Cold-storage material composition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cold storage material compositions for refrigerators and cold-storage warehouses have limited cooling efficiency due to insufficient fusion heat and heat flow peak ranges, making them unsuitable for maintaining optimal temperatures for food preservation and storage.
Innovation Solution
A cold storage material composition comprising tetra-n-butylammonium bromide, water, and 1-propanol or 1-butanol, with specific weight and molar ratios, which provides a fusion heat of at least 135 J/g within 2-8°C or 5-12°C temperature ranges and a heat flow peak within these ranges, enhancing cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional cold storage material compositions are used, then the basic cooling function is provided, but the fusion heat is insufficient and the heat flow peak range is limited, resulting in poor cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by introducing specific alcohol compounds (methanol, ethanol, propanol, or butanol) with controlled concentrations (0.1-10 mass%), and adjusts the quaternary ammonium salt concentration (10-40 mass%), thereby modifying the fusion heat and heat flow peak range to achieve superior cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite cold storage material composition by combining water, quaternary ammonium salt, and specific alcohol compounds, where the synergistic interaction between these components produces a material with enhanced fusion heat and extended heat flow peak range compared to individual components
2Use of energy by moving object
If the quaternary ammonium salt concentration is increased to improve cooling effect, then the fusion heat increases, but the material may reach saturated concentration and lose effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the quaternary ammonium salt concentration within 10-40 mass%, avoiding saturation while maximizing fusion heat, and introduces alcohol compounds that further enhance cooling performance without causing saturation issues
Solution Approach 2:
The alcohol compounds act as intermediary substances that enhance the cooling effect and extend the heat flow peak range without interfering with the clathrate hydrate formation mechanism of the quaternary ammonium salt, allowing stable temperature control
3Manufacturing precision
If the cold storage material composition is designed for a specific temperature range, then the heat flow peak is concentrated, but the adaptability to different refrigerator temperature requirements is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent selects alcohol compounds with different carbon chain lengths (methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol) that can adjust the heat flow peak range, making the composition adaptable to different refrigerator temperature requirements while maintaining precise temperature control through the clathrate hydrate mechanism
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 composition effectively maintains refrigeration temperatures, improving cooling efficiency and extending the cooling duration, making it suitable for both refrigerators and cold-storage warehouses.
Implementation Method 1
The quaternary ammonium salt forms a clathrate hydrate
Implementation Method 2
the cold storage material composition has a fusion heat of greater than or equal to 135 J/g within a range of higher than or equal to 2 degrees Celsius and lower than or equal to 8 degrees Celsius
Implementation Method 3
the cold storage material composition has a fusion heat of greater than or equal to 135 J/g
Implementation Method 4
PTL 2 (in particular, paragraph number 0023) and PTL 3 (in particular, paragraph number 0040) disclose that an alcohol is used for decreasing the melting point of tetra-n-butylammonium bromide
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a heat storage material composition suitable for a refrigerator or a cold-storage warehouse. The cold storage material composition according to the present invention contains tetra-n-butylammonium bromide, water, and 1-propanol. The weight ratio of tetra-n-butylammonium bromide to water is greater than or equal to 37.5/62.5 and less than or equal to 40/60. The molar ratio of 1-propanol to water is greater than or equal to 0.043 and less than or equal to 0.065. The cold storage material composition has a fusion heat of greater than or equal to 135 J/g within a range of higher than or equal to 2 degrees Celsius and lower than or equal to 8 degrees Celsius and has a heat flow peak within a range of higher than or equal to 2 degrees Celsius and lower than or equal to 8 degrees Celsius.