Linear Paraffin and Dialkyl Ether Latent Heat Storage Materials
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing latent heat storage materials, such as paraffin mixtures, have broad melting peaks and lower melting enthalpy due to branched side products and mixed chain lengths, limiting their thermal storage capacity and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The use of highly linear paraffins and dialkyl ethers with defined chain lengths, produced through dehydration and hydrogenation of linear alcohols, which offer narrower melting ranges and higher melting enthalpy, enhancing thermal storage capacity and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If paraffin mixtures with different chain lengths and branched portions are used, then the melting range is broader, but the melting enthalpy is lower and the storage capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by strictly controlling the chain length (specific C-number) and linearity (>95% linear chains) of paraffins. This standardization of molecular parameters results in sharp, narrow melting peaks while maintaining high melting enthalpy, resolving the contradiction between broad melting range and high storage capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses paraffins with homogeneous properties - specifically >95% linear chains and uniform chain lengths (e.g., C16, C18, C20). This homogeneity ensures that all molecules melt at nearly the same temperature, creating a narrow melting peak and maximizing the utilization of melting enthalpy for thermal storage
2Ease of manufacture
If paraffins produced by hydrogenation of alpha-olefins are used, then the production is easier, but the linearity is lower (90-95%) and melting enthalpy is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates branched side products through rigorous purification processes. By removing these impurities that reduce linearity, the patent achieves >95% linear paraffins with high melting enthalpy, while still maintaining production feasibility through established purification techniques
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the linearity parameter from the typical 90-95% achieved by standard hydrogenation to >95% by implementing additional purification steps. This parameter improvement directly increases melting enthalpy and thermal storage capacity without making the production process prohibitively complex
3Adaptability or versatility
If paraffin mixtures with even- and odd-numbered chains are used, then the availability is higher, but the melting peaks are wide or multiple, reducing usable storage capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the broad paraffin mixture into specific, uniform chain length fractions (e.g., pure C16, C18, or C20). By isolating and using single-chain-length paraffins rather than mixtures, the patent achieves narrow melting peaks and maximizes the usable storage capacity within a defined temperature range
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs homogeneous paraffin materials with uniform chain lengths and >95% linearity. This homogeneity ensures a single, sharp melting peak rather than broad or multiple peaks, allowing complete utilization of the melting enthalpy for thermal storage applications
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 highly linear paraffins and dialkyl ethers provide sharper melting peaks and higher melting heat, allowing for more efficient thermal energy storage and release, reducing material quantities needed for the same effect, thereby improving wearing comfort and energy storage capacity.
Implementation Method 1
The latent heat storage material is obtainable by dehydrating linear fatty alcohols to dialkyl ethers
Implementation Method 2
Paraffins may also be produced by hydrogenation of commercially available alpha-olefins
Implementation Method 3
Phase change materials (PCMs) may release or absorb, respectively, or store, respectively, heat by melting or solidifying, respectively
Implementation Method 4
This principle of heat storage may also be used, for example, in the wall insulation of buildings
Implementation Method 5
Following cooling during the evening hours and at night, the liquid storages solidify and release the crystallization heat to the environment
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for producing latent heat storage material from linear alcohols by dehydrating to dialkyl ethers or to olefins, and hydrogenating to paraffins and dialkyl ether as a latent heat storage material.