Drinking Water Cooling With Dual-Circuit Peltier Heat Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Peltier cell-based cooling systems for drinking water are inefficient, leading to high energy consumption and low yield, with existing systems often relying on indirect cooling methods and inefficient heat disposal, resulting in overheating and complex setups.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a Direct Integrated Cooling System (D.I.C.SY.) that directly utilizes a Peltier cell with two heat exchangers, one for the hot side and one for the cold side, allowing for direct heat exchange with a circulating fluid and water, optimizing the Peltier effect for efficient cooling and reducing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If indirect cooling methods are used with Peltier cells, then the system structure is simpler, but the cooling efficiency is low and energy consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential cooling function by removing intermediate heat exchangers and allowing the Peltier cell to directly contact the liquid. The cold side of the Peltier cell directly cools the drinking liquid, eliminating unnecessary thermal transfer steps and improving cooling efficiency while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a food-grade copper plate as an intermediary element that serves dual purposes: it provides thermal contact between the Peltier cell and the liquid while ensuring food safety. This mediator enables direct cooling without compromising safety or adding complex structure.
2Ease of operation
If conventional Peltier cooling systems are used, then the setup is straightforward, but the yield is low and energy consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous circulation of the liquid through the cooling chamber using a pump, ensuring that the liquid continuously passes through the cold zone of the Peltier cell. This continuous action maximizes the utilization of the Peltier effect and improves energy efficiency by preventing thermal equilibrium and maintaining constant heat transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the heat generated on the hot side of the Peltier cell to pre-heat the incoming liquid or drive a thermosyphon circulation, making the system partially self-sufficient. The waste heat is utilized rather than discarded, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining simple operation.
3Productivity
If direct contact cooling is implemented, then cooling efficiency improves, but heat disposal becomes challenging leading to overheating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the thermal management by separating the hot side and cold side heat dissipation paths. The cold side directly contacts the liquid for efficient cooling, while the hot side has its own dedicated heat sink and fan assembly. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each thermal path, improving overall cooling efficiency while preventing overheating.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the waste heat generated on the hot side into a useful function by using it to pre-heat the incoming liquid or drive thermal circulation. The harmful heat that would otherwise need to be dissipated is transformed into a beneficial pre-heating function, reducing the temperature differential required and improving overall system efficiency.
4Reliability
If food-grade materials are used for direct contact, then water quality and safety are maintained, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies food-grade copper material only in the specific zones where liquid contact occurs (the copper plate in the cooling chamber and associated wetted surfaces), while other non-contact components can use standard materials. This localized application of high-quality materials maintains water safety where required while minimizing manufacturing costs in non-critical areas.
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
This configuration significantly enhances the cooling efficiency of drinking water, achieving lower temperatures with reduced energy costs and preventing overheating, while maintaining the quality and safety of the water through direct contact with food-grade copper components.
Implementation Method 1
the present invention uses the physical phenomenon known as 'Peltier effect' and more specifically, as described in detail here below, comprises a system of cooling, based in fact on the Peltier effect
Implementation Method 2
comprises a first heat exchanger, associated with the hot side (21a) of the Peltier cell (21), having a function of cooling the Peltier cell (21)
Data Source
Figure 1~5
Figure 2
Figure 2A
AI summary
Apparatus (10) for cooling a drinking liquid, in particular drinking water (L) taken from the public supply system (RP), comprising an innovative cooling system (20), for cooling the drinking liquid, which optimises the physical phenomenon known as "Peltier effect", and optionally a system of gasification (30) for gasifying the drinking liquid (L), once cooled, wherein the cooling system (20) in turn comprises: a first cooling circuit (20'), in which an operating fluid (F) circulates, associated with a hot side (21a) of a Peltier cell; and a second cooling circuit (20"), in which the drinking liquid (L) circulates, associated with a cold side (21b) of the Peltier cell. The efficiency of the Peltier cell is improved with respect to the prior art, in order to cool a drinking liquid, and offers a cooling apparatus which is reliable, with low energy consumption and easy to install and use.