There is provided a hybrid heat pump system. The system includes (i) a membrane permeator having a permselective membrane capable of selectively removing vapor from a vapor-containing gas to yield a dry gas, (ii) a heat pump having (a) an internal side for exchanging thermal energy with a process fluid, (b) an external side for exchanging thermal energy with an external environment, and (c) a thermodynamic mechanism for pumping thermal energy between the internal side and the external side in either direction, (iii) means for conveying the vapor-containing gas into the membrane permeator, and (iv) means for routing the dry gas to either of the internal side or the external side.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application is claiming priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/251,207, which was filed on Dec. 4, 2000, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/257,031, which was filed on Dec. 21, 2000.
There is provided a system for pumping thermal energy. The system includes (a) a heater for heating a liquid, (b) a gas-liquid contactor for adding vapor from the liquid to a process gas to produce a vapor-containing gas, and (c) a membrane permeator for removing the vapor from the vapor-containing gas and for providing a resultant vapor. The system transfers a quantity of thermal energy from the heater to the resultant vapor.
The system (SC) includes a first, vapour compression circuit (A), including a compressor (1) with its output connected to a condenser (2; 2') followed by an expansion device (4) and an evaporator (5; 16) having its output connected to the in of the compressor (1); a second, absorption circuit (B) with a hygroscopic solution flowing through it in operation and including a regenerator (11) with semipermeable membranes operable to allow the said solution to give up moisture (water) to a first airflow flowing in the regenerator (11) in operation, a dehumidifier (13) with semipermeable membranes arranged downstream of the regenerator (11) and operable to allow a second airflow to give up moisture to the hygroscopic solution, and a circulation pump (14). The first and second circuits (A, B) are connected by at least one heat exchanger (5) in which the hygroscopic solution flowing through the second circuit (B) gives up heat to the cooling fluid flowing through the first circuit (A).
A high efficiency absorption heat pump cycle is disclosed using a high pressure stage, a supercritical cooling stage, and a mechanical energy extraction stage to provide a non-toxic combined heat, cooling, and energy system. Using the preferred carbon dioxide gas with partially miscible absorber fluids, including the preferred ionic liquids as the working fluid in the system, the present invention desorbs the CO.sub.2 from an absorbent and cools the gas in the supercritical state to deliver heat. The cooled CO.sub.2 gas is then expanded, preferably through an expansion device transforming the expansion energy into mechanical energy thereby providing cooling, heating temperature lift and electrical energy, and is returned to an absorber for further cycling. Strategic use of heat exchangers, preferably microchannel heat exchangers comprised of nanoscale powders and thermal-hydraulic compressor/pump can further increase the efficiency and performance of the system.
