Adjustable High-Density Thermal Storage With Composite Phase-Change Media
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing processes and systems for heating, cooling, heat transfer, and thermal storage are energy intensive, inefficient, environmentally harmful, and require expensive and ineffective chemicals or equipment.
Innovation Solution
The use of high enthalpy of liquid-liquid phase transition liquids and solid-liquid phase change materials in combination to achieve efficient and flexible heat transfer and thermal storage, with adjustable temperature ranges and enhanced heat capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional thermal storage systems use ice-water slurries, then cooling capacity is provided, but system size becomes large and energy efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the heat transfer medium by using liquid-liquid phase transition liquids with specific enthalpy values and temperature ranges. This allows achieving the same cooling capacity with smaller system volume by optimizing the thermal properties of the medium itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite heat transfer media combining liquid-liquid phase transition liquids with solid-liquid phase change materials. This composite approach enables simultaneous utilization of latent heat from phase transitions and sensible heat capacity, increasing energy density and reducing system size.
2Quantity of substance
If conventional systems use high ice concentration for thermal storage, then heat capacity increases, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent exploits liquid-liquid phase transitions and solid-liquid phase changes to store and release large amounts of latent heat. This provides high heat capacity without requiring high concentrations of ice, simplifying the system design and reducing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid-liquid phase transition liquid acts as an intermediary medium that facilitates heat transfer between the solid-liquid phase change material and the external environment. This mediator enables efficient thermal energy storage and release while maintaining system simplicity.
3Use of energy by moving object
If conventional heat transfer processes are used, then heat transfer occurs, but energy efficiency is low and environmental harm increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes reversible phase transitions (liquid-liquid and solid-liquid) to store and release thermal energy efficiently. This reduces the need for continuous energy input and minimizes environmental harm by eliminating the need for harmful refrigerants and reducing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the typically harmful effect of high energy consumption in conventional thermal storage into a benefit by using phase transition materials that store large amounts of energy during phase changes. This reduces overall energy consumption and environmental impact while maintaining effective cooling capacity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach increases energy efficiency, reduces the need for ice concentration, enhances heat capacity, and allows for broader temperature ranges, enabling smaller and more efficient systems for applications such as HVAC, thermal energy storage, and electric vehicle cooling.
Implementation Method 1
cooling a liquid-liquid phase transition liquid comprising two liquid phases below an exothermic liquid-liquid phase transition temperature range to form a liquid-liquid phase transition liquid comprising one liquid phase
Implementation Method 2
The one liquid phase may be cooled below a temperature of a solid-liquid phase change to form a composition comprising a solid-liquid slurry
Implementation Method 3
Heat is removed and the liquid-liquid phase transition liquid is mixed with a phase transition temperature adjustment reagent to form an endothermic liquid-liquid phase transition. The endothermic liquid-liquid phase transition reduces the temperature to about the freezing point of water or below to freeze at least a portion of liquid water to form ice
Data Source
AI summary
The application pertains to, for example, novel processes and systems for heat transfer, refrigeration, energy storage, and various cooling and heating processes. Such processes may include cooling or mixing various liquid-liquid phase transition liquids to release and/or energy. Additionally or alternatively, such processes may include charging and/or discharging thermal storage reservoirs with layered liquids of various temperatures.