Strontium Bromide Phase Change Material for Domestic Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current phase change materials fail to effectively provide a phase change in the 76° C. to 88° C. temperature range, which is crucial for efficient energy storage systems, particularly in the domestic heating market, due to issues with incongruent melting and high costs associated with Strontium Bromide hexahydrate.
Innovation Solution
A phase change material comprising Strontium Bromide and a Metal Halide, such as Magnesium Bromide, is developed, with specific weight percentages to achieve a phase change in the 76° C. to 88° C. range, optimized for energy storage systems by mixing Strontium Bromide with Metal Halides like Magnesium Bromide, Zinc Bromide, or their hydrates, and adjusting the composition with additional components like water or organic compounds to achieve the desired melting point.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If Strontium Bromide hexahydrate is used as a phase change material, then the phase change temperature can be achieved in the desired range, but the cost becomes too expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines Strontium Bromide hexahydrate with Magnesium Bromide hexahydrate and water to create a composite phase change material system. This composite approach allows the mixture to achieve the desired phase change temperature range (76-88°C) while reducing the proportion of expensive Strontium Bromide, thereby lowering overall cost while maintaining functional performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the compositional parameters of the phase change material by varying the ratios of Strontium Bromide hexahydrate, Magnesium Bromide hexahydrate, and water. By adjusting these parameters, the invention achieves the target phase change temperature range while optimizing cost-effectiveness through reduced reliance on the more expensive Strontium Bromide component.
2Ease of manufacture
If Magnesium Bromide hexahydrate is used as a phase change material, then the cost is reduced, but the melting becomes incongruent and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite system combining Magnesium Bromide hexahydrate with Strontium Bromide hexahydrate and water. This composite formulation corrects the incongruent melting issue of pure Magnesium Bromide hexahydrate by introducing Strontium Bromide hexahydrate, which provides congruent melting behavior, thereby improving reliability while maintaining cost advantages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces water as an intermediary component that facilitates congruent melting behavior in the Magnesium Bromide hexahydrate system. The water forms a eutectic mixture that enables uniform melting at a specific temperature, resolving the incongruent melting problem while preserving the cost benefits of using Magnesium Bromide.
3Reliability
If a phase change material with congruent melting is used, then the reliability is improved, but the available options are limited and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent develops a composite phase change material system combining Strontium Bromide hexahydrate, Magnesium Bromide hexahydrate, and water. This composite approach provides congruent melting behavior (improving reliability) while offering flexible compositional variations (enhancing adaptability). The system can be adjusted by changing the ratios of components to achieve different phase change temperatures within the 76-88°C range.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal phase change material formulation that can serve multiple applications in the 76-88°C temperature range. The composite system based on Strontium Bromide hexahydrate, Magnesium Bromide hexahydrate, and water provides both congruent melting reliability and adaptability to different thermal storage requirements, making it suitable for various domestic heating applications.
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 resulting phase change material effectively stores heat within the 76° C. to 88° C. range, enhancing the efficiency of energy storage systems and addressing the limitations of previous materials by providing a cost-effective solution for domestic heating applications.
Implementation Method 1
the PCM has a phase change in the region of about 76° C. to 88° C. temperature range
Implementation Method 2
Strontium bromide phase change material... optimal to storing heat
Data Source
AI summary
There is herein described a phase change material (PCM) for use in energy storage systems. More particularly, there is described a phase change material comprising Strontium Bromide and a Metal Halide that is optimal to storing heat in about the 76° C. to 88° C. temperature range.