Claims
- 1. A sorption cooling device, comprising:
a) an evaporator; b) an absorber; c) at least a first reservoir adapted to contain a liquid; d) a liquid disposed in said first reservoir; and e) flow restriction means disposed between said liquid and said evaporator for restricting the flow of said liquid to said evaporator.
- 2. A sorption cooling device as recited in claim 1, wherein said flow restriction means comprises a porous membrane.
- 3. A sorption cooling device as recited in claim 1, wherein said flow restriction means comprises a porous membrane disposed within said first reservoir.
- 4. A sorption cooling device as recited in claim 1, wherein said flow restriction means comprises a porous membrane substantially enclosing said first reservoir.
- 5. A sorption cooling device as recited in claim 1, wherein said liquid is water.
- 6. A sorption cooling device as recited in claim 1, wherein said flow restriction means comprises a porous membrane having an average pore size of from about 0.05 μm to about 20 μm.
- 7. A sorption cooling device as recited in claim 1, wherein said flow restriction means comprises at least a first capillary tube.
- 8. A controlled-temperature shipping container incorporating a sorption cooling device as recited in claim 1.
- 9. A sorption cooling device, comprising:
a) an evaporator; b) an absorber; c) at least a first reservoir adapted to contain a first liquid; d) at least a second reservoir adapted to contain a second liquid; and e) means for supplying liquid from said first and second reservoirs to said evaporator, wherein the first liquid flow rate from said first reservoir to said evaporator is faster than a second liquid flow rate from said second reservoir to said evaporator.
- 10. A sorption cooling device as recited in claim 9, further comprising flow restriction means disposed between said second liquid and said evaporator for restricting the flow of said second liquid to said evaporator.
- 11. A sorption cooling device as recited in claim 9, wherein said first reservoir has a smaller volume than said second reservoir.
- 12. A sorption cooling device as recited in claim 9, wherein said device comprises actuation means for releasing liquid from at least one of said first and second reservoirs.
- 13. A sorption cooling device as recited in claim 9, wherein said device comprises actuation means for releasing liquid from said both first and second reservoirs.
- 14. A sorption cooling device as recited in claim 9, wherein said first liquid has a composition that is different than said second liquid.
- 15. A sorption cooling device as recited in claim 9, wherein said first liquid comprises a freezing point suppression agent.
- 16. A sorption cooling device as recited in claim 9, wherein said evaporator comprises a wicking material and wherein said wicking material is impregnated with a freezing point suppression agent.
- 17. A controlled-temperature shipping container incorporating a sorption cooling device as recited in claim 9.
- 18. A method for operating a sorption cooling device having an evaporator for providing cooling and an absorber for absorbing vapor formed in the evaporator, wherein a first portion of liquid is supplied to said evaporator at a first liquid supply rate and a second portion of liquid is supplied to said evaporator and a second liquid supply rate that is lower than said first liquid supply rate.
- 19. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein said first portion of liquid is smaller than said second portion of liquid.
- 20. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein said first portion is supplied to said evaporator before said second portion is supplied to said evaporator.
- 21. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein said first portion and second portion are supplied to said evaporator essentially simultaneously.
- 22. A sorption cooling device, comprising:
a) an evaporator; b) an absorber; and c) a vapor conduit connecting said evaporator and said absorber, adapted to permit vapor flow therethrough wherein said vapor conduit comprises a thermally insulating material.
- 23. A sorption cooling device as recited in claim 22, wherein said thermally insulating material is an open cell foam.
- 24. A sorption cooling device as recited in claim 22, wherein said thermally insulating material comprises polyurethane open cell foam.
- 25. A sorption cooling device as recited in claim 22, wherein said thermally insulating material comprises polystyrene open cell foam.
- 26. A sorption cooling device as recited in claim 22, wherein said thermally insulating material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of fiberglass and porous silica.
- 27. A sorption cooling device as recited in claim 22, wherein said thermally insulating material has an insulative value of less than 0.035 W/m.K.
- 28. A controlled-temperature shipping container incorporating a sorption cooling device as recited in claim 22.
- 29. A sorption cooling device, comprising:
a) an absorber; b) an evaporator; c) a reservoir adapted to supply a liquid to said evaporator; and d) a freezing point suppression agent dispersed within said evaporator.
- 30. A sorption cooling device as recited in claim 29, wherein said freezing point suppression agent comprises a salt.
- 31. A sorption cooling device as recited in claim 29, wherein said freezing point suppression agent comprises a salt selected from the group consisting of NaCl, CaCl2, BaCl2, MgCl2, FeCl3, Mg(NO3)2, NaBr, ZnCl2 and mixtures thereof.
- 32. A sorption cooling device as recited in claim 29, wherein said evaporator comprises a wicking material and wherein said freezing point suppression agent is dispersed on said wicking material.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/876,841 filed on Jun. 6, 2001, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09876841 |
Jun 2001 |
US |
Child |
09970094 |
Oct 2001 |
US |