Phase-Change Heat Transfer Pack for Portable Skin Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional cold and hot packs are inconvenient due to their reliance on refrigerators or electrical connections, lacking portability and temperature control, and offering poor temperature regulation.
Innovation Solution
A heat transfer system comprising a heat transfer machine and a heat transfer pack that uses a Peltier device, metal plate, heat sink, and fan to thermally couple and decouple, allowing for portable and controlled heat transfer via conduction or convection, with phase change materials maintaining temperature for extended periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If traditional cold packs use a refrigerator to chill a substance, then the cold pack can achieve low temperature, but the device loses portability and requires travel to the refrigerator
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two independent parts: a portable heat transfer pack containing phase change materials that can be carried anywhere, and a stationary heat transfer machine that processes the pack. This segmentation allows the cold pack to be portable while the temperature control function remains with the stationary machine.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat transfer pack is pre-filled with phase change materials (such as gels or waxes) that have been prepared in advance to absorb or release heat at specific temperatures. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for on-site refrigeration while maintaining temperature control capability.
2Temperature
If traditional hot packs require an electrical connection, then the hot pack can provide heating function, but the device loses portability and offers poor temperature regulation
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is segmented into a portable pack containing phase change materials and a stationary machine with power supply and control electronics. This allows the heating function to be portable while temperature regulation is handled by the stationary control system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses phase change materials that transition between solid and liquid states at specific temperatures. By selecting materials with different phase change temperatures, the system can provide different temperature levels (hot or cold) without requiring complex temperature control electronics in the portable unit.
3Device complexity
If traditional cold packs lack temperature control, then the device is simpler, but the user has no control over the temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The heat transfer pack acts as an intermediary between the stationary temperature control system and the user's skin. The pack absorbs or releases heat through phase change, providing passive temperature control while the stationary machine actively regulates the temperature setpoint.
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
Enables portable and controlled temperature regulation for extended periods, allowing users to achieve desired temperatures for comfort or injury treatment without the need for refrigerators or electrical connections, maintaining temperature for up to 3 hours when in contact with skin.
Implementation Method 1
The heat transfer system may include a Peltier device, a metal plate, a heat sink adapted to absorb heat from the Peltier device
Implementation Method 2
The heat transfer pack may be adapted to thermally couple to the heat transfer machine, transfer heat to the heat transfer machine while thermally coupled to the heat transfer machine, and transfer heat from a mammal's skin
Implementation Method 3
The heat transfer pack may include one or more phase change materials
Implementation Method 4
The heat transfer pack may include one or more phase change materials
Implementation Method 5
a fan adapted to dissipate heat from the heat sink
Data Source
AI summary
A heat transfer system may include a heat transfer machine adapted to thermally couple to an heat transfer pack housed within an heat transfer device and transfer heat from the heat transfer pack using a power supply. The heat transfer device may include a housing and a heat transfer pack. The heat transfer pack may be adapted to thermally couple to the heat transfer machine, transfer heat to the heat transfer machine while thermally coupled to the heat transfer machine, and transfer heat from a mammal's skin when the heat transfer device is in contact with the mammal's skin and uncoupled from the heat transfer machine.