IP Library Granted Patent US 11,466,189
Granted Patent B2
US 11,466,189 · App. 16/499,247 · Granted Oct 11, 2022

Absorption cycle apparatus and related method

Inventors: Ching-Jen Tang (Niskayuna, NY); Peter John Bonitatibus (Niskayuna, NY); Matthew Paul Rainka (Niskayuna, NY)
Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
C09K5/047C09K5/04C09K5/10F25B15/02F25B15/06F25B2315/001Y02A30/27Y02B30/62Y02P20/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,466,189
App. No.
16/499,247
Granted
Oct 11, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

An absorption cycle apparatus including a working fluid is presented. The working fluid includes a metal halide, water and a zwitterion additive, wherein the zwitterion additive includes an amino acid, 2,2′-[(phosphonomethyl)imino]diaceticacid, 3-[(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]-1-propanesulfonic acid, or combinations thereof. A method of controlling crystallization in a working fluid of an absorption cycle apparatus is also presented.

Claims (24)

1. An absorption cycle apparatus, comprising:

an absorption cooling system; and

a working fluid comprising a metal halide, water, and a zwitterion additive, wherein the zwitterion additive comprises aspartic acid, 2,2′-[(phosphonomethyl)imino] diacetic acid, 3-[(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]-1-propanesulfonic acid, or combinations thereof.

2. The absorption cycle apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the metal halide comprises a lithium halide, a calcium halide, or a combination thereof.

3. The absorption cycle apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the metal halide comprises lithium chloride, lithium bromide, calcium chloride, or combinations thereof.

4. The absorption cycle apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the zwitterion additive is present in the working fluid in an amount in a range from about 100 parts per million to about 100000 parts per million.

5. The absorption cycle apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the zwitterion additive is present in the working fluid in an amount in a range from about 0.1 weight percent to about 10 weight percent of the metal halide.

6. The absorption cycle apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the metal halide is lithium bromide, and a crystallization temperature of lithium bromide in the working fluid is less than 10° C. at a concentration of about 64 weight percent of the working fluid.

7. The absorption cycle apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the absorption cycle apparatus is an absorption chiller, an absorption heater, or a thermal energy storage apparatus.

8. The absorption cycle apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the working fluid consists of the metal halide, water, the zwitterion additive, optionally a corrosion inhibitor, optionally an alkaline treating agent, and optionally an antifoaming agent.

9. An absorption cycle apparatus, comprising:

an absorption cooling system; and

a working fluid comprising lithium bromide, water, and aspartic acid.

10. The absorption cycle apparatus of claim 9 , wherein aspartic acid is present in the working fluid in an amount in a range from about 1000 parts per million to about 50000 parts per million.

11. The absorption cycle apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the working fluid consists of lithium bromide, water, aspartic acid, optionally a corrosion inhibitor, optionally an alkaline treating agent, and optionally an antifoaming agent.

12. A method of controlling crystallization in a working fluid of an absorption cycle apparatus comprising an absorption cooling system, comprising:

introducing a zwitterion additive to the working fluid, wherein the working fluid comprises a metal halide and water, and the zwitterion additive comprises aspartic acid, 2,2′-[(phosphonomethyl)imino] diacetic acid, 3-[(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]-1-propanesulfonic acid, or combinations thereof.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the metal halide comprises a lithium halide, a calcium halide, or a combination thereof.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the metal halide comprises lithium chloride, lithium bromide, calcium chloride, or combinations thereof.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the zwitterion additive is introduced in the working fluid in an amount in a range from about 100 parts per million to about 100000 parts per million.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the zwitterion additive is introduced in the working fluid in an amount in a range from about 0.1 weight percent to about 10 weight percent of the metal halide.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the metal halide is lithium bromide present at a concentration of about 64 weight percent of the working fluid, and a crystallization temperature of lithium bromide in the working fluid is lowered by at least 5° C. after introduction of the zwitterion additive to the working fluid.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the absorption cycle apparatus is an absorption chiller, an absorption heater, or a thermal energy storage apparatus.

19. The method of claim 12 , wherein, after the introduction of the zwitterion additive to the working fluid, the working fluid consists of the metal halide, water, the zwitterion additive, optionally a corrosion inhibitor, optionally an alkaline treating agent, and optionally an antifoaming agent.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 17, 2023
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
To: GE INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 065727/0001 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Jul 8, 2020
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC GLOBAL RESEARCH
To: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 053146/0056 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 28, 2019
From: TANG, CHING-JEN; BONITATIBUS, PETER JOHN; RAINKA, MATTHEW PAUL
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 050536/0216 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200172782A1 · Jun 4, 2020