Chemical Heat Pump With Porous Matrix for Phase-Change Heat Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Chemical heat pumps using solid substances suffer from low heat conductivity and power efficiency, while those using hybrid substances face limitations in cooling capacity and operating intervals due to crystallization issues, necessitating a solution that combines the advantages of both systems.
Innovation Solution
A chemical heat pump employing a 'solid' hybrid substance with a matrix that binds the active substance, maintaining it in a stationary position to enhance heat conduction, using a porous matrix material like aluminium oxide or fibres to increase heat transfer efficiency without moving parts, allowing the active substance to change states while maintaining constant reaction pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a solid active substance is used in a chemical heat pump, then the cooling temperature remains constant and storage capacity is large, but the heat conductivity is low and power is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical state parameter of the active substance from solid to liquid during the discharge process. The liquid state provides superior heat conductivity compared to solid state, enabling efficient heat transfer while maintaining constant cooling temperature through phase change. This parameter transformation resolves the contradiction between maintaining constant temperature and achieving high power output.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes phase transition of the active substance from solid to liquid state during discharge. The phase change process occurs at constant temperature while enabling high heat conductivity in the liquid phase, thus achieving both constant cooling temperature and high power output simultaneously. The system controls the phase transition through temperature and pressure management.
2Power
If a liquid active substance is used in a chemical heat pump, then power is high due to efficient heat exchange, but cooling capacity decreases with dilution and operating interval is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the concentration parameter of the active substance by transitioning from a diluted liquid state during discharge to a concentrated state during charge. The liquid phase enables high power through efficient heat exchange, while the phase change and concentration management maintain large cooling capacity. The system optimizes the balance between concentration and phase state.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs periodic alternation between discharge (liquid phase, high power) and charge (solid phase, high concentration) processes. This periodic action allows the system to achieve high power output during discharge while maintaining large cooling capacity through the concentrated solid state during charge, thus resolving the contradiction between power and cooling capacity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a hybrid substance is used in a chemical heat pump, then advantages of both solid and liquid systems are combined, but crystallization creates problems in pumps and spray nozzles
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and separates the crystallization problem from the hybrid substance system by using a eutectic mixture that remains in liquid state during operation. The eutectic composition is specifically selected to prevent crystallization at operating temperatures, thus removing the reliability issue while retaining the adaptability advantages of hybrid substances.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the compositional parameter of the hybrid substance to a eutectic mixture with a specific melting point. This parameter optimization ensures the substance remains liquid during the discharge process, preventing crystallization in pumps and spray nozzles while maintaining the ability to transition to solid state for energy storage, thus resolving the contradiction between versatility and reliability.
4Device complexity
If a solid substance is used in a chemical heat pump, then no moving components are required, but heat conductivity is low and efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical state parameter of the active substance from solid to liquid during discharge, enabling high heat conductivity and efficient heat transfer. The liquid state allows the substance to flow and contact heat exchanger surfaces effectively, achieving high power and efficiency while maintaining simple device structure without moving components on the process side.
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 significantly improves power and efficiency by leveraging higher heat conductivity in the liquid phase, maintaining constant reaction pressure, and extending the operating interval, while eliminating issues related to crystallization and moving parts.
Implementation Method 1
A chemical heat pump employing a 'solid' hybrid substance with a matrix that binds the active substance, maintaining it in a stationary position to enhance heat conduction, using a porous matrix material like aluminium oxide or fibres
Implementation Method 2
allowing the active substance to change states while maintaining constant reaction pressure
Implementation Method 3
Heat is supplied to or drawn from the substance through a lamellar heat exchanger or a plate heat exchanger that is in a homogeneous contact with the substance
Data Source
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Figure 2b
AI summary
A chemical heat pump includes a reactor part (1) that contains an active substance and an evaporator/condenser part (3) that contains that portion of volatile liquid that exists in a condensed state and can be absorbed by the active substance. A channel (4) interconnects the reactor part and the evaporator/condenser part, In at least the reactor part a matrix (13) is provided for the active substance so that the active substance both in its solid state and its liquid state or its solution phase is held or carried by or bonded to the matrix. The matrix is advantageously an inert material such as aluminium oxide and has pores, which are permeable for the volatile liquid and in which the active substance is located. In particular, a material can be used that has a surface or surfaces, at which the active substance can be bonded in the liquid state thereof. For example, the matrix can be a material comprising separate particles such as a powder or a compressed fibre material.