# US 11,909,023 B1 · Modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,909,023 B1 - Document ID: US11909023B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 18/271,628 - Filed: 2023-03-27 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2023-03-27 - Assignees: Phasestor LLC - Applicants: Phasestor LLC - Inventors: Alfred Scott Queen; Byron C. Owens - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11909023B1 ## CPC - H01M 10/659: by heat storage or buffering, e.g. heat capacity or liquid-solid phase changes or transition - F28D 20/021: {the latent heat storage material and the heat-exchanging means being enclosed in one container (F28D20/023 - F28D20/028 take precedence)} - F28D 20/028: {Control arrangements therefor} - H01M 10/443: {in response to temperature} - H01M 10/613: Cooling or keeping cold - H01M 10/6568: characterised by flow circuits, e.g. loops, located externally to the cells or cell casings - H01M 10/657: by electric or electromagnetic means - H01M 50/258: Modular batteries; Casings provided with means for assembling - F28D 2020/0082: {Multiple tanks arrangements, e.g. adjacent tanks, tank in tank} - Y02E 60/14: Thermal energy storage - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - 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) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A thermal battery assembly includes a modules configured to be stacked vertically on top of each other. The modules includes an electronics module; a first tank module; and a second tank module. A base defines a bottom of the stack and is configured to receive thereon the lowermost module of the stack for supporting the stack on a floor. Each tank module includes a phase change material (PCM); a heat exchanger assembly with heat exchangers immersed in the phase change material, a first set thereof defining a PCM charging circuit, and a second set defining a PCM discharging circuit; a first exterior connection port configured for fluid communication with an inflow of the PCM discharging circuit and a second exterior connection port configured for fluid communication with an outflow of the PCM discharging circuit. Heating or cooling capacity can be increased by adding another tank module to the stack. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modular, stackable thermal battery assembly, comprising: (a) a plurality of modules configured to be vertically stacked on top of each other, the plurality of modules comprising at least an electronics module and a tank module; and (b) a base defining a bottom of the stack configured to receive thereon the lowermost module of the stack for supporting the stack on a floor; (c) wherein the tank module comprises, (i) a phase change material (PCM), (ii) a heat exchanger assembly comprising a plurality of heat exchangers immersed within the phase change material, a first set of the heat exchangers defining a PCM charging circuit for charging the phase change material, and a second set of the heat exchangers defining a PCM discharging circuit for discharging the phase change material, and (iii) exterior connection ports comprising a first exterior connection port configured for fluid communication with an inflow of the PCM discharging circuit and a second exterior connection port configured for fluid communication with an outflow of the PCM discharging circuit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 1, wherein the tank module further comprises exterior connection ports comprising a first exterior connection port configured for fluid communication with an inflow of the PCM charging circuit, and a second exterior connection port configured for fluid communication with an outflow of the PCM charging circuit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 1, wherein the electronics module comprises an onboard charging system and wherein the PCM charging circuit is connected to the charging system for charging of the PCM. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 3, wherein the tank module defines a chase and the assembly comprises plumbing that connects the PCM charging circuit in fluid communication with the onboard charging system in a closed fluid loop, the PCM charging circuit being apparatus-enclosed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 3, wherein the onboard charging system comprises a heat pump. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 3, wherein the onboard charging system comprises an in-line electric heater located within fluid flow and a recirculation pump. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 3, wherein the onboard charging system comprises a heat pump, an in-line electric heater located within fluid flow, and a recirculation pump. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 1, wherein when stacked the plurality of modules collectively define a continuous exterior surface with seams defined therebetween. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 1, wherein the exterior connection ports are located on and extend from a back of the tank module. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 1, wherein the PCM charging circuit comprises a fluid flow arrangement of the heat exchangers that is in parallel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 1, wherein the PCM discharging circuit comprises a fluid flow arrangement that is in series. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 1, wherein a lid is configured to be received on the uppermost module of the stack in covering relation to a top opening of the uppermost module. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 12, wherein the electronics module defines a top of the stack and is configured to receive the lid thereon, the lid enclosing and protecting electronics that are contained within the electronics module. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 1, wherein sensors are contained within the tank module for determining local temperatures of the phase change material therein, from which a measure of charge of the PCM may be determined, and wherein the tank module comprises a visual display that indicates the measure of charge. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 14, wherein the measure of charge is determined by electronic components contained in the electronics module. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 1, wherein sensors are contained within the tank module for determining local temperatures of the phase change material therein, and wherein the electronics module comprises a visual display that indicates a temperature associated with the tank module. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 1, wherein the stack further comprises an additional tank module. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 17, wherein the additional tank module is the lowermost module of the stack and that is received by and supported on top of the base. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 17, wherein the additional tank module comprises, (i) a phase change material (PCM), and (ii) a heat exchanger assembly comprising a plurality of heat exchangers immersed within the phase change material, a first set of the heat exchangers defining a PCM charging circuit for charging the phase change material, and a second set of the heat exchangers defining a PCM discharging circuit for discharging the phase change material. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 19, wherein the assembly comprises plumbing that interconnects in fluid communication one or more PCM circuits of the tank module with one or more PCM circuits of the additional tank module. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 20, wherein the assembly comprises valves for controlling the interconnection. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 21, wherein the assembly further comprises caps for controlling fluid flow from and to the PCM circuits of the two tank modules. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 19, wherein the assembly comprises plumbing that interconnects in fluid communication one or more PCM circuits of each of the two tank modules to components of the electronics module. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 23, wherein the assembly comprises valves for controlling the interconnection. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 24, wherein the assembly further comprises caps for controlling fluid flow from and to the PCM circuits of the two tank modules. ### Claim 26 (depends on 19) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 19, wherein the additional tank module further comprises exterior connection ports comprising a first exterior connection port configured for fluid communication with an inflow of the PCM discharging circuit of the additional tank module, and a second exterior connection port configured for fluid communication with an outflow of the PCM discharging circuit of the additional tank module. ### Claim 27 (depends on 19) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 19, wherein the additional tank module further comprises exterior connection ports comprising a first exterior connection port configured for fluid communication with an inflow of the PCM charging circuit of the additional tank module, and a second exterior connection port configured for fluid communication with an outflow of the PCM charging circuit of the additional tank module. ### Claim 28 (depends on 19) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 19, wherein the electronics module comprises an onboard charging system and wherein the PCM charging circuit of the additional tank module is connected to the onboard charging system for charging of the PCM of the additional tank module. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 28, wherein the additional tank module defines a chase and the assembly comprises plumbing that connects the PCM charging circuit of the additional tank module in fluid communication with the onboard charging system in a closed fluid loop, the PCM charging circuit of the additional tank module being apparatus-enclosed. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 28, wherein the onboard charging system comprises a heat pump. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 28, wherein the onboard charging system comprises an in-line electric heater located within fluid flow and a recirculation pump. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 28, wherein the onboard charging system comprises a heat pump, an in-line electric heater located within fluid flow, and a recirculation pump. ### Claim 33 (depends on 19) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 19, wherein the PCM charging circuit of the tank module and the PCM charging circuit of the additional tank module both are connected to the same charging system. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 33, wherein the PCM charging circuits are connected to the same charging system internally in parallel. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 33, wherein the PCM charging circuits are connected to the same charging system externally in parallel. ### Claim 36 (depends on 33) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 33, wherein the PCM charging circuits are connected to the same charging system internally in series. ### Claim 37 (depends on 33) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 33, wherein the PCM charging circuits are connected to the same charging system externally in parallel. ### Claim 38 (depends on 19) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 19, wherein the PCM discharging circuit of the tank module and the PCM discharging circuit of the additional tank module both are connected to the same discharging application. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 38, wherein the PCM discharging circuits are connected to the same discharging application internally in parallel. ### Claim 40 (depends on 38) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 38, wherein the PCM discharging circuits are connected to the same discharging application externally in parallel. ### Claim 41 (depends on 38) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 38, wherein the PCM discharging circuits are connected to the same discharging application internally in series. ### Claim 42 (depends on 38) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 38, wherein the PCM discharging circuits are connected to the same discharging application externally in parallel. ### Claim 43 (depends on 19) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 19, wherein the PCM discharging circuit of the tank module and the PCM discharging circuit of the additional tank module both are connected to different discharging applications. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 43, wherein the PCM discharging circuit of the tank module is connected to a heating application and the PCM discharging circuit of the additional tank module is connected to a different heating application. ### Claim 45 (depends on 43) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 43, wherein the PCM discharging circuit of the tank module is connected to a heating application and the PCM discharging circuit of the additional tank module is connected to a cooling application. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 45, wherein the PMC charging circuit of the tank module is apparatus-enclosed, and the PCM charging circuit of the additional tank module is apparatus-enclosed. ### Claim 47 (depends on 46) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 46, wherein the two PMC charging circuits are connected by an onboard heat pump. ### Claim 48 (depends on 47) The modular, stackable PCM-based thermal battery assembly of claim 47, wherein one of the two PMC charging circuits comprises an onboard electric heater and circulation pump that are located within the electronics module.