Climate-control system with thermal storage device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Climate-control systems, such as heat-pump and refrigeration systems, face inefficiencies in providing cooling and heating due to limitations in thermal storage and fluid circulation designs, which affect their operational effectiveness and energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A climate-control system incorporating a working fluid circuit with a compressor, heat exchangers, a flash tank, and a thermal storage tank containing phase-change material, where the system operates in charge and discharge modes to optimize heat transfer using expansion devices and bypass valves, allowing for efficient thermal energy storage and release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If thermal storage is added to the climate-control system, then energy efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the thermal storage tank with the flash tank into a single integrated unit. The phase change material in the thermal storage tank utilizes the flash gas from the flash tank to charge the storage medium, eliminating the need for separate thermal storage and flash separation components. This merging reduces overall system complexity while maintaining energy efficiency benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The flash tank serves multiple functions: it acts as both a flash separation device for the refrigerant and a heat source for charging the thermal storage tank. The thermal storage tank simultaneously stores thermal energy and utilizes the flash gas for charging. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing device complexity while improving energy efficiency.
2Power
If phase-change material is used in thermal storage, then cooling capacity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase change material (ice) in the thermal storage tank to store and release cooling capacity. The phase change process absorbs and releases large amounts of latent heat, significantly enhancing the cooling capacity of the system. This allows the system to provide effective cooling during peak electricity hours without requiring additional complex cooling equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal storage tank with phase-change material is merged with the flash tank, combining thermal storage functionality with the existing flash separation process. This integration avoids adding a completely separate thermal storage system, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while still achieving improved cooling capacity through phase change.
3Device complexity
If flash tank is integrated with thermal storage tank, then device complexity is reduced, but heat transfer efficiency may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated tank is divided into distinct functional zones: the flash tank section for refrigerant flash separation and the thermal storage tank section for phase-change material storage. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function efficiently while being part of an integrated structure, maintaining heat transfer efficiency despite the combined design.
Solution Approach 2:
The flash gas acts as an intermediary medium that transfers energy from the flash tank to the phase-change material in the thermal storage tank. This intermediary mechanism ensures efficient heat transfer between the two functional zones, maintaining thermal efficiency while allowing the tanks to be integrated into a single device.
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 system enhances energy efficiency by utilizing thermal storage to reduce operational costs, particularly during peak electricity hours, and maintains effective cooling and heating performance by optimizing fluid flow and heat exchange processes.
Implementation Method 1
The storage tank contains phase-change material that is thermally coupled with the second heat exchanger of the working fluid circuit
Implementation Method 2
allow heat from the phase-change material in the storage tank to be transferred to working fluid in the second heat exchanger
Implementation Method 3
a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger... thermally coupled with the second heat exchanger
Implementation Method 4
heat from the phase-change material in the storage tank to be transferred to working fluid in the second heat exchanger
Implementation Method 5
a flash tank... disposed downstream the first heat exchanger and includes an inlet and first and second outlets
Implementation Method 6
one or more expansion devices... circulating a working fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A climate-control system includes a working fluid circuit and a storage tank. The working fluid circuit has a first compressor, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a flash tank, and a third heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger receives working fluid discharged from the first compressor. The flash tank is disposed downstream the first heat exchanger and includes an inlet and first and second outlets. The first outlet provides working fluid to the third heat exchanger disposed between the flash tank and the first compressor. The second outlet provides working fluid to the first compressor. The storage tank contains phase-change material that is thermally coupled with the second heat exchanger of the working fluid circuit.