Electrocaloric Fluid Cooling Loop Using Electric-Field Phase Change
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cooling methods, such as thermoelectric and vapor compression systems, are inefficient, environmentally harmful, and lack sufficient cooling power, especially for electronics that generate heat as they become more sophisticated, while magnetic cooling requires expensive rare earth elements and large magnetic fields.
Innovation Solution
A method and device using electric fields to induce phase changes in ionic or polar fluids near their liquid-to-solid transformation temperatures, allowing for efficient and environmentally friendly cooling with large thermal changes, utilizing a closed loop system with an electric field, heat exchanger, and adiabatic conditions to achieve significant temperature changes without physical phase change in solid-state materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If vapor compression systems are used for cooling, then cooling capability is achieved, but environmental harm and inefficiency occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical vapor compression system with an electrocaloric system that uses electric fields to induce temperature changes in ferroelectric materials. This substitution eliminates the need for harmful refrigerant gases while achieving the same cooling effect through electrical actuation of solid-state materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent exploits the electrocaloric effect where application of an electric field changes the temperature of ferroelectric materials. By cycling the electric field on and off, the system achieves reversible temperature changes that enable cooling without mechanical compression or harmful chemicals.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If solid-state electrocaloric systems are used, then environmental friendliness is improved, but cooling power remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent operates the electrocaloric system near the Curie temperature of ferroelectric materials, where phase transitions occur. This region exhibits maximum electrocaloric effect and latent heat, enabling significantly enhanced cooling power while maintaining environmental friendliness through solid-state operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs ferroelectric thin films and composite structures to enhance the electrocaloric effect. These engineered materials provide both the necessary environmental safety of solid-state operation and improved cooling power through optimized material properties and configurations.
3Temperature
If magnetic cooling systems are used, then cooling effect is achieved, but cost and complexity increase due to rare earth elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes magnetic field-based cooling with electric field-based electrocaloric cooling. This replacement eliminates the need for expensive rare earth magnets and complex magnetic field generation systems, reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining effective cooling performance.
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 system achieves thermal changes of up to 80 K with small energy inputs, maintaining fluids in a pumpable phase throughout the cycle, providing higher cooling power than solid-state refrigerants and avoiding toxic substances, making it safer and more cost-effective.
Implementation Method 1
The ECE is a phenomenon in which a material shows a reversible temperature change under an applied electric field. The application of an electric field induces a polarization in a ferroelectric, which in turn heats it up because of the laws of thermodynamics.
Implementation Method 2
a heat exchanger in thermal contact to a second region of the closed loop, wherein said second region is contiguous with the first region, said heat exchanger maintained at a temperature to cause the fluid to decrease in temperature from T2 to T3
Implementation Method 3
removing the fluid from the electric field under adiabatic conditions to cause the fluid to decrease to a fourth temperature T4
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a method for cooling fluid having the steps of supplying a fluid at a first temperature T1, raising the temperature of the fluid to a second temperature T2 through contact with an electric field, contacting the fluid with a heat exchanger to decrease its temperature to a third temperature T3, removing the electric field to decrease the temperature of the fluid to a fourth temperature T4, and applying a heat load to the fluid to increase the temperature of the fluid to T1. Also provided is a system for cooling fluid having a closed loop having a first region subject to an electric field, a second region in contact with a heat exchanger, a third region remote from the electric field, and a fourth region contacting a heat load.