Phase-Change Thermal Receptacle for Fast Cooling and Warm Holding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid receptacles fail to rapidly cool hot liquids to a warm range suitable for human consumption and maintain this temperature for an extended period effectively.
Innovation Solution
The use of phase change materials in multiple chambers within a thermally insulated receptacle structure, combined with metal heat transfer elements and optimized surface designs, to absorb and release thermal energy, ensuring the liquid remains at a warm temperature for an extended duration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a single phase change material is used in the receptacle wall, then the liquid temperature can be maintained, but the cooling rate from hot to warm range is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The receptacle wall is divided into multiple chambers, each containing a different phase change material with distinct phase change temperatures. This segmentation allows the system to address different temperature ranges separately, enabling both rapid initial cooling and sustained temperature maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
Different phase change materials are selected with progressively lower phase change temperatures for each chamber, creating a gradient that facilitates staged heat transfer. This parameter variation enables the system to efficiently cool hot liquid through multiple temperature thresholds while maintaining the liquid in the warm range.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the receptacle wall contains phase change material, then temperature maintenance is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple chambers containing different phase change materials are nested within the receptacle wall structure, with each chamber positioned concentrically or sequentially. This nesting approach allows complex functionality to be achieved while maintaining a compact, integrated design that does not significantly increase overall receptacle size.
Solution Approach 2:
The receptacle wall is constructed as a composite structure integrating multiple phase change materials with different thermal properties. This composite design enables the wall to perform multiple functions (rapid cooling, temperature maintenance, insulation) simultaneously, reducing the need for separate components.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple phase change materials with different phase change temperatures are used, then temperature control precision is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The manufacturing process is segmented into discrete steps for forming each chamber and filling it with the appropriate phase change material. This segmentation allows each material to be precisely positioned and contained, ensuring accurate temperature control while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through modular assembly.
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 lowers the temperature of hot liquids to a warm range and maintains it for an extended period, enhancing the thermal performance and user experience by utilizing phase change materials and metal heat transfer elements within a multi-chambered, insulated receptacle.
Implementation Method 1
A first phase change material is disposed in the first chamber for regeneratively absorbing thermal energy from the liquid
Implementation Method 2
A first phase change material is disposed in the first chamber for regeneratively absorbing thermal energy from the liquid and then releasing the thermal energy to the liquid
Implementation Method 3
A first phase change material is disposed in the first chamber for regeneratively absorbing thermal energy from the liquid and then releasing the thermal energy to the liquid
Implementation Method 4
A first phase change material is disposed in the first chamber for regeneratively absorbing thermal energy from the liquid and then releasing the thermal energy to the liquid
Implementation Method 5
An insulated outer shell has an open upper end and a lower end. The insulated outer shell surrounds the first intermediate wall and is at least partially spaced therefrom so as to define a second chamber therebetween
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid receptacle has an inner vessel for holding a liquid, an insulated outer shell spaced from the inner vessel, and a chamber defined between the inner vessel and the outer shell. A phase change material is disposed in the chamber for absorbing thermal energy from the liquid and then releasing the thermal energy back to the liquid to maintain the temperature of the liquid.