Binary Ice Heat Exchanger With Contactless Stirring Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooling mass production methods are inefficient and not optimized for large-scale, continuous production of flowable, pumpable cooled masses for applications like air conditioning and food processing, as they lack effective energy management and flexible production capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A cooling mass manufacturing apparatus with a heat exchanger device featuring spaced, fluidly connected plates and a contactless power transmission system using magnetic coupling, allowing for continuous production and energy-efficient cooling or heating of a flowable base material, such as sugar water, to create a pumpable cooling mass like binary ice.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional cooling mass production methods are used, then production can be maintained, but production speed and energy efficiency are insufficient for large-scale continuous production

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction speedVSAvoidenergy efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling mass production apparatus is divided into multiple heat exchanger plates (first heat exchanger plate, second heat exchanger plate, etc.) that are spatially separated and arranged in series. Each plate functions as an independent heat exchange unit, allowing parallel processing and continuous production. This segmentation enables faster production while maintaining energy efficiency through optimized heat transfer at each stage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional heat exchanger designs are used, then cooling can be achieved, but continuous operation and flexible production capabilities are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexible production capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus incorporates adjustable inclination mechanisms that allow the entire assembly of heat exchanger plates to be tilted to different angles. This dynamic adjustment capability enables flexible control over the production process, allowing optimization for different production rates and cooling mass types without requiring complex reconfiguration of individual components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The heat exchanger plates are designed with universal functionality, serving both as cooling surfaces and as structural elements that can be inclined together as a unit. The plates can process different base materials (sugar water, binary mixtures, etc.) and produce different types of cooling masses, providing versatility without increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Quantity of substance

If ice layer becomes too thick on heat exchanger surface, then cooling capacity increases, but mass layer thickness control becomes difficult and production continuity is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling mass outputVSAvoidmass layer thickness control
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the heat exchange surface into multiple separate plates, the apparatus allows independent control and monitoring of ice layer formation on each plate. This segmentation makes it easier to maintain optimal mass layer thickness on each individual plate, ensuring continuous production without disruption from excessive ice accumulation on any single surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

Enables faster, more energy-efficient production of cooling masses, allowing for continuous operation and flexible production of cooled or heated masses, enhancing the production of cooling ice or binary circuits for various applications, including air conditioning and food processing.

Implementation Method 1

for a transmission of force to the stirring elements from outside the housing inwards a contactless power transmission unit, more precisely a magnetic coupling

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic coupling: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 2

a heat exchanger device which spaced several mutually spaced each other and at least partially fluidically connected heat exchanger plates

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 3

cooling of the flowable base material by contacting a disposed in the housing heat exchanger means with stirring of the base material is carried out

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 4

energy and / or heat into or out of a latent heat storage stored and / or drawn

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLatent heat: Latent Heat

Implementation Method 5

crystallisation of ice thereon wherein the scraper liquid feeds of the respective heat exchange surface of the liquid quantity in the housing to there maintain a substantially uniform temperature

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFreezing: Freezing

Data Source

PatentEP3071906B1Binary-ice production device and method therefor
Publication Date: 2021.09.08 HUBERT LANGHEINZ EVL
  • EP3071906B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3071906B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3071906B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for continuously producing a flowable, pumpable, cooled mass or cooling mass, in particular for use as and/or for foods and foodstuffs, from a flowable base mass (10), comprising the following steps: pouring the flowable base mass into a housing (110), cooling the flowable base mass by means of the contacting of a heat exchanger device (200) arranged in the housing (110) while the base mass (10) is stirred, in order to thus produce the pumpable, cooled mass or cooling mass. In the process of the formation of a layer, in particular an ice layer, on the heat exchanger device (200), the cooling is interrupted as soon as the layer, in particular the ice layer, reaches a predetermined thickness and the cooling is continued as soon as the layer falls below the predetermined thickness. In the stirring process, the base mass and/or the mass is moved radially outward along the heat exchanger surfaces and force is transmitted for the stirring from outside of the housing inward contactlessly without breaching of the housing. The invention further relates to an air-conditioning method, to a cooling-mass production method, to an energy system, and to a use therefor.