Mobile Air Conditioner With Phase-Change Heat Storage Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile air conditioners face limitations due to thick connecting pipelines required for heat dissipation, which restrict flexibility and convenience, and result in inefficient refrigeration and increased indoor heat generation.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a phase-change energy storage heat exchange device that absorbs heat from a second heat exchanger, eliminating the need for external heat dissipation and allowing for more efficient refrigeration with reduced indoor heat generation, along with a temperature detection and control system to manage the phase-change energy storage medium's temperature and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a thick connecting pipeline is used to discharge heat to the outside, then heat dissipation is effective, but the flexibility and convenience of the mobile air conditioner are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heat dissipation function from the traditional outdoor unit and relocates it to an energy storage tank within the indoor environment. The thick connecting pipeline is replaced by an integrated design where the heat exchanger and energy storage tank work together internally, eliminating the need for extensive external piping while maintaining effective heat dissipation through phase-change energy storage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a phase-change energy storage medium as an intermediary between the heat exchanger and the external environment. This medium absorbs and stores thermal energy through phase transitions, enabling effective heat dissipation without requiring direct connection to outdoor units through thick pipelines, thus improving both heat dissipation efficiency and system flexibility
2Device complexity
If air-cooling heat exchange is used in the second heat exchanger, then the structure is simple, but the refrigeration efficiency is low and more heat is generated indoors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies phase transitions of the energy storage medium (between solid and liquid phases) to enhance heat exchange efficiency. During phase change, the medium absorbs or releases large amounts of latent heat, significantly improving refrigeration efficiency compared to conventional air-cooling methods while maintaining a relatively simple system structure through the integrated tank design
3Quantity of substance
If the phase-change energy storage working medium temperature rises to a high level, then the energy storage capacity is sufficient, but the condensation effect weakens and energy efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a temperature detection and control system that continuously monitors the temperature of the phase-change energy storage working medium. When the temperature reaches a preset threshold, the controller automatically adjusts system operation to prevent excessive temperature rise, ensuring optimal condensation effect and energy efficiency while maintaining sufficient energy storage capacity through regulated phase-change processes
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 solution enhances the flexibility and convenience of mobile air conditioners, improves refrigeration efficiency, reduces indoor heat, and maintains energy efficiency by using phase-change energy storage, which stabilizes temperature and reduces energy loss.
Implementation Method 1
a phase-change energy storage heat exchange device, including a second heat exchanger and a phase-change energy storage working medium, wherein the second heat exchanger and the phase-change energy storage working medium are capable of exchanging heat therebetween
Implementation Method 2
a temperature detection unit, configured to detect a temperature of the phase-change energy storage working medium, and send out a first signal when detecting that the temperature of the phase-change energy storage working medium rises to a first preset limit
Data Source
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AI summary
A mobile air conditioner, comprising: a first heat exchanger (10), which has a first interface (11) and a second interface (12) for a refrigerant to enter and exit; a phase-change energy storage heat exchange device (20), which comprises a second heat exchanger and a phase-change energy storage working medium, wherein the second heat exchanger and the phase-change energy storage working medium may exchange heat therebetween, and the second heat exchanger has a third interface (21) and a fourth interface (22) for the refrigerant to enter and exit; a first refrigerant pipeline, which is connected to the first interface (11) and the third interface (21); and a second refrigerant pipeline, which is connected to the second interface (12) and the fourth interface (22). The present mobile air conditioner generates less heat to an indoor environment during a cooling process, is comfortable to use, and does not require to use of a thick connecting pipeline to exhaust gas to the outside. The flexibility and convenience of the mobile air conditioner is thus improved.