Methods and systems for cooling a pressurized fluid with a reduced-pressure fluid

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for cooling pressurized fluids often require additional cooling sources, such as air, water, or refrigerants, which increase complexity and power consumption, and may not efficiently maintain hydraulic fluids below maximum allowable temperatures in hydraulic drive systems.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize a reduced-pressure fluid, generated by an expander, to cool a pressurized fluid through thermal communication in a heat exchanger, reducing the fluid's temperature and pressure, thereby enabling the use of waste energy to cool a second fluid, potentially reducing system size, weight, and electrical power requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If additional cooling sources (air, water, refrigerants) are used to cool pressurized fluids, then the cooling effectiveness is improved, but the system complexity and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid temperatureVSAvoidcooling system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The expander and cooling system are merged into a single integrated unit. The expander's exhaust, which would otherwise be wasted, is directly used to cool the pressurized fluid through thermal communication, eliminating the need for separate cooling sources and reducing system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses its own waste energy (expander exhaust) to provide the cooling function. The expander exhaust, which contains thermal energy, serves dual purposes: indicating system operation and providing cooling for the pressurized fluid, making the system self-sufficient

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Temperature

If additional cooling sources are used to cool pressurized fluids, then the cooling effectiveness is improved, but the electrical power requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid temperatureVSAvoidelectrical power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The waste heat from the expander exhaust, which would normally be discarded as useless energy, is converted into a beneficial cooling resource. This transforms a harmful waste product into a useful function, eliminating the need for additional power-consuming cooling equipment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the temperature parameter of the pressurized fluid by utilizing thermal energy transfer from the expander exhaust. The exhaust's thermal parameters are harnessed to reduce the fluid temperature without requiring additional electrical power input

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Temperature

If conventional cooling systems are used to maintain hydraulic fluid temperature, then the fluid temperature control is improved, but the system size and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydraulic fluid temperatureVSAvoidcooling system weight

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The expander serves multiple functions: it drives the pump/compressor and simultaneously provides cooling for the hydraulic fluid through its exhaust. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate cooling components, reducing overall system weight

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This approach effectively maintains hydraulic fluids within safe temperature ranges, reduces system size and weight, and minimizes electrical power needs by leveraging the reduced-pressure fluid for cooling, while avoiding the need for additional cooling sources.

Implementation Method 1

placing the fluid in thermal communication with an exhaust from the expander to reduce a temperature of the fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal communication: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

places the pressurized fluid in thermal communication with the reduced-pressure fluid to thereby reduce the temperature of the pressurized fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

an expander configured to reduce a pressure of the fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectExpansion: Adiabatic Cooling

Data Source

PatentUS11306738B2Methods and systems for cooling a pressurized fluid with a reduced-pressure fluid

Publication Date: 2022.04.19 CONCEPTS ETI

AI summary

Systems and methods for reducing the pressure of a first pressurized fluid, thereby reducing the temperature of the pressurized fluid, and utilization of the reduced-pressure and temperature fluid to cool a second fluid. Such an approach can enable a reduction in the size and weight of a hydraulic system, utilize waste energy in a system, and/or minimize electrical power requirements of a system, among other benefits.