Internally heated phase change material heat batteries
AssigneeSunamp Limited
InventorsAndrew Bissell, Santokh Gataora, Jonathan Nicholson, Kieran Doak
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is herein defined phase change material (PCM) battery designs which are heated. More particularly, there is described integrally and/or internally located heating devices (e.g. electrical heating devices) in a range of heat batteries containing PCM. In particular, there is described a PCM heat battery comprising: a PCM enclosure capable of holding PCM; PCM located in the enclosure; an electronic control system for the PCM heat battery; a heating device located in the PCM heat battery; wherein the heating device is capable of heating and/or charging the PCM.
Claims20
A phase change material (PCM) heat battery comprising:
- a PCM enclosure capable of holding a PCM;
- the PCM located in the PCM enclosure;
- an electronic control system for controlling the PCM heat battery;
- at least one heating device located in the PCM heat battery;
- wherein the at least one heating device is capable of heating the PCM;
- a plurality of sensors located in different vertical locations of the PCM heat battery;
- wherein the plurality of sensors are capable of monitoring a physical characteristic or temperature of the PCM and other parts of the PCM heat battery;
- wherein the at least one heating device is located within the PCM enclosure and therefore in direct contact and immersed in the PCM;
- wherein at least one thermal conductor is vertically inserted into a heat battery case and is immersed or partially immersed into the PCM;
- wherein the at least one thermal conductor is located vertically in a heat exchanger and extends into the PCM;
- and
- wherein the electronic control system controls the physical characteristic or temperature of the PCM by applying heat directly to the PCM through the at least one heating device.
A method of applying thermal energy to a phase change material (PCM) heat battery comprising:
- providing a PCM enclosure capable of holding a PCM;
- providing the PCM located in the enclosure;
- providing an electronics control system for controlling the PCM heat battery;
- providing at least one heating device located in the PCM enclosure and immersed in the PCM;
- wherein the at least one heating device is capable of heating or charging the PCM;
- providing a plurality of sensors located in different vertical locations of the PCM heat battery capable of monitoring a physical characteristic or temperature of the PCM and other parts of the PCM heat battery;
- wherein the at least one heating device is located within the PCM enclosure and therefore in direct contact and immersed in the PCM;
- wherein at least one thermal conductor is vertically inserted into a heat battery case and which is immersed or partially immersed into the PCM;
- wherein the at least one thermal conductor is located vertically in a heat exchanger and extends into the PCM;
- and
- wherein the electronic control system controls the physical characteristic or temperature of the PCM by applying heat through the at least one heating device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.