Methods, systems, and devices for thermal enhancement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies in the electrical storage and renewable energy generation fields face limitations in efficiently storing and dispatching electrical energy, particularly in enhancing the performance of devices like electrical generators and refrigeration systems, and in achieving high efficiency in solar-to-electric energy conversion.
Innovation Solution
The method involves inducing a phase transition in a storage material, combining it with a freeze point suppressant to lower its melt point, and using this mixture to enhance the performance of devices such as electrical generators, refrigerators, and freezers, while also allowing for thermal energy storage and conversion to improve efficiency and shift electricity availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If thermal energy storage is used to enhance device performance, then efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines thermal energy storage functionality with the freeze point suppressant system into an integrated apparatus. The storage material is mixed with the freeze point suppressant in the same container, allowing thermal energy storage to enhance the cooling performance without requiring separate independent systems, thus improving efficiency while limiting complexity increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The freeze point suppressant serves multiple functions: it lowers the melt point of the storage material, provides thermal energy storage capacity, and acts as the cooling medium for the target device. This multi-functionality allows a single substance to address multiple requirements, improving efficiency without proportionally increasing device complexity.
2Temperature
If a freeze point suppressant is combined with storage material to lower melt point, then cooling performance is improved, but separation difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes temperature parameter changes to facilitate separation. After the storage material melts and provides cooling, the system is heated to a temperature where the storage material and freeze point suppressant can be separated through phase change or density differences, enabling recovery and reuse of both components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed to perform preliminary separation actions by allowing the storage material to fully melt and separate from the freeze point suppressant before reuse. This preliminary separation step ensures that when components are recovered and reused, they are already in a separable state, reducing the complexity of subsequent separation processes.
3Loss of time
If thermal energy is stored for delayed electricity availability, then energy dispatch flexibility is improved, but energy loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transitions of the storage material as the primary mechanism for thermal energy storage. When electricity is available, the storage material is frozen, storing thermal energy. When needed, the material melts, releasing the stored energy. This phase transition mechanism enables delayed energy availability with minimal losses, as the energy is stored in a stable solid state and released efficiently during melting.
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 boosts the efficiency of electrical generation and refrigeration systems, enables time-delayed electricity availability, and enhances solar-to-electric conversion efficiency by utilizing thermal energy storage and conversion techniques.
Implementation Method 1
In general, a phase transition may be induced in a storage material
Implementation Method 2
This may include partially or fully freezing the storage material, for example
Implementation Method 3
A freeze point suppressant may be combined with the phase-transitioned storage material
Implementation Method 4
Thermal enhancement may include absorbing heat from one or more devices
Implementation Method 5
The mixture may be used to boost the performance of a device... This may include improving the efficiency of the one or more devices
Implementation Method 6
Some embodiments include a system to perform both the conversion of solar energy into electricity and the storage of electricity via thermal mean
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices are provided for thermal enhancement. Thermal enhancement may include absorbing heat from one or more devices. In some cases, this may improve the efficiency of the one or more devices. In general, a phase transition may be induced in a storage material. The storage material may be combined with a freeze point suppressant in order to reduce its melt point. The mixture may be used to boost the performance of device, such as an electrical generator, a heat engine, a refrigerator, and/or a freezer. The freeze point suppressant and storage material may be separated. By delaying the periods between each stage by prescribed amounts, the methods, systems, and devices may be able to shift the availability of electricity to the user and/or otherwise boost a device at different times in some cases.