Temperature control device, in particular for laboratory cabinets, air cabinets, refrigerators or environmental simulation cabinets
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing temperature control devices for laboratory and environmental simulation cabinets require continuous circulation of the entire storage fluid, leading to inefficient temperature control and increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A temperature control device with a cooling circuit that includes a cold source, a consumer heat exchanger, and a circulating pump, featuring a first and second three-way node connected to a bypass line, allowing for partial circuit formation and reduced coolant circulation to compensate only for energy differences at the consumer heat exchanger.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the entire storage fluid is continuously circulated in the storage circuit, then the temperature can be maintained constant, but the energy consumption increases and the temperature control becomes less effective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the storage circuit into two separate circuits: a storage circuit containing the buffer storage tank and a cooling/heating circuit. This segmentation allows the storage fluid in the buffer tank to remain stationary while only a portion of the fluid is circulated through the cooling/heating circuit for temperature regulation, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining temperature control effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of circulating the entire storage fluid, the patent implements partial circulation where only a portion of the cooling/heating circuit fluid is circulated through the buffer storage tank. The three-way valve enables selective circulation of partial fluid volume, compensating for energy differences without requiring full system circulation, thus reducing energy consumption while achieving the desired temperature control.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the entire storage fluid is continuously circulated, then energy can be evenly distributed, but the device complexity and pump requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the system into a storage circuit with the buffer tank and a cooling/heating circuit. The three-way valve creates two separate flow paths: one through the buffer tank and one bypassing it. This segmentation simplifies the overall system architecture by clearly defining functional zones while maintaining stable energy distribution through the buffer tank's thermal mass.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer storage tank acts as an intermediary energy storage device between the cooling/heating circuit and the consumer. It absorbs and releases energy as needed, stabilizing energy distribution without requiring continuous circulation of the entire fluid volume. The three-way valve serves as an intermediary control element that directs flow appropriately to maintain stable energy distribution.
3Use of energy by moving object
If a buffer storage tank is introduced to reduce circulation, then energy consumption decreases, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the buffer storage tank into the existing cooling/heating circuit in such a way that it becomes an integrated part of the system rather than a separate add-on. The three-way valve is incorporated into the circuit configuration to enable seamless switching between different flow paths. This merging approach minimizes additional complexity while achieving reduced circulation energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer storage tank serves multiple functions: it acts as an energy storage device, a flow regulator, and a temperature stabilizer. The three-way valve provides multi-functionality by enabling both direct flow through the buffer tank and bypass flow depending on system requirements. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
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 solution enables more effective temperature control by circulating only the necessary amount of coolant, maintaining it at the desired temperature, and reducing energy consumption while allowing for wider temperature range control.
Implementation Method 1
a consumer heat exchanger (24) in the return (22b) of the cold source (22)
Implementation Method 2
a first three-way node (41) is arranged between the return (22b) of the cold source (22) and the flow (24a) of the consumer heat exchanger (24) and a second three-way node (42) is arranged between the return (24b) of the consumer heat exchanger (24) and the flow (22a) of the cold source (22)
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2a
AI summary
The invention relates to a temperature control device (10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4, 10-5, 10-6, 10-7, 10-8) with a cooling circuit (20) with a coolant, wherein the cooling circuit (20) has a cold source (22), a consumer heat exchanger (24) in the return line (22b) of the cold source (22) and a circulation pump (26), wherein a first three-way node (41) is arranged between the return line (22b) of the cold source (22) and the flow line (24a) of the consumer heat exchanger (24) and a second three-way node (42) is arranged between the return line (24b) of the consumer heat exchanger (24) and the flow line (22a) of the cold source (22),wherein the first three-way node (41) and the second three-way node (42) are connected to a bypass line (45), and the circulation pump (26) is arranged either between the first three-way node (41) and the flow line (24a) of the consumer heat exchanger (24) or between the return line (24b) of the consumer heat exchanger (24) and the second three-way node (42), as well as a laboratory cabinet, climate cabinet, refrigeration cabinet, or environmental simulation cabinet (100) with a sample chamber (110) and such a temperature control device (10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4, 10-5, 10-6, 10-7, 10-8).