Closed-Loop Thermoelectric Climate Control for Low-Energy Cooling
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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 in hot and/or humid conditions, while evaporative coolers alone may not provide sufficient cooling on hot/dry and/or humid days, and they typically use harmful refrigerants.
Innovation Solution
A closed-loop climate control system combining evaporative air conditioning, thermoelectric water cooling, and a control unit, utilizing honeycomb cooling pads, thermoelectric modules, and a microcontroller for precise temperature control, without external units, and using a DC power supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If vapor-compression air conditioning systems are used, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases and environmental harm occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a desiccant wheel as an intermediary component that absorbs moisture from air in two stages. The first desiccant wheel handles the majority of dehumidification, while the second wheel provides final drying. This intermediary dehumidification process enables subsequent evaporative cooling to achieve effective temperature reduction without the high energy consumption of vapor-compression systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical vapor-compression refrigeration cycle with a combination of desorption-based dehumidification and evaporative cooling. Instead of using compressors, condensers, and expansion valves, the system uses desiccant materials that passively absorb moisture through adsorption, followed by evaporative heat exchange, thereby eliminating the need for harmful refrigerants and reducing energy consumption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If evaporative cooling alone is used, then energy consumption is reduced, but cooling effectiveness becomes inadequate on hot and humid days
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cooling process into distinct functional stages: first, dehumidification through two desiccant wheels that remove moisture from air; second, evaporative cooling where pre-dehumidified air passes through water-saturated media for temperature reduction. This segmentation allows each stage to optimize its function, with the desiccant stage handling humidity control and the evaporative stage handling temperature control, achieving effective cooling even in hot conditions while maintaining low energy consumption.
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, localized, and portable cooling or heating with low energy consumption, precise temperature control, and no harmful refrigerants, reducing noise and environmental impact.
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
Evaporative cooling exploits the fact that water will absorb a relatively large amount of heat in order to evaporate. The temperature of dry air can be dropped significantly through the phase transition of liquid water to water vapor (evaporation).
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.