Refrigeration cycles with liquid-liquid phase transitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigeration cycles face limitations in efficiently transferring heat across temperature differences, particularly with liquid-liquid phase transitions, as they often rely on adiabatic temperature changes which may not be sufficient for effective cooling or heating applications.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a liquid-liquid phase transition refrigeration cycle that utilizes electricity, heat, or osmotic pressure differences to facilitate heat transfer across temperature zones, employing membrane-based processes like forward osmosis and reverse osmosis to adjust reagent concentrations and induce phase transitions, thereby creating temperature differences greater than the adiabatic temperature change.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional refrigeration cycles use adiabatic temperature changes for heat transfer, then the system structure remains simple, but the temperature difference achieved is insufficient for effective cooling or heating applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs liquid-liquid phase transitions (LLPT) of refrigerant compositions to achieve significant temperature differences during heat transfer operations. The refrigerant undergoes phase transitions between miscible and immiscible liquid states, utilizing the associated heat of mixing to create temperature differences greater than adiabatic changes alone could provide
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical and chemical parameters of the refrigerant composition, including temperature, pressure, and compositional concentration, to control and optimize the liquid-liquid phase transitions. By adjusting these parameters, the system achieves enhanced temperature differences and improved heat transfer efficiency
2Productivity
If membrane-based processes are used to adjust reagent concentrations and induce phase transitions, then temperature differences greater than adiabatic change are achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces membrane-based separation processes as intermediary steps to adjust the concentration of reagents in the refrigerant composition. These membranes facilitate controlled phase transitions by selectively separating components, thereby enabling precise control over the liquid-liquid phase transition process and enhancing heat transfer efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical compression and expansion mechanisms with osmotic pressure-driven membrane processes to induce phase transitions. This substitution utilizes chemical potential differences across membranes to achieve concentration adjustments and phase changes, reducing mechanical complexity while improving efficiency
3Use of energy by moving object
If liquid-liquid phase transitions are used to pump heat across temperature differences, then the coefficient of performance is enhanced, but the system requires more complex concentration adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the refrigeration cycle to utilize self-service mechanisms where the liquid-liquid phase transition process itself generates the necessary concentration adjustments. The phase transition creates natural concentration gradients that drive subsequent separation and concentration steps, reducing the need for external complex adjustment mechanisms and improving overall energy efficiency
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 enables the creation of significant temperature differences, enhancing the efficiency of heat transfer and refrigeration processes, allowing for effective cooling and heating operations even with small temperature differences, and achieving high coefficients of performance.
Implementation Method 1
employing membrane-based processes like forward osmosis and reverse osmosis to adjust reagent concentrations and induce phase transitions
Implementation Method 2
employing membrane-based processes like forward osmosis and reverse osmosis to adjust reagent concentrations and induce phase transitions
Implementation Method 3
refrigeration cycles employing liquid-liquid phase transitions to pump heat or transfer heat
Implementation Method 4
The implementation of a liquid-liquid phase transition refrigeration cycle that utilizes electricity, heat, or osmotic pressure differences to facilitate heat transfer across temperature zones
Implementation Method 5
A first step comprising a liquid-liquid phase transition from a single liquid phase to multiple liquid phases absorbing heat
Implementation Method 6
A second step comprising a liquid-liquid phase transition from multiple liquid phases to a single liquid phase releasing heat
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention pertains to cooling, heating, and refrigeration cycles using, for example, phase transitions to pump heat. Embodiments of the present invention may comprise systems, methods, or processes for liquid-liquid phase transition refrigeration cycles pumping heat across temperature differences greater than the adiabatic temperature change of a liquid-liquid phase transition within said liquid-liquid phase transition refrigeration cycle. Embodiments of the present invention also may comprise powering said liquid-liquid phase transition refrigeration cycle using electricity, heat, ‘cold’, the mixing of a saltwater and freshwater, the mixing of high osmotic pressure liquid and low osmotic pressure liquid, or a combination thereof.