# US 11,079,184 B2 · Methods, systems, and devices for thermal enhancement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,079,184 B2 - Document ID: US11079184B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/855,048 - Filed: 2017-12-27 - Published: 2018-09-06 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2012-02-07 - Assignees: Rebound Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Rebound Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Russell Goldfarbmuren - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11079184B2 ## CPC - F28D 20/02: using latent heat - F01D 15/10: Adaptations for driving, or combinations with, electric generators - F01K 3/00: Plants characterised by the use of steam or heat accumulators, or intermediate steam heaters, therein (regenerating exhaust steam F01K19/00) - F01K 11/02: the engines being turbines - F01K 25/10: the vapours being cold, e.g. ammonia, carbon dioxide, ether - F01K 25/106: {Ammonia (F01K25/065 takes precedence)} - F03G 6/001: {having photovoltaic cells} - F24S 90/00: Solar heat systems not otherwise provided for - F28D 19/00: Regenerative heat-exchange apparatus in which the intermediate heat-transfer medium or body is moved successively into contact with each heat-exchange medium {(F28D15/02 takes precedence)} - H01M 8/04029: Heat exchange using liquids - H02S 40/38: Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules - F05D 2220/31: in steam turbines - Y02E 10/46: Conversion of thermal power into mechanical power, e.g. Rankine, Stirling or solar thermal engines - Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy - Y02E 60/14: Thermal energy storage - Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells - Y02E 70/30: Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin - F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general) - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - F01K: STEAM ENGINE PLANTS; STEAM ACCUMULATORS; ENGINE PLANTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ENGINES USING SPECIAL WORKING FLUIDS OR CYCLES (gas-turbine or jet-propulsion plants F02; nuclear power plants, engine arrangements therein G21D) - F03G: SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (arrangements in connection with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60K16/00; electric propulsion with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60L8/00) - F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00) - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00) - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract Methods, systems, and devices are provided for thermal enhancement. Thermal enhancement may include absorbing heat from one or more devices. In some cases, this may improve the efficiency of the one or more devices. In general, a phase transition may be induced in a storage material. The storage material may be combined with a freeze point suppressant in order to reduce its melt point. The mixture may be used to boost the performance of device, such as an electrical generator, a heat engine, a refrigerator, and/or a freezer. The freeze point suppressant and storage material may be separated. By delaying the periods between each stage by prescribed amounts, the methods, systems, and devices may be able to shift the availability of electricity to the user and/or otherwise boost a device at different times in some cases. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: forming ice with an ice harvester; combining the ice with a freeze point suppressant in a first tank; forming a first liquid in the first tank through melting the ice from combining the ice with the freeze point suppressant, wherein the first liquid includes the freeze point suppressant; removing heat from one or more devices utilizing the first liquid passing through a thermal couple, wherein the first liquid includes the freeze point suppressant and the first liquid formed through the combining of the ice with the freeze point suppressant to melt the ice; passing the first liquid through a regenerative heat exchanger after removing the heat from the one or more devices; separating at least a portion of the freeze point suppressant and a portion of melted ice from the first liquid utilizing a separator; and conveying the portion of the melted ice back to the ice harvester. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein removing the heat from the one or more devices utilizes one or more heat exchangers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein separating at least the portion of the freeze point suppressant from the first liquid utilizes a pressure driven separation process. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein separating at least the portion of the freeze point suppressant from the first liquid utilizes a thermal driven separation process. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein separating at least the portion of the freeze point suppressant from the first liquid utilizes vapor compression distillation process. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein separating at least the portion of the freeze point suppressant from the first liquid utilizes a membrane. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the membrane includes a reverse osmosis membrane. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the membrane includes a nano-filtration membrane. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein separating at least the portion of the freeze point suppressant from the first liquid utilizes a distillation process. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more devices include a vapor compression cycle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first liquid includes water. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first liquid includes an organic material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the freeze point suppressant includes an ionic material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the freeze point suppressant includes a salt. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the freeze point suppressant includes an organic material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more devices include at least a refrigeration device or a freezer device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more devices include an electrical generator. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more devices include a heat engine.