MXPA96001470A - Heat transfer appliance through heat extraction between generator-absorbing and method and using it in an ac pump - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved heat exchange apparatus between generator / absorber, which includes a generator and an absorber, the absorber has a lower internal pressure than the internal pressure of the generator, the generator and absorber have regions of high temperature and low that establish respective temperature ranges, the temperature ranges overlap and thus define respective heat transfer regions in the generator and absorber, the heat exchange apparatus between generator and absorber further has a fluid flow path that a weak liquor circulates from the high temperature of the generator, and a rich liquor from the low temperature region of the absorber to and through the regions of high temperature, heat transfer and low temperature generator and absorber, the improvement is characterized because it comprises: a heat exchange circuit that receives at least one percent Weak liqueur ion from the generator and receiving a portion of the rich liquor from the absorber, the heat exchange circuit includes a generated heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region of the generator and a heat exchange element of the heat exchanger. absorber placed in the heat transfer region of the absorber to circulate the portions of the weak and rich liquor between the heat transfer regions, thereby transferring heat from the absorber to the generated

Description

HEAT TRANSFER APPARATUS THROUGH HEAT EXCHANGE BETWEEN GENERATOR-ABSORBENT, AND METHOD AND USE THEREOF IN A HEAT PUMP rs BACKGROUND I) AND THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the cooling and heat pump systems j, and more particularly to an absorption refrigeration cycle of the generator-absorber heat exchange type ("GAX"). The invention is especially adapted for use in a heat pump by absorption, air-to-air, ignited JJ by gas.

Description of Related Art The absorption refrigeration cycles were developed in the mid-1800s and were mainly used in refrigeration systems. These cycles used a refrigerant / sorbent mixture, the refrigerant vapor being absorbed in a liquid absorbent, thereby producing heat, followed by the heating the refrigerant / sorbent mixture in a generator, to remove the refrigerant vapor. A condenser, which also produced heat, and an evaporator, which extracted heat, completed the cycle. The heat produced by the absorption in the absorber was discarded, together with that coming from the condenser, towards a cooler, in general cooling water. These early "single stage" absorption cycle systems were inefficient but often preferred for compression systems before the advent of electric motors, because the cost of heat energy to operate them was low and they required much less mechanical energy than the systems Of compression. For most applications, the use of these simple stage absorption systems declined with changes in the relative cost of gas and electric power, and with improvements in electrically operated compression systems. Even today, however, simple stage systems are still applicable in some commercial air conditioning systems, lithium bromide, low pressure systems, and in refrigeration systems for recreational vehicles and hotel rooms. In 1913, improved absorption cycles were envisaged by Altenkirch. One of these cycles was made more efficient than the first simple stage 1 cycles, by transferring a portion of the heat produced in the absorber to the refrigerant / absorber fluid pumped to the generator. This heat transfer reduced the total heat input *} required for the generator, to evaporate the refrigerant from the refrigerant / aborbent mixture. This system has been called the heat exchange cycle by absorber (AHE). The AHE cycle was used at the beginning of 1965 to produce absorption systems that were efficient enough for residential, air-cooled, cost-effective air conditioners. However, even in these AHE cycle systems, a large portion of the heat generated by the absorption process in the absorber was lost. The AHE cycle was also used experimentally in air-to-air gas heat pumps that were advantageous in heating, but were never commercially produced. As energy costs increased, QE AHE air conditioners lost many of their operating cost advantages and today have only a limited market. In 1913, Altenkirch also devised another absorption cycle that recovered more of the absorption heat from the absorber. This cycle, which came to be known as the heat exchange cycle by generator-absorber (GAX), used an additional system of heat exchange, whereby the heat at higher temperature produced by the absorption process in The absorber was transferred by means of a heat exchange fluid to the low temperature section of the generator. The GAX cycle recovers a large additional amount of heat from the absorber, and it uses higher generator temperatures than the AHE system, and in this way it is able to achieve much higher energy efficiencies. The heating efficiency of such GAX systems, in relation to the particular fuel used, can be much higher than that of furnaces, heaters, etc. However, prior art GAX cycle concepts suffered the disadvantage of requiring a separate heat transfer circuit that uses a separate heat transfer fluid to transfer heat from the absorber to the generator. This heat transfer circuit required a hermetic seal, an expansion chamber, a pump capable of variable flow, and a control system that linked the amount of heat transfer fluid flow to the heat to be transferred by the GAX cycle, either in the heating or cooling cycle at each particular outside temperature. These GAX concepts of the prior art typically used a heat transfer fluid that remained in the liquid phase, and thus only used the sensible heat of the heat transfer liquid. c >; Electric heat pumps, which operate with a standard condenser-evaporator cycle, have been used to date for small residential and commercial heating and cooling applications. Electric heat pumps can 3 to effectively meet the heating and cooling requirements of residential buildings and small commercial buildings in areas that have relatively benign climates, such as the southern states of the United States, but these electric heat pumps are not capable of providing , without auxiliary heating equipment, the necessary heating in climates where temperatures fall below -1 ° C (30 ° F). In addition, these electric heat pump systems typically use refrigerants that can be hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC's) or chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) which are environmentally harmful. Thus, there is a need for a generator-absorber heat exchange apparatus and an appropriate method for use in a heat pump -e residential or for small businesses, which efficiently transfers a large portion of the heat produced by the absorption process in the absorber to the generator, without the use of an expensive, expensive, possibly prone to failure circuit. The present invention satisfies that need by the provision of a generator-absorber heat exchange apparatus and the method that can use an environmentally safe fluid either as the working fluid and the heat exchange fluid, which efficiently recovers a large amount of heat. portion of heat generated by the absorption process in the absorber, which does not require an elaborate system of controls, which advantageously uses the latent heat and sensible heat of the working fluid, to transfer the heat from the absorber to the generator, by operation between its vapor and liquid phases, and which, due to size, cost and efficiency, can be used to satisfy the heating and cooling requirements of residential or small businesses, in a wide range of climates, including the sufficient heating at temperatures below -18 ° C (0 ° F). Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described in the drawings and in the following written description, and in part will be apparent from the drawings and the written description, or may be learned from the practice of the invention. The advantages of the invention will be realized and achieved by the heat exchange apparatus by generator-absorber, the heat pump incorporating the heat exchanger apparatus by generator-absorber, and the method for heat transfer between an absorber and a generator in a generator-absorber heat exchange apparatus, particularly indicated in the drawings, in the written description, and in the claims hereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION To achieve these and other advantages, and in accordance with the purpose of the invention as exemplified and broadly described herein, the present invention, in one aspect, provides an apparatus for heat exchange by generator-absorber that includes a generator and an absorber. The absorber has a lower internal pressure than the internal pressure of the generator, and each has high and low temperature regions at opposite ends, and a heat transfer region. The temperature ranges of the generator and the absorber defining the respective heat transfer regions overlap. A fluid flow path is provided for the circulation of a weak liquor from the high temperature region of the generator, and a rich liquor from a low temperature region of the absorber to and through the high temperature, transfer regions of heat and low temperature of the generator and the absorber. The improvement to the heat exchanger apparatus by generator-absorber, according to the invention as exemplified and broadly described herein, comprises a heat exchange circuit that receives all or at least a portion of the weak liquor from the fluid flow path, and which also receives a portion of the rich liquor from the fluid flow path and circulating the portions of the weak and rich liquor through the heat transfer regions of the absorber and the generator, thereby transferring the heat from the absorber to the generator. The present invention, in still another aspect, comprises a generator-absorber heat exchange apparatus (GAX) that includes a generator containing a liquor having a concentration gradient extending from the rich, close to an upper end, the weak, close to a lower end, and a temperature gradient that extends from the low, close to the upper end to the high, close to the lower end. A heater is placed to heat the liquor in the generator, near its lower end. The GAX apparatus in this aspect of the invention also includes an absorber having a pressure in its interior smaller than the interior pressure of the generator, which contains a liquor having a concentration gradient extending from the weak, close to an upper end. to the rich, near a lower end, and a temperature gradient that extends from the high, near the upper end to the low, near the lower end. The respective temperature gradients of the generator and the absorber overlap, and this overlap defines the respective region of heat transfer in the generator and the absorber. This GAX apparatus according to the present invention also includes a liquor rich heat exchange conduit, having an inlet end in fluid communication with the absorber, near the lower end thereof, positioned to receive the rich liquor from the liquor. absorber, a heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region of the absorber, to transfer the heat from the absorber to the rich liquor, and an outlet end placed in the generator, near the upper end thereof, to distribute the rich liquor from the lower end of the absorber for the passage along the concentration and temperature gradients of the generator. A pump in fluid communication with the rich liquor conduit is also provided for moving the fluid through the heat exchange conduit of the rich liquor, coming from the absorber to the heat exchange element of the absorber, and then to the generator. This GAX apparatus further includes a weak liquor heat exchange conduit, having an input end in fluid communication with the generator, near the lower end thereof, positioned to receive the liquor from the generator, an exchange element of heat placed in the heat transfer region of the generator, to transfer heat from the weak liquor to the generator, and an outlet end placed in the absorber, near the upper end thereof, to distribute the weak liquor from the lower end of the generator for the passage along the gradients of concentration and temperature of the absorber. The present invention also provides, in yet another aspect, a heat pump comprising an indoor liquid-air heat exchanger, an outdoor liquid-air heat exchanger, a generator heat exchanger-absorber as described above, and an antifreeze circuit. The antifreeze circuit according to this aspect of the invention is placed to circulate the antifreeze fluid between the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers and the heat exchange apparatus by generator-absorber, to selectively remove the heat in one of the exchangers of heat, and transfer the heat from the other heat exchangers. According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for transferring heat between an absorber and a generator in a heat exchange apparatus per generator-absorber. This heat transfer is achieved by circulating a portion of a rich liquor and all or at least a portion of a weak liquor, through the respective heat transfer regions of the absorber and the generator. According to still another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for transferring heat between a region of low temperature and a region of medium temperature, using the heat exchange apparatus by generator-absorber, of the invention. This method comprises circulating at least a portion of antifreeze fluid between an indoor heat exchanger and at least one of a heat exchanger absorber, a heat exchanger for condenser and a heat exchanger generator, whereby transfers the heat via antifreeze fluid from at least one of the heat exchangers per absorber, per condenser and per generator to the indoor heat exchanger. The method also comprises circulating an antifreeze fluid between an outdoor heat exchanger and a heat exchanger by evaporator, whereby heat is transferred via the antifreeze fluid from the outdoor heat exchanger to the heat exchanger evaporator. According to still another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for transferring heat between a region of high temperature and a region of medium temperature, using the heat exchange apparatus by generator-absorber of the invention. This method comprises circulating at least a portion of antifreeze fluid between an outdoor heat exchanger and at least one of a heat exchanger absorber, a heat exchanger for condenser and heat exchanger generator, whereby transfers the heat via the antifreeze fluid from at least one of the heat exchangers by absorber, by condenser and by enerator, to the outdoor heat exchanger. The method also comprises circulating an antifreeze fluid between an indoor heat exchanger and an evaporator heat evaporator, whereby heat is transferred via the antifreeze fluid from the indoor heat exchanger to the heat exchanger evaporator. Although the invention is illustrated as exemplified in a residential gas-fired heat pump, the invention, as widely claimed, is not so limited and its benefits and advantages apply equally to other heating and cooling processes. The above and other advantages and features of this invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a flow chart illustrating an absorption apparatus using a conventional generator-absorber heat exchange (GAX) circuit; 1 Figure 2 is a pressure-temperature-composition diagram (P-T-X) of the system in Figure i; *} Figure 3 is a flow diagram of a first embodiment of the GAX apparatus of the present invention; Figure 4 is a flow chart of a second embodiment of the GAX apparatus of the present invention; "M" Figure 5 is a flowchart of a third embodiment of the GAX apparatus of the present invention; Figure 6 is a flow diagram of a fourth embodiment of the GAX apparatus of the present invention; Y Figure 7 is a flow diagram of the heat pump of the present invention, using the 2Q GAX apparatus of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES According to the invention, the term "weak -c liquor" as used herein, refers to the liquor 1 within or leaving the high temperature region, eg, the lower portion, of the generator. The term "rich liquor" as used herein, refers to the liquor within or leaving the low temperature region, eg, the lower portion, of the absorber. The terms "weak" and "rich" refer to the concentration of the component or components absorbed, for example, the refrigerant, in the total solution. In this way, a weak liquor liquid has less absorbed refrigerant, such as ammonia and more absorbent, such as water, than an equal amount of a rich liquor liquid. However, a vapor in equilibrium with a liquid will have a much higher concentration of refrigerant than the liquid. For example, at the bottom of the absorber, the vapor 5 entering from the evaporator may have a refrigerant concentration of, for example, about 99%, while the liquor liquid rich in equilibrium with this rich liquor vapor may have a refrigerant concentration of, for example, about 45-48%.

Accordingly, the weak liquor vapor in the upper part of the absorber, which is in equilibrium with the weak liquor liquid entering from the generator, will have a concentration of refrigerant that is greater than the concentration of weak liquor liquid. "As noted above, the absorbed component or components and the absorbent component or components, which constitute the weak liquor and the rich liquor, can be either in a vapor or liquid state, or a combination of the two. Also, the term "heat pump" as used herein is intended to include any apparatus that transforms heat between low, medium and high temperature states, and is intended to include not only the commonly understood meaning of the term, but also also as used herein is intended to include heat transformers as well as more traditional systems such as refrigeration and air conditioning systems. In the prior art known system, illustrated in Figure 1, a generator-absorber heat exchange apparatus 10, which operates on the generator-absorber heat exchange cycle (GAX), generally comprises a generator 12. , an absorber 14, and condenser 16, an evaporator 18, a solution pump 38, and a cooling liquor path for the circulation of a cooling liquor to and through the generator 12 and the absorber 14. In particular, the liquor path The refrigerant includes a rich liquor path 21 that provides fluid communication of the rich liquor 32 from a low temperature region C of the absorber 14, to a low temperature region D of the generator 12, and a path 22 of the weak liquor that provides Fluid communication of the weak liquor 46 from a region E of high temperature of the generator 12, to a region F of high temperature of the absorber 14. The path of the cooling liquor is completed a by passing the liquid from path 22 of the weak liquor through the high temperature regions, medium temperature and low temperature F, G, C of the absorber 14, and by passing the liquor from the liquor pathway 21 through the regions of low temperature, medium temperature and high temperature D, I, E of the generator 12 The refrigerant path is completed from the generator 12 to the condenser 16 through the conduit 24, from the condenser 16 to the evaporator 18 through the conduit 26, and from the evaporator 18 to the absorber 14 through the conduit 28. The terms "low temperature region", "medium temperature region" and "high temperature region" as used herein, are understood to refer to relative temperatures. As described in Figure 1, each region will be defined by a temperature range, which in each particular component is relatively greater or less than the other region. Thus, for example, the high temperature region E of the generator 12 can have a temperature of around 1. of 204 ° C (400 ° F) and the low temperature region D of the generator 12, can have a temperature of about of 93 ° C (200 ° F). On the other hand, the high temperature region F of the absorber 14 can have a temperature r >; about 149 ° C (300 ° F), and the low temperature region C of the absorber 14 can have a temperature of about 38 ° C (100 ° F). In each of the generator 12 and the absorber 14 there is an area of temperature overlap referred to herein as the region of -. heat transfer. This region of heat transfer is described in Figure 1 as the area between regions D and I of generator 12 and the area between regions G and F of absorber 14. An absorption generator is, in essence, a distillation column, which has an extraction section and a rectification section. The extraction section is the lower, hotter section, which corresponds to the portion between regions D and E, while the rectifying section is the upper section, more cold, which corresponds to the portion above the region D. The dividing point between the extraction and rectification sections, region D, is the region of the generator that has a temperature corresponding to the boiling point of the liquor rich liquid at the pressure of the generator.

As described in Figure 1, the vertical temperature gradients of the absorber 14 and the generator 12 are inverted, for example, the highest temperature region E of the generator 12 is at or near its bottom or bottom end, while that the highest temperature region F of the absorber 14 is at or near its upper end. In this way, the orientation of the respective regions D-I and G-F of heat transfer is similarly opposite. The temperature range defining the heat transfer regions DI and GF is between the temperature overlap between the temperature range of the generator 12 and the temperature range of the absorber 14, for example, within the range of, for example, approximately 93 ° C (200 ° F) to approximately 149 ° C (300 ° F). The known apparatus described in Figure 1 includes a heat transfer circuit 30 positioned between the heat transfer regions DI and GF of the generator 12 and of the absorber 14, which is oriented to conduct the fluid directly between the areas of the regions of heat transfer. During the operation of the known system of Figure 1, a refrigerant fluid, consisting mainly of a refrigerant, such as ammonia, but possibly containing a small amount of absorbent if it is volatile, such as water, leaves the evaporator 18 mainly as a vapor, and passes through the conduit 28 to the absorber 14 in the low temperature region C. This refrigerant vapor which rises upwardly through the absorber 14, is absorbed within a countercurrent flow of the weak liquor, thereby producing a rich liquor 32 which accumulates in the liquid state in the low temperature region C of the absorber 14. This process takes place at a temperature above that of the surrounding area, generating heat, something from which it is transferred to air, water, antifreeze or other heat transfer fluid circulating during this process through the heat exchanger 36 located at 5 a heat exchange circuit 34. The rich liquor 32 is transferred along the path 21 of the rich liquor by a solution pump 38 to the region D of the generator 12, where a higher pressure is maintained. A higher pressure 0 is maintained in the generator 12 than in the absorber 14. For example, the pressure in the generator 12 can commonly be around 16,873 to 23,904 Kg / cm2 (240-340 psia) and the pressure in the absorber 14 can be around 1054 to 5,624 kg / cm2 (15-80 psia). According to At the beginning of the heat exchange cycle by absorber (AHE), the heat exchanger 40 in the liquor rich pathway 21 is used to transfer the heat of the absorber to the rich liquor 32. In an alternative, the rich liquor 32 is heated in the heat exchanger 40 at its boiling point, at the pressure of the generator 12 and is provided as a heat input to the region D of the generator 12. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 1, the rich liquor 32 is heated in the heat exchanger 40 at a temperature below its boiling point, and after that it is heated in the heat exchanger 41 in the rectifying section above the region D of the generator 12. In any alternative, the rich liquor 32 is distributed within the generator 12 in the region D. The heat source 42 and the heat transfer fins 44 cooperate to heat the rich liquor 32 as it passes downwardly through the generator 12, whereby the refrigerant vapor is driven from the rich liquor 32 to form the weak liquor 46 in the region E of high temperature of the generator 12. The steam having a concentration of about 100% of refrigerant is expelled from the generator 12 through the way 24 of the refrigerant, to the condenser 16, where it is condensed and fed via the duct 26 through the restriction means 48 at a lower pressure in the evaporator 18. The weak liquor 46 in the high temperature region E of the generator 22, is returned through the path 22 of the lico r weak towards the high temperature region F of the absorber 14. The sensible heat of the weak liquor 46 is provided as a heat input to the generator 12 in the heat exchanger 51. The heat can also be transferred into the heat exchanger ( not shown) between lane 21 of rich liquor and lane 22 of weak liquor. In the known generator-absorber heat exchange system, illustrated in Figure 1, heat transfer is provided by a GAX heat transfer circuit 30, which includes, for example, a pair of exchange coils 50 and 52 of heat, and a pump 54 for circulating the heat transfer fluid such as pressurized water. Since the vertical temperature gradients of the absorber 14 and the generator 12 are inverted, it is necessary to cross connect the paths between the coils 50 and 52, as illustrated in Figure 1. The GAX cycle principle is illustrated in the pressure diagram -temperature-composition of Figure 2 in which the point D represents the dividing point between the extraction and rectification sections of the generator 12, the point E represents the high temperature region of the generator 12, the point C represents the region of low temperature of the absorber 14, the point F represents the high temperature region of the absorber 14, the point I represents the region of the generator 12 which is at a temperature lower than the temperature of the point F in the absorber 14, by an amount sufficient to provide the temperature difference necessary for the heat transfer between those regions, and the point G represents the region of the absorber 14 which is at a temperature greater than the temperature of point D in generator 12, by an amount sufficient to provide the temperature difference necessary for heat transfer between those regions. These regions in Figure 2 correspond to the regions D, E, C, F, I and G, respectively, in Figure 1. The line DI represents the GAX heat transfer region of the generator 12 and the line GF represents the region GAX heat transfer of the absorber 14. The points A and B represent the condenser 16 and the evaporator 18, respectively. The line from C to D represents lane 21 of rich liquor and the line from E to F represents lane 22 of weak liquor. The arrows in Figure 2 that extend from the GF line to the DI line indicate the transfer of heat from the heat transfer region of the absorber 14 to the heat transfer region of the generator 12. The heat to be transferred from the absorber 14 towards the generator 12 is available over a temperature range in the absorber 14, and must be transferred to a temperature range in the generator 12 that is colder only by the temperature difference required to transfer the heat. To do this more efficiently, the heat from the hottest segment of the heat transfer region F of the absorber 14, must be transferred to the hottest segment of the heat transfer region I in the generator 12, and similarly for each of the progressively colder segments of the heat transfer regions of the absorber 14 and generator 12 This means that the temperature range of the fluid for heat transfer must be adjusted between the temperature ranges of the heat transfer region, the generator 12 and the absorber 14, and each of the segments. In accordance with the present invention, as exemplified and broadly described herein, a heat exchange circuit is provided in a generator-absorber heat exchange apparatus that includes a generator and an absorber. The absorber has a lower internal pressure than the pressure inside the generator, and each of the generator and the absorber have high and low temperature regions, vertically opposite, and a region of heat transfer. The temperature ranges of the generator and the absorber overlap, and this overlap defines the respective heat transfer regions of the generator and the absorber. The generator-absorber heat exchange apparatus further includes a fluid flow path for the circulation of a liquor having rich and weak concentrations of the refrigerant, through the regions of high temperature, heat transfer and low temperature. of the generator and the absorber. The present invention provides the modalities and methods for performing GAX type heat transfer in a generator-absorber heat exchange apparatus, using the latent heat and sensible heat of the refrigerant / absorbent working fluid of the system. The apparatus of the invention includes a heat exchange circuit that is positioned to receive a portion of the weak liquor from the generator, and a portion of the rich liquor from the absorber, and to circulate these liquors through the transfer regions of the liquor. heat of the absorber and the generator, to transfer the heat from the absorber to the generator. The term "heat transfer region" as used herein, is intended to include not only the regions within the generator and the absorber that have temperatures that overlap, but also those regions adjacent to or in contact with the transfer of heat. heat with the interior of the generator and the absorber, which have temperatures that overlap. The transfer should preferably be provided over the entire range of overlap temperature. According to the invention, as exemplified and broadly described herein, the heat exchange circuit comprises a heat exchange conduit of the weak liquor, which includes a heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region of the generator, this conduit receives all or at least a portion of the weak liquor from the fluid flow path near the lower end of the generator, the portion of the weak liquor leading to the heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region from the generator, where heat is transferred from the weak liquor to the generator, and then conducts the weak liquor from the heat exchange element of the generator into the interior of the absorber. The heat exchange circuit further comprises a liquor rich heat exchange conduit, which includes a heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region of the absorber, this conduit receives a portion of rich liquor from the heat path. flow of fluid near the lower end of the absorber, the portion of the rich liquor leading to the heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region of the absorber, where the heat is transferred from the absorber to the rich liquor, and then driving the portion of rich liquor from the heat exchange element of the absorber into the generator. The term "heat exchange element" as used in accordance with the present invention refers to any apparatus or device that is capable of providing heat exchange between fluids, such as a heat exchange coil. According to the invention, as exemplified and broadly described herein, the driving force for circulating the liquor in the heat exchange circuit can alternatively be provided by a pump, by the pressure differential between the generator and the absorber, or a combination thereof. The heat exchange circuit also includes the input ends in fluid communication with the fluid flow path 1 to remove the refrigerant liquor from the path, and the outlet ends to distribute the liquor within the generator or absorber. The input ends can be in communication from F) fluid with the fluid flow path where the liquor is a liquid, a vapor, or a combination thereof. According to the invention, as exemplified and broadly described herein, the output ends of the heat exchange circuit are t? They provide to distribute the portions of the liquor circulating between the heat transfer regions either towards the interior of the generator or of the absorber. These output ends can be any device capable of distributing a liquid or a vapor / liquid mixture, such as a distributor, and is preferably located in a region of the generator or of the absorber where the temperature of the liquor leaving the distributor, and the temperature of the interior of the generator or of the absorber immediately adjacent to the distributor, are essentially the same. Depending on the pressure of the liquor provided to the dispenser, a pressure regulating device can be provided with upward direction of the dispenser to regulate the flow and / or reduce the liquor pressure flowing to the dispenser. In all the embodiments of the invention described herein and in the variants thereof, it is preferable to orient the flow of the liquid, the vapor or the mixture of the liquid and vapor vertically in the upward direction, when this is passed through. of r) a heat exchange coil, either in the generator or in the absorber. This flow orientation better couples the temperature gradients in the absorber, where the liquor is being heated, and in the generator in which the liquor leaves its heat. This * -z ~ x? The orientation also provides the best counterflow temperature differentials between the content that rises in the coil and the liquid that falls. In accordance with the embodiments of the GAX type heat transfer apparatus described herein, the heat exchange coils can be placed inside the generator and the absorber.

Alternatively, according to the invention, the heat exchange coils may be located on the outside of the generator and the absorber, adjacent to and / or in heat transfer contact with the region in which the heat transfer is desired. The term "heat transfer region" as used herein, is meant to include the interior of the generator or absorber, as well as the regions outside the generator or absorber adjacent to and / or in heat transfer contact with the region in which the heat transfer is desired. In Figure 3, a generator-absorber heat exchange apparatus 100 is illustrated using r) the GAX sensitive and latent heat tansference method, according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the heat exchange circuit can also serve as the weak liquor path and comprises a heat exchange element 104 located in J the heat transfer region of the generator 12. A heat exchange conduit 120 is provided. of weak liquor, which includes an inlet end 122 positioned to remove the weak liquor 46 from the lower end E of the generator 12, a control valve 106, 5 and a distributor 124 located at the upper end of the absorber 14, positioned to distribute the Weak liquor in the absorber. The absorber 14 is further provided with an adiabatic section 108 at its upper end. In the embodiment of the present invention 0 illustrated in Figure 3, the heat exchange circuit further comprises a heat exchange element 144 located in the heat transfer region of the absorber 14. A heat exchange conduit 140 is provided. of the rich liquor, which includes one extreme of entry 141 placed to receive the rich liquor from the liquor rich way 20, with downward direction of the rich liquor pump 38, a control valve 142, and a distributor 146 placed to distribute the rich liquor in the generator 12. According to this first embodiment, the weak liquor 46 is withdrawn from the inlet end 122 in the high temperature region E of the generator 12, and is conducted in the weak liquor heat exchange conduit 120 to the element 104. heat exchange * J of the generator. As the relatively hot liquor travels through the heat exchange element of the generator, the sensible heat is transferred from it to the generator 12, providing a fraction of the total GAX heat transfer. The cooled weak liquor 5 is then transported through the conduit 120 through the control valve 106 to the distributor 124, at the upper end of the absorber 14. The adiabatic section 108 in the absorber 14 raises the temperature of the weak liquor by absorption partial before it comes into contact with the heat exchanger 144. The driving force to transpose the weak liquor 46 from the generator 12 to the absorber 14 through the heat exchange conduit 120 of the weak liquor, is provided in general by the pressure differential between the generator 12 and the absorber 14, but a pump included in the heat exchange conduit 120 of the weak liquor can also be used. In addition, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, a portion of the rich liquor 32 is withdrawn from the liquor path 20 at the inlet end 141 and is conducted in the heat exchange c 1 rich liquor through the control valve 142 to the heat exchanger element 144 of the absorber. As the relatively cold rich liquor travels through the heat exchange element of the absorber, the heat of absorption is transferred from the absorber to the liquor, partially vaporizing the rich liquor and providing the remaining GAX heat transfer. The two-phase, heated, heated liquor is then transported through the conduit 140 to and through the distributor 146 to the generator 12. In Figure 4, a second heat exchange apparatus 200 is illustrated by generator-absorber, which uses the GAX sensitive and latent heat transfer method, according to the present invention. This second embodiment differs from the first embodiment illustrated in Figure 3 in that according to this second embodiment, the weak liquor 46 is withdrawn from the inlet end 122 in the high temperature region E of the generator 12, and is conducted in the conduit 120 of weak liquor heat exchange to the generator heat exchange element 104, where the sensible heat is transferred from the weak liquor to the generator 12, providing a fraction of the total GAX heat transfer. The cooled weak liquor is then transported via conduit 120 to a second heat exchange element 208, in the absorber, where the sensible heat is transferred to the weak liquor from the absorber, to maximize the temperature of the weak liquor prior to absorption. From the heat exchange element 208, the weak liquor passes through the control valve 106 to the distributor 124 at the upper end of the absorber 14. The absorber 14 may further be provided with an adiabatic section 108 at its upper end . The remaining GAX heat transfer is achieved by absorbing the heat transferred by the heat exchange element 144 of the absorber, from the absorber 14 to a portion of the rich liquor 32 withdrawn from the conducted and rich liquor path 22 via the conduit 140 to the generator 12. In Figure 5, a third heat exchange apparatus 300 per generator-absorber is illustrated, which uses the GAX sensitive and latent heat transfer method according to the present invention. This third embodiment differs from the first embodiment illustrated in Figure 3 in that according to this third embodiment the rich liquor portion 32 is conducted from the heat exchange element 144 of the absorber through the liquor exchange conduit 140 of rich liquor. to a second heat exchange element 146 of the generator, placed in the heat exchange region of the generator 12. The rich liquor portion 32 flows upwardly through the heat exchange element 146, where the portion of the liquor Rich 32 is cooled, and steam The rich liquor is reabsorbed in the rich liquor liquid, transferring the heat of absorption to the generator 12. The reabsorption of the rich liquor vapor can be made complete and partial, as desired, for operating or cost requirements. Serving of the rich liquor 32 is then conducted from the second heat exchange element 146 of the generator through the duct 140, through the distributor 148, to the generator 12. In Figure 6, a fourth apparatus is illustrated. 400 of heat exchange by generator-absorber, which uses the sensible and latent heat transfer method GAX according to the present invention. This fourth modality differs from the first modality illustrated in Figure 3, in which this fourth embodiment incorporates further features of the heat exchange circuit of the second and third embodiments illustrated in Figure 4 and Figure 5, respectively. Thus, in this fourth embodiment, the cooled weak liquor 46 that leaves the heat exchange element 104 of the generator is conveyed through the conduit 120 to a second heat exchange element 208 of the absorber, where the sensible heat is transferred. towards the weak liquor from the absorber. From the heat exchange element 208 the weak liquor passes through the control valve 106 to the distributor, 124 at the upper end of the absorber 14, which is optionally provided with the adiabatic section 108 at its upper end. In addition, according to this fourth embodiment, the rich liquor portion 32 is led from the heat exchange element 144 of the absorber, through the liquor exchange conduit 140 of rich liquor to a second heat exchange element 146 of the generator, placed in the heat exchange region of the generator 12. The rich liquor portion 32 flows upwardly through the heat exchange element 146, where the portion of the rich liquor 32 is cooled, and the rich liquor vapor is reabsorbed in the rich liquor liquid, transferring the absorption heat to the generator 12. The reabsorption of the rich liquor vapor can be carried out completely or partially, as desired, for operating or cost requirements. The rich liquor portion 32 is then conducted from the second heat exchange element 146 of the generator through the conduit 140 through the distributor 148, to the generator 12. An advantage of the present invention is that it reduces the number of turns of heat transfer, necessary for GAX heat transfer, compared to the case where only the / ^ sensible heat transfer. In this way, the present invention allows a simpler apparatus with corresponding savings in construction, materials and maintenance. Yet another advantage is that the control requirements 5 are simplified over the entire range of operation of a heat pump incorporating the features of the present invention. At lower outdoor temperatures, for example, less than about -12 ° C (10 ° F), the GAX heat exchange circuit can no longer provide useful heat and must be turned off. In this non-GAX mode, the sensitive heat exchange element 104 can remain in service to maintain maximum efficiency and minimize the number of controls required to switch between GAX and non-GAX modes. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the operation of the heat pump in a range of environmental operating conditions, can be optimized by adjusting the portions of the GAX heat to be transferred by the weak liquor 46, and the portion of rich liquor 32, to meet any desired operating or cost requirements. With reference to Figure 7, a heat pump 550 is provided which uses one of the methods and apparatus for heat exchange by generator-absorber, of the invention. The heat pump 550 includes a coil 552 for external heat exchange and a coil 554 for internal heat exchange. The indoor heat exchange coil 554 may optionally include an air transport apparatus 556, such as a fan or blower to supply heated or cooled air into a building. The outdoor heat exchange coil 552 may also optionally include an air transportation apparatus 557, such as a fan or blower. The outdoor and indoor heat exchange coils 552 and 554, respectively, and the air transport apparatuses 556 and 557, may be any of the known standard equipment, used in air conditioning or heat pump systems. The heat pump 550 is comprised of two} . main sections, the heat exchange apparatus by generator-absorber (absorption unit) and the antifreeze fluid system. The heat exchange apparatus by generator-absorber, according to the r >; invention, may be comprised of the components discussed hereinabove, including an absorber 14, the generator 12, the condenser 16, the solution pump 38, and the evaporator 18. The antifreeze fluid system is divided into a circuit of Or cold fluid and a circuit of hot fluid. Antifreeze fluids that may be used in accordance with the invention include those fluids known to be useful in heat transfer. A preferred antifreeze fluid is an aqueous solution that includes an antifreeze liquid that is non-toxic and non-flammable, such as, for example, propylene glycol. Contrary to standard heat pump systems that reverse the cooling circuit to change from cooling to heating, the heat pump 550 of the invention, rather than reversing the cooling circuit, uses an apparatus 558 for controlling the flow of the system, which is preferably an eight-way valve, which is capable of reversing the antifreeze circuits. The device 558 for controlling the flow of the system makes it possible to direct the antifreeze fluids either from the cold evaporator 18 or the hot condenser 16, the absorber 14 and the generator 12 either to the coil 552 for external heat exchange or to the coil r > 554 internal heat exchange. The cold antifreeze circuit comprises the evaporator 18, which cools the antifreeze fluid via the evaporator coil 586 heat exchanger, extracting the heat from the antifreeze fluid ) 0 removed from the house or building in summer or from outside air in winter. The hot antifreeze circuit comprises the absorber 14, the condenser 16 and the generator 12, which raises the temperature of the extracted heat to very high above 38 ° C (100 ° F). The sum of the heat outputs of the absorber 14, of the condenser 16 and of the generator 12 is equal to the sum of the two amounts of heat input, one coming from the gas flame and the other which is the low heat input. temperature towards evaporator 18. The absorber 14, the generator 12 and the condenser 16 transfer the heat of exit of the system to the hot antifreeze fluid by means of the coil 578 of heat exchange of the absorber, the coil 572 of heat exchange of the generator and the coil 568 condenser heat exchange. In the winter, J, the hot antifreeze fluid transfers much more heat to the house or building than that of the gas flame. In many areas of the United States, supplemental heat should not be required. r) In a specific embodiment of the heat pump of the invention, illustrated in Figure 7, the hot antifreeze circuit includes a first conduit 562 that carries the antifreeze fluid from the apparatus 558 for the flow control of the system, towards a first flow control device 564, which may be, for example, a flow divider. A fluid transport apparatus 560, such as a pump, is used to circulate antifreeze fluid through the hot antifreeze circuit. The device 560 fluid transport can be located anywhere in the circuit of hot antifreeze, but is preferably located in the first conduit 562. According to this embodiment, a first A portion of antifreeze fluid from the first circuit 562 is directed via the first flow control device 564 to a second conduit 566, which transports the antifreeze fluid to the condenser heat exchange coil 568. In the condenser heat exchanger coil 568, the heat is transferred from the condenser 16 to the antifreeze fluid. The antifreeze fluid is transported from the heat exchange coil 568 of the condenser to the exchange coil 572} of reflux heat from the generator, via the third conduit 570. In the generator reflux heat exchange coil 572, heat is transferred from the generator 12 to the antifreeze fluid. The antifreeze fluid is transported from the generator heat exchange coil 572 back to the system flow control apparatus 558, via the fourth conduit 574. A second portion of the antifreeze fluid in this mode, coming from the first conduit 562, is directed via the first flow control device 564 to a fifth conduit 576, which transports antifreeze fluid to the heat exchange coil 578 of the absorber. In the heat exchanger coil 578 of the absorber, the heat is transferred from the absorber 14 to the antifreeze fluid. The antifreeze fluid is transported from the heat exchange coil 578 of the absorber via the sixth conduit 580 to the fourth conduit 574, and again to the control apparatus 558 system flow.

The particular flow arrangement for the hot antifreeze circuit illustrated by Figure 7 is understood to be illustrative only, and should not limit the invention. Other flow arrangements for the antifreeze fluid between the absorber 14, the condenser 16 and the generator 12 are within the scope of the invention. For example, the flow of the antifreeze fluid through the absorber 14, the condenser 16 and the generator 12 can be in parallel or in series. However, it is preferred that the flow through the condenser 16 and the absorber 14 be in parallel, as shown in Figure 7. The cold antifreeze circuit includes a first conduit 582 which circulates the antifreeze fluid from the apparatus 558 of flow control of the system towards the serpentine 586 of heat exchange of the evaporator. In the heat exchanger coil 586 of the evaporator, heat is transferred from the antifreeze fluid to the evaporator 18. The antifreeze fluid is transported from the evaporator coil 586 back to the flow control apparatus 558 of the system via the second conduit 588. A fluid transport apparatus 584, such as a pump, is used to circulate the antifreeze fluid through the cold antifreeze circuit. The fluid transport apparatus 584 may be located at another location in the cold antifreeze circuit, but it is preferably located in the first conduit 582. The particular flow arrangement r 'for the cold antifreeze circuit illustrated by Figure 7, it is understood as illustrative only and should not limit the scope of the invention. The apparatus 558 for flow control of the system directs the cold antifreeze to the coil 554 of * interior heat exchange in summer, and to coil 552 for heat exchange outside in the winter, while directing hot antifreeze to coil 552 for outdoor heat exchange in summer, and to coil 554 interior heat exchange in the winter. This method of reversing the flows to meet the domestic or building needs, for heating and cooling, can also be used during the winter to defrost the heat exchange coil 552 outside, when desired, by reversing the flow to direct the hot antifreeze to the outdoor heat exchange coil 552. The choice of construction materials for all the modalities described in this and The variations thereof depend on the components of the working fluid, for example, of the refrigerant and of the absorber, and of the expected pressure and operating temperature ranges. For an ammonia and water absorption solution that operates up to approximately 204 ° C (400 ° F) and pressures close to 28,128 kg / cm2 (400 psia), low carbon steel is the preferred material of choice for all components that they come in contact with the solution. The choice of construction materials for other absorption fluids should be known to those skilled in the art of absorption systems. Similarly, the choice of materials for antifreeze circuits is well known. While the various GAX heat transfer means described herein have been illustrated in a residential or light commercial heat pump, their benefits are not limited to such applications. Improved performance provided by the various GAX type heat transfer schemes, described herein, can be applied to processes that require medium temperature heating and cooling such as in beer brewing, food processing, pasteurization and paper making, to mention just a few examples. In addition, the principles of the invention are not limited to absorption heat pump cycles that efficiently convert heat from a combination of low and high temperature heat sources, to heat to an intermediate temperature. The invention is equally applicable to heat transformers that convert heat from a medium-high temperature, such as hot waste water discharged from a processing plant, to produce a useful high temperature output, plus a lower temperature output . It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or variations may be made in the heat exchange apparatus by generator-absorber, in the heat pump and in the method of heat transfer between the generator and the absorber, without departing of the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention with the proviso that they are within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Having described the invention as above, the content of the following is claimed as property: < 0 15 20 25

Claims (44)

1. An improvement in a heat exchange device between generator-absorber, which includes a generator J and an absorber, the absorber has an inner surface lower than the inner surface of the generator, the generator and the absorber have high and low temperature regions that establish respective temperature ranges, the temperature intervals overlap O and with this define the respective regions of heat transfer in the generator and in the absorber, the heat exchange apparatus further has a fluid flow path that circulates a weak liquor from the high temperature region of the generator, and a rich liquor from the the low temperature region of the absorber to and through the regions of high temperature, heat transfer and low temperature of the generator and the absorber, the improvement is characterized in that it comprises: a heat exchange circuit that receives at least one portion of weak liquor from the generator, and that receives a portion of rich liquor from the absorber, the The heat exchange circuit circulates the portions of weak and rich liquor between the heat transfer regions, transferring with this the heat from the absorber to the generator.

2. An apparatus for heat exchange between generator-absorber, in accordance with the claim 5 1, characterized in that the heat exchange circuit comprises: a heat exchange element of the generator, placed in the heat transfer region of the generator; J, Q a weak liquor heat exchange conduit, in fluid communication with the fluid flow path, having an inlet end to receive the weak liquor from the fluid flow path, and an outlet end to distribute the weak liquor Within the absorber, the weak liquor heat exchange conduit conducts the weak liquor from the fluid flow path through the heat exchange element of the generator, and then into the absorber; 20 an absorber heat exchange element, placed in the heat transfer region of the absorber; a heat exchanger conduit of the rich liquor, in fluid communication with the flow path of ._ fluid, which has an inlet end to receive the rich liquor from the fluid flow path, and an outlet end to distribute the liquor inside the generator, the liquor rich heat exchange conduit conducts the rich liquor from the fluid flow path through the heat exchange element of the absorber, and then into the generator; and a means for providing the driving force to circulate the liquor in the heat exchange circuit.

3. A heat exchanger apparatus between generator-absorber according to claim 2, characterized in that the heat exchange circuit further comprises: a second element of heat exchange by absorber in the heat exchange conduit of the weak liquor, placed in the heat transfer region of the absorber, the heat exchange conduit of the weak liquor drives the weak liquor from the fluid flow through the heat exchange element of the generator, then through the second heat exchange element of the absorber, and then into the absorber.

4. An heat exchanger apparatus by generator-absorber according to claim 2, characterized in that the heat exchange circuit further comprises: a second heat exchange element of the generator, in the heat exchange conduit of the rich liquor, placed in the heat transfer region of the generator, the heat exchange conduit of the rich liquor conducts the rich liquor from the fluid flow path through the heat exchange element of the absorber, then through the second exchange element of the heat exchanger. heat from the generator, and then into the generator.

5. A heat exchange apparatus between generator-absorber according to claim 2, characterized in that the heat exchange circuit further comprises: a second heat exchange element of the absorber in the heat exchange conduit of the weak liquor, placed in the heat transfer region of the absorber, and a second heat exchange element of the generator in the heat exchange conduit of the rich liquor, placed in the heat transfer region of the generator, the heat exchange conduit of the liquor weak leads the liquor - - weak from the fluid flow path through the heat exchange element of the generator, then through the second heat exchange element of the absorber, then into the interior of the absorber, and into the heat exchange conduit of the rich liquor which conducts the rich liquor from the fluid flow path through the heat exchange element of the absorber, then through the second heat exchange element of the generator, and then into the generator interior.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the means for providing the driving force for circulating the liquor through the heat exchange circuit is a pump.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the means for providing the driving force for circulating the liquor through the heat exchange circuit is the pressure differential between the generator and the absorber.

8. The apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the heat exchange conduit of the weak liquor further comprises a control valve with an upward direction of the outlet end of the weak liquor.

9. The apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the heat exchange conduit of the rich liquor further comprises a control valve with upward direction of the outlet end of the rich liquor.

10. The apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the inlet end of the rich liquor is in fluid communication with the fluid flow path, at a site where the liquor is a rich liquor liquid.

11. The apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the input end of the weak liquor is in fluid communication with the fluid flow path, at a site where the weak liquor is a weak liquor liquid.

12. The apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the weak liquor conducted from the fluid flow path into the absorber is substantially in the liquid state in at least a portion of the heat exchange circuit.

13. The apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the rich liquor conducted from the fluid flow path to the interior of the generator is substantially in the liquid / two-phase state, in at least a portion of the exchange circuit of the liquid. hot.

14. An apparatus for exchanging heat by generator-absorber, characterized in that it comprises: a generator containing a liquor having a concentration gradient that extends from the rich, close to an upper end of the generator towards the weak, close to a lower end of the generator, and a temperature gradient extending from the low, near the upper end of the generator, to the high, near the lower end of the generator; a heater for heating the liquor in the generator, near the lower end thereof; an absorber having a pressure inside it lower than the internal pressure of the generator, which contains a liquor that has a concentration gradient that extends from the weak near an upper end of the absorber, to the rich, near an extreme bottom of the absorber, and a temperature gradient that extends from the high, close to the upper end of the absorber, to the low end, near the lower end of the absorber; an overlap of the temperature gradients of the generator and of the absorber, which defines the heat transfer regions of the generator and the absorber, respectively; a weak liquor heat exchange conduit having an input in fluid communication with the generator, near its lower end, a heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region of the generator, and an output in communication of fluid with the absorber, near its upper end, the heat exchange conduit of the weak liquor receives through the inlet at least a portion of weak liquor from the generator, driving the weak liquor through the placed heat exchange element in the region of heat transfer of the generator, and distributing the weak liquor in the absorber, through the outlet for the passage along the gradients of concentration and temperature of the absorber; and a liquor rich heat exchange conduit having an inlet in fluid communication with the absorber, near its lower end, a heat exchange element positioned in the heat transfer region of the absorber, and an outlet in communication of fluid with the generator, close to its heat transfer region, the heat exchange conduit of the rich liquor receives through the inlet a portion of the rich liquor from the absorber, driving the rich liquor through the exchange element of heat placed in the heat transfer region of the absorber, and distributing the rich liquor in the generator through the outlet for the passage along the gradients of concentration and temperature of the generator; and a pump in fluid communication with the heat exchange conduit of the rich liquor, which pumps the rich liquor from the absorber through the liquor rich heat exchange conduit to the generator.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the heat exchange conduit of the weak liquor further comprises a second heat exchange element positioned in the heat transfer region of the absorber, the} The heat exchange conduit of the weak liquor receives at least a portion of the liquor from the generator, conducting the weak liquor first through the heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region rl of the generator, and then through the heat exchanger. second heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region of the absorber, and distributing the liquid liquor in the absorber through the outlet for the passage along the gradient of concentration and temperature of the absorber.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the heat exchange conduit of the rich liquor further comprises a 15 second heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region of the generator, the heat exchange conduit of the rich liquor receives a portion of rich liquor, driving the rich liquor first through the heat exchange element placed 20 in the heat transfer region of the absorber, and then through the second heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region of the generator, and distributing the rich liquor in the generator through the outlet for the passage to long 25 of the concentration and temperature gradients of the generator 1.

17. The apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the conduit of r) heat exchange of the weak liquor further comprises a second heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region of the absorber, the heat exchange conduit of the liquor weak receives at least a portion of the weak liquor from the ^ 0 generator, driving the weak liquor first through the heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region of the generator, and then through the second heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region of the absorber, .. and distributing the weak liquor in the absorber through the outlet, for the passage along the gradients of concentration and temperature of the absorber; and wherein the heat exchange conduit of the rich liquor further comprises a second heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region of the generator, the heat exchange conduit of the rich liquor receives a portion of rich liquor, conducting the rich liquor first through the heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region of the absorber, and then through the second heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region of the generated, and distributing the rich liquor in the generator through the outlet for the passage along the concentration and temperature gradients of the generator.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that a pump provides the driving force to drive the weak liquor from the generator through the heat exchange conduit of the weak liquor, to the absorber.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that the pressure differential between the generator and the absorber provides the driving force to drive the weak liquor from the generator through the heat exchange conduit of the weak liquor to the absorber.

20. The apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that the heat exchange conduit of the weak liquor further comprises a control valve with upward direction from the outlet of the heat exchange conduit of the weak liquor.

21. The apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that the heat exchange conduit of the rich liquor further comprises a control valve with upward direction from the outlet of the heat exchange conduit of the rich liquor.

22. The apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that the weak liquor conducted from the generator to the absorber through the heat exchange conduit of the weak liquor is substantially in the liquid state.

23. The apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that the rich liquor conducted from the absorber to the generator through the heat exchange conduit of the rich liquor, is a mixture of two phases of liquid and vapor, in at least one portion. of the heat exchange conduit.

24. A heat pump, characterized in that it comprises: a liquid-air heat exchanger, inside; an outdoor liquid-air heat exchanger; and a heat exchange apparatus between generator-absorber, comprising: a generator and an absorber, the absorber has an internal pressure lower than the internal pressure of the generator, and each has regions of high and low temperature at opposite ends, which establish respective temperature ranges, the temperature ranges define respective heat transfer regions that overlap; a fluid flow path that circulates a weak liquor from the high temperature region of the generator, and a rich liquor from the low temperature region of the absorber to and through the regions of high temperature, heat transfer and low temperature of the generator and the absorber; a heat exchange circuit that receives at least a portion of weak liquor from the generator, and that also receives a portion of the rich liquor from the absorber, the heat exchange circuit circulates the weak and rich liquor portions between the regions of heat transfer, whereby heat is transferred from the absorber to the generator; and an antifreeze circuit placed to draw antifreeze fluid between each of the heat exchanger apparatuses, interior and exterior, to selectively remove the heat from one of the exchangers and transfer the heat to the other of the heat exchangers.

25. The heat pump according to claim 24, characterized in that the heat exchange circuit further comprises: a heat exchange element of the generator, placed in the heat transfer region of the generator; a heat exchange conduit of the weak liquor, in fluid communication with the fluid flow path, having an inlet end to receive the weak liquor from the fluid flow path and an outlet end to distribute the liquor weak inside the absorber, the weak liquor heat exchange conduit conducts the weak liquor from the fluid flow path through the heat exchange element of the generator and then into the absorber; a heat exchange element of the absorber placed in the heat transfer regions of the absorber; a liquor heat exchange conduit rich in fluid communication with the fluid flow path, having an inlet end for receiving the rich liquor from the fluid flow path, and an outlet end for distributing the rich liquor within the generator, the heat exchange conduit of the rich liquor that conducts the rich liquor from the fluid flow path through the heat exchange element of the absorber, and then into the generator; and a means for providing the driving force to circulate the liquor in the heat exchange circuit.

26. The heat pump according to claim 25, characterized in that the heat exchange circuit further comprises: a second heat exchange element of the absorber in the heat exchange conduit of the weak liquor, placed in the heat transfer region of the absorber, the weak liquor heat exchange conduit conducts the weak liquor from the fluid flow path through the heat exchange element of the generator, then through the second heat exchange element of the absorber, and then towards the inside of the absorber.

27. The heat pump according to claim 25, characterized in that the heat exchange circuit further comprises: a second heat exchange element of the generator, placed in the heat transfer region of the generator, the heat exchange conduit of the heat exchanger. rich liquor that conducts the rich liquor from the fluid flow path through the heat exchange element of the absorber, then through the second heat exchange element of the generator, and then into the generator interior.

28. The heat pump according to claim 24, characterized in that the heat exchange circuit further comprises: a second heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region of the absorber, and a second heat exchange element of the absorber placed in the heat transfer region of the generator, the weak liquor heat exchange conduit conducts the weak liquor from the fluid flow path through the heat exchange element of the generator, then through the second exchange element of heat from the absorber, then into the absorber, and the heat exchange conduit of the rich liquor that drives the rich liquor from the fluid flow path through the heat exchange element of the absorber, then through the second heat exchange element of the generator, and then into the generator.

29 A method for transferring heat between an absorber and a generator in a generator-absorber heat exchange apparatus, including a generator and an absorber, the absorber has a lower internal pressure than the pressure inside the generator, and each one has high and low temperature regions at opposite ends defining respective temperature ranges, the temperature ranges define respective regions of heat transfer that overlap, and a fluid flow path for circulating a weak liquor from the region of high temperature of the generator, and a rich liquor from the region of low temperature of the absorber through the regions of high temperature, heat transfer and low temperature of the generator and the absorber, the method is characterized because it comprises: the circulation of all or at least a portion of the weak liquor and a portion of the rich liquor between the transfer regions In the heat exchange of the generator and the absorber, in a heat exchange circuit, with - SO - which transfers the heat from the absorber to the generator.

30. The method of compliance with the * > claim 29, further characterized in that it comprises conducting the weak liquor in a heat exchange circuit that receives the weak liquor from the fluid flow path through an inlet end, through a heat exchange element placed 0 in the heat exchange region of the generator, and then into the absorber through an outlet end, and further comprising driving the portion of the rich liquor in the heat exchange circuit receiving the rich ricor from the flow path 15 of fluid, through an inlet end, through a heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region of the absorber, and then into the generator through an outlet end.

31. The method according to claim 30, further characterized in that it comprises conducting the weak liquor in the heat exchange circuit from the placed heat exchange element. 25 in the heat transfer region of the generator, through a second heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region of the absorber, and then into the absorber through the outlet end.

32. The method according to claim 30, further characterized in that it comprises driving the rich liquor portion in the heat exchange circuit from the heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region of the absorber, through a second heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region of the generator, and then into the generator through the outlet end.

33. The method according to claim 30, further characterized in that it comprises conducting the weak liquor in the heat exchange circuit from the heat exchange circuit from the heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region of the generator, through a second heat exchange element positioned in the heat transfer region of the absorber, and then into the absorber through the outlet end, and further comprising driving the portion of the rich liquor into the circuit of heat exchange from the heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region of the absorber, through a second heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region of the generator, and then into the generator interior through the exit end.

34. The method according to claim 33, further characterized by comprising: conducting the weak liquor from an inlet end near the lower end of the generator, through a heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region of the generator towards an outlet end near the upper end of the absorber, such that the temperature of the weak liquor coming from the lower end of the generator is greater than the temperature of the heat exchange region of the generator, thereby transferring the heat from the weak liquor of the heat exchange element to the liquor in the generator; and driving the portion of the rich liquor through an inlet end in fluid communication with the fluid flow path, through a heat exchange element positioned in the heat transfer region of the absorber to an end of the fluid. output in the generator, such that the temperature of the portion of the rich liquor is lower than the temperature of the heat exchange region of the absorber, thereby transferring the heat from the liquor in the absorber to the portion of the liquor rich in the heat exchange element.

35. The method according to claim 34, further characterized in that it comprises: driving. the weak liquor leaving the heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region of the generator, through a second heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region of the absorber, and then towards an outlet end next to the upper end of the absorber, such that the temperature of the weak liquor conducted from the heat transfer region of the generator is lower than the temperature of the heat transfer region of the absorber, thereby transferring the heat from the liquor to the absorber. the absorber to the weak liquor in the second heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region of the absorber.

36. The method according to the rei indication 34, further characterized because it comprises: driving the portion of the rich liquor leaving the heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region of the absorber, towards a second heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region of the generator, and then towards an end output in the generator, such that the temperature of the portion of the rich liquor driven from the heat transfer region of the absorber is greater than the temperature of the heat transfer region of the generator, thereby transferring heat from the rich liquor in the second heat exchange element placed in the region of heat transfer from the generator to the liquor in the generator.

37. The method according to claim 34, further characterized in that it comprises: conducting the weak liquor leaving the heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region of the generator, through a second heat exchange element placed in the heat exchanger. the heat transfer region of the absorber, and then to an exit end near the upper end * of the absorber, such that the temperature of the weak liquor driven from the heat transfer region of the generator, is lower than the temperature of the heat transfer region of the absorber, with which transfers the heat from the liquor in the absorber to the weak liquor in the second heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region of the absorber; and driving the portion of rich liquor that 10 leaves the heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region of the absorber, to a second heat exchange element placed in the heat transfer region of the generator, and then to an output end in the generator, such 15 that the temperature of the portion of the rich liquor driven from the heat transfer region of the absorber is greater than the temperature of the heat transfer region of the generator, thereby transferring the heat from the rich liquor in the second. exchange element 20 heat placed in the region of heat transfer from the generator to the liquor in the generator.

38. The method according to claim 33, further characterized in that it comprises 25 driving the weak liquor through the heat exchange circuit with a pump,

39. The method according to claim 33, further characterized in that it comprises conducting the weak liquor through the heat exchange circuit, with the pressure differential between the generator and the absorber.

40. The method according to claim 33, further characterized in that it comprises conducting the weak liquor through the heat exchange circuit into the interior of the absorber, substantially in the liquid state.

41. The method according to claim 33, further characterized in that it comprises driving the portion of rich liquor through the heat exchange circuit into the generator interior, in a mixture of two phases of liquid and vapor in at least one portion of the heat exchange circuit.

42. The method according to claim 33, further characterized in that it comprises driving the portion of rich liquor through the heat exchange circuit with a pump.

43. A method of transferring heat to a low temperature region from a region of medium temperature, using a generator-absorber heat exchange apparatus that includes a generator and an absorber, the absorber has a lower internal pressure than the absorber. pressure of the interior of the generator, and each has regions of high and low temperature at opposite ends, which establish respective temperature ranges, the temperature intervals define regions I Q of heat transfer that overlap, respectively, a flow path of fluid for the circulation of a weak liquor from the region of high temperature of the generator, and a rich liquor coming from the region of low temperature of the absorber through the regions of 15 high temperature, heat transfer and low temperature generator and absorber, a heat exchange circuit that receives all or at least a portion of weak liquor from the generator, and that also receives a portion of the rich liquor from 20 of the absorber, the method is characterized in that it comprises: circulating at least one portion of antifreeze fluid between an indoor heat exchanger and at least one of a heat exchanger of the 25 absorber, a condenser heat exchanger and a generator heat exchanger, whereby heat is transferred via the antifreeze fluid from at least one of the heat exchanger of the absorber, the condenser and the generator to the heat exchanger , inside; circulating an antifreeze fluid between an outdoor heat exchanger and an evaporator heat exchanger, whereby heat is transferred via the antifreeze fluid from the outdoor heat exchanger to the evaporator heat exchanger; And circulating in the heat exchange circuit the portions of weak and rich liquor between the heat transfer regions of the generator and the absorber, thereby transferring the heat from the absorber to the generator.

44. A method for transferring heat to a region of medium temperature from a region of high temperature, using a heat exchange apparatus by generator-absorber, which includes a generator and an absorber, the absorber has a lower internal pressure that the pressure inside the generator, and each has high and low temperature regions at opposite ends that establish respective temperature ranges and a heat transfer region, the temperature ranges define respective heat transfer regions that overlap, a fluid flow path for the circulation of a weak liquor from the high temperature region of the generator, and a rich liquor from the low temperature region of the absorber to and through the regions of high temperature, heat transfer and low temperature generator and absorber, a heat exchange circuit that receives all or minus a portion of weak liquor from the generator, and which also receives a portion of rich liquor from the absorber, the method is characterized in that it comprises: the circulation of at least a portion of the antifreeze fluid between an outdoor heat exchanger and at least one of an absorber heat exchanger, a condenser heat exchanger and a generator heat exchanger, whereby heat is transferred via the antifreeze fluid from at least one of the absorber, condenser and generator heat exchanger towards the outdoor heat exchanger; the circulation of an antifreeze fluid between an indoor heat exchanger and an evaporator heat exchanger, whereby heat is transferred via the antifreeze fluid from the indoor heat exchanger to the evaporator heat exchanger; and circulation in the heat exchange circuit of the weak and rich liquor portions between the heat transfer regions of the generator and the absorber, thereby transferring the heat from the absorber to the generator.