Supercooled Liquid Cooling Circuit Without a Separate Expansion Tank
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling circuits for consumers, particularly high-temperature superconductors, face challenges in pressure equalization and coolant consumption when using supercooled liquids, as they require complex and costly solutions like separate expansion tanks or gas membranes to manage pressure fluctuations and maintain low temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A cooling circuit design that incorporates a subcooler with a pressure-resistant container for the cooling bath, connected to a storage tank via an expansion valve, allowing pressure equalization through the gas phase in the storage tank, eliminating the need for a separate expansion tank and reducing coolant consumption by using the storage tank for pressure compensation and temperature control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate expansion tank is integrated into the cooling circuit for pressure equalization, then pressure fluctuations can be compensated, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The storage tank for cooling liquid is merged with the expansion tank function. The same tank that stores cooling liquid also serves as the expansion tank for pressure equalization, eliminating the need for a separate expansion tank and reducing device complexity while maintaining pressure compensation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The storage tank is designed to perform multiple functions: storing cooling liquid, providing pressure equalization through its gas phase, and acting as an expansion tank for volume fluctuations. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components and reduces overall system complexity
2Reliability
If a lower-boiling gas like helium is used as pressure-equalizing gas in the expansion tank, then pressure equalization can be achieved, but construction and maintenance effort increase greatly
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling liquid in the storage tank serves as both the cooling medium and the pressure-equalizing medium. The gas phase above the cooling liquid in the storage tank provides pressure equalization without requiring a separate lower-boiling gas, simplifying construction and maintenance while achieving the same pressure compensation function
3Reliability
If a separating membrane is provided between gas phase and liquid phase in the expansion tank, then pressure equalization can be maintained, but device complexity and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The storage tank design merges the cooling liquid storage and expansion tank functions, allowing the gas phase above the cooling liquid to provide pressure equalization without requiring a separating membrane. This eliminates the membrane component and its associated maintenance requirements while maintaining pressure compensation
4Reliability
If electric cooling units are used to supercool the liquid coolant in the storage tank, then partial evaporation is prevented, but power requirements and operating costs become very high
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the cold energy already present in the cooling liquid and the evaporative cooling effect to maintain supercooling. The cooling liquid evaporates slightly in the storage tank, and this evaporation absorbs heat, naturally maintaining the supercooled state without requiring additional electric cooling power
Solution Approach 2:
The system exploits the phase transition of the cooling liquid from liquid to gas in the storage tank. This evaporation process absorbs heat and naturally maintains the supercooled state of the cooling liquid, eliminating the need for high-power electric cooling units
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 design effectively maintains the cooling liquid in a supercooled state, minimizing heat input and energy losses, while allowing for efficient pressure equalization and temperature control, thus optimizing the cooling process for high-temperature superconductors without the need for additional complex components.
Implementation Method 1
Depending on the boiling condition, even the slightest amount of heat radiation or frictional heat can lead to partial evaporation
Implementation Method 2
In the context of the present invention, 'supercooling' is understood as meaning the cooling of a liquid to a temperature below its boiling point at the respective pressure
Implementation Method 3
a heat exchanger which, when the device is used as intended, is immersed in the cooling bath and is integrated into the cooling circuit
Data Source
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AI summary
According to the prior art, a super-cooled liquid medium, for example a super-cooled liquid nitrogen, is pumped through a sub-cooler and is thereby cooled by the same medium that evaporates in the vacuum. This super-cooled nitrogen is then used as a coolant for a consumer. If only a small amount of heat is emiited by the consumer to the nitrogen, the liquid medium can be guided in the circuit, in which the sub-cooler is arranged. For compensating volume fluctuations, such a circuit requires a compensation vessel which, however, is very expensive and can furthermore only be operated in the presence of a super-cooled medium when either a part of the medium is heated using external energy, or an inert gas which boils at very low temperatures has to be used as a pressure compensation medium. According to the invention, it is proposed that the supply container for the liquid medium is integrated into the cooling circuit and is used as a compensation vessel. As a result, the use of a separate compensation vessel can be dispensed with.