Ceiling Air Outlet Using Phase Change Cooling Without Chillers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ceiling air outlets for air-conditioning systems require a separate refrigeration machine to cool supply air, which increases energy costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a phase change material at the room air inlet, allowing the ceiling air outlet to be configured to direct supply air either through the phase change material for cooling or towards an air outlet, utilizing the material's heat storage and release properties to cool the room without a separate cooling circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a separate refrigeration machine is used to cool supply air, then cooling performance is improved, but device complexity and energy costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies phase transition of water (liquid to solid and back) as a cooling mechanism. The phase change material (water) absorbs heat during freezing and releases heat during melting, enabling cooling without a refrigeration machine. This directly resolves the contradiction by eliminating the need for complex refrigeration equipment while maintaining cooling capability through natural phase transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the phase change material to automatically regulate temperature without external control systems. The water naturally freezes when temperature drops and melts when temperature rises, providing self-regulating cooling that eliminates the need for complex control mechanisms and refrigeration machines.
2Temperature
If a separate refrigeration machine is used to cool supply air, then cooling performance is improved, but energy costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the latent heat of fusion during water's phase transition from liquid to solid and back. This natural thermodynamic process absorbs and releases large amounts of heat without requiring external energy input, thereby eliminating the energy consumption associated with refrigeration machines while maintaining effective cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The phase change material autonomously performs the cooling function by naturally freezing and melting based on temperature conditions, without requiring external power sources or energy input, thus dramatically reducing energy costs compared to mechanical refrigeration systems.
3Temperature
If supply air is directed through the phase change material, then cooling effect is improved, but airflow resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates localized cooling zones where phase change material is placed in specific areas (such as ceiling panels or wall sections) rather than requiring all supply air to pass through phase change material. This allows cooling to occur in targeted locations while maintaining overall airflow efficiency and minimizing pressure losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The phase change cooling system is divided into multiple distributed units or zones within the ventilation system. Instead of one large obstruction, multiple smaller phase change elements are distributed throughout the air handling system, reducing individual pressure drops while achieving cumulative cooling effect.
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 effective cooling of supply air without a separate refrigeration machine, reducing energy costs and simplifying the cooling process by using the phase change material to store and release heat, thereby cooling the room air.
Implementation Method 1
a phase change material is provided in the area of the room air inlet... heat is withdrawn from the phase change material... the phase change material releases the stored cold to the room air
Implementation Method 2
the phase change material... store and release heat during the phase transition... very large amounts of energy are already absorbed or released during the phase change
Data Source
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AI summary
The ceiling air outlet has a phase changing material (4) provided in an area of an ambient air inlet (5). An injection nozzle (8) is assigned to an apparatus (9), which is changeable between two positions. An induction of ambient air is provided by directing the predominant proportion of air (11) on an air outlet (7) in the former position. The flow of the predominant portion of the supply air is provided by the phase changing material into the area to be ventilated in the latter position.