Reagent for a thermal machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermochemical refrigeration systems face challenges in optimizing both power and storage capacity, with existing reactive pairs and implementations often favoring one at the expense of the other, leading to inefficiencies in thermal power and refrigeration capacity.
Innovation Solution
A reactive matrix comprising a mixture of manganese chloride and expanded graphite is used, with specific proportions and compaction to create a compact, porous, and elastic matrix for efficient sorption and desorption of ammonia, enhancing thermal conductivity and permeability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a high proportion of sorbent is used to increase refrigeration capacity, then storage capacity is improved, but thermal conductivity decreases leading to reduced power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining sorbent particles with graphite conductive additives to form a reactive matrix. The graphite forms a conductive network within the sorbent matrix, enabling simultaneous achievement of high refrigeration capacity (through sorbent) and high thermal conductivity (through graphite), thus resolving the contradiction between storage capacity and power.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes porous materials by employing expanded graphite as both a conductive additive and a porous matrix structure. The porous structure provides high surface area for sorption reactions (improving refrigeration capacity) while the graphite's inherent thermal conductivity ensures efficient heat transfer (maintaining power), thereby resolving the thermal conductivity issue associated with high sorbent content.
2Quantity of substance
If the reactive matrix is highly compacted to increase energy density, then storage capacity is improved, but gas permeability decreases leading to reduced power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs porous expanded graphite as the matrix material, which maintains a porous structure even when compacted. This porous structure allows ammonia gas to permeate through the matrix effectively, maintaining high power output while the compaction achieves high energy density. The graphite's layered structure provides channels for gas diffusion, resolving the contradiction between energy density and power.
3Device complexity
If existing reactive pairs are used, then system simplicity is maintained, but optimization of both power and storage capacity cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite reactive matrix combining sorbent and graphite conductive additives, transforming a simple reactive pair system into an optimized composite system. This composite structure enables simultaneous optimization of both power and storage capacity without significantly increasing system complexity, as the additives are incorporated directly into the reactive matrix material.
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 matrix achieves balanced power and storage capacity by maintaining high thermal conductivity, preventing agglomeration, and ensuring efficient gas circulation, thereby optimizing the refrigeration system's performance.
Implementation Method 1
enhancing thermal conductivity
Implementation Method 2
ensuring efficient gas circulation
Implementation Method 3
the vapours are absorbed by a sorbent material (the sorbent), in the reactor
Implementation Method 4
By supplying heat to the reactor, at a temperature greater than its equilibrium temperature, the vapour is desorbed by the reagent
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed subject matter relates to a reactive matrix for the sorption/desorption of a heat transfer fluid (FG) in a reactor of a cold production device, this matrix comprising a compacted mixture of sorbent, of the manganese chloride monohydrate type, and expanded natural graphite in a preferred proportion of 79/21. The disclosed subject matter also relates to a method for manufacturing a wafer from this matrix and a reactor comprising a stack of such wafers.