Microparticle Heat Transfer Mediums for Compact Thermal Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat transfer fluids face inefficiencies due to the poor pumping and heat transfer capabilities of gases, requiring complex and bulky heat exchanger designs to manage phase changes, which can lead to inefficient energy transfer and system design constraints.
Innovation Solution
Development of heat transfer mediums comprising micron-sized microparticles with phase change materials (PCMs) suspended in a bulk material, allowing for efficient heat transfer through enthalpy of vaporization and thermal conductivity, with the microparticles being designed to maintain internal pressure independent of external pressure, enabling efficient cycling between liquid, gas, and solid phases for enhanced heat exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If phase change materials are used to transfer heat efficiently, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but the system becomes bulky and complex due to required pressure pumps and complex heat exchangers
Solution Approach 1:
The phase change material is segmented into numerous microparticles (1-1000 micrometers in diameter) suspended in a carrier fluid, allowing the system to achieve efficient heat transfer without requiring bulky heat exchangers or complex pressure pumping systems. The microparticles can be easily pumped and distributed throughout the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the phase change material by enclosing it in microparticle form with shells having specific thermal conductivity properties. This allows the material to undergo phase change at controlled temperatures while maintaining pumpability and preventing system complexity.
2Productivity
If gases are used for heat transfer, then heat transfer capacity is improved, but pumping capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a composite heat transfer medium combining a carrier fluid (liquid phase) with suspended microparticles containing phase change material. This composite allows the system to pump easily like a liquid while achieving high heat transfer capacity through the phase change of the enclosed material.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier fluid acts as an intermediary medium that facilitates easy pumping and distribution, while the enclosed phase change material within microparticles provides the high heat transfer capacity. The shell of the microparticle serves as another intermediary, containing the phase change material and enabling heat transfer between the carrier fluid and the phase change material.
3Ease of operation
If liquids are used for heat transfer, then pumping capability is improved, but heat transfer efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The heat transfer medium is formulated as a composite slurry containing a liquid carrier fluid with suspended microparticles of phase change material. This composite structure enables the system to maintain excellent pumping capability like liquids while achieving superior heat transfer efficiency through the latent heat of vaporization of the phase change material.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the phase transition (vaporization) of the enclosed phase change material to achieve high heat transfer efficiency. The microparticles undergo phase change at controlled temperatures, absorbing or releasing large amounts of latent heat, while the liquid carrier fluid maintains pumpability and facilitates circulation throughout the system.
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 solution enhances heat transfer efficiency and capacity, allowing for more effective energy transfer without the need for large pressure differences, making the system more compact and adaptable to various heat transfer applications.
Implementation Method 1
The microparticles of various embodiments include phase change materials that employ the heat or enthalpy of vaporization of the phase change materials for transferring heat
Implementation Method 2
The microparticles of various embodiments include phase change materials that employ the heat or enthalpy of vaporization of the phase change materials for transferring heat
Implementation Method 3
The bulk material of various embodiments may be a thermal conductive fluid capable absorbing heat and thermally conducting the heat to the microparticles. The bulk material of various embodiments may be capable of absorbing heat from the microparticles and thermally conducting the heat away from the heat transfer medium.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure generally relates to compositions, methods, and systems for heat transfer and methods of preparing heat transfer mediums. In various embodiments are described heat transfer mediums comprising a plurality of microparticles suspended in a bulk material with each microparticle containing a phase change material. In other embodiments are described fluids comprising of a slurry of microparticles containing phase change fluid in a carrier liquid for a fast charger system.