Latent Heat Cold Storage Material Supercooling Inhibition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional latent heat cold storage materials require excessive electric energy for cooling due to high melting temperatures and supercooling, making them unsuitable for freezing preservation at -10°C or lower temperatures.

Innovation Solution

A latent heat cold storage material comprising a mixed aqueous solution of sodium chloride and ammonium chloride, with the addition of a crystalline powder such as 1,3-diethylurea, which acts as a supercooling inhibitor, allowing solidification at a higher temperature (-29°C or higher) and reducing the energy required for cooling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If conventional latent heat cold storage materials are used, then freezing preservation at -10°C or lower can be achieved, but excessive electric energy is required for cooling due to high melting temperatures and supercooling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesolidification pointVSAvoidelectric energy for cooling
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the cold storage material by adding a supercooling inhibitor (crystalline powder such as 1,3-diethylurea) to the aqueous solution of inorganic salts. This parameter change raises the solidification point from below -10°C to -29°C or higher, directly reducing the energy required for cooling while maintaining freezing preservation capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The supercooling inhibitor acts as an intermediary substance that mediates between the aqueous solution and the freezing process. It promotes crystallization at higher temperatures by providing nucleation sites, thereby enabling the system to achieve solidification at -29°C or higher without requiring excessive cooling energy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the melting temperature is kept high for effective heat storage, then freezing preservation capability is maintained, but the energy required for cooling increases excessively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefreezing preservation capabilityVSAvoidcooling energy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the parameter balance between solidification point and latent heat by incorporating a supercooling inhibitor. This allows the system to maintain a solidification point of -29°C or higher (improving reliability for freezing preservation) while reducing the temperature gap between storage and usage conditions, thereby decreasing the cooling energy required

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution enables efficient freezing preservation at -10°C or lower temperatures by reducing the energy needed for cooling, as the crystalline powder promotes crystallization and increases the solidification point, thereby lowering the energy consumption.

Implementation Method 1

a mixed aqueous solution of sodium chloride and ammonium chloride, with the addition of a crystalline powder such as 1,3-diethylurea, which acts as a supercooling inhibitor, allowing solidification at a higher temperature (-29°C or higher)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSupercooling inhibition: Supercooling

Implementation Method 2

the crystalline powder promotes crystallization and increases the solidification point

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCrystallization: Crystallisation

Implementation Method 3

a heat storage material which mainly utilizes an exothermic/endothermic reaction associated with a phase change in a substance is called a latent heat storage material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLatent heat: Latent Heat

Implementation Method 4

suitable for freezing preservation in a temperature range of -10°C or lower

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFreezing: Freezing

Data Source

PatentEP3159389B1Latent heat cold storage material
Publication Date: 2021.08.04 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP3159389B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3159389B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3159389B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Provided is a latent heat cold storage material containing: water; a crystalline powder; and at least one inorganic salt. The crystalline powder is formed of a compound having a saturated concentration of less than 7.0 wt% to an aqueous solution of the inorganic salt having a concentration of 25 wt% at 25°C. A concentration of the crystalline powder exceeds a saturated concentration of the crystalline powder to the aqueous solution of the inorganic salt at 25°C.