Latent Heat Storage Pre-Conditioning by Calculated Heat Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for pre-conditioning latent heat storage elements are imprecise and require complex cooling setups, making it difficult to maintain a narrow temperature range for temperature-sensitive items during transport, especially in environments where precise temperature control is not available.
Innovation Solution
A method involving cooling latent heat storage elements to an initial temperature below the target temperature, calculating the precise quantity of heat needed to reach the target temperature, and using a thermally insulated container with a heating device to introduce this heat uniformly, ensuring the elements are either completely solid or liquid as required for the intended use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional cooling rooms are used to pre-condition latent heat storage elements, then the elements can be cooled to an initial temperature, but the temperature control is imprecise and requires complex cooling setups
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using complex cooling setups to achieve precise target temperatures, the invention inverts the approach by first cooling the latent heat storage elements to a clearly defined initial temperature (below target) using simple conventional cooling rooms, then adding a calculated amount of heat to reach the target temperature. This inversion simplifies the cooling setup while maintaining precise temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention performs preliminary cooling to a clearly defined initial temperature using simple conventional cooling rooms before the actual pre-conditioning process. This preliminary action establishes a known starting point that enables precise calculation of the heat quantity needed to reach the target temperature, eliminating the need for complex cooling control systems.
2Reliability
If complex cooling setups are used to achieve precise temperature control, then the target temperature can be maintained, but the setup becomes complex and less adaptable to different environments
Solution Approach 1:
The method performs preliminary cooling to a clearly defined initial temperature using simple conventional cooling rooms that are widely available in different environments. This preliminary action creates a standardized starting condition that enables reliable and repeatable pre-conditioning processes across diverse environmental conditions without requiring complex adaptive cooling systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the approach from attempting to directly control the final target temperature (which requires complex setups) to first controlling the initial temperature parameter using simple cooling rooms. By calculating the heat quantity based on the temperature difference between initial and target temperatures, the method achieves reliable temperature control while adapting to different environmental conditions.
3Manufacturing precision
If latent heat storage elements are pre-conditioned without precise heat calculation, then the process is simpler, but the target temperature cannot be reached with minimal deviation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces feedback by calculating the exact heat quantity needed based on measured parameters (initial temperature, target temperature, thermal capacity) and using this calculated value to control the heat introduction process. This feedback loop ensures the latent heat storage elements reach the target temperature with minimal deviation without requiring complex real-time temperature monitoring and adjustment systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The method replaces complex mechanical temperature control systems with a calculation-based approach. By substituting the need for complex feedback-controlled heating mechanisms with a straightforward heat quantity calculation based on thermodynamic parameters, the invention achieves high manufacturing precision while keeping the heat introduction system simple.
4Reliability
If the latent heat storage elements are not properly pre-conditioned, then the preparation process is faster, but the temperature control for temperature-sensitive items during transport becomes unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary cooling to a clearly defined initial temperature using simple conventional cooling rooms before the actual pre-conditioning process. This preliminary action establishes a known starting point that enables precise calculation of the heat quantity needed, making the pre-conditioning process both reliable and efficient without unnecessary time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The method enables the latent heat storage elements to serve themselves by using their own thermal capacity and the calculated heat quantity to reach the target temperature. This self-service approach eliminates the need for complex external control systems during transport, ensuring reliable temperature control while minimizing preparation time.
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 allows for precise pre-conditioning of latent heat storage elements, maintaining the target temperature with minimal deviation, even in varying external conditions, and can be implemented using conventional cooling rooms, ensuring reliable temperature control for sensitive items during transport.
Implementation Method 1
introduce this heat uniformly
Implementation Method 2
thermally insulated container
Implementation Method 3
a phase transition takes place, for example the transition from the solid into the liquid phase
Implementation Method 4
the heat storage material begins to melt when the temperature of the phase transition is reached. The storage material maintains this temperature until the storage material has completely melted
Data Source
AI summary
A process is for the pre-conditioning of one or more latent heat storage elements in the case of which the temperature or the narrow temperature range of the phase transition defines a target temperature and the latent heat storage elements are heated up to the target temperature. The latent heat, storage elements are cooled to an initial temperature below the target temperature and this initial temperature is determined. The latent heat storage elements at the initial temperature are introduced into a thermally insulated container and the container is then closed. The interior of the closed container is, or has been, connected to a heating device of which the thermal output which takes effect in the interior of the closed container is known. The initial temperature of the latent heat storage elements, the thermal capacity of the latent heat storage elements located in the container and also the target temperature of the latent heat storage elements are used to calculate the quantity of heat which has to be fed to the interior of the container in order for the latent heat storage elements to reach the target temperature (desired quantity of heat). The heating device is switched on and is operated continuously, or at intervals, until the desired quantity of heat has been fed to the interior of the dosed container.