Sorption Cooling Evaporator Bubble Nucleation for Higher Heat Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sorption cooling systems face inefficiencies in transferring thermal energy from a fluid to be cooled to a cooling agent, limiting their refrigerating capacity and overall system performance.
Innovation Solution
The method involves introducing external thermal energy to the cooling agent in the evaporator device, either by mixing substances or through thermal transfer without substances, to induce or enhance bubble formation, thereby improving heat transfer between the fluid and the cooling agent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If external thermal energy is supplied to the cooling agent to induce bubble formation, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the supplied thermal energy, which would normally be a load to be rejected by the cooling system, into a beneficial effect by using it to induce bubble formation that enhances heat transfer. The thermal energy from the external source (such as waste heat) is transformed into a useful function of improving refrigerating capacity through bubble-induced convection and heat transfer enhancement.
2Productivity
If bubble formation is intensified to improve heat transfer, then heat transfer efficiency increases, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the cooling agent itself to generate the bubbles that enhance heat transfer. By supplying thermal energy to the cooling agent in the reservoir, the cooling agent autonomously forms bubbles that improve its own heat transfer performance. This self-service mechanism avoids the need for external bubble generation devices or complex control systems.
3Productivity
If thermal energy is supplied separately from cooling heat transfer, then bubble formation is enhanced, but energy loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms what would normally be waste thermal energy into a beneficial input for enhancing bubble formation. By supplying external thermal energy (such as waste heat from industrial processes or cogeneration systems) to the cooling agent, the system converts an energy loss into a useful function that improves refrigerating capacity and heat transfer 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 enhances the refrigerating capacity by increasing bubble formation, which improves heat transfer efficiency, overcoming potential drawbacks and optimizing the system's performance without significant additional component costs.
Implementation Method 1
The cooling heat transfer causes the cooling agent to at least partially evaporate on the heat exchanger
Implementation Method 2
a heat exchanger of the evaporator device effect a cooling heat transfer from the fluid to be cooled to the cooling agent
Implementation Method 3
initiating bubble formation that supports cooling heat transfer in the cooling agent in the reservoir, specifically by inducing bubble formation
Implementation Method 4
bubble formation that supports cooling heat transfer
Implementation Method 5
the evaporated cooling agent is absorbed by the solvent, specifically via absorption. The absorption enthalpy (solution enthalpy) released in the process
Implementation Method 6
A pump brings this solution from a low absorber pressure to a high ejector drift pressure
Implementation Method 7
the cooling agent is expelled from the solvent in the ejector drift, thereby generating cooling agent vapor
Implementation Method 8
supplying useful heat, the cooling agent is expelled from the solvent in the ejector drift
Implementation Method 9
the cooling agent vapor, which subsequently is converted into the liquid phase in the liquefier
Implementation Method 10
The cooling agent recovered in this way is again relayed to the evaporator via a restrictor
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating a cooling system, in which a cooling agent is prepared in a reservoir of an evaporator device (1) of a single- or multi-stage sorption cooling system, a fluid to be cooled is cooled by having a heat exchanger of the evaporator device (1) effect a cooling heat transfer from the fluid to be cooled to the cooling agent for cooling purposes, and the cooling heat transfer causes the cooling agent to at least partially evaporate on the heat exchanger, and the evaporated cooling agent is relayed to a liquefier device (2), wherein the cooling heat transfer is improved by conveying external thermal energy provided by an external heat source (10) to the cooling agent, specifically in addition to and separately from the cooling heat transfer, and thereby initiating bubble formation that supports cooling heat transfer in the cooling agent in the reservoir, specifically by inducing bubble formation in conjunction with supplying the external thermal energy or intensifying bubble formation triggered by the cooling heat transfer. In addition, the invention relates to a cooling system in single- or multi-state configuration.