Cooking Vessel Handle With Phase-Change Heat Sink for TEG Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Convection cooling in handles with thermoelectric generators is inefficient and cumbersome, disrupting device operation due to ambient air circulation and limited space for additional components.
Innovation Solution
A heat sink made of a solid material with a melting point between 50°C and 70°C, such as a paraffin mixture, is integrated into the handle, along with a thermal diffuser and junction piece, eliminating convection cooling and allowing for efficient heat transfer and electronic device operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a metal radiator with fins is used as a heat sink for convection cooling, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the footprint area in the handle increases and disrupts ambient air circulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies phase transition by using a material that melts at a specific temperature range (50°C to 70°C) as the heat sink. This material absorbs heat through phase change from solid to liquid, providing cooling without requiring the large finned radiator structure. The phase transition occurs within the handle cavity, eliminating the need for external convection surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical convection cooling system (metal radiator with fins requiring air circulation) with a passive phase-change material system. The phase-change material naturally absorbs heat through its melting process without requiring mechanical air flow or large surface area structures, thus substituting a complex mechanical cooling system with a simpler thermal property-based system.
2Loss of energy
If a metal radiator with fins is used as a heat sink, then heat dissipation is improved, but device complexity and space for electronic components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses phase transition of a material melting between 50°C to 70°C as the core heat dissipation mechanism. This eliminates the need for complex finned radiator structures and allows the heat sink to be integrated within the handle cavity, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining effective heat dissipation through the phase change process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent nests the phase-change material heat sink within the handle cavity, integrating the cooling function into the existing handle structure. This nested arrangement eliminates the need for separate external radiator components and allows electronic devices to be positioned around the heat sink within the same handle volume, reducing overall structural complexity.
3Temperature
If convection cooling is used, then heat sink operation is achieved, but ambient air circulation disrupts the cooling process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses phase transition of a material melting at 50°C to 70°C as the heat sink mechanism, which operates independently of ambient air circulation. The phase-change material absorbs heat through its melting process regardless of air flow conditions, eliminating the harmful effect of disrupted convection cooling that occurs with traditional radiator designs when ambient air circulation is limited or irregular.
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 solution provides a stable and efficient power supply for electronic devices in cooking vessel handles, maintaining a relatively cool temperature and enabling prolonged operation of thermoelectric generators without disrupting ambient air circulation.
Implementation Method 1
The invention relates more particularly to handles incorporating devices for supplying electricity with the aim of supplying electronic functions and which operate on the principle of thermoelectric conversion. When frying pans are heated a heat flow is created. The thermoelectric generator uses this thermal flow to produce electricity necessary for the operation of the electronic indication system.
Implementation Method 2
the heat sink is composed of a solid material, the fusion of which takes place between 50° C and 70°C. This solid material is a mixture based on solid paraffin.
Implementation Method 3
the heat sink is composed of a solid material, the fusion of which takes place between 50° C and 70°C
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a handle (1) for a cooking vessel (2), comprising at least one thermoelectric generator (3), characterised in that the thermoelectric generator (3) comprises at least a first contact surface (5) thermally connected to a heat sink (10) and the heat sink (10) is formed from a material that undergoes a phase transition when heated to temperatures varying between 50°C and 70°C.