Patent Application
20120234033
The present invention generally relates to windows and walls for buildings. More particularly the present invention relates to windows and walls configured to cool an environment adjacent to the window or the wall from heat collected by the window or by the wall.
Traditional windows for buildings have typically been single paned. These single paned windows provide a relatively low level of heat insulation between the inside of the window and the outside the window. Due to the relatively low level of heat insulation of single pane windows, double pane and triple pane windows have been developed, which provide relatively higher levels of heat insulation compared to single pane windows. U.S. Pat. No. 3,793,961 of Wild, U.S. Pat. No. 3,936,157, of Kapany, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,078,548 each describe windows having two panes of glass.
Subsequent to the development of double pane windows, various double pane windows were developed that included photovoltaic cells formed between the panes. The photovoltaic cells in these windows are configured to generate electricity for use away from the windows (e.g., to light a lamp) without obstructing the view through the windows and the photovoltaic cells. U.S. Pat. No. 4,137,098, of Field, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,222, of Kapany, each discuss double pane windows that have photovoltaic cells disposed therein for electricity generation.
As is well known, double pane windows have an air gap between the individual panes in which heated air tends to be trapped. Various double pane windows have been developed to vent the heated air in the air gap to the “inside” of a window (e.g., into a room in a building), for example, if the inside of the window is colder than desired. These double pane windows are also often configured to vent the heated air from inside a window (e.g., from a room in a building) to the “outside” of the window (e.g., to the space outside of a building). For example, heat may be vented from inside the window to outside of the window, if the inside of the window is warmer than desired. U.S. Pat. No. 4,577,619, of Howe, and international patent publication no. WO 2008/095502, of Arndt, each describes a double pane window configured to transfer heated air into a building, or out from a building.
While a number of double pane windows have been developed to use light for electricity generation, and for moving heated air, window designers and manufacturers continue to strive to develop new windows configured for electricity generation, heat transfer, and the like where a relatively higher percentage of received electromagnetic radiation is for usable energy generation compared to known windows.
The present invention generally relates to windows and walls for buildings. More particularly the present invention relates to window and walls configured to cool an environment adjacent to the window or the wall from heat collected by the window or the wall via an adsorption-cooling system integrally formed with the window or the wall.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a window configured to cool an environment includes first and second panes disposed opposite from one another, and a frame coupled to the first and the second panes to form an air gap between the first pane, the second pane, and the frame. The window further includes first and second reflective coatings respectively disposed on first surfaces of the first and the second panes. The first surfaces face the air gap, and the reflective coatings are configured to reflect infrared radiation into the air gap to generate heated air in the air gap. The window further includes first and second antireflective coatings respectively disposed on second surfaces of the first and the second panes. The second surfaces face away from the air gap, and the antireflective coatings are configured to transmit visible light and infrared radiation into the air gap. The window further includes an adsorption-cooling systems configured to collect heat from the air gap to cool air in an environment adjacent to the second pane.
According to one specific embodiment of the window, the adsorption-cooling system includes an adsorption-desorption chamber configured to house an adsorption unit, a condenser, and a heat-exchanger unit. The adsorption unit is configured to adsorb a refrigerant in gas form in the adsorption-desorption chamber to cool the heat-exchanger unit, which is configured to be at least partially submerged in the refrigerant in liquid form, to cool the environment. The adsorption unit includes a pipe and an adsorbent coupled to the pipe, an ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the pipe to cool the adsorbent to effect adsorption of the refrigerant in gas form and enhance evaporation of the refrigerant into gas to cool the heat exchanger unit, and the cooled heat exchanger unit is configured to cool the environment. If the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured not to flow in the pipe, then a heated heat-transfer fluid heated in the air gap is configured to flow in the pipe to heat the adsorbent to effect desorption of the refrigerant into gas form. If the heated heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the pipe, then the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the condenser to condensate the refrigerant from gas from into liquid form.
According to another specific embodiment of the window, the window further includes an electrical generator disposed in the air gap to convert electromagnetic radiation to electricity. The adsorption-cooling system further includes a set of pumps configured to pump the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid, the heated heat-transfer fluid, and a heat-transfer fluid in the heat-exchanger unit. The electrical generator is coupled to the set of pumps to provide power to the set of pumps to drive the set of pumps.
According to another specific embodiment of the window, the heat exchanger unit includes a radiator configured to adsorb heat from the environment to cool the environment. The window may further include a circuit configured to control the operation of the set of pumps.
According to another specific embodiment of the window, the electrical generator includes a set of photovoltaic panels. The window may include a set of louvers in the air gap, wherein the set of photovoltaic panels is coupled to the set of louvers. The louvers in the set of louvers may be octagonal.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a window configured to cool an environment includes first and second panes disposed opposite from one another, and a frame coupled to the first and the second panes to form an air gap between the first pane, the second pane, and the frame. The window includes first and second reflective coatings respectively disposed on first surfaces of the first and second panes. The first surfaces face the air gap, and the reflective coatings are configured to reflect infrared radiation into the air gap to generate heated air in the air gap. The window further includes first and second antireflective coatings respectively disposed on second surfaces of the first and the second panes. The second surfaces face away from the air gap, and the antireflective coatings are configured to transmit visible light and infrared radiation into the air gap. The window further includes an adsorption-cooling systems configured to collect heat from the air gap to cool air in an environment adjacent to the second pane, wherein the adsorption-cooling system includes a first adsorption-desorption chamber and a second adsorption-desorption chamber, and the first and the second adsorption-desorption chambers are configured to operate a cooling cycle temporally out of phase with each another.
According to a specific embodiment, the window further includes a heat-collection unit configured to collect heat from the air gap and transfer the heat to a heat-transfer fluid in the heat collection unit for use by the first and the second adsorption-desorption chambers to cool the environment. The first adsorption-desorption chamber includes a first adsorption unit, a first condenser, and a first heat-exchanger unit, and the second adsorption-desorption chamber includes a second adsorption unit, a second condenser, and a second heat-exchanger unit. The adsorption-cooling systems include a radiator coupled to the first and the second heat-exchanger units. The first adsorption unit is configured to adsorb a refrigerant in gas form in the first adsorption-desorption chamber to cool the first heat-exchanger unit to cool the environment, and wherein the second adsorption unit is configured to adsorb a refrigerant in gas form in the second adsorption-desorption chamber to cool the second heat-exchanger unit to cool the environment.
According to a specific embodiment, the first-adsorption unit includes a first pipe and a first adsorbent coupled to the first pipe. An ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the first pipe to cool the first adsorbent to effect adsorption of the refrigerant in gas form and enhance evaporation of the refrigerant into gas to cool the first heat-exchanger unit. The first cooled heat-exchanger unit is configured to cool the environment. The second-adsorption unit includes a second pipe and a second adsorbent coupled to the second pipe. The ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the second pipe to cool the second adsorbent to effect adsorption of the refrigerant in gas form and enhance evaporation of the refrigerant into gas to cool the second heat exchanger unit. The second cooled heat exchanger unit is configured to cool the environment.
If the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured not to flow in the first pipe, then a heated heat-transfer fluid heated in the air gap is configured to flow in the first pipe to heat the first adsorbent to effect desorption of the refrigerant into gas form. If the heated heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the first pipe, then the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the first condenser to condensate the refrigerant from gas from into liquid form. If the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured not to flow in the second pipe, then a heated heat-transfer fluid heated in the air gap is configured to flow in the second pipe to heat the second adsorbent to effect desorption of the refrigerant into gas form. If the heated heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the second pipe, then the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the second condenser to condensate the refrigerant from gas from into liquid form.
According to a specific embodiment, the window further includes an electrical generator disposed in the air gap configured to convert electromagnetic radiation to electricity;
wherein the adsorption-cooling system further includes a set of pumps configured to pump the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid, the heated heat-transfer fluid, and a heat-transfer fluid in the first and the second heat-exchanger units, and wherein the electrical generator is coupled to the set of pumps to provide power to the set of pumps to drive the set of pumps. The window may further include a circuit configured to control the operation of the set of pumps. The electrical generator includes a set of photovoltaic panels, which may be mounted on a set of louvers in the air gap. The louvers may be octagonal.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a wall is configured to cool an environment adjacent to the wall and includes a pane configured to receive radiation, and a wall disposed adjacent to the pane. The wall further includes a frame coupled to the pane and the wall to form an air gap between the pane, the wall, and the frame. The wall further includes a reflective coating disposed on a first surface of the pane, wherein the first surface faces the air gap, and the reflective coating is configured to reflect infrared radiation into the air gap to generate heated air in the air gap. The wall further includes an antireflective coating disposed on second surfaces of the pane, wherein the second surface faces away from the air gap, and the antireflective coating is configured to transmit visible light and infrared radiation into the air gap. The wall further includes an adsorption-cooling system configured to collect heat from the air gap to cool air in an environment adjacent to the wall.
According to a specific embodiment of the wall, the adsorption-cooling system includes an adsorption-desorption chamber configured to house an adsorption unit, a condenser, and a heat-exchanger unit. The adsorption unit is configured to adsorb a refrigerant in gas form in the adsorption-desorption chamber to cool the heat-exchanger unit, which is configured to be at least partially submerged in the refrigerant in liquid form, to cool the environment. The adsorption unit includes a pipe and an adsorbent coupled to the pipe, an ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the pipe to cool the adsorbent to effect adsorption of the refrigerant in gas form and enhance evaporation of the refrigerant into gas to cool the heat exchanger unit, and the cooled heat exchanger unit is configured to cool the environment. If the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured not to flow in the pipe, then a heated heat-transfer fluid heated in the air gap is configured to flow in the pipe to heat the adsorbent to effect desorption of the refrigerant into gas form, and if the heated heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the pipe, then the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid is configured to flow in the condenser to condensate the refrigerant from gas from into liquid form.
According to another specific embodiment of the wall, the wall further includes an electrical generator disposed in the air gap configured to convert electromagnetic radiation to electricity; wherein the adsorption-cooling system further includes a set of pumps configured to pump the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid, the heated heat-transfer fluid, and a heat-transfer fluid in the heat-exchanger unit, and wherein the electrical generator is coupled to the set of pumps to provide power to the set of pumps to drive the set of pumps. The heat exchanger unit includes a radiator configured to adsorb heat from the environment to cool the environment. The wall may further include a circuit configured to control the operation of the set of pumps. According to one embodiment, the wall includes a window.
These and other benefits of the embodiments of the present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated from further review of the following specification and attached drawings.
The present invention generally provides a window. More particularly embodiments of the present invention provide a window configured to cool an environment adjacent to the window from heat collected by the window.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, window 100 includes an adsorption-cooling system 110 that is configured to perform the cooling function of window 100. Adsorption-cooling system 110 is configured to use “heated” water generated by window 100 to drive the adsorption-cooling system to cool the inside of a window (i.e., a room on the inside of a building or the like). The generation of heated water by window 100 is described below in detail. While window 100 is described herein as being configured to generate heated water for use in the adsorption-cooling system, window 100 may be configured to heat other substances for use in the adsorption-cooling system that have relatively high thermal capacity and relatively high thermal conductivity, such as alcohol or the like.
According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, an outside surface 205a of first pane 205 and an outside surface 210a of second pane 210 are coated with an antireflection coating 225a. Antireflection coating 225a may be configured to provide transmission of a relatively broad spectrum of electromagnetic radiation, such as infrared (IR) radiation, visible light, ultraviolet (UV) light, and the like.
According to a further embodiment, an inside surface 205b of first pane 205 and an inside surface 210b of second pane 210 are coated with an antireflection coating 225b. Antireflection coating 225b, similar to antireflection coating 225a, may be configured to provide transmission of a relatively broad spectrum of electromagnetic radiation, such as infrared (IR) radiation, visible light, ultraviolet (UV) light, and the like.
According to another specific embodiment of the present invention, a reflective coating 230 is disposed on antireflection coatings 225b on both panes 205 and 210. Alternatively, reflective coatings 230 may be disposed on the surfaces 205b and 210b, and antireflection coatings 225b may be disposed on the reflective coatings. Reflective coatings 230 may be configured to reflect one or more select bandwidths of electromagnetic radiation. For example, reflective coatings 230 may be configured to reflect IR radiation. Providing for the transmission (i.e., antireflection) of electromagnetic radiation at surfaces 205a, 205b, 210a, and 210b, and for the reflection of IR radiation at surfaces 205b and 210b into air gap 220 provides for the collection of energy in the air gap. Thereby, the first and the second panes provide for the accumulation of heat relatively efficiently within air gap 220. Antireflection coatings 225a and 225b, and reflective coating 230 may include traditional dielectric layers, or may include other materials, such as relatively thin polymer (e.g., silicone) rubber strips or sheets, which provide transparency and the desired antireflective and reflective properties, where the polymer rubber strips may also be photovoltaic. For convenience, antireflection coatings 225a and 225b, and reflective coatings 230, and other elements of window 100 are not drawn to scale.
Window 100 may include a set of photovoltaic panels 240 where the photovoltaic panels are disposed in air gap 220. According to one embodiment, the photovoltaic panels may be relatively thin panels. For example, the photovoltaic panels may be about 200 micrometers or less thick from front to back (e.g., from A-A). The photovoltaic panels may be configured to convert electromagnetic radiation striking the photovoltaic panels into electricity. The electricity may be configured to be directed to various electrical components inside the window (e.g., a room in a building directly adjacent to the second pane), outside the window for external use, or in the interior of the window. For example, the electricity generated by the set of photovoltaic panels 240 may be directed to a set of pumps 242 (see
The set of photovoltaic panels may be coupled to a set of louvers 245. The coupling may be one-to-one or one-to-many. That is, one photovoltaic panel may be coupled to one louver, or a plurality of photovoltaic panels may be coupled to one louver. The louvers may be formed of a variety of materials, such as plastic, wood, glass, composite material, or the like. The set of photovoltaic panels may be mechanically coupled to the louvers, chemically coupled to the louvers (e.g., glued, epoxied, etc.), or the like. The photovoltaic panels may be coupled to the louvers at a fixed position or may be configured to be rotatable with respect to the louvers. Those of skill in the art will know how to couple the photovoltaic panels to the louvers so that the photovoltaic panels may be rotatable with respect to the louvers. Antireflection coatings 225a and 225b provide that a relatively high percentage of received electromagnetic radiation (as compared to known windows) is transmitted through the panes to the photovoltaic panels for relatively high electricity generation rates. Window 100 may include any of the window features of the windows described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/563,052, filed Sep. 18, 2009, titled “Solar Window Apparatus and Method,” of Narinder Singh Kapany and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/720,982, filed Mar. 10, 2010, of titled “Solar Window Component,” of Narinder Singh Kapany, both of which is incorporated by reference herein in their entireties for all purposes.
According to one embodiment, the louvers may be configured to be rotated to provide optimal expose of the photovoltaic panels to electromagnetic radiation striking these photovoltaic panels. Optimal exposure includes a position at which the photovoltaic panels generate a substantial maximum power output for electromagnetic radiation received by the photovoltaic panels. For example, a position at which the louvers are oriented for optical expose to electromagnetic radiation is often ninety degrees. That is, the incoming electromagnetic radiation strikes the photovoltaic panel at ninety degrees. The louvers may be configured to be manually rotated by a user, or rotated automatically by one or more motor or the like (not shown). The window may include a detector circuit configured to determine if the photovoltaic panels are optimally positioned with respect to the electromagnetic radiation, and to control the one or motor to adjust the angle of the louvers until the photovoltaic panels are optimally oriented.
According to one embodiment, window 100 has a first opening 250 formed therein at a bottom portion, and has a second opening 255 formed therein at a top portion. First opening 250 may be between air gap 220 and the inside of the window. That is, the first opening may be toward a room in a building. Second opening 255 may be between air gap 220 and the inside of the window and/or the outside of the window. That is, the second opening may be toward a room in a building and/or to the outside of a building.
According to one embodiment, window 100 may include a first shutter 260a and/or a second shutter 260b that may be position at opening 255. First shutter 260a may be positioned toward the outside of the window to regulate the flow of air through opening 255 to the outside of a building. Second shutter 260b may be positioned toward the inside of the window to regulate the flow of air through opening 255 to the inside of a building. The shutters may be configured to be manually opened and closed by a human user, and/or may be configured to be opened and closed by a thermostat 265. The thermostat may be a mechanical device (such as a bimetal spring), an electronic device, an electro-mechanical device, or the like. The thermostat may be configured to be set at a given temperature at which one or both of the first and the second shutters may be opened or closed. For example, the thermostat may be configured to open a first shutter 260a and close a second shutter 260b if the temperature inside a room is say 75 degrees or greater. With the first shutter open, and the second shutter closed warm air is allowed to flow upward from first opening 250 from the room, and outward from second opening 255 out of the room. Thereby, heat collected in the air gap is limited from flowing into the room. This example operation of the thermostat and shutters provides that if the room becomes warmer than desired (e.g., say 75 degrees or greater), the window may vent heat from inside a room in a building to outside of the building. Alternatively, if a room is colder than desired, then first shutter 260a may be closed by the thermostat, and second shutter 260b may be opened by the thermostat thereby allowing warm air, which has accumulated inside the air gap, to enter the room. That is, cool air from inside a room may flow through first opening 250, warm in the air gap, and exit into the room through second opening 255.
According to another embodiment, a set of fans 270 is disposed in the air gap and/or adjacent to one or both of the openings to push air inside the air gap out through second opening 355 into the room or out from the room. The set of fans may be configured to operate in conjunction with the first and the second shutters to move air into the room or move air out from the room. The set of fans 270 may be electrically coupled to the set of photovoltaic panels to draw electricity there from for operation. The fan might alternatively be coupled to an external power source. The set of fans may be configured to power on and off under control of the thermostat. The window may include one or more filters 275 disposed in the air gap and/or in one or both of the first and the second openings to filter the air that passes into the air gap and/or out from the air gap. The filters may be configured to keep the inner surfaces of the panes clean by removing particulate matter in the air that moves through air gap 220.
According to another embodiment, window 100 includes a fluid-heating unit 290, such as a water-heating unit. While
According to one embodiment, the set of pipes 295 generate heated heat-transfer fluid for the adsorption-cooling system. According to one embodiment, pump 242a in the set of pumps 242 is configured to pump the heat-transfer fluid through the set of pipes 295. Each pump may be a 12V DC pump. According to one alternative embodiment, water may be fed into fluid-heating unit 290 from outside the window and dispensed from window for external use.
Adsorption-cooling system 110′ may also include adsorption-desorption chamber 530, an adsorption unit 535, a condenser 540, and a heat-exchanger unit 545. Adsorption-cooling system 110′ differs from adsorption-cooling system 110, in that adsorption-cooling system 110 includes two adsorption-desorption chambers 530a and 530b, whereas adsorption-cooling system 110′ includes one adsorption-desorption chamber. The routing of the set of pipes in adsorption-cooling systems 110 and 110′ also differ. The purpose for the difference in the routing of the set of pipes will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art and is not described in detail herein. Adsorption-desorption chamber 530 is a substantially sealed chamber and forms essentially the main body of adsorption-cooling system 110′. The adsorption-desorption chamber includes at least a portion of each of the adsorption unit, the condenser, and the heat-exchanger unit. The adsorption-desorption chamber is also configured to house the refrigerant 550 for the adsorption-cooling system. The refrigerant is described herein as being water, but may be another substance or may include a mix of substances. A variety of gases (e.g., air, helium, etc.) may be housed in the adsorption-desorption chamber to regulate the vapor pressure of the refrigerant and regulate the partial pressure of the refrigerant in gaseous form to optimize the cooling, optimize efficiency, etc.
According to one embodiment, the adsorption unit 535 includes at least one pipe 535a (e.g., a copper pipe), which is coupled to the first and the second sets of control valves for directing heated heat transfer fluid or ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid through the adsorption-desorption chamber. The adsorption unit also includes an adsorbent 535b, which is coupled to a portion of pipe 535a inside the adsorption-desorption chamber. Adsorbent 535b is configured to adsorb the refrigerant and desorb the refrigerant from the atmosphere surrounding the adsorbent. The adsorbent may be any material that is configured to adsorb and desorb the refrigerant. According to one particular embodiment, adsorbent 535b is silica gel. Silica gel, as is well known in the art, is configured to adsorb water (an example refrigerant) from a surrounding atmosphere at temperatures up to 200° F. at one atmosphere of pressure and is configured to desorb water at a higher temperature at one atmosphere of pressure. The temperature range for water adsorption and desorption of silica gel may be varied by varying the local atmospheric pressure in the adsorption-desorption chamber. Heated heat-transfer fluid passing through pipe 535a is configured to transfer heat to adsorbent 535b to effect desorption of the refrigerant by the adsorbent. Ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid passing through pipe 535a is configured to absorb heat from adsorbent 535b to effect adsorption of the refrigerant by the adsorbent. Condenser 540 may be a coil or other useful shape.
According to one embodiment, heat-exchanger unit 545 includes a pipe 545a (e.g., a copper pipe), which includes a coil portion 545b (“coil”) that is disposed inside the adsorption-desorption chamber. Heat-exchanger unit 545 also includes a radiator 545c (sometimes referred to as a heat exchanger), which is disposed outside of the adsorption-desorption chamber. The heat exchange unit is disposed inside the window (e.g., in a room of a building) to cool the inside of the window. Radiator 545c may be disposed on a surface of frame 105 of window 100 where the surface of the frame and the radiator face the inside of the window. Coil 545b is configured to be partially disposed in refrigerant 535b with a top portion 545d of the coil above the refrigerant level 535c.
At a step 625, the first and the second sets of control valves and pump 242b (and pump 242c according to some embodiments) are set by circuit 527 to direct the heated heat-transfer fluid from pipe 295 into the adsorption unit, and direct ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid from pipe 405 into the condenser. The heated heat-transfer fluid in adsorption unit 535 heats adsorbent 535b causing the adsorbent to desorb the refrigerant adsorbed therein in steps 605 and 610. The desorbed refrigerant is released into the adsorption-desorption chamber as gaseous refrigerant (e.g., water vapor). At a step 630, the ambient-temperature heat-transfer fluid in the condenser cools and condenses the gaseous refrigerant back into liquid form, which accumulates at the bottom of the adsorption-desorption chamber. Steps 625-630 are generally referred to as the condensation cycle.
According to one embodiment, during the condensation cycle pump 242d is configured to stop pumping heat-transfer fluid through heat-exchanger unit 545. According to an alternative embodiment, a first temperature gauge 700 may be disposed in the refrigerant to measure the temperature of the refrigerant, and a second temperature gauge 705 may be disposed inside the window to measure the temperature inside the window (e.g., a room in a building). Circuit 527 may be configured to monitor the output from the first and the second temperature gauges and compare the temperatures. If the temperature inside the window remains higher than the refrigerant during the condensation cycle, circuit 527 may be configured to continue to pump heat-transfer through the heat exchanger. Alternatively, if the temperature inside the window is same as, or lower than, the temperature of the refrigerant during the condensation cycle, circuit 527 may be configured to stop pump 242d from pumping heat-transfer fluid through the heat exchanger. According to a further embodiment, temperature gauge 705 may be included in a thermostat 710, which may be set by a user for turning on and off the adsorption-cooling system at specified temperatures. Circuit 527 may operate in conjunction with the thermostat to control the adsorption-cooling system as will be well understood by those of skill in the art. Steps 600-630 are typically repeated a number of times to cool the inside of a window.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, if a window 100 includes two or more adsorption-desorption chambers 530a and 530b, the adsorption-desorption chambers may be configured to operate “out” of synchronization to provide a substantially continuous cooling inside the window. That is, the cooling cycle of the first adsorption-desorption chamber 530a may take place while the condensing cycle is taking place in the second adsorption-desorption chamber 530b. Further, the condensation cycle in the first adsorption-desorption chamber may take place while cooling cycling is taking place in the second adsorption-desorption chamber.
The foregoing description is not limiting on the claims and variations, which are included in the instant application, will be apparent to those of skill in the art. For example, each of the methods described above for window 100 and 100′ may apply to wall 101. Therefore, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims and that the invention is intended to cover all modifications and equivalents within the scope of the following claims.
