Liquid Phase Change Refrigeration Using Active Cloud Point Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling and heating transfer systems rely on specific heat capacity and refrigerants, which are costly and inefficient over long distances due to energy losses and the need for expensive handling systems, and fail to transfer cold or heat independently of ambient temperatures.
Innovation Solution
The use of liquid phase change systems that employ membrane-based processes to adjust the concentration of reagents, allowing for active control of cloud point temperatures and phase separation, enabling efficient refrigeration or heat pump cycles with UCST and LCST phase change liquids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If specific heat coolant systems are used for long distance heat transfer, then the system structure is simple, but the cooling capacity is lost due to ambient temperature heating and the CAPEX/OPEX becomes very costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs phase change materials that undergo phase transitions (e.g., solid-liquid, liquid-gas) at specific temperatures to store and release thermal energy. This allows the system to maintain cooling capacity over long distances by utilizing the latent heat of phase change rather than relying solely on specific heat capacity, which degrades with ambient temperature fluctuations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes changes in physical parameters such as temperature, pressure, and phase state of the working fluid to enable efficient heat transfer. By controlling these parameters, the system can maintain thermal energy integrity over long distances despite ambient conditions, resolving the contradiction between system simplicity and cooling capacity reliability.
2Reliability
If refrigerant based coolants are used for long distance heat transfer, then the cooling capacity is maintained, but the CAPEX and OPEX becomes very costly due to larger working fluid flow rates and refrigerant handling requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase change phenomena to enhance the cooling capacity per unit mass of working fluid. By leveraging latent heat during phase transitions, the system achieves efficient heat transfer over long distances without requiring large flow rates or complex refrigerant handling infrastructure, thus maintaining cooling reliability while reducing system complexity and costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the need for expensive refrigerant handling systems by using alternative working fluids and phase change mechanisms that inherently maintain cooling capacity without requiring specialized equipment for refrigerant management, thereby reducing both CAPEX and OPEX.
3Ease of manufacture
If specific heat coolant is used, then the system is cost effective for short distances, but the cooling potential is lost when coolant heats up during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs phase change materials that store thermal energy during phase transitions. This allows the system to maintain cooling potential over long distances by utilizing the large latent heat of phase change, preventing the cooling loss that occurs in specific heat systems when coolants heat up during transport, while remaining cost-effective.
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 enhances heat transfer rates and reduces costs by maintaining cooling or heating capacity over distance, independent of ambient conditions, through the use of UCST and LCST phase change liquids and membrane-based processes for efficient energy transfer.
Implementation Method 1
heating or cooling said combined solution to form a multi-liquid (or supercritical) phase mixture
Implementation Method 2
employ membrane-based processes to adjust the concentration of reagents
Implementation Method 3
cool or heat transfer is conducted through cooling and heating a liquid
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~1C
Figure 1D
AI summary
The present invention pertains to systems, methods, and compositions for liquid phase change, including for active cloud point, e.g., critical solution temperature, adjustment and heating or cooling, e.g., refrigeration, cycles. In some embodiments heat is absorbed, released or both due to phase changes in a liquid system. Advantageously, the phase changes may be controlled by controlling the ingredients or amounts of certain components of the liquid system. Advantages may include lower capital expenditures, lower operating expenses, or both for a diverse and wide range of heating and cooling applications. Such applications include, for example, cooling of data centers, cooled transportation of goods, refrigeration, heat pumps, extractions, ocean thermal energy conversion, and de-icing of roads to name just a few.