Adsorption cooling system using metal organic frameworks
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current adsorption-based cooling systems are inefficient and costly, requiring high desorption temperatures and limited to water as a refrigerant, restricting their application and surface area utilization.
Innovation Solution
Development of a highly adsorptive structure using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) coupled with substrates, capable of adsorbing and desorbing a variety of refrigerants under specific thermodynamic conditions, and incorporating microchannels for enhanced surface area and ingress/egress paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional adsorption materials are used in cooling systems, then the system structure is simple and easy to maintain, but the systems are expensive, relatively inefficient, and require large footprints and high desorption temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials by combining metal organic frameworks (MOFs) with substrates to create highly adsorptive structures. This composite approach enables the system to achieve high cooling efficiency and low desorption temperatures while maintaining structural simplicity and ease of maintenance, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and productivity.
2Ease of operation
If conventional adsorption materials are used, then the system is easy to maintain, but the footprint is large and desorption temperatures are high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes porous metal organic framework materials with high surface area-to-volume ratios. These porous structures provide extensive adsorption capacity within a compact form factor, reducing the system footprint while maintaining ease of operation and maintenance characteristics of conventional systems.
3Reliability
If water is used as the refrigerant in MOF-based systems, then the system can operate, but application is limited to water-stable systems only
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves universality by developing MOF-based adsorptive cooling systems that can operate with multiple types of refrigerants including hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons, and inorganic gases. This multi-functionality extends the application range beyond water-stable systems while maintaining reliable operation across different refrigerant types.
4Device complexity
If conventional adsorbent structures are used, then the system is straightforward, but the accessible surface area for refrigerant interaction is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs three-dimensional metal organic framework structures that provide extensive internal surface area through their crystalline porous networks. This dimensional approach creates numerous adsorption sites accessible to refrigerant molecules while maintaining a straightforward system configuration, effectively increasing the accessible surface area without complicating the overall device structure.
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
The MOF-based adsorptive cooling system improves refrigerant adsorption/desorption performance, reduces energy consumption, and expands refrigerant options beyond water, offering a more efficient and cost-effective cooling solution with increased surface area and cooling capacity.
Implementation Method 1
the MOF is adapted for adsorbing and desorbing a refrigerant under predetermined thermodynamic conditions
Implementation Method 2
the microchannels provide ingress and egress paths for a refrigerant
Data Source
AI summary
A highly adsorptive structure, includes: a substrate; and a metal-organic framework (MOF) comprising a plurality of metal atoms coordinated to a plurality of organic spacer molecules; wherein the MOF is coupled to at least one surface of the substrate, wherein the MOF is adapted for adsorbing and desorbing a refrigerant under predetermined thermodynamic conditions. The refrigerant includes one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: acid halides, alcohols, aldehydes, amines, chlorofluorocarbons, esters, ethers, fluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, halocarbons, halogenated aldehydes, halogenated amines, halogenated hydrocarbons, halomethanes, hydrocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluoroethers, hydrofluoroolefins, inorganic gases, ketones, nitrocarbon compounds, noble gases, organochlorine compounds, organofluorine compounds, organophosphorous compounds, organosilicon compounds, oxide gases, refrigerant blends and thiols.