Sorption thermotransformers: from theory to practice

In order to be able to “raise” a known amount of heat from a low temperature level to a high one, it is necessary to perform a compensating process so that the total entropy of the substances involved in all processes remains at least unchanged [4]. The second law of thermodynamics does not determine the nature of the compensating process, so that specialists have maximum freedom of choice.
Of the many thermotransformers known in the art, the thermochemical compensating process is realized in sorption ones.
Despite the fact that these thermal transformers have a history of a century, their real development began in the 30s. The first researchers were V. Mollier, F. Merkel, F. Bosnjakovic, whose work in the direction of the search for the working substance (more precisely, the agent-sorbent pair), the creation of thermodynamic foundations, and calculation methods largely predetermined the further development of sorption technology. Ed.Altenkirch also made a big contribution. His merits include the development of the theory of absorption machines for air conditioning; creation of absorption machines without mechanical pumps and machines with auxiliary gas; development of the theory of solution circulation with the help of thermosiphon pumps, solution return to the absorber and generator, machines with temperature overlap, secondary introduction of rectification heat into the working process by cooling steam with a strong solution, absorption heat pumps; creation of thermodynamic diagrams for mixtures of working substances.
The greatest interest in sorption technology is observed abroad and in the former USSR in the 50-60s, when the fundamental textbooks and monographs on sorption machines F.Bosnjakovic, Ed.Altenkirch, W.Niebergall, L.M. Rosenfeld, B. .M.Blier, I.S.Badylkes [1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 11]. These publications attracted a new generation of scientists to the development of absorption thermotransformers.
So far, it has not been possible to create a unified classification of sorption thermotransformers. The first attempts to develop a narrow-profile classification of large water ammonia machines are reflected in the dissertation of B.A. Minkus, and small absorption-diffusion machines - in the dissertation of L. I. Morozyuk. This article presents only little-studied and little-known areas in the field of absorption thermotransformers and modern promising areas of research for these types of machines.