Phase-Change Heat Exchange Panel for High-Rate Building Thermal Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current heating and cooling systems in buildings are energy-intensive and costly, relying on fossil fuels or renewable electrical energy, and existing heat transfer technologies are inefficient in terms of energy exchange.
Innovation Solution
A heat mat system with a unique configuration of passages and ribs, featuring a phase-change portion and a drain channel, enhances heat transfer by increasing the surface area and using an undulating interior face to facilitate efficient heat exchange between the exterior and interior surfaces, allowing for both heat absorption and emission with improved thermal conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional heat exchange units are used, then the system can transfer heat energy, but the heat transfer rate is insufficient and energy efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The interior face of the heat mat is designed with an undulating configuration featuring multiple ribs protruding inward, creating curved surfaces that increase the effective heat transfer area. This curvature allows for greater surface area contact between the heat mat and the fluid passages, enhancing thermal exchange efficiency without increasing the overall device volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a conventional flat heat exchange surface to a three-dimensional undulating structure with ribs extending into the fluid passages. This dimensional change creates multiple levels of heat transfer surfaces, allowing simultaneous heat exchange at different depths and positions, thereby increasing the overall heat transfer rate.
2Productivity
If the heat mat surface area is increased to improve heat transfer, then the heat exchange efficiency improves, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The undulating interior face with protruding ribs creates a complex three-dimensional heat transfer surface that maximizes area within the constrained geometry of the heat mat. This curved rib structure provides enhanced heat exchange capability without requiring multiple separate components or assembly steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention optimizes specific geometric parameters of the undulating structure, including rib height, rib spacing, and rib cross-sectional shape, to achieve maximum heat transfer efficiency. By carefully controlling these parameters, the design achieves high productivity while maintaining manufacturability through standardized production processes.
3Temperature
If fossil fuels or renewable electrical energy are used for heating and cooling, then the heating and cooling functions are achieved, but energy consumption is high and environmental impact increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat mat system utilizes the natural thermal properties of the ground or surrounding environment as a heat source or sink. By embedding the heat mat in the ground or positioning it to utilize ambient temperature differences, the system performs heating and cooling functions using naturally available thermal energy, significantly reducing external energy consumption and eliminating the need for fossil fuels or high-consumption electrical heating systems.
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 system achieves a higher heat transfer rate compared to conventional arrangements, with a prototype demonstrating a heat transfer rate of 1.47kW/m², and is effective in both heating and cooling modes, reducing energy consumption while maintaining a stable temperature across the heat mat surface.
Implementation Method 1
a phase-change portion (121) and a drain channel (120)
Implementation Method 2
an undulating interior face to facilitate efficient heat exchange between the exterior and interior surfaces, allowing for both heat absorption and emission with improved thermal conductivity
Implementation Method 3
Heating and cooling requirements can be reduced by using insulation. Some systems use heat pumps to transfer heat energy to or from rivers, aquifers or environmental air
Data Source
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AI summary
A system comprises: at least one heat exchange panel (700) comprising: a main body (100) comprising a sealed cavity in which is provided a fluid in both liquid and gas phases and being configured to communicate heat energy by allowing evaporation of the liquid at one location and condensation of the liquid at a different location in the cavity; and at least a first heat exchanger part (130, 131, 110a, 110b, 111a, 111b) including an inlet and an outlet for allowing the passing of fluid through the heat exchanger, the first heat exchanger part being thermally coupled to the heat spreading part so as to communicate heat energy between fluid flowing through the first heat exchanger part and the heat spreading part and thus the environment in which the heat spreading part is present. A controller is configured to cause control of pumps and valves to as to cause the system to operate in a number of different modes of operation. The system is operable in a thermal transfer mode in which the controller controls the heat pump, the one or more fluid pumps and the valves to take in heat energy from one of the heat exchange panels and to expel heat energy through the other of the heat exchange panels.