Compressed-Air Cooling Loop Without External Heat Exhaust
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioners require an exhaust duct to evacuate hot air outside, which compromises cooling efficiency and necessitates openings in rooms, allowing external hot air to enter.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioner design utilizing an air-liquid heat exchanger to transfer heat directly from compressed air to a liquid, with an air-to-air heat exchanger for further cooling, and a compressed air engine to produce reusable mechanical energy, eliminating the need for external heat evacuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If an exhaust duct is used to evacuate hot air outside, then heat transfer during condensation is improved, but the device complexity increases and requires openings in the room
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful hot air exhaust function from the system by eliminating the condenser and exhaust duct. Instead of evacuating hot air outside, the system uses an air-liquid heat exchanger to transfer heat to a liquid medium, and the compressed air engine to cool and recirculate the air internally, thus removing the need for external exhaust infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a liquid medium as an intermediary to receive heat from the compressed air through the air-liquid heat exchanger. This mediator allows heat transfer without requiring direct external exhaust, enabling the system to manage thermal energy internally through the liquid circulation loop.
2Temperature
If an exhaust duct is installed to remove hot air, then cooling efficiency is maintained, but loss of substance increases due to air exchange with outside
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by using the compressed air engine to cool and recirculate the same air internally. The air that absorbs heat from the liquid in the air-liquid heat exchanger is cooled back down by the compressed air engine and reused, creating a closed-loop system that eliminates air exchange with the outside environment.
3Temperature
If conventional refrigerant cycle is used, then heat transfer is effective, but the device requires external heat evacuation infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the thermal management parameters by shifting from an air-cooled condensation system to a liquid-based heat absorption system. Instead of condensing refrigerant air to external environment, the system transfers heat to a liquid medium that can be circulated and managed internally, enabling portable operation without external exhaust infrastructure.
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
Maintains cooling efficiency without external heat evacuation, reducing energy loss and allowing for self-sustaining operation, including the potential to generate mechanical energy for fans or electricity.
Implementation Method 1
an air compressor intended to compress the air to be cooled, this compression being accompanied by a sharp rise in the temperature of the air thus compressed
Implementation Method 2
an air-liquid heat exchanger intended to transfer heat from the air thus compressed to a liquid placed in a liquid tank
Implementation Method 3
an air-to-air heat exchanger intended to further lower the temperature of the air to be cooled which, at this stage, is still kept in the compressed air state
Implementation Method 4
a compressed air engine intended to achieve an expansion of the compressed air, which naturally lowers its temperature and provides cooled air
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an air conditioner, including an air compressor intended to compress the air to cool, an air-liquid thermal exchanger designed to transfer heat from the compressed air to a liquid placed in a tank, an air-to-air thermal exchanger designed to further lower the temperature of the air to be cooled which, at this stage, is still kept in the compressed air state, a compressed air engine to provide an expansion of the compressed air, which naturally lowers its temperature and provides cooled air, and an envelope, with good thermal insulation properties and intended to contain all the constituent elements of the air conditioner; it will then not be necessary to provide for a hot air evacuation as on most air conditioners known in the state of the art.