Electrocaloric heat transfer system
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Vapor compression refrigerant loops pose environmental hazards and are impractical in settings lacking sufficient power or requiring significant weight and power for compressors, especially in portable cooling applications and electric vehicles.
Innovation Solution
An electrocaloric heat transfer system comprising first and second electrocaloric modules with fluid flow paths and a controller to alternately energize and de-energize electrodes, creating a cycled fluid flow to manage heat transfer efficiently, using electrocaloric materials between electrodes and controlling fluid flow to achieve temperature gradients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If vapor compression refrigerant loops are used for cooling, then effective cooling and refrigeration can be provided, but environmental hazards such as ozone depleting potential and global warming potential occur, and the system requires significant power and weight for the compressor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical vapor compression system with an electrocaloric system that uses electric fields to induce temperature changes in electrocaloric materials. The electrocaloric elements undergo adiabatic heating and cooling cycles when electric fields are applied and removed, eliminating the need for mechanical compressors and refrigerants, thus resolving the environmental hazards while maintaining cooling effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters from mechanical pressure-based cooling to electric field-based temperature control. By applying and removing electric fields to electrocaloric materials, the system achieves adiabatic temperature changes that enable cooling without environmental hazards associated with traditional refrigerants
2Temperature
If vapor compression refrigerant loops are used for cooling, then effective cooling and refrigeration can be provided, but the system requires significant power and weight for the compressor, making it impractical for portable applications and electric vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the heavy mechanical compressor with lightweight electrocaloric elements that respond to electric fields. This substitution dramatically reduces the weight of the cooling system while maintaining cooling effectiveness, making it suitable for portable applications and electric vehicles where weight is critical
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the mechanical compressor component from the cooling system, replacing it with electrocaloric elements. This removal of the heavy mechanical component directly addresses the weight problem while the electrocaloric materials provide the necessary cooling function through electric field-induced adiabatic temperature changes
3Temperature
If vapor compression refrigerant loops are used for cooling, then effective cooling and refrigeration can be provided, but the power demand of the compressor results in significantly shortened vehicle battery life or driving range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the high-power mechanical compressor with low-power electrocaloric elements that require minimal electrical energy to operate. The electrocaloric materials naturally undergo adiabatic temperature changes when electric fields are applied and removed, eliminating the need for continuous high-power compression and significantly reducing the power demand on vehicle batteries
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic application and removal of electric fields to electrocaloric elements to achieve cyclic adiabatic heating and cooling. This periodic action enables continuous cooling operation with minimal power input, as the system leverages the inherent thermodynamic properties of the electrocaloric materials rather than requiring continuous high-power mechanical compression
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 provides efficient heat transfer with reduced environmental impact and lower power requirements, suitable for various cooling applications, including portable use and electric vehicles, by leveraging electrocaloric materials to manage heat effectively.
Implementation Method 1
field-active heat or electric current-responsive heat transfer systems relying on materials such as electrocaloric materials
Implementation Method 2
The first electrocaloric element undergoes adiabatic heating and adiabatic cooling in response to application and removal of an electric field
Data Source
AI summary
A heat transfer system cycles between a first mode where a heat transfer fluid is directed to a first electrocaloric module and from the first electrocaloric module to a heat exchanger to a second electrocaloric module while one of the first and second electrocaloric modules is energized, and a second mode where the heat transfer fluid is directed to the second electrocaloric module and from the second electrocaloric module to the heat exchanger to the first electrocaloric module, while the other of the first and second electrocaloric modules is energized. The modes are repeatedly cycled in alternating order directing the heat transfer fluid to cause a temperature gradient in each of the first and second electrocaloric modules, and fluid from a flow path between the electrocaloric modules is mixed with circulating fluid from a conditioned space to cool or heat the conditioned space.