Energy Storage Structure With Phase Transition Piston

Solution Overview

Problem

Current energy storage structures, whether using springs or compressed gas, experience varying thrust during operation and cannot change the intensity of impact energy, leading to inefficient energy release.

Innovation Solution

An energy storage structure that converts energy between a liquid and gas state of a medium, using a piston and housing with a self-pressure energy storage medium, where the medium's temperature is adjusted to maintain constant thrust and vary impact energy by changing the saturated vapor pressure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If spring or compressed gas is used for energy storage, then energy can be stored and released, but the thrust varies continuously during operation and impact energy intensity cannot be adjusted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustability of impact energy intensityVSAvoidthrust variation during operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state parameter of the energy storage medium from solid (spring) or single-phase gas to two-phase liquid-gas system. By controlling the phase transition between liquid and gas states, the system maintains constant saturated vapor pressure during expansion, thereby stabilizing thrust while enabling adjustable impact energy through temperature control of the liquid medium.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes phase transition of the energy storage medium between liquid and gas states. The liquid medium evaporates to generate gas that expands in the piston cylinder, maintaining constant pressure during the phase change process. This phase transition mechanism enables both constant thrust during operation and adjustable impact energy through temperature control of the liquid reservoir.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

2Quantity of substance

If spring or compressed gas energy storage structure is used, then energy storage function is achieved, but the contour dimension is large

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy storage densityVSAvoidcontour dimension of energy storage structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs pneumatic principles by using compressed gas generated from liquid evaporation to drive the piston. The two-phase liquid-gas system allows compact energy storage compared to mechanical springs, as the liquid reservoir and gas expansion chamber can be integrated in a compact cylindrical configuration while maintaining high energy density.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Force

If spring or compressed gas is used, then energy storage is achieved, but the thrust is maximum at initial position and minimum at final position, decreasing continuously

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconstant thrust during operationVSAvoidoperation cycle consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes phase transition of the energy storage medium between liquid and gas states. The liquid medium evaporates to generate gas that expands in the piston cylinder, maintaining constant pressure during the phase change process. This phase transition mechanism enables both constant thrust during operation and adjustable impact energy through temperature control of the liquid reservoir.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state parameter of the energy storage medium from solid (spring) or single-phase gas to two-phase liquid-gas system. By controlling the phase transition between liquid and gas states, the system maintains constant saturated vapor pressure during expansion, thereby stabilizing thrust while enabling adjustable impact energy through temperature control of the liquid medium.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Ensures stable and consistent thrust or impact force during operation, allowing for adjustable impact energy by temperature control, thereby optimizing energy release.

Implementation Method 1

the energy storage medium is inter-converted between a liquid state and a gas state, while the pressure of the energy storage medium is always at a saturated vapor pressure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhase change (liquid-gas conversion): Phase Change

Implementation Method 2

the pressure of the energy storage medium is always at a saturated vapor pressure, such that a thrust exerted by the energy storage medium on the piston always remains constant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSaturated vapor pressure: Vapour Pressure

Implementation Method 3

at least one heating element configured to heat the energy storage medium arranged within the accommodating cavity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 4

changing the temperature of the energy storage medium so as to change the saturated vapor pressure of the energy storage medium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTemperature-pressure relationship:

Data Source

PatentUS10359056B2Energy storage structure

Publication Date: 2019.07.23 YANG FUGANG

AI summary

Provided is an energy storage structure, comprising a housing and a piston. An accommodating cavity and a piston cylinder part communicating with each other are arranged within the housing. The piston is slidably and sealingly arranged within the piston cylinder part for transferring impact energy. A self-pressure of an energy storage medium, arranged within the accommodating cavity and the piston cylinder part, acts on the piston, tending to push the piston to move. An energy storage structure provided by the present invention has a simple structure, is convenient for use, and can ensure that a thrust or impact force remains unchanged or slightly changes during operation, to achieve stable release of potential energy. Moreover, the adjustment of the thrust or impact force can be achieved by changing the temperature of the energy storage medium in the accommodating cavity, thereby achieving change in total impact energy of the energy storage structure.