Container for phase-change material
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing artificial skating rinks and cold rooms face significant heat losses and high energy consumption due to inefficient thermal management, particularly in hot climates, necessitating constant operation of powerful cooling units to maintain ice and refrigerated conditions.
Innovation Solution
A container for phase change materials (PCMs) with integrated conduits for refrigerant fluid, optimized for thermal transfer, is used to create refrigerated surfaces, incorporating a gas blanket to manage volume changes and minimize energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional cooling units are used to maintain ice and refrigerated conditions, then the required temperature is achieved, but energy consumption becomes excessively high and heat losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by storing cooling capacity in phase change material containers before the skating rink operates. The PCM containers are pre-cooled to sub-zero temperatures and installed in the slab structure in advance, so they can immediately absorb heat when the rink opens, reducing the need for continuous high-power cooling operation
Solution Approach 2:
The phase change material containers act as an intermediary thermal storage medium between the refrigeration system and the ice surface. The PCM absorbs and releases heat through phase transitions, mediating the thermal exchange and reducing direct heat transfer from the environment to the ice, thereby lowering energy consumption
2Loss of energy
If thermal isolating layers are added to reduce heat losses, then energy efficiency improves, but the complexity of the slab structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the thermal isolation function with the structural slab by integrating phase change material containers directly into the slab matrix. The PCM containers serve dual purposes: they provide thermal storage capacity and simultaneously act as thermal barriers, eliminating the need for separate insulating layers and reducing overall structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The phase change material containers perform multiple functions simultaneously: thermal energy storage, heat transfer medium, and thermal insulation barrier. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed in the slab structure, simplifying the overall system while improving energy efficiency
3Ease of operation
If the ice surface is exposed to ambient air for skating activities, then skating functionality is enabled, but heat transfer from ambient air degrades ice quality
Solution Approach 1:
The PCM containers are pre-charged with cooling capacity before skating activities begin. This preliminary cooling action ensures that the ice surface maintains its quality throughout the skating session without requiring continuous active cooling, enabling skating functionality while preserving ice stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase change parameter of the PCM (transition between solid and liquid states at specific temperatures) to maintain ice quality. The PCM absorbs heat during phase transition, dynamically adjusting the thermal parameters at the ice interface to counteract heat infiltration from ambient air during skating
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 effectively maintains ice quality and optimizes perishable goods storage by reducing power consumption and enhancing thermal management, allowing for efficient energy use even in tropical climates.
Implementation Method 1
a phase change material nested in said shell
Implementation Method 2
The at least one recess in the shell allow a contact between the conduits of refrigerant fluid and the shell of the container, which optimizes the thermal transfers between the phase change material in the shell and the refrigerant fluid that circulates through said conduits
Implementation Method 3
the refrigerant fluid that circulates through said conduits
Implementation Method 4
optimizes the thermal transfers between the phase change material in the shell and the refrigerant fluid
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a container (100) for a phase change material, wherein said container is characterized in that it comprises:a closed shell (101) where a filling opening (103) is arranged;a phase change material nested in said shell (101);one or several recesses (105) designed to receive a conduit for refrigerant fluid.