Zeotropic Refrigerant Blend Phase Control to Prevent Demixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Zeotropic refrigerant blends experience composition changes during removal from containers due to demixing, leading to inconsistencies in their composition, which complicates storage and handling, and existing solutions require additional components to restore the desired blend.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that control temperature and pressure within a container to maintain the refrigerant exclusively in either the gas or liquid phase, preventing demixing and ensuring a precise blend composition by forming the refrigerant blend within the container using a control device with temperature and pressure control means.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If zeotropic refrigerant blend is stored in container, then refrigerant can be stored and removed, but composition changes occur due to demixing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling temperature and pressure conditions within the container to maintain the refrigerant blend in a stable state. By adjusting these parameters, the system prevents demixing and composition changes during storage and removal operations, ensuring the blend remains homogeneous throughout the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-mixing the refrigerant components in the container before storage. The mixing device ensures that components are thoroughly combined and distributed uniformly throughout the container, creating a stable initial state that resists demixing during subsequent storage and removal operations.
2Stability of the object's composition
If additional components are added to restore blend composition, then desired composition can be achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by designing a system where the refrigerant blend maintains its own composition stability through controlled temperature and pressure conditions. The pre-mixed blend in the container serves itself by resisting demixing without requiring external intervention or additional components to restore composition, thereby simplifying the overall system.
3Productivity
If refrigerant is removed from liquid or gas phase, then refrigerant can be dispensed, but composition changes occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the temperature and pressure during refrigerant removal to prevent phase changes that would cause demixing. By maintaining parameters within a stable range, the system enables efficient refrigerant removal while preserving blend composition consistency throughout the dispensing process.
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 allows for precise control of the refrigerant blend composition during removal, eliminating the need for additional components and ensuring a stable state, thereby enhancing storage and handling efficiency while maintaining a low environmental impact and safety by avoiding combustibility.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature and/or a pressure in the container is set by means of a control device (21) such that the refrigerant is present exclusively in the gas phase or exclusively in the liquid phase
Implementation Method 2
The temperature control means (33) comprises a temperature sensor (34) for measuring a container inner temperature or the temperature of a refrigerant situated in the interior (35) of the container and a temperature adjustment unit (36) arranged in the interior (35)
Implementation Method 3
The pressure control means (31) comprises a pressure sensor (23) for measuring a container inner pressure of the container (11) and a pressure adjustment unit (24) for adjusting the container inner pressure
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a method and a device for providing zeotropic refrigerants in which the refrigerant is formed from a refrigerant blend of at least two components, the components being added to a container in the ratio of their respective mass fractions to the refrigerant, and the refrigerant blend being formed in the container, wherein the temperature and/or the pressure in the container is set by means of a control device such that the refrigerant is present exclusively in the gas phase or exclusively in the liquid phase.