Electrocaloric Solid-State Heat Pump With Dielectric Heat Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heating and refrigeration systems rely on inefficient technologies such as gas compression, thermoelectric, and geothermal heat pumps, which are either environmentally harmful or costly, lacking an energy-efficient solid-state alternative.
Innovation Solution
A solid-state heat pump utilizing a power supply to create an electric field across a dielectric layer, causing molecular flipping for heat absorption and release, with a series resistor to manage high currents and prevent breakdown, allowing for efficient heat transfer between different temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional gas compression heat pumps are used, then heating and refrigeration functions are achieved, but environmental harm is caused due to use of CFC molecules
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical gas compression system with a solid-state electrocaloric system. The electrocaloric material undergoes phase change when an electric field is applied, absorbing heat during charging and releasing heat during discharging, thereby eliminating the need for mechanical compressors and harmful CFC refrigerants.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the electrocaloric effect where the physical state of the dielectric material changes in response to electric field parameters. By controlling the electric field application and removal, the material transitions between different thermal states, enabling heat pumping without mechanical compression or harmful substances.
2Loss of energy
If geothermal heat pumps are used, then high efficiency is achieved, but high initial installation cost deters adoption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the core heat transfer function from complex geothermal systems and implements it through simple solid-state electrocaloric modules. This extraction allows achieving similar thermodynamic efficiency without the high installation costs associated with extensive geothermal infrastructure.
3Reliability
If vortex heat pumps are used, then high reliability is achieved, but lower efficiency compared to other systems results
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the vortex-based mechanical system with a solid-state electrocaloric system that has no moving parts, thereby maintaining high reliability while significantly improving energy efficiency through direct electrocaloric heat pumping.
4Loss of energy
If the dielectric layer undergoes molecular flipping for heat absorption and release, then significant energy efficiency is achieved, but high current may cause breakdown
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a series resistor as an intermediary element that limits the current flowing through the dielectric layer during molecular flipping operations. This resistor prevents excessive current that could cause breakdown while still allowing sufficient current to drive the electrocaloric effect for efficient heat pumping.
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 solid-state heat pump achieves significant energy efficiency by absorbing heat from a low temperature source and releasing it to a high temperature sink, potentially reaching temperatures over 1600°C, outperforming standard resistive heaters and offering a more environmentally friendly solution.
Implementation Method 1
the dielectric layer absorbs heat from a heat source, whereby cooling the heat source
Implementation Method 2
the dielectric layer of the solid state heat pump releases heat to a heat sink, whereby heating the heat sink
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with the invention, there are methods for transferring heat, for heating and cooling, and there is a solid state heat pump. The solid state heat pump can include a power supply that provides an electric field, a first metal layer, a dielectric layer disposed over the first metal layer, wherein the dielectric layer absorbs a first amount of heat upon application of the electric field and releases a second amount of heat upon alteration of the electric field, and wherein the second amount of heat is greater than the first amount of heat, and a second metal layer disposed over the dielectric layer. The alteration of the electric field can be achieved at least by one of reducing, removing, and/or reversing the polarity of the electric field. The solid state heat pump can also include a series resistor.