container storing a chemical for absorbing the vapors from said material, said second container in vapor communication with said first container, said second container having a thin, flexible wall separating the inside of said second container from an area outside said second container having a higher pressure than the pressure within said second container, said wall being positioned relative said chemical and sufficiently flexible to be bent by said pressures inside and outside said second container to expand and contract with said chemical during absorption and desorption of said vapor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A heating system, as defined in claim 9, wherein said thin, flexible wall forms a heat exchange interface for said second container.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A heating system, as defined in claim 9, wherein said second container additionally comprises a vapor permeable wall for supporting said chemical in a location for contact with said thin, flexible wall.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A heating system, as defined in claim 9, wherein said thin, flexible wall is formed of metal foil having a thickness less than twenty thousandths of an inch.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A heating system, as defined in claim 9, wherein said second container additionally comprises: plural ribs for supporting said chemical in a position for contact with said thin, flexible wall.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
A heating system, as defined in claim 9, wherein said second container comprises a thin, flat container, said thin, flexible wall forming the top of said container and having a length or width which is at least ten times the thickness of said container.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
80 words
A solar space heating system, comprising: a first container storing a vapor absorptive chemical, said first container being positioned to directly absorb incident solar radiation; a second container storing a material to be vaporized, said material forming a vapor which is absorbed by said chemical; means interconnecting said first and second containers for vapor transmission therebetween; a solar-energy transparent cover spaced from said first container; and means providing substantially eddy-free air flow between said transparent cover and said first container.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
80 words
A solar space heating system, comprising: a first container storing a vapor absorptive chemical, said first container being positioned to directly absorb incident solar radiation; a second container storing a material to be vaporized, said material forming a vapor which is absorbed by said chemical; means interconnecting said first and second containers for vapor transmission therebetween; a solar-energy transparent cover spaced from said first container; and means providing substantially eddy-free air flow between said transparent cover and said first container.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
75 words
A vapor absorption heat pump comprising: a vaporizer container storing a liquid to be vaporized; a vapor absorptive chemical container, comprising: a layer of vapor absorptive chemicals; and a porous partition supporting said chemical layer and providing one wall of a vapor communication space, said container being evacuated; a vapor conduit interconnecting said vaporizer container and said vapor absorptive chemical container; and plural support members for supporting said porous partition spaced from said chemical container.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
75 words
A vapor absorption heat pump comprising: a vaporizer container storing a liquid to be vaporized; a vapor absorptive chemical container, comprising: a layer of vapor absorptive chemicals; and a porous partition supporting said chemical layer and providing one wall of a vapor communication space, said container being evacuated; a vapor conduit interconnecting said vaporizer container and said vapor absorptive chemical container; and plural support members for supporting said porous partition spaced from said chemical container.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
A vapor absorption heat pump, as defined in claim 16, wherein said filter paper partition is corrugated.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
A vapor absorption heat pump, as defined in claim 16, wherein said vapor absorptive chemical is in a heat exchange relationship with said chemical container.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
125 words
A heating system, comprising: a first container storing a material to be vaporized; a second container storing a composition for absorbing the vapors from said material, said composition expanding and contracting independently of said container during absorption and desorption, said second container in vapor communication with said first container, said second container having a thin, flexible wall separating the inside of said second container from an environment at higher pressure than said inside, said wall being sufficiently flexible to conform by application of said higher pressure to varying configurations of said vapor absorbing composition to thereby hold said wall in heat exchange relationship with said composition by bending and distorting to conform to the shape of said composition during absorption and desorption of said vapor.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
125 words
A heating system, comprising: a first container storing a material to be vaporized; a second container storing a composition for absorbing the vapors from said material, said composition expanding and contracting independently of said container during absorption and desorption, said second container in vapor communication with said first container, said second container having a thin, flexible wall separating the inside of said second container from an environment at higher pressure than said inside, said wall being sufficiently flexible to conform by application of said higher pressure to varying configurations of said vapor absorbing composition to thereby hold said wall in heat exchange relationship with said composition by bending and distorting to conform to the shape of said composition during absorption and desorption of said vapor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The heating system, as defined in claim 19, wherein said vapor conduit alternately conducts vapors in opposite directions between said first and second containers.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The heating system, as defined in claim 19, wherein said vapor conduit provides the sole means of transporting said material to be vaporized between said first container and said second container.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
140 words
A solar heating method comprising the steps of: (a) exposing a container of vapor absorbing chemical to radiant solar energy to thus heat the chemical container and the chemical contained therein to a desorption temperature to drive off vapors absorbed in said chemical; (b) conducting the vapors desorbed from the chemical to a vaporizer container in thermal communication with a space to be heated; (c) condensing said vapor to a liquid in the vaporizer container thereby releasing sensible heat of the vapor and heat of condensation of the liquid thus warming the space in thermal communication with the vaporizer container; periodically removing the vaporizer container from thermal communication with the space to be warmed and during such period of removal evaporating the liquid to form a vapor which is absorbed by the chemical; and repeating Steps (a), (b) and (c).
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
140 words
A solar heating method comprising the steps of: (a) exposing a container of vapor absorbing chemical to radiant solar energy to thus heat the chemical container and the chemical contained therein to a desorption temperature to drive off vapors absorbed in said chemical; (b) conducting the vapors desorbed from the chemical to a vaporizer container in thermal communication with a space to be heated; (c) condensing said vapor to a liquid in the vaporizer container thereby releasing sensible heat of the vapor and heat of condensation of the liquid thus warming the space in thermal communication with the vaporizer container; periodically removing the vaporizer container from thermal communication with the space to be warmed and during such period of removal evaporating the liquid to form a vapor which is absorbed by the chemical; and repeating Steps (a), (b) and (c).
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
55 words
The solar heating method of claim 22 further comprising the step of: periodically placing the absorption chemical container in thermal communication with the space to be heated during such period conducting vapors from the vaporizer container to the chemical container whereby heat of absorption in the chemical is released warming the space to be heated.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
145 words
A solar cooling method comprising the steps of: (a) exposing a container of a vapor absorbing chemical to radiant solar energy to thereby heat the container and the chemical therein to a desorption temperature to desorb a vapor therefrom; (b) condensing the desorbed vapor in an evaporator container to form a liquid in said container; (c) placing the evaporator container containing liquid in thermal communication with a space to be cooled; (d) reducing the vapor absorption chemical temperature to an absorption temperature below the desorption temperature; (e) vaporizing the liquid in the vaporizer container to absorb heat from and cool the space to be cooled and absorbing the vapor in the vapor absorbing chemical at an absorbing temperature; and (f) repeating Steps (a) through (e) to repeatedly recycle the vapor from the liquid phase into the chemically absorbed phase and back to the liquid phase.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
145 words
A solar cooling method comprising the steps of: (a) exposing a container of a vapor absorbing chemical to radiant solar energy to thereby heat the container and the chemical therein to a desorption temperature to desorb a vapor therefrom; (b) condensing the desorbed vapor in an evaporator container to form a liquid in said container; (c) placing the evaporator container containing liquid in thermal communication with a space to be cooled; (d) reducing the vapor absorption chemical temperature to an absorption temperature below the desorption temperature; (e) vaporizing the liquid in the vaporizer container to absorb heat from and cool the space to be cooled and absorbing the vapor in the vapor absorbing chemical at an absorbing temperature; and (f) repeating Steps (a) through (e) to repeatedly recycle the vapor from the liquid phase into the chemically absorbed phase and back to the liquid phase.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
154 words
A chemical heat pump comprising: at least one vaporizer container; at least one vapor absorption chemical in a container; vapor conduit means for selectively connecting the vaporizer containers to the chemical containers; means for thermally conducting heat between the vaporizer container and a space to be temperature conditioned; means positioning the vapor absorption chemical container in the path of radiant solar energy; and means positioning the vaporizer container out of the path of radiant solar energy; whereby radiant solar energy impinging upon the chemical container provides heat of desorption at a desorption temperature of said chemical to cause desorption of vapor previously absorbed at a lower absorption temperature than the desorption temperature of said chemical to thereby cyclically pump vapor from liquid in the vaporizer container to the chemical at an absorption temperature and to pump vapor from the chemical at a higher desorption temperature to condense as a liquid in the vaporizer container.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
154 words
A chemical heat pump comprising: at least one vaporizer container; at least one vapor absorption chemical in a container; vapor conduit means for selectively connecting the vaporizer containers to the chemical containers; means for thermally conducting heat between the vaporizer container and a space to be temperature conditioned; means positioning the vapor absorption chemical container in the path of radiant solar energy; and means positioning the vaporizer container out of the path of radiant solar energy; whereby radiant solar energy impinging upon the chemical container provides heat of desorption at a desorption temperature of said chemical to cause desorption of vapor previously absorbed at a lower absorption temperature than the desorption temperature of said chemical to thereby cyclically pump vapor from liquid in the vaporizer container to the chemical at an absorption temperature and to pump vapor from the chemical at a higher desorption temperature to condense as a liquid in the vaporizer container.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
17 words
The chemical heat pump of claim 25 comprising a plurality of said containers connected thermally in parallel.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The chemical heat pump of claim 25 further comprising means for providing supplemental heat to the chemical container to provide additional heat of desorption.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
23 words
The chemical heat pump of claim 25 wherein the liquid and vapor are water and water vapor and the chemical is magnesium chloride.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-06-08 | 1984-12-08 | 1985-06-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-06-08 | 1988-12-08 | 1989-06-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-06-08 | 1992-12-08 | 1993-06-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |