Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Other

Rocky Research

Charles M Byrd

Dennis M Pfister

Howard Lee Davidson

Ted W Warriner

Charles J Ingalz

Tom Rand

An apparatus for separating a first gas from a mixture of the first gas and at least one second gas comprises a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port and an adsorbent which is positioned in the housing. The adsorbent comprising a carbon based foam monolith that has an affinity for the first gas. Thus, as the gas mixture flows through the housing, the first gas will be adsorbed onto the adsorbent and the second gas will exit the housing through the outlet port. In this manner, the first gas is separated from the second gas.

Gas filtration and storage using activated carbon/graphite foam monoliths

An electro-desorption actuator comprises a fixed member, a movable member which is coupled to the fixed member, a pressure chamber which is disposed between the fixed member and the movable member, and a sorption compression system which is in communication with the pressure chamber. The sorption compression system comprises first and second electrical conductors, a sorbent which is positioned between the first and second conductors, a sorbate which is capable of combining with the sorbent in an adsorption reaction to form a sorbate/sorbent compound, and a power supply which is connected to the conductors and which is selectively actuated to generate a current that is conducted through the sorbate/sorbent compound to desorb the sorbate from the sorbent in a desorption reaction. The sorbate is communicated from the sorption compression system to the pressure chamber during the desorption reaction and from the pressure chamber back to the sorption compression system during the adsorption reaction. Thus, during the desorption reaction a relatively high pressure is created in the pressure chamber which will displace the movable member in one direction, and during the adsorption reaction a relatively low pressure is created in the pressure chamber which will displace the movable member in the opposite direction.

Electro-desorption actuator

A sorber for an electro-desorption compressor comprises a first plate which includes a first outer surface and a first inner surface generally parallel to the first outer surface, a second plate which includes a second outer surface and a second inner surface generally parallel to the second outer surface, a device for securing the first plate to the second plate to thereby form an enclosure for a sorbent between the first and second inner surfaces, and at least one first support spar which is attached to the first outer surface and which is aligned in a first direction along the first plate. In this manner, the first support spar increases the resistance of the first plate to bending in the first direction.

Sorber structure for electro-desorption compressor

A system for cooling at least two electronic components comprises a plurality of graphitic foam products which are each thermally coupled to a corresponding component, a plurality of housings which are each mounted over a corresponding foam product and which each comprise an inlet and an outlet, a source of cooling fluid, and a conduit which is connected between the fluid source and each inlet. In operation, fluid is communicated from the fluid source to each housing through the conduit to thereby cool the components.

Distributed graphitic foam heat exchanger system

A refrigerant management system provides for optimal compressor performance by providing a compressor motor designed to operate at peak efficiency under a first cooling load and at least one sensor for generating a signal that indicates the actual cooling load. A controller is provided that determines any difference between the first cooling load and the actual cooling load from the sensor signal data. The controller is coupled to a refrigerant storage device to either add or remove refrigerant to maintain the system at or near the first cooling load in accordance with the signal form the first sensor indicating the actual cooling load. Consequently, the present invention provides for automatic adjustment of the amount of refrigerant in a cooling loop system to maintain a predetermined cooling load that allows operate a compressor motor to operate at its peak efficiency.

Refrigerant management system for optimal compressor performance

A electro-desorption compression system according to the present invention comprises an enclosure which includes first and second spaced-apart electrical conductors, a sorbent which is positioned in the enclosure between the first and second conductors, a sorbate which is capable of combining with the sorbent in an adsorption reaction to form a sorbate/sorbent compound, a power supply which is connected to the first and second conductors and which generates an electrical current that is conducted through the sorbate/sorbent compound to desorb the sorbate from the sorbent in a desorption reaction, a controller which selectively activates the power supply to initiate and terminate each desorption reaction, and a transducer which is connected to the controller and which generates a signal indicative of the end of each desorption reaction. The adsorption and desorption reactions are repeated to cycle the sorbate between a relatively low pressure state during the adsorption reaction and a relatively high pressure state during the desorption reaction.

Electro-desorption compressor

A electro-desorption compression system according to the present invention comprises an enclosure which includes first and second spaced-apart electrical conductors, a sorbent which is positioned in the enclosure between the first and second conductors, a sorbate which is capable of combining with the sorbent in an adsorption reaction to form a sorbate/sorbent compound, a power supply which is connected to the first and second conductors and which generates an electrical current that is conducted through the sorbate/sorbent compound to desorb the sorbate from the sorbent in a desorption reaction, and a pressure chamber which is connected to the enclosure and which receives the sorbate from the enclosure during the desorption reaction and releases the sorbate into the enclosure during the adsorption reaction. The adsorption and desorption reactions are repeated to cycle the sorbate between a relatively low pressure state during the adsorption reaction and a relatively high pressure state during the desorption reaction. Furthermore, the desorption reaction is substantially non-thermal.

To cool heat-emitting electronic components, a compact, non-moving-parts compressor, an evaporator in juxtaposition to the electronic components and a condenser are mounted as a unit, preferably within a vacuum can. A heat exchanger is mounted external to the can but in proximity to the condenser. The foregoing comprise a unit which may be detachably connected to a host pump and heat exchanger. The unit may be removed from the system of which it is a part for upgrade and maintenance. All its components are thermally isolated from the ambient atmosphere to prevent water vapor condensation corrosion.

Refrigeration system for electronic components having environmental isolation

Improved methods for the controlled generation of ammonia from an ammoniated metal salt at substantially ambient temperature by applying microwave energy to the salt. The ammoniated salts have the formula MA &middot;(NH ), wherein M is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, scandium, ytterbium, the lanthanides, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, manganese, technetium, rhenium, iron, ruthenium, osmium, cobalt, rhodium, iridium, nickel, palladium, platinum, copper, silver, gold, zinc, cadmium, mercury, tin, and aluminum; A is at least one ion selected from the group consisting Cl , Br , F , I , ClO , ClO , BF , AlCl , PF , SbCl , and SbF ; and SbF n is from 1 to 6; and X is from 1 to 8. The methods are useful in, inter alia, absorption type refrigeration systems where ammonia is used as a refrigerant and the salt is used as a sorbent bed.

Controlled production of ammonia

The present invention is directed to a sorber cooling device suitable for use in an electromagnetic wave activated sorption system. One embodiment of the sorber cooling device has a metallic tubular enclosure extending coaxially into the sorber, a plurality of fins connected to a portion of the tubular enclosure extending outside of the sorber, a reservoir in fluid communication with the tubular enclosure, and a wick located within the portion of the tubular enclosure extending into the sorber. A refrigerant which is placed in the cooling device is drawn by the wick into the portion of the tubular enclosure extending into the sorber. The refrigerant absorbs heat from the sorber and evaporates. The evaporated refrigerant is condensed in the portion of the tubular enclosure extending outside of the sorber and the heat of condensation is dissipated by the fins. The condensed refrigerant is collected in the reservoir. This cycle repeats automatically.

Sorber having a cooling mechanism

The present invention is directed to a sorber which is suitable for use in an electromagnetic wave activated sorption system and which is easily adaptable to packaging constraints. One embodiment of the sorber comprises a flexible enclosure having an outer conductor, and inner conductor, a port through which a sorbate can be communicated into and out of said enclosure, and a sorbent in the enclosure which can adsorb the sorbate to form a sorbate/sorbent compound. The enclosure is configured to be coupled to an electromagnetic wave generator so that waves generated by the electromagnetic wave generator propagate through the sorbate/sorbent compound within the enclosure. Another embodiment of the sorber comprises an enclosure which is configured to serve as a structural component.

Sorber having flexible housing

An apparatus for cooling an electrical component is disclosed which comprises a sorber containing a sorbent; a condenser in fluid communication with the sorber; an evaporator in fluid communication with both the sorber and the condenser and connected in heat-exchange relation to the electrical component; wherein a sorbate which has been condensed in the condenser is evaporated in the evaporator, thereby absorbing heat from the electrical component, and then adsorbed onto the sorbent; an electromagnetic wave generator; a waveguide coupler for directing the electromagnetic waves to the sorbent; wherein the sorbate is desorbed from the sorbent by the electromagnetic waves and condensed in the condenser, and wherein the desorption of the sorbate from the sorbent is substantially isothermal.

Method and system for cooling electrical components

A combination heating and cooling apparatus which comprises a compartment into which an item to be heated or cooled may be placed; an electromagnetic wave generator; wherein during a first mode of operation of the apparatus, the electromagnetic waves are directed into the compartment to heat the item; at least one sorber having a housing defining an enclosure; a sorbate/sorbent compound located within the enclosure; a waveguide for coupling electromagnetic waves generated by the electromagnetic wave generator to the sorber; wherein electromagnetic waves transmitted by the electromagnetic wave generator are propagated through the enclosure to desorb the sorbate from the sorbate/sorbent compound; a condenser connected to the sorber; an evaporator connected to both the condenser and the sorber and positioned in heat exchange relation with the compartment; and a controllable valve interposed between the condenser and the evaporator; wherein sorbate which is desorbed in the sorber is condensed in the condenser and then, during a second mode of operation of the apparatus, controllably released into the evaporator to create a cooling effect and cool the item, after which the sorbate is drawn back into the sorber.

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Maumelle, AR, United States of America

Charles M Byrd