Method and apparatus for co-generation of electrical power and absorption-type heat pump air conditioning

Patent · Tue Apr 26 04:00:00 EDT 1983

OSTI ID:6279245

Sung, H M

A method for co-generation of electrical power and air conditioning for structures, such as office buildings, and housing units is disclosed. An internal combustion engine, preferably a diesel, drives an alternator or generator to supply the building electrical load or for reverse sale to a public utility power grid. Heat from engine exhaust gases is recovered by an absorption-cycle heat-pump system. The system is characterized by using only a single external heat exchanger and a single building air conditioning heat exchanger for selectively heating or cooling air in the air conditioning system. Selection of heating or cooling is by reversable valve means for directing heated refrigerant vapor from a heat powered vapor generator either into the inside heat exchanger for heating or to the external heat exchanger for cooling. The valve means simultaneously converts the other heat exchanger to complimentarily receive liquid refrigerant passing through an expansion valve from the first heat exchanger to absorb heat from the air conditioner for cooling, or from the atmosphere for heating. A particular advantage of this arrangement is reduction in both size and complexity of the vapor generation system to satisfy a wide range of loads because control of heat and liquid circulation rate of carrier liquid alone determine ''compression'' capacity as distinguished from mechanical pumping capacity of vapor compressor heat pumps. Additionally, the absorption cycle permits handling of mixtures of vapor and liquid phases of the refrigerant component without loss of effectiveness , which is likewise not possible with vapor-compression heat pump systems.

• Assignee: Chevron Research Co
• Patent Number(s): US 4380909
• OSTI ID: 6279245
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
200100* -- Fossil-Fueled Power Plants-- Power Plants & Power Generation
200101 -- Fossil-Fueled Power Plants-- Cooling & Heat Transfer Equipment & Systems
ABSORPTION HEAT
AIR CONDITIONING
COGENERATION
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
DESIGN
DEUS
ELECTRIC GENERATORS
ELECTRIC POWER
ENERGY
ENERGY SYSTEMS
ENGINES
ENTHALPY
EQUIPMENT
FLOW REGULATORS
FLUID FLOW
HEAT
HEAT ENGINES
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEAT PUMPS
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POWER
POWER GENERATION
STEAM GENERATION
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
VALVES
WASTE HEAT UTILIZATION
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION