3D printing of vacuum and pressure tight polymer vessels for thermally driven chillers and heat pumps

Abstract

Adsorption chillers and heat pumps are thermally driven devices working under vacuum or pressure depending on the working fluids. Their production involves a combination of special manufacturing processes that affect their final cost and eventually their technology readiness level. Conversely, 3D printing is a simple manufacturing process where parts are created directly from a 3D computer model. Therefore, enabling 3D printing for adsorption chillers and heat pumps manufacturing can facilitate technology commercialization. Unfortunately, 3D printed objects are often porous and show limited pressure and vacuum tightness. In this study we compare two different 3D printing processes (Stereolitography and Fused Deposition Modelling) to manufacture vacuum and pressure tight vessels. These two straightforward and easy-to-replicate manufacturing processes enable the realization of vacuum and pressure tight, porosity-free vessels. Tightness is demonstrated at pressures up to ~400 kPa and vacuum down to 1 kPa.