Shape-Memory Alloy Heat Pump for High-CoP Refrigerant-Free Heating

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current heat pump technologies face limitations in Coefficient of Performance (CoP), are thermally inefficient, prone to buckling, and use refrigerants with high global warming potential, which affects their efficiency and environmental impact.

Innovation Solution

A heat pump system utilizing a Shape-Memory Alloy (SMA) or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) core, where the core is arranged in a housing to absorb and store heat, with stress changes causing the core to release heat into a fluid, achieving a higher CoP and eliminating hazardous materials.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If conventional expansion/compression heat pump technology is used, then heating and cooling functions are achieved, but the Coefficient of Performance (CoP) is limited to 3-4

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveCoPVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the conventional mechanical expansion/compression system with a magnetic field-based system using magnetocaloric materials. The magnetocaloric material undergoes phase transitions in response to magnetic field changes, directly absorbing and releasing heat without mechanical moving parts, thereby achieving higher CoP while simplifying the device structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes phase transitions of magnetocaloric materials that occur in response to magnetic field application. During the phase transition, the material absorbs or releases large amounts of latent heat, enabling efficient heat pumping with higher CoP compared to conventional systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

2Loss of energy

If refrigerants with high global warming potential are used, then heat transfer efficiency is achieved, but environmental harm increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidglobal warming potential

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates the need for conventional refrigerants by using magnetocaloric materials that directly absorb and release heat through magnetic field-induced phase transitions. This substitution removes harmful refrigerants from the system while maintaining efficient heat transfer through the magnetocaloric effect.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Loss of energy

If SMA tubes are used to absorb and release heat, then heat pump function is achieved, but the tubes suffer from buckling during use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat absorption/release efficiencyVSAvoidstructural stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical SMA tube system with a magnetocaloric material system that responds to magnetic fields. This substitution eliminates the buckling problem inherent in mechanical SMA tubes while maintaining the heat absorption and release functionality through magnetic field-induced phase transitions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Temperature

If ground source heat pumps are used, then stable inlet temperature is achieved, but the CoP is limited by present technology

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinlet temperature stabilityVSAvoidCoP

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes phase transitions of magnetocaloric materials that provide large latent heat absorption and release during relatively small temperature ranges. This enables the system to achieve high CoP even with stable ground source inlet temperatures by efficiently capturing and transferring the phase transition heat.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

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 system achieves CoPs of six or higher, reduces electricity consumption, and eliminates the use of hazardous fluids, providing efficient heating and cooling while minimizing carbon emissions.

Implementation Method 1

a Shape-Memory Alloy (SMA) or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) core positioned in a housing and adapted to absorb heat and store energy in response to a first fluid inputted at a first temperature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShape memory effect: Shape Memory Alloy

Implementation Method 2

a Shape-Memory Alloy (SMA) or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) core positioned in a housing and adapted to absorb heat and store energy

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNegative thermal expansion: Negative Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 3

a device changes stress on the SMA or NTE core in the housing to cause the SMA or NTE core to change state to release the heat absorbed into the fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectStress-induced phase transformation: Shape Memory Alloy

Data Source

PatentUS11656008B2Heat pump utilising the shape memory effect

Publication Date: 2023.05.23 EXERGYN

AI summary

The invention provides a heat pump system and method comprising a Shape-Memory Alloy (SMA) or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) core (2a, 2b) positioned in a housing and adapted to absorb heat and store energy in response to a first fluid inputted at a first temperature. The housing is configured to receive a second fluid via an inlet wherein a device changes pressure in the housing to cause the SMA or NTE core to change state to release the heat absorbed into the second fluid. An outlet is adapted to output the second fluid at a higher temperature than the first temperature.