Cooling and heating platform
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cooling and heating systems rely on harmful refrigerants like CFCs and their replacements, which have significant climate impacts, and often require extreme temperatures that can be harmful in applications such as physical therapy, and lack efficient scalability and waste reduction in various industries.
Innovation Solution
A cooling and heating platform that operates using a vacuum-based, hygroscopic, and electrostatic system with a water-based refrigerant, allowing for controlled temperature management within a thermally isolated chamber, enabling scalable chilling and heating solutions while reducing environmental impact and minimizing water waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional refrigerants like CFCs and their replacements are used, then cooling and heating functions are achieved, but significant climate impacts and environmental harm occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the refrigerant substance from conventional CFCs and hydrofluorocarbons to water-based refrigerant. This parameter change eliminates the harmful climate impacts (ozone depletion and greenhouse gas effects) while maintaining the cooling and heating functions through water's phase change properties at controlled vacuum pressures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an inert environment by maintaining a vacuum chamber with water vapor atmosphere, replacing the need for harmful refrigerant gases. The vacuum environment with controlled water vapor provides the cooling medium without introducing substances that cause climate damage
2Temperature
If extreme temperatures are used for cooling, then refrigeration effect is achieved, but harmful effects occur in applications such as physical therapy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic temperature control by adjusting the vacuum pressure level to precisely control the water boiling point. This allows the system to provide cooling at any temperature above freezing, including moderate temperatures suitable for physical therapy applications, rather than being limited to extreme cold temperatures
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the pressure parameter of the vacuum chamber, the patent controls the phase change temperature of water. This enables flexible adjustment of operating temperatures to match specific application requirements, avoiding harmful extreme temperatures while maintaining effective cooling
3Productivity
If standard refrigeration systems are used, then cooling capacity is provided, but scalability and waste reduction efficiency are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal system that can provide both cooling and heating functions using the same water-based vacuum platform. The system can be scaled from small to large applications and adapted to various industries (food service, medical, manufacturing) without requiring fundamentally different technology, thereby improving both productivity and adaptability
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 platform provides efficient, environmentally friendly, and safe temperature control across a range of applications, reducing climate impacts and minimizing water usage, with the ability to handle burst heating/cooling demands and maintain temperatures within medically safe limits.
Implementation Method 1
A vapor removal mechanism removes water vapor from the operating chamber
Implementation Method 2
hygroscopic material for removal of water vapor from the platform
Implementation Method 3
electrostatic device(s) that cause(s) operating liquid vapor atoms/molecules to move in a desired path
Implementation Method 4
The operating chamber includes an operating liquid that absorbs and/or releases energy via change of phase
Implementation Method 5
A heat exchanger transfers thermal energy between the operating liquid and an application fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling and heating platform is disclosed. An example cooling and heating platform includes an operating chamber with an operating liquid in the operating chamber. The example cooling and heating platform includes a heat exchanger in the operating chamber. The heat exchanger exchanges heat between the operating liquid and an application fluid in the heat exchanger to maintain the application fluid at a predetermined temperature for an application.