Phase Change Heat Storage Device With External Welds
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing phase change heat storage devices have low heat exchange efficiency due to immature structural design of lining and coiled pipe components, leading to non-uniform heat exchange, corrosion of welds, and a short service life, which increases production costs and complicates maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A novel phase change heat storage device with a housing, insulating layer, and coiled copper pipe embedded in phase change material, where welds are external to the lining, and a partition board divides the material into sections for improved heat exchange, along with a pneumatic stirring mechanism and temperature detection, ensuring efficient heat transfer and extended service life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If welds are positioned inside the lining and soaked in phase change material, then the heat exchange component is fully integrated, but the welds become corroded and the service life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The welds are extracted from the phase change material environment by positioning them outside the lining. The coiled pipe's inlet and outlet extend through the lining to connect with main water pipes, ensuring all welds are positioned in the annular space between the lining and housing, away from corrosive phase change material contact.
2Ease of manufacture
If the structural design of lining and coiled pipe is simplified, then the manufacturing cost decreases, but the heat exchange efficiency becomes non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The lining is segmented into multiple sections using partition boards that divide the internal space into independent compartments. Each compartment contains a portion of the coiled pipe, ensuring uniform heat exchange across different sections. The partition boards are simple structural elements that maintain the phase change material in each section, improving heat exchange uniformity without complex manufacturing.
3Productivity
If partition boards are added to divide the phase change material, then the heat exchange efficiency improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The partition boards create simple vertical divisions within the lining, segmenting the phase change material into manageable sections. Each partition board contains a through-hole for the coiled pipe passage and is held at the middle portion of the pipe, providing structural support while maintaining fluid flow paths. This segmentation approach improves heat exchange efficiency through uniform distribution without introducing complex mechanical systems.
4Area of stationary object
If the coiled pipe is fully embedded in the phase change material, then the heat exchange surface area increases, but the welds are exposed to corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The critical weld joints are extracted from the phase change material environment by routing the coiled pipe's connections through the lining to the external main water pipes. This positioning ensures that all welds between the coiled pipe and main pipes occur in the annular space, completely avoiding contact with corrosive phase change material while maintaining full embedding of the heat exchange surface.
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 enhances heat exchange efficiency, prolongs the service life of the device, reduces production costs, and simplifies maintenance by isolating welds from phase change material, ensuring stability and safety during operation.
Implementation Method 1
a coiled pipe is embedded in the phase change material; the inlet and outlet of the coiled pipe both extend out of the lining and are respectively welded with and communicate with a main water inflow pipe and a main water outflow pipe
Implementation Method 2
hot water flows through the coiled pipe to heat the phase change materials; cold water flows through the coiled pipe, and the cold water absorbs heat from the heat exchange material
Implementation Method 3
phase change material changes in phase and continuously absorbs heat; the phase change material changes phase at the phase-change temperature point and releases latent heat
Implementation Method 4
phase change material changes in phase and continuously absorbs heat; the phase change material changes phase at the phase-change temperature point and releases latent heat
Implementation Method 5
an insulating layer is disposed between the lining and the housing; The insulating layer is any one or any combination of several ones of a foamed polyurethane layer, an aerogel insulating layer, an inorganic nano insulating layer and a VIP vacuum insulating board
Data Source
AI summary
The utility model discloses a novel phase change heat storage device, comprising a housing, wherein the housing is internally provided with a lining; an insulating layer is disposed between the lining and the housing; the lining is internally filled in with a phase change material; a coiled pipe is embedded in the phase change material; the inlet and outlet of the coiled pipe both extend out of the lining and are respectively welded with and communicate with a main water inflow pipe and a main water outflow pipe, so all welds between the coiled pipe and the main water inflow pipe and main water outflow pipe are positioned outside the lining and are not soaked by the phase change material. The lining is provided with at least one partition board; the partition board divides the inner space of the lining into independent spaces such that the phase change material is respectively positioned in the independent spaces divided by the partition board. Compared with the prior art, the utility model has a simple and novel structure design, solves the defects of existing phase change heat storage devices, greatly improves the heat exchange effect of the phase change heat storage device, reduces the production cost of the device, and prolongs the service life of the device.