Porous Heat Storage Structure for Clathrate Hydrate Crystallization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current heat storage materials that form clathrate hydrates by cooling exhibit high degrees of supercooling, requiring them to be cooled to low temperatures for crystallization, which increases energy consumption and limits their effectiveness in refrigerated air-conditioning systems.
Innovation Solution
A heat storage apparatus featuring a heat storage material that forms a clathrate hydrate by cooling, combined with a member having a surface with a plurality of holes spaced at intervals of 1L to 10L and each hole with a diameter of 1D to 20D, which acts as a scaffold to promote the formation of the clathrate hydrate, reducing the degree of supercooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If heat storage material is cooled to low temperatures for crystallization, then crystallization can occur, but energy consumption increases and coefficient of performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a porous partition with pre-formed pores of specific size (1D to 20D) and spacing (1L to 10L) that serves as a nucleation scaffold before cooling begins. This preliminary structural preparation provides ready-made sites for crystal formation, eliminating the need to cool to very low temperatures to initiate crystallization, thus reducing energy consumption while ensuring reliable crystallization occurrence
2Reliability
If heat storage material is cooled to low temperatures for crystallization, then crystallization can occur, but coefficient of performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The porous partition is pre-configured with optimal pore dimensions (1D to 20D) and spacing (1L to 10L) to match the crystal structure requirements. This preliminary preparation creates ideal nucleation sites that promote crystallization at higher temperatures, improving the coefficient of performance by reducing the temperature gap between cooling and crystallization points
3Reliability
If porous partition is used to prevent mixing of heat storage material and crystallization aid, then separation is achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a porous partition with specifically controlled pore sizes (1D to 20D) and spacing (1L to 10L) that provides effective separation between heat storage material and crystallization aid while maintaining manufacturing feasibility. The porous structure allows for standard fabrication techniques and ensures reliable separation without requiring complex manufacturing processes
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 proposed solution effectively reduces the degree of supercooling of the heat storage material, enhancing the energy efficiency of refrigerated air-conditioning systems by allowing the heat storage material to crystallize at higher temperatures, thus improving the coefficient of performance (COP) and reducing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a heat storage material that forms a clathrate hydrate by cooling
Implementation Method 2
reduce the degree of supercooling of the heat storage material that forms a clathrate hydrate by cooling
Data Source
AI summary
A heat storage apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a heat storage material and a member. The heat storage material forms a clathrate hydrate by cooling. The member has a surface with a plurality of holes. In the case that the lattice constant of the clathrate hydrate is denoted by L and the outside diameter of a cage included in the clathrate hydrate is denoted by D, the plurality of holes are spaced at intervals of 1L to 10L, and each of the plurality of holes has a hole diameter of 1D to 20D.