Latent Heat Storage Mixing Container for Phase-Change Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing latent heat storage units face challenges in reliably separating solid and liquid heat storage fluids from the heat transfer fluid, leading to clogging and inefficiencies, as the heat transfer fluid is cooled below the solidification temperature, causing the heat storage fluid to mix with the heat transfer fluid and disrupt the process.
Innovation Solution
A novel method utilizing the geometry of the mixing container and a specific flow path for the heat transfer and heat storage fluids, where the heat transfer fluid is constantly cooled and circulated, and the heat storage fluid is dispersed into droplets to increase the heat-exchanging surface area, allowing for effective separation of the heat transfer fluid from both liquid and solid heat storage fluids through the geometry and flow path of the mixing container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the heat transfer fluid is cooled below the solidification temperature of the heat storage fluid, then the heat transfer efficiency is improved, but the heat storage fluid solidifies and clogs the external heat exchanger
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the heat transfer fluid circulation loop from the heat storage fluid containment. The heat transfer fluid flows through external heat exchangers and returns to mix with solid heat storage fluid in a mixing container, while the liquid heat storage fluid is continuously supplied from a separate reservoir. This segmentation prevents solidified heat storage fluid from clogging the heat exchanger while maintaining efficient heat transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
Liquid heat storage fluid is prepared and held in a reservoir in advance before being mixed with the heat transfer fluid. This preliminary preparation ensures that liquid heat storage fluid is always available to mix with the cooled heat transfer fluid, preventing solidification in the heat exchanger and maintaining reliable operation.
2Productivity
If the heat storage fluid is continuously circulated, then the heat exchange process is maintained, but solid and liquid heat storage fluids mix with the heat transfer fluid disrupting the process
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and separates the liquid heat storage fluid from the solid heat storage fluid before mixing with the heat transfer fluid. Liquid heat storage fluid is continuously drawn from a reservoir and mixed with the heat transfer fluid, while solid heat storage fluid remains separated in the mixing container. This extraction ensures continuous heat exchange while maintaining reliable fluid separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing container acts as an intermediary between the solid heat storage fluid reservoir and the heat transfer fluid circulation system. It provides a controlled environment where liquid heat storage fluid can be selectively mixed with the heat transfer fluid while solid heat storage fluid remains separated, ensuring both continuous heat exchange and reliable fluid separation.
3Reliability
If a coalescer is used to separate heat transfer fluid and heat storage fluid, then the separation is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the natural density difference between liquid heat storage fluid and heat transfer fluid to achieve separation without additional separation devices. The mixing container geometry and flow path are designed so that the lighter heat transfer fluid rises while the denser liquid heat storage fluid sinks and is automatically drawn off, eliminating the need for coalescers or other complex separation equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system exploits the density parameter difference between liquid heat storage fluid and heat transfer fluid to achieve automatic separation. By designing the mixing container with appropriate flow paths and outlets positioned at different heights, the system utilizes gravity and density differences to separate the fluids without additional mechanical separation devices, reducing system complexity.
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 method ensures complete separation of heat transfer and heat storage fluids, allowing solid heat storage to be stored and liquid heat storage to be continuously available for the process cycle, preventing clogging and maintaining efficient heat exchange by avoiding the accumulation of solid heat storage fluid and ensuring the heat transfer fluid is not bound near the boundary layer.
Implementation Method 1
whereby a heat storage fluid changes between a liquid phase and a solid phase and, when it is in the liquid phase, it is mixed with a heat transfer fluid, whereby melting heat is transferred between the heat storage fluid and the heat transfer fluid
Implementation Method 2
whereby the liquid heat storage fluid is non-soluble in the heat transfer fluid, and whereby the liquid heat storage fluid has a higher density than the heat transfer fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A method is disclosed for the operation of a mixing container of a latent heat storage unit, whereby a heat storage fluid changes between a liquid phase and a solid phase, and has a higher density than a heat transfer fluid. In this method, by virtue of the geometry of the mixing container as well as the flow path of the heat storage fluid and the heat transfer fluid through the mixing container, the solid and the liquid heat storage fluids are concentrated after being mixed with the heat transfer fluid and they are subsequently separated from the heat transfer fluid at a boundary layer and withdrawn from the heat storage fluid by a flow induced below the boundary layer in the direction of an ice reservoir via a pipeline, and subsequently, the liquid heat storage fluid is separated from the solid heat storage fluid in the ice reservoir.