Finned Phase-Change Heat Exchanger for Peak-Demand Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heating and air conditioning installations are energy-intensive and environmentally unfriendly, leading to high energy consumption and environmental impact, particularly during peak demand periods.
Innovation Solution
A heating and/or cooling unit integrated with a phase change material that stores thermal energy during off-peak hours and releases it during peak demand, using a heat exchanger with a phase change material and fins to enhance thermal conductivity, and includes sensors and electronic management for optimized operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional heating and air conditioning installations are used continuously, then thermal comfort is maintained, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary cooling or heating of the phase change material during off-peak hours when electricity is cheaper and more abundant. The PCM stores thermal energy in advance, so that during peak demand periods, the stored energy is released to maintain thermal comfort without requiring continuous operation of energy-intensive HVAC equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state (phase) of the phase change material between solid and liquid to store and release thermal energy. By utilizing the latent heat of phase transition, the system can store large amounts of thermal energy in a compact form, enabling energy displacement from peak to off-peak periods.
2Use of energy by moving object
If phase change material is used for energy storage, then energy consumption is reduced, but thermal conduction efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Metal fins serve as intermediary elements with high thermal conductivity that bridge the heat transfer fluid and the phase change material. These fins conduct thermal energy efficiently from the fluid to the PCM, overcoming the inherently low thermal conductivity of the phase change material and ensuring effective energy storage and release.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a composite thermal storage structure combining the phase change material (for energy storage capacity) with high-conductivity metal fins (for heat transfer efficiency). This composite arrangement leverages the complementary strengths of different materials to achieve both high energy storage density and effective thermal conduction.
3Loss of energy
If heat exchanger surface area is increased to improve heat transfer, then thermal conductivity improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing surface area in two dimensions, the system extends heat transfer surfaces in the third dimension by adding fins that protrude from the heat exchanger body. This vertical extension of heat transfer surfaces significantly increases the effective heat transfer area without proportionally increasing the footprint or structural complexity of the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger is segmented into multiple finned surfaces distributed throughout the phase change material container. This segmentation allows heat to be transferred at multiple locations simultaneously, improving overall heat transfer efficiency while maintaining a compact and manageable structure that avoids the complexity of a single large-scale heat exchanger.
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
Reduces energy consumption and environmental footprint by storing and releasing thermal energy efficiently, optimizing energy use and minimizing energy costs during peak demand.
Implementation Method 1
a phase change material configured to store energy (in particular thermal energy in physicochemical form)... a phase-change material (or PCM) is any material capable of changing physical state, particularly between a liquid state and a solid state, within a restricted temperature range
Implementation Method 2
store energy (in particular thermal energy in physicochemical form)... maintain at the latent melting temperature of said material
Implementation Method 3
at least one heat exchanger configured to, on the one hand, be crossed by said heat transfer fluid and, on the other hand, cool or heat said storage material... improve thermal conduction between the phase change material and the other elements of the exchanger
Implementation Method 4
the first structure and/or the second structure of said heat exchanger comprise fins... fins in particular make it possible to improve thermal conduction between the phase change material and the other elements of the exchanger, as well as with the heat transfer fluid
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a heating and/or cooling unit (1) for at least one thermal-control fluid (A), said unit (1) comprising at least one loop (3) in which a heat-transfer fluid (F) flows, said loop (3) comprising: a phase-change material (5) configured to store energy; at least one heat exchanger (7) configured, on the one hand, for said heat-transfer fluid (F) to pass therethrough and, on the other hand, to cool or heat said storage material (5), characterised in that said heat exchanger (7) comprises a first structure in which a conduit for the heat-transfer fluid (F) is provided and a second structure surrounding the first structure, a space between said structures defining a housing in which said phase-change material (5) is disposed, the unit (1) being configured to cool or heat said thermal-control fluid (A) by means of the second structure of said exchanger.