CA2348697A1

CA2348697A1 - Method for cooling energy reserve and conservation in thermoelectric or/and compressor cooler/freezer

Info

Publication number: CA2348697A1
Application number: CA 2348697
Authority: CA
Inventors: Godwill M. Igwe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-05-23
Filing date: 2001-05-23
Publication date: 2002-11-23

Abstract

In the patent application, cooling energy panels were installed internally on all the walls, top and a bottom sides.
In this extension, instead of large energy panels, very small panels could be used that would be many to envelope the contents of the container, fridge or freezer.
Each one would have a liquid that would be frozen earlier by subtracting the latent heat of the liquid.
Hence when these numerous particles envelope a warmer objects, heat would flow from the warmer objects to these many cooling energy particles of lower temperature.

This addition will perform the same task of keeping a precooled contents cool for a long time and secondly will cool any contents not pre-cooled so long as the contents' temperature is higher than the cooling energy particles.

Description

i May 20r'', 2001 THERMOELECTRIC ORlAND COMPRESSOR COOLERIFREEZER WTTH COOLING
ENERGY RESERVE & CONSERVATION:
I) WTTH f)8 WTI"HOUT WATER CHILLER AND;

2) WITH OR WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS.
ABSTRACT & DESCRIPTION (Please, see Fig. 1 sketch) In thermoelectric cooling system, the Pettier module uses in general 12 or 6 DCV drawing current up to 8 amps or more. The COP of this system is very low .15 to .55.
Thus to use for example: a I2Vl4A module in an insulated box of L8"XL5"x15" would take over 4 hrs to cool from 25 deg C to 0 deg C in ambient of 25 deg C. This is very, very slow.
Bat this could be used in automobiles. Any load into the cooler must therefore be pre-cooled. This posses another limitation in a piece where there is no compressor cooler..
A compressor/refrigerant system using thermodynamics principles has COP over 1 in the same range of temperature mentioned above. To cool the same box using for instance a small compressor of 1/8 hp (AC'), would take Less than 30 minutes. But this can not be used in automobile of DC battery.
The above cases illustrate the need for a portable automobile, home , office and recreational units that would combine the best of the above systems: Portability and quick cooling or freezing.
And in all coolers and freezers of any type and air conditioning systems when there is no power to it, the cooler, freezer or the air-conditioned room warms up very, very quickly.
In the recreational units mentioned above and in other home and commercial units of coolers, freezers and air-conditioning systems, for any shortage of power, a disaster is created within few hours.
The present invention solves the problem by having a reservoir and conservation of energy which kicks in to keep coolers, freezers or air-conditioned ambient cool for a very long time 12, 24 or 48 hours. This allows enough time for repairs to the system.
And more so, the energy reserve and conservation could be charged when there is low demand of electricity, and short off at peak energy demand in the society to allow others use the available electric power. When off, it uses the reserve and conservation energy to maintain environment cool. In many cases, this will lead to avoidance of power shortage at peak periods in a given population.
---- Cooling Energy Reserve and Conservation The invention incorporates a cooling energy reserve and conservation system.
In a fridge and a cooler system, this is accomplished by creating an inner wall cavity panel beside all or some of the inner surfaces of the refrigeration unit. This cavity is filled with a liquid of desired latent heat of solidification. For example this liquid could be water. The cavity thickness and geometry could be of any desired dimensions.

1 l As the fridge cools down, it also cools down the liquid. This continues till the liquid turns into solid by extracting the latent heat of solidification. Thus, the unit cooling power is used in part to cool down the load in the fridge and also in part to cool and solidify the liquid in the cavity.
And more so, this liquid cavity acts as an additional insulation to the system.
When , there is no more power to the system, and when the inside temperature rises above the temperature of the liquid ( solidified or liquid) , heat will flow from the fridge into the cavity. If the cavity liquid is solidified, then the cavity temperature will remain constant for a long time till it absorbs enough latent heat to transform it back into liquid. When it becomes liquid, sensible heat of the liquid increases as more heat is absorbed from the refrigeration load thus increasing the cavity liquid temperature.
This process allows the refrigeration unit to hold the refrigeration load temperature close to the temperature of the cavity liquid latent heat of solidification when there is no more power available for refrigeration. The liquid by its phase change orland temperature drop acts as a cooling energy reserve and conservation.
Water . Chiller Combination This invention can also incorporate a water chiller system inside the fridge.
A small heater is added and insulated on one or more sides of the water chiller. As the fridge cools, the water cools also till it reaches any desired drinking temperature, the heater will turn on if the temperature drops below this set temperature. Thus, the water will remain within the desired temperature range.
This can also be made without the heater, and appropriate temperature control will maintain the required drinkinking water and fridge temperatures. The ratio of thermal capacity of the energy reserve and conservation panels, and the water chiller will determine the temperatures in the water chiller and energy conservation panels.
Air Conditioning The invention can also incorporate an air-conditioning system. This is triggered by diverting the refrigerant to another evaporator which exchanges heat with the ambient to be cooled. This is accomplished mechanically or by electric switch to redirect the refrigerant flow.
Therefore, the present invention is a combination of both thermo-electric and compressor/refrigerant systems which can incorporate one or all of these systems:
i) Cooling Energy Reserve and Conservation, as described above or modified;
2) Water Chiller, as described above or modified;

3) Air Conditioning System, as described above or modified.

4) In addition, portable coolers made of plastic materials have very poor door and body interface. This allows enormous heat flow from the warmer ambient into the cooler.
The invention also solves this problem by adding metal in the lid and magnetic gasket to the body (or vice versa). On closure this combination of ensures complete interface contact, not allowing air infiltration and reduces enormously heat penetration from the ambient.

Claims

1) Any particle of less than or equal to 3 inches diameter side that would partially or completely envelope any object to be cooled or to be maintained at a temperature a little bit above the cooling particles' temperature.

2) Any particle with none, one, more or all sides that would have a curvature for a point contact with any other surface.

3) Any particle which is spherical, or has a curved surface for point contact with any other surface.

4) Any particle with or without rough or indented surface . Indented surfaces provide very efficient heat transfer characteristics by increasing surface area and by inducing turbulence in forced air flow instead of laminar flow.

5) Any particle that would permit only point contacts with another surface.