Closed-loop climate control system with thermoelectric cooler
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioning systems consume high energy, are complex and expensive to set up, and often inadequate for cooling on hot/dry and/or humid days, while evaporative coolers alone may not provide sufficient cooling, and they use harmful refrigerants.
Innovation Solution
A closed-loop climate control system combining evaporative air conditioning with a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) and honeycomb cooling pads, utilizing a water pump, fans, and a control unit for precise temperature control, without harmful refrigerants, and allowing localized cooling or heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If traditional air conditioning systems are used, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the cooling function into two separate components: evaporative cooling for heat reduction and thermoelectric cooling for precise temperature control. This segmentation allows each component to operate efficiently in its optimal range, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining effective cooling performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines evaporative cooling and thermoelectric cooling into a hybrid system. The evaporative cooler pre-cools the air using minimal energy, reducing the workload on the thermoelectric cooler, thereby achieving effective cooling with lower total energy consumption than traditional systems.
2Use of energy by moving object
If evaporative coolers are used, then energy consumption is reduced, but cooling effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling process is segmented into two stages: evaporative cooling handles the bulk heat reduction with low energy input, while the thermoelectric cooler provides the additional cooling power needed to achieve the desired temperature setpoint, ensuring both energy efficiency and cooling effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a composite cooling approach combining two different cooling mechanisms (evaporative and thermoelectric) rather than relying on a single method. This composite approach leverages the advantages of both methods to achieve effective cooling while maintaining low energy consumption.
3Temperature
If traditional air conditioning systems are used, then cooling performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into modular components: evaporative cooling unit, thermoelectric cooler unit, control unit, and distribution system. Each module can be independently installed and maintained, simplifying the overall setup process while delivering high cooling performance.
4Temperature
If traditional air conditioning systems are used, then temperature control is improved, but environmental harm increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system eliminates the use of harmful refrigerants entirely by using evaporative cooling and thermoelectric effects, which rely on natural physical phenomena rather than synthetic chemicals. This converts the potential harm of refrigerant leakage into a beneficial environmentally friendly cooling solution.
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 provides efficient, low-power, and environmentally friendly temperature control with precise humidity adjustment, reducing energy consumption and noise pollution, and is compact for portable use.
Implementation Method 1
The thermoelectric effect is a phenomenon where the application of an electric current of two different conductors creates a temperature difference. In a thermoelectric water cooler, one side of a thermoelectric module is placed in contact with the water to be cooled or heated, while the other side is placed in contact with a heat sink cooled by an axial fan for absorbing the opposite energy.
Implementation Method 2
As the air is pushed by one or more fans such as motor axial fan, cross flow fan and/or vertical Fan through these pads, the water evaporates and the heat in the air is absorbed, which lowers the air temperature.
Implementation Method 3
the other side is placed in contact with a heat sink cooled by an axial fan for absorbing the opposite energy
Data Source
AI summary
A closed-loop climate system including a water tank; cooling pads positioned above the water tank, a thermoelectric unit (TEU) connectable to a power supply, and configured to cool/heat water received from the water tank, a sprinkler tube positioned above the cooling pads and configured to sprinkle the water heated by the TEU onto the cooling pads.