Patent GB-292938-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to refrigeration apparatus
IPC: F25B17/08
Filed: 1927-12-20
Abstract: 292,938. Silica Gel Corporation, (Assignees of Miller, E. B.). June 27, 1927, [Convention date]. Refrigerating, absorption a n d vacuum processes for. - In processes wherein the vapour of a liquid such as brine or sulphur dioxide is adsorbed by a solid porous material such as silica gel, which when saturated is heated to reactivate it, the heat developed during the adsorption phase is conserved and employed regeneratively to assist in the activation phase. A number of adsorber units are employed, which successively undergo adsorption, preliminary heating, heating for activation, and cooling ready for adsorption, and the heat is transferred from one unit to the next by a fluid, which may be atmospheric air forced or drawn through the apparatus. In the apparatus shown, six adsorber units A are employed, each comprising parallel tubes 10 containing the adsorbent material and connected to a header tube 11. They are arranged in chambers B extending radially from a central compartment D which contains a rotary air distribution valve V, and the header tubes communicate through pipes 12 and valves 28 with a circular manifold 29 connected by a pipe 30 with the evaporator E, and also through pipes 12<a> and valves 33 with a manifold 35 connected to a condenser C. A liquid seal 54<1> arranged between the condenser and evaporator is adapted to maintain a small pressure difference to ensure a flow of liquid. Preferably the system is evacuated of air occasionally by a pump VP connected to the condenser. Each adsorber chamber B is divided by a longitudinal baffle 15 into two compartments communicating by openings 14 with the valve chamber, and the valve is provided with five undivided segmental passages, and with a sixth passage divided by a wall 19 making close contact with the walls 20 separating the adsorber chambers. When, as shown, the units 1 and 2 are adsorbing, the unit 3 is being cooled after activation, the units 4 and 5 are being activated, and the unit 6 is being heated before activation. Cool air enters a central passage 21 of the valve V and flows around the units 1 and 2 to cool them, around the unit 3 to be further heated, and then serves to supplement the heating means for the units 4 and 5. It finally gives up most of its heat to the idle unit 6 and is discharged by the valve passage 22. The external heat for activation is supplied by gas burners 23 fed through a pipe 26, annular manifold 25 and valves 27. The evaporator or suction valves 28, condenser or delivery valves 33, and gas burner valves 27 are suitably timed from the movement of the air valve V, which is rotated in steps of 60‹, as for example from cam discs 43, 42<1>, 42, Fig. 2, and push rods 49, 51' and 46. In a modified apparatus for use with sulphur dioxide as refrigerant, simple automatic check valves are employed between the adsorbers and the condenser and evaporator manifolds, and the heating gas is supplied to the burners through a cylindrical extension of the air valve provided with a radial passage brought into register with the successive burner pipes. The evaporator may comprise a series of units each consisting of parallel closed ended pipes connected at one end to a cross header tube. A liquid receiver and a float valve with a hand-controlled bye-pass pipe may be provided between the condenser and the evaporator. Specification 266,747 is referred to.