Adsorber, Method for Producing an Adsorber, and Vehicle Comprising an Adsorber

Abstract

An adsorber for a vehicle is provided. The adsorber includes a housing, in which a sorbent is arranged for storing heat and for dispensing stored heat. The adsorber also includes a heat exchanger which is arranged within the housing, has a wall that encloses a cavity for conducting a heating medium, and has an outer surface that contacts the sorbent for exchanging heat. By virtue of a special design of the heat exchanger, the sorbent and the arrangement thereof relative to each other, a particularly high power density and heat storage capacity are achieved. A method for producing the adsorber and a vehicle which has an adsorption system including such an adsorber are also provided.

Claims

1. An adsorber for a vehicle, comprising: a housing in which a sorbent is arranged for storing heat and for outputting stored heat; and a heat exchanger arranged inside the housing, the heat exchanger including a wall which encloses a cavity for conducting a heat medium, and an outer surface, which is in contact with the sorbent, for exchanging heat.

2. The adsorber according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is configured as a tubular heat exchanger, with an internal diameter which is at most 10 mm, or the heat exchanger is configured as a tube bundle heat exchanger, having a plurality of tubular heat exchangers which each have an internal diameter in the range from 1 to 6 mm, or the heat exchanger is configured as a lamellar heat exchanger, having a plurality of lamellas, wherein two adjacent lamellas are each spaced apart from one another by at most 1 mm, or the heat exchanger is configured as a microchannel heat exchanger.

3. The adsorber according to claim 2, wherein the heat exchanger is configured as the tubular heat exchanger, with the internal diameter which is at most 6 mm.

4. The adsorber according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the heat exchanger includes a plurality of lamellas, and two lamellas which are respectively adjacent are spaced apart from one another by at most 2 mm.

5. The adsorber according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger has a longitudinal axis which extends in a longitudinal direction, and the outer surface of the heat exchanger includes a plurality of lamellas which start from the wall and extend outward, and follow a complex profile.

6. The adsorber according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of lamellas extend obliquely or perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal direction.

7. The adsorber according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the heat exchanger includes a plurality of lamellas which start from the wall and extend outward, and in doing so follow a complex curved profile.

8. The adsorber according to claim 4, wherein a space which increases outward starting from the wall is formed between the two adjacent lamellas.

9. The adsorber according to claim 5, wherein at least two different types of lamellas are formed which are of different lengths starting from the outer surface and toward the outside.

10. The adsorber according to claim 1, wherein lamellas of different types are arranged alternately on the wall.

11. The adsorber according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger includes a carrier structure for the sorbent.

12. The adsorber according to claim 11, wherein the carrier structure is a porous carrier structure.

13. The adsorber according to claim 11, wherein the carrier structure is configured in one piece with the heat exchanger.

14. The adsorber according to claim 11, wherein the carrier structure is configured as a fiber bundle, including a plurality of fibers which form a plurality of intermediate spaces in which the sorbent is arranged.

15. The adsorber according to claim 11, wherein the carrier structure has a porosity which changes starting from the wall and toward the outside.

16. The adsorber according to claim 15, wherein the porosity increases starting from the wall and toward the outside.

17. The adsorber according to claim 1, wherein the sorbent is compacted with the heat exchanger or with a carrier structure of the heat exchanger.

18. The adsorber according to claim 17, wherein a plurality of channels for feeding in and discharging sorbate during operation are formed into the compacted sorbent.

19. The adsorber according to claim 1, wherein the sorbent is configured as bulk material and in the form of a filler, as a plurality of molded parts, or as a direct coating.

20. The adsorber according to claim 19, wherein the sorbent is configured by way of crystallization.

21. The adsorber according to claim 1, wherein together with the sorbent, a plurality of fibers are arranged which, together with the sorbent are connected to form a combined molded part.

22. The adsorber according to claim 21, wherein the plurality of fibers, together with the sorbent, are compacted to form the combined molded part.

23. The adsorber according to claim 1, wherein the sorbent is present in at least two different configurations which are selected from the group of configurations consisting of: sorbent as filler; sorbent as direct coating; sorbent as molded part; sorbent on a carrier structure; sorbent with a carrier structure as a combined molded part; and sorbent which is compacted together with the heat exchanger.

24. The adsorber according to claim 1, wherein on the wall and/or between a plurality of lamellas of the heat exchanger in a first, near region, the sorbent is configured as a direct coating and is arranged directly on the wall and/or the lamellas and/or on a carrier structure, and/or in a second, distant region, the sorbent is arranged as a molded part and/or as bulk material and/or on a carrier structure, and/or a fiber bundle is arranged which is coated or compacted with the sorbent.

25. The adsorber according to claim 1, wherein the adsorber is configured in such a way that it is integrated into a component of the vehicle, or a component of the vehicle is integrated into the adsorber.

26. The adsorber according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger includes a plurality of lamellas which extend outward starting from the wall, at least two different types of lamellas are formed which are of different lengths starting from the outer surface and toward the outside, and on the outer surface of the heat exchanger, the sorbent is configured as a direct coating in a first, near region, and a fiber bundle or a carrier structure, which is coated with the sorbent, is arranged in a second, distant region.

27. The adsorber according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger includes a carrier structure for sorbate, which carrier structure is configured in one piece with the heat exchanger and has a porosity which increases starting from the wall and toward the outside.

28. An adsorber for a vehicle, comprising: a housing in which a sorbent is arranged; and a heat exchanger which is arranged inside the housing, has a wall, and has an outer surface which is in contact with the sorbent, wherein the sorbent is compacted with a fiber bundle, and the sorbent is compacted with the fiber bundle as a combined molded part with the heat exchanger, and a plurality of channels are provided in the combined molded part, for feeding in and discharging sorbate during operation.

29. A method for producing an adsorber for a vehicle, the method comprising the acts of: providing a housing in which a sorbent is arranged; and providing a heat exchanger which is arranged inside the housing, has a wall, and has an outer surface which is in contact with the sorbent, wherein the housing, the heat exchanger, or the entire adsorber is produced as a rapid prototyping part by way of a rapid prototyping method, or the heat exchanger is produced from a semi-finished product, or the heat exchanger or the housing or the entire adsorber is produced by way of a casting process or injection molding process.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the heat exchanger is produced from the semi-finished product using an extruded profile.

31. The method according to claim 29, wherein the heat exchanger is produced by way of a casting process or injection molding process, wherein a porous carrier structure is also formed at the same time, said carrier structure being arranged on the wall and adjoining the wall.

32. The method according to claim 29, wherein a direct coating composed of the sorbent is applied to the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger is coated with the sorbent in an immersion bath or by spraying on, or the heat exchanger is coated by crystallization of the sorbent on the outer surface.

33. The method according to claim 29, wherein a molded part is produced from the sorbent and from a carrier structure, as a combined molded part, and the sorbent is made available in powder form, and the carrier structure is compacted together with the sorbent.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the carrier structure is configured as a fiber bundle.

35. The method according to claim 33, wherein the carrier structure is formed as a fiber bundle from a plurality of fibers which are firstly placed in the sorbent and subsequently compacted therewith.

36. The method according to claim 29, wherein a direct coating is applied to the heat exchanger, subsequently additional sorbent is arranged, and the additional sorbent is then connected in a materially joined fashion to the direct coating, and the direct coating and the additional sorbent are subjected to crystallization or are immersed in an immersion bath, or further sorbent is applied.

37. The method according to claim 36, wherein the direct coating is applied to the heat exchanger by crystallization, and the further sorbent is sprayed on.

38. The method according to claim 29, wherein additional sorbent in the form of a filler or as a molded part or as a combined molded part is arranged on the heat exchanger, and the additional sorbent is then connected in materially joined fashion to the heat exchanger, and the heat exchanger and the additional sorbent are subjected to crystallization or are immersed in an immersion bath, or further sorbent is sprayed on or applied.

39. A vehicle comprising: an adsorption system which includes an adsorber according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0061] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an adsorber.

[0062] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a heat exchanger for the adsorber of FIG. 1.

[0063] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a variant of the heat exchanger of FIG. 2.

[0064] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a further variant of the heat exchanger of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0065] FIG. 1 shows an adsorber 2 in cross-sectional view. The adsorber 2 has a housing 4 in which a heat exchanger 6 is arranged, which heat exchanger 6 extends in a longitudinal direction L and is embodied here as a tubular heat exchanger. The heat exchanger 6 has a wall 8 which bounds, toward the inside, a cavity through which a heat medium flows during operation. For the purpose of connection to an adsorption system (not illustrated in more detail) of a vehicle (likewise not illustrated), the adsorber 2 also has two connections 10 via which the cavity of the heat exchanger 6 is accessible. An exchange of heat with other components (not shown) of the vehicle is then possible by feeding in and discharging the heat medium.

[0066] The wall 8 and the housing 4 enclose an adsorber space 12, which is additionally accessible via at least one feedline 14. The adsorber 2 is additionally connected to the adsorption system also via the feedline 14. In order to store heat and to implement the essential functionality of the adsorber 2, a sorbate 16 is then arranged on the heat exchanger 6, as well as a sorbent 16 which is initially present here in a gaseous state in the adsorber space 12. The sorbate 18 is arranged on the heat exchanger 6, to be more precise on an outer surface 20 of the heat exchanger 6, and is in contact therewith, with the result that particularly efficient conduction of heat between the wall 8 and the sorbate 16 is ensured.

[0067] During the outputting of heat, i.e., during the discharging of heat from the adsorber 2, cold heat medium is guided through the heat exchanger 6, which heat medium picks up heat via the wall 8, which heat is generated by adsorption of sorbate 18 into the sorbent 16. Conversely, during the storage of heat, i.e., during the charging of the adsorber 2 with heat, heat is extracted from the heat medium, and the sorbent 16 is desorbed, i.e., sorbate 18 which is incorporated in the sorbent 16 is released and output into the adsorber space 12. Discharging of sorbate 18 from the adsorber space 12, and feeding sorbate 18 into said adsorber space 12 are then possible via the feedline 14, with the result that, for example, excess sorbate 18 can be fed to a reservoir (not illustrated). Any lines, reservoirs and housings which are connected to the feedline 14 then form, with the adsorber space 12, in particular a system which is closed off in a gas-tight and pressure-tight fashion. The sorbent 16 is, in particular, a zeolite, and the sorbate 18 is, in particular, water or a water/anti-freezing agent mixture, e.g., a water/glycol mixture.

[0068] On the one hand, the contact between the wall 8, to be more precise between the outer surface 20 and the sorbent 16, and, on the other hand, the accessibility of the sorbent 16 for the sorbate 18 for the purpose of adsorption and desorption are of essential significance for the performance capability of the adsorber 2. A significant improvement in the performance capability is then achieved, in particular, by way of suitable configuration of the heat exchanger 6 in general and of the outer surface 20 in particular, and by way of a suitable configuration of the sorbent 16 and suitable arrangement thereof on the wall 8. FIGS. 2 and 3 then each show, in a cross-section transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction L, a suitable exemplary embodiment of a heat exchanger 6 with sorbent 16 attached thereto.

[0069] The heat exchanger 6 shown in FIG. 2 has a number of lamellas 22a, 22b which extend starting from the wall 8 in a radial direction R toward the outside and in doing so each follow a curved profile. In this context, two different types of lamellas 22a, 22b are formed, specifically short lamellas 22a and long lamellas 22b, which extend different distances in the radial direction. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the long lamellas 22b are approximately twice as long as the short lamellas 22a. In addition, lamellas 22a, 22b are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction around the wall 8. In this way, two regions 24a, 24b which have different lamella densities are formed in the radial direction R. In a first, near region 24a near to the wall 8, the lamella density is greater, owing to the additional short lamellas 22a, than in a second, distant region 24b, into which only the long lamellas 22b extend.

[0070] In FIG. 2, the sorbent 16 is additionally embodied in two different configurations, wherein in each case one configuration is arranged in one of the regions 24a, 24b. Therefore, in the near region 24a the sorbent 16 is embodied as a direct coating 26 which has a particularly good and, in particular, materially joined connection to the outer surface 20, i.e., both to the wall 8 and to the lamellas 22a, 22b here. The direct coating 26 is applied to the outer surface 20, for example, by way of an immersion bath or by way of crystallization and is materially joined thereto, e.g., by using individual atoms from the wall 8 and the lamellas 22a, 22b to form the direct coating 26. The latter is therefore embodied in one piece with the heat exchanger 6.

[0071] In contrast, in the distant region 24b, a fiber bundle 28 with a plurality of fibers 30 is arranged between in each case two adjacent, long lamellas 22b. The fibers 30 are in turn coated with sorbent 16. A respective fiber bundle 28 constitutes here a carrier structure 32 which has, owing to the fibers 30, a particularly large surface on which, on the one hand, a particularly large amount of sorbent 16 can be arranged and which, on the other hand, permits a good flow of sorbate 18 through the fiber bundle 28. Overall, through this embodiment with two different configurations, an adsorber 2 is implemented which has both a high power density and therefore high dynamics during the exchange of heat, and a high heat storage capacity. The particular power density is generated here predominantly by the improved contact of the direct coating 26 in the near region 24a, while the particular heat storage capacity is generated predominantly by the large mass of sorbent 16 in the distant region 24b, wherein the fibers 30 permit good feeding in and discharging of heat, and the intermediate spaces permit a good throughflow of sorbate 18.

[0072] In a variant (not shown), in the distant region 24b there is no fiber bundle 30 arranged but instead another carrier structure 32 which is embodied, for example, as a sponge and preferably made from aluminum, and is coated with sorbent 16. Such a sponge and generally a porous carrier structure 32 are also suitable, owing to the good heat conduction, for arrangement in the near region 24a. In a further variant (not shown), in the distant region 24b, it is only the case that sorbent 16 is arranged as bulk material or as a molded part, which sorbent 16 can then absorb a correspondingly large amount of sorbate 18 and as a result has a particularly high heat storage capacity.

[0073] In a further variant, a respective different material is also used as the sorbent 16 in the different configurations, for example a zeolite of the type SAPO34 is used as the sorbent 16 for the direct coating 26, while a zeolite of the type 13X or NaY is used as the sorbent 16 in the form of bulk material.

[0074] FIG. 3 shows a variant of the heat exchanger 6, likewise in a cross-sectional view transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction L. The heat exchanger 6 is also firstly embodied here as a tubular heat exchanger. However, its wall 8 extends in the radial direction R toward the outside to merge with a carrier structure 32 which is embodied here in a porous and sponge-like fashion and has a plurality of cavities 34, which are illustrated here only schematically as individual circles and are actually connected to one another in a manner which is not shown here and, in particular, for production reasons, with the result that a preferably continuous network of pores and/or channels is produced through which the sorbate 18 can then flow during operation. The cavities 34 are additionally filled with sorbent 16, but, in particular, are not provided completely with a direct coating 16 and, for example, are provided with it only on the inner wall. Such a direct coating is applied, for example, by way of an immersion bath or by way of crystallization, as described above.

[0075] The carrier structure 32 itself is produced in FIG. 3 in an injection molding method together with the wall 8, wherein the cavity within the wall 8 and the cavities 34 are generated by way of sacrificial material which serves as a place holder during the injection molding method, flows away owing to heating during the injection molding and in doing so forms the network of cavities 34 which are connected to one another. In contrast, in an alternative which is not shown, the carrier structure 32 is applied to a simple tubular heat exchanger and suitably attached, for example soldered, thereto. The use of a heat exchanger 6 with lamellas 22a, 22b is also contemplated here.

[0076] The cavities 34 are preferably produced by way of a sacrificial material in the form of spherical bulk material, with the result that the cavities 34 are basically spherical or essentially spherical and each have a specific diameter D. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the cavities 34 are preferably formed by a suitable filler of the sacrificial material with a different diameter D. The formation of different diameters D is also preferred in the case of a carrier structure 32 which is not produced in the way described above but rather, for example, by foaming or by another method. The different diameters D then result in a number of zones with different densities of the carrier structure 32, which then have different properties. Therefore, a particularly dense zone with small cavities 34 is distinguished by a high heat conductivity, and a zone with large cavities 34 is distinguished by a high heat storage capacity and a good throughflow capability. In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 3, the carrier structure 32 is then embodied in such a way that its density decreases starting from the wall 8 toward the outside, i.e., in the radial direction R here. As a result, the essentially radial flow of the sorbate 18, i.e., in particular water vapor, through the carrier structure 32 is possible with a local flow cross section which is approximately proportional to the local mass flow which increases radially toward the outside, which local flow cross section also becomes larger radially toward the outside and which is formed by the cavities 34 which are open with respect to one another. In this way, a function which is particularly effective, i.e., here dense in terms of power and energy, of the adsorber 2 is implemented. Furthermore, similarly to FIG. 2, in FIG. 3 high dynamics during operation are also possible near to the wall 8, while further outward there is a high heat storage capacity.

[0077] FIG. 4 shows a further variant of the heat exchanger 6 in which the sorbent 16 is compacted together with a number of fibers 30 to form a combined molded body 36. In this context, in the exemplary embodiment shown the combined molded body 36 is pressed directly onto the wall 8, but alternatively at first one or more combined molded parts 36 are produced and then subsequently attached to the wall 8.

[0078] Before the compaction, the sorbent 16, e.g., as a powder, and the fibers 30 are arranged in a suitable mold and the arrangement is subsequently compacted to form the combined molded part 36. In order then to permit efficient penetration of sorbate 18 during operation, a number of channels 38 are additionally introduced, for example drilled, into the combined molded part. In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 4, said channels 38 extend in the radial direction R, but basically other profiles are also contemplated, in particular also combined molded bodies 36 which are embodied without channels 38, e.g., flat combined molded bodies 36 which, after the compaction, extend only a few millimeters, e.g., 0.5 to 3 mm, beyond the outer surface 20. As a result of the introduction of the fibers 30 into the combined molded body 36, both the mechanical strength thereof is increased, in the manner of a fiber-reinforced material, and the heat conductivity thereof is improved, in particular with fibers 30 which are produced from a thermally conductive plastic or a metal, e.g., aluminum.

[0079] The exemplary embodiments which are shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 can likewise advantageously also be applied in an analogous fashion to other types of heat exchangers, for example lamellar heat exchangers, tube bundle heat exchangers, plate heat exchangers or microchannel heat exchangers.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0080] 2 Adsorber [0081] 4 Housing [0082] 6 Heat exchanger [0083] 8 Wall [0084] 10 Connection [0085] 12 Adsorber space [0086] 14 Feedline [0087] 16 Sorbent [0088] 18 Sorbate [0089] 20 Outer surface [0090] 22a Short lamella [0091] 22b Long lamella [0092] 24a First, near region [0093] 24b Second, distant region [0094] 26 Direct coating, coating [0095] 28 Fiber bundle [0096] 30 Fiber [0097] 32 Carrier structure [0098] 34 Cavity [0099] 36 Combined molded part [0100] 38 Channel [0101] D Diameter [0102] L Longitudinal direction [0103] R Radial direction

[0104] The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.