Method for transferring heat between two or more media and system for carrying out said method

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current heat transfer systems for air conditioning require large amounts of energy and use environmentally damaging refrigerants that contribute to ozone depletion and global warming, with low Coefficient of Performance (COP) values leading to high energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

Innovation Solution

A heat transfer system utilizing ambient heat and pressure variations within a closed circuit to cause state changes in a fluid, such as water or CO2, allowing for efficient heat transfer without harmful refrigerants, achieving high COP values above 10 and reducing energy consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If traditional heat pumps use CFCs or HFCs as refrigerants, then heat transfer function is achieved, but environmental harm occurs through ozone depletion and greenhouse effect

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental harm from refrigerantsVSAvoidheat transfer function
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates harmful refrigerants (CFCs, HFCs) from the heat transfer system, replacing them with environmentally benign working fluids such as water, CO2, or air. This removal of harmful substances directly addresses the environmental harm while maintaining heat transfer functionality through alternative mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the fundamental parameters of the heat transfer system by transitioning from vapor-compression cycles with harmful refrigerants to isothermal compression/expansion cycles with safe working fluids. This parameter change enables environmentally friendly operation while achieving effective heat transfer through temperature-controlled phase changes or thermal expansion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Use of energy by moving object

If conventional HVAC systems operate with typical COP values of 2-6, then heat transfer is achieved, but energy consumption and CO2 emissions remain high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidheat transfer efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention employs periodic isothermal compression and expansion cycles to transfer heat. During isothermal compression, heat is rejected to the environment; during isothermal expansion, heat is absorbed from the space to be cooled. This periodic thermal action achieves high COP by minimizing temperature differences during heat transfer, thereby reducing energy consumption and associated CO2 emissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes phase transitions of the working fluid (e.g., liquid-gas transitions of CO2 or water) during isothermal processes to enhance heat transfer efficiency. The latent heat absorbed or released during phase changes occurs at constant temperature, maximizing the COP by minimizing the temperature lift required, thus reducing energy consumption and improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

3Productivity

If high compression pressures are applied to achieve state changes in the fluid, then heat transfer efficiency improves, but system complexity and energy requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidcompression system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the compression process from adiabatic (conventional) to isothermal, allowing state changes to occur at lower, more manageable pressures. The isothermal process enables the working fluid to change state (e.g., condense or evaporate) while maintaining constant temperature, reducing the compression ratio and pressure requirements needed to achieve the same heat transfer efficiency, thereby simplifying the compression system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces isothermal heat exchange as an intermediary process during compression and expansion. By maintaining thermal equilibrium with the environment during these processes, the system achieves state changes at lower pressures, reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining high heat transfer efficiency through the mediating thermal field.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 system effectively transfers heat with a high Coefficient of Performance, reducing energy consumption and environmental impact by using non-toxic and non-flammable fluids, and employing a counterbalance effect to lower compression pressures, thereby decreasing CO2 emissions.

Implementation Method 1

there is a fluid that is sensitive to the change in temperature outside said chamber, wherein said fluid changes state when said fluid absorbs or release heat

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase change: Phase Change

Implementation Method 2

said fluid changes state when said fluid absorbs or release heat

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLatent heat: Latent Heat

Implementation Method 3

These state changes produce a change in the density of the fluid, alternately causing contractions and expansions, producing a heat transfer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 4

method for producing heat transfer between two or more media

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 5

absorbing or delivering a determined amount of energy

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3734188B1Method for transferring heat between two or more media and system for carrying out said method
Publication Date: 2024.06.12 ENERGY INNOVATION SYST LTD
  • EP3734188B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3734188B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3734188B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for transferring heat between to or more media, which can be used for domestic, commercial or industrial purposes, subject only to the existence of temperature difference and to pressure variations. The invention also relates to a system for transferring heat.