Solid-State Refrigeration Apparatus with Flow-Reversal Defrosting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solid-state refrigeration systems face challenges in efficiently defrosting low-temperature-side heat exchangers without increasing the size or complexity of the apparatus.
Innovation Solution
A solid-state refrigeration apparatus that includes a housing with a solid-state refrigerant substance and an internal flow path for a heat medium, a force field modulator, heat exchangers, and a heat medium conveyor. The apparatus induces a caloric effect by varying the force field on the refrigerant substance and switches the heat medium conveying direction during defrosting to efficiently remove frost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the heat medium accumulated in the high-temperature-side heat exchanger is conveyed to the low-temperature-side heat exchanger to defrost, then the frost removal function is achieved, but the apparatus size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The internal flow path is designed to serve dual purposes: during heating operation it enables heat exchange between the solid-state refrigerant and the heat medium, and during defrosting operation it enables the heat medium to flow in reverse direction to remove frost from the low-temperature-side heat exchanger. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate defrosting components, maintaining apparatus simplicity while achieving effective frost removal
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes reverse flow of the heat medium through the internal flow path to achieve defrosting. By switching the flow direction, the heat medium that was previously absorbing heat during cooling operation now delivers heat to melt frost during defrosting operation. This inversion approach allows the same component to perform opposite functions without additional structural complexity
2Productivity
If multiple substances with different caloric effect temperatures are arranged in descending order, then the caloric effect efficiency is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the internal flow path are assigned different solid-state refrigerant substances based on their optimal caloric effect temperatures. The substances are arranged in descending order of temperature along the flow path, creating local optimization where each substance operates at its most efficient temperature range. This gradient arrangement maximizes overall system efficiency while maintaining a relatively simple manufacturing approach
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 efficient defrosting of the low-temperature-side heat exchanger at low cost, without the need for increased size or complexity, by utilizing the caloric effect and reversing the heat medium flow direction during defrosting.
Implementation Method 1
The force field modulator is configured to induce a caloric effect by making a force field variation on the solid-state refrigerant substance in the housing
Implementation Method 2
an internal flow path through which a heat medium flows while exchanging heat with the solid-state refrigerant substance
Implementation Method 3
the heat medium cooled by the solid-state refrigerant substance absorbs heat in the second heat exchanger
Implementation Method 4
the heat medium heated by the solid-state refrigerant substance dissipates heat in the first heat exchanger
Implementation Method 5
a heat medium conveyor including a pump. The heat medium conveyor is configured to convey the heat medium to and from the solid-state refrigerant substance in the housing in accordance with the force field variation in the heat medium circuit
Data Source
AI summary
A solid-state refrigeration apparatus includes a housing, a force field modulator including an electromagnet, first and second heat exchangers, a heat medium circuit, and a heat medium conveyor including a pump. The force field modulator induces a caloric effect by making a force field variation on a solid-state refrigerant substance in the housing. The solid-state refrigeration apparatus performs a heating operation and a defrosting operation. The solid-state refrigerant substance includes a plurality of substances having different temperatures at which a caloric effect is maximized. The plurality of substances are arranged in descending order of the temperature along the internal flow path. In the defrosting operation, a conveying direction of the heat medium in the internal flow path with respect to a phase of the force field variation is switched to a direction opposite to the heating operation.