Ferroic response through application of conjugate field

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vapor compression refrigerant loops pose environmental hazards, are power-intensive, and impractical in certain settings, such as electric vehicles, due to weight and power demands, and often operate suboptimally due to unidirectional conjugate fields leading to entropy locking and material degradation in ferroic-based cooling systems.

Innovation Solution

Applying alternating conjugate fields, including positive, negative, slightly positive, and slightly negative fields to ferroic materials like magneto-caloric, electro-caloric, and elasto-caloric materials to manage entropy and disperse defects, thereby optimizing heat transfer and extending the life of cooling modules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If vapor compression refrigerant loops are used for cooling applications, then cooling performance is achieved, but environmental hazards (ozone depletion, global warming) and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling performanceVSAvoidenvironmental hazards

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical vapor compression system with a ferroic material-based cooling system that utilizes magnetic, electric, or stress fields to induce entropy changes. This substitution eliminates the need for compressors, refrigerants, and associated mechanical components, thereby resolving the environmental hazards and power consumption issues while maintaining cooling performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent exploits phase transitions in ferroic materials (magnetic, electric, or elastic) near their Curie points to achieve large entropy changes. By cycling between ferroic and para-ferroic phases through application and removal of conjugate fields, the system achieves cooling without environmental harm or high power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

2Temperature

If unidirectional conjugate fields are applied to ferroic materials, then initial cooling effect is achieved, but entropy locking and material degradation occur reducing system longevity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling effectVSAvoidmodule life

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic application of conjugate fields with alternating polarities (positive, negative, slightly positive, slightly negative) to the ferroic material. This periodic action prevents entropy locking by continuously cycling the material through different entropy states and disperses defects uniformly throughout the material, thereby extending module life while maintaining cooling effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the conventional unidirectional field approach by applying conjugate fields with alternating polarities. This inversion ensures that regions of high entropy are followed by regions of low entropy and vice versa, preventing permanent entropy locking and distributing mechanical or magnetic stress uniformly to prevent material degradation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 approach enhances the efficiency and longevity of ferroic-based cooling systems by maximizing entropy change, reducing hysteresis, and preventing material degradation, leading to improved performance and longer module life.

Implementation Method 1

applying a positive or negative conjugate field, which is of a first polarity, to a ferroic material to obtain a substantially minimized entropy of the ferroic material and applying a slightly negative or a slightly positive conjugate field, which is of a second polarity opposite the first polarity, to the ferroic material to obtain a substantially maximized entropy of the ferroic material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFerroic response:

Implementation Method 2

the ferroic material includes at least a magneto-caloric material and the positive or the negative and the slightly negative or the slightly positive conjugate fields include at least magnetic fields

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagneto-caloric effect: Magnetocaloric Effect

Implementation Method 3

the ferroic material includes at least an electro-caloric material and the positive or the negative and the slightly negative or the slightly positive conjugate fields include at least electric fields

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectro-caloric effect: Electrocaloric Effect

Implementation Method 4

the ferroic material includes at least an elasto-caloric material and the positive or the negative and the slightly negative or the slightly positive conjugate fields include at least stress fields

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasto-caloric effect: Mechanocaloric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS11566822B2Ferroic response through application of conjugate field

Publication Date: 2023.01.31 CARRIER CORP

AI summary

A method of realizing a ferroic response is provided. The method includes applying a positive or negative conjugate field, which is of a first polarity, to a ferroic material to obtain a substantially minimized entropy of the ferroic material (301) and applying a slightly negative or a slightly positive conjugate field, which is of a second polarity opposite the first polarity, to the ferroic material to obtain a substantially maximized entropy of the ferroic material (302).