Method for stabilizing and / or controlling and / or regulating the working temperature, heat exchanger unit, device for transporting energy, refrigerating machine and heat pump

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cycle-based systems using calorically active materials suffer from self-heating due to hysteresis effects and other heating mechanisms, leading to an increase in base temperature and reduced efficiency over time.

Innovation Solution

A method and device for stabilizing and controlling the base temperature of calorically active materials in cycle-based systems by using a cooling fluid to maintain the calorically active material at a desired temperature, thereby dissipating generated heat and preventing temperature fluctuations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If calorically active material is used in cycle-based systems, then energy transport efficiency is improved, but base temperature increases due to self-heating

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy transport efficiencyVSAvoidbase temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful self-heating effect is extracted and separated from the calorically active material by introducing a dedicated cooling fluid circuit. The cooling fluid absorbs the generated heat and transports it away, allowing the calorically active material to maintain its base temperature while continuing to provide efficient energy transport through latent heat transfer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A cooling fluid is introduced as an intermediary substance between the calorically active material and the thermal environment. This cooling fluid mediates the heat removal process, absorbing heat from the calorically active material during field application and transporting it to a heat dissipation location, thereby preventing base temperature increase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If cycle frequency is increased to improve productivity, then energy transport capacity increases, but self-heating effects worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy transport capacityVSAvoidself-heating loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling fluid continuously circulates through the system, providing continuous heat removal that matches the continuous cyclic operation of the calorically active material. This continuous cooling action ensures that even at high cycle frequencies, the base temperature remains stable and self-heating losses are continuously mitigated.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling fluid circuit provides a feedback mechanism where the cooling requirement is dynamically responded to by the continuous circulation and heat absorption. As the calorically active material undergoes cyclic field application and generates heat, the cooling fluid automatically absorbs this heat and transports it away, creating a self-regulating thermal management system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Stability of the object's composition

If cooling fluid is introduced to control temperature, then base temperature stability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebase temperature stabilityVSAvoidsystem structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling fluid circuit is merged with the existing field application system, where the cooling channels are integrated into the structure that already applies the field to the calorically active material. This merging allows thermal management to be achieved without adding completely separate, complex cooling infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling fluid serves multiple functions: it cools the calorically active material during field application, transports heat away from the system, and can be designed to work with the existing fluid handling infrastructure of the cycle-based system. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 method and device enhance system efficiency by maintaining the calorically active material at an ideal operating temperature, allowing for higher frequency operation and improved energy transport capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

dissipating generated heat

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

cooling fluid to maintain the calorically active material at a desired temperature

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

changes its temperature in interaction with a corresponding field... crystal lattice transformation between a ferromagnetic and a paramagnetic phase

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase transformation: Phase Change

Implementation Method 4

Heat transfer between fluid and heat exchanger occurs via latent heat

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLatent heat: Latent Heat

Implementation Method 5

self-heating due to hysteresis effects... self-heating includes the aforementioned hysteresis effects, particularly in mechanocaloric materials

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHysteresis: Hysteresis

Implementation Method 6

inductive heating, capacitive heating, and/or resistive heating

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInductive heating: Induction Heating

Implementation Method 7

self-heating includes... friction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3862658B1Method for stabilizing and / or controlling and / or regulating the working temperature, heat exchanger unit, device for transporting energy, refrigerating machine and heat pump
Publication Date: 2025.07.02 FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV
  • EP3862658B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3862658B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3862658B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for stabilizing and/or controlling and/or regulating the operating temperature of a cycle-based system with at least one heat exchanger unit comprising at least one heat-active material element. Crucially, a cooling fluid is used to control a base temperature of the heat-active material element (11, 12). The invention further relates to a heat exchanger unit, a chiller, and a heat pump.