Composition of microwavable phase change material
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microwavable Phase Change Materials (PCMs) face issues with susceptor agglomeration, leading to non-uniform heating, degradation, and reduced latent heat capacity due to concentrated heat generation and convection-based heat transfer, resulting in inefficiencies and potential overheating.
Innovation Solution
A composite material is developed by uniformly mixing a microwave susceptor with a binding agent like clay, preventing agglomeration and ensuring uniform heating and discharging, thereby maintaining high latent heat storage capacity and preventing sparking or arcing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If microwave susceptor is used to heat Phase Change Material, then heating speed is improved, but susceptor agglomeration occurs leading to non-uniform heating and degraded performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines microwave susceptor particles with paraffin wax to create a composite material where the susceptor is uniformly distributed throughout the PCM matrix. This composite structure prevents susceptor agglomeration while maintaining microwave absorption capability, achieving both fast and uniform heating performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates localized microwave absorption centers by dispersing susceptor particles throughout the PCM volume rather than concentrating them in one area. This distributed approach ensures uniform heat generation across the entire material while maintaining rapid heating response
2Reliability
If high percentage of microwave susceptor is used to ensure uniform heating, then heating uniformity is improved, but latent heat value decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the susceptor concentration parameter to a specific range (0.1-10 wt%) where sufficient microwave absorption occurs without significantly compromising the PCM's latent heat capacity. This parameter optimization balances heating uniformity with thermal energy storage capability
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure allows efficient heat transfer from susceptor particles to the PCM matrix, enabling lower susceptor concentrations to achieve uniform heating. The intimate contact between susceptor and PCM in the composite ensures effective thermal coupling without requiring high susceptor loadings that would reduce latent heat value
3Productivity
If susceptor is accumulated at one point to heat the whole article, then heating efficiency is improved, but localized overheating and degradation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the heating function into multiple distributed susceptor particles throughout the PCM volume rather than using a single concentrated heating element. This segmentation of the heating function prevents localized overheating while maintaining overall heating efficiency through parallel heat generation at multiple sites
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 achieves uniform heating and discharging of the PCM, maintaining efficiency across multiple cycles without agglomeration or overheating, with the PCM melting within 2-3 minutes in a domestic microwave, and maintaining high latent heat storage.
Implementation Method 1
Microwave energy is changed to heat as soon as it is absorbed by a microwave susceptor
Implementation Method 2
As these microwaves generated from magnetron bombard the PCM, they cause the polar molecules to rotate at the same frequency millions of times a second. This agitation creates molecular friction, which heats up the PCM
Implementation Method 3
Phase Change Material (PCM) is suitable for storing thermal energy in the form of latent heat
Implementation Method 4
Phase Change Material (PCM) is suitable for storing thermal energy in the form of latent heat
Implementation Method 5
A composite material is developed by uniformly mixing a microwave susceptor with a binding agent like clay, preventing agglomeration
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a microwavable Phase Change Material and product thereof, particularly, the present invention relates to the field of microwave heating and use of microwave susceptor for providing heat to Phase Change Material. The invention provides a new process for preparing improved Phase Change Material which can be heated in a domestic microwave oven. The inventive composition comprises of a microwave susceptor which helps the Phase Change Material to melt within a few minutes depending upon the quantity of Phase Change Material taken. Microwave susceptor is at first uniformly mixed with some other material. The other material may be a highly conductive material, or a slow susceptor. Then this composite is incorporated in a Phase Change Material. This susceptor composite initiates uniform melting of Phase Change Material when exposed to microwave irradiation. This microwavable Phase Change Material is free of sparking, arcing and local overheating.