# US 12,215,928 B2 · Thermal energy storage and power generation system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,215,928 B2 - Document ID: US12215928B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/067,474 - Filed: 2022-12-16 - Published: 2023-08-24 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2021-12-20 - Assignees: GYFT Labs Inc. - Applicants: GYFT Labs - Inventors: Eric Joseph Linwood; Kyle Allen Hanson; Cody William Dunlop - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12215928B2 ## CPC - F28D 20/00: Heat storage plants or apparatus in general; Regenerative heat-exchange apparatus not covered by groups F28D17/00 or F28D19/00 - F28D 20/0056: {using solid heat storage material (F28D20/0052 takes precedence)} - F28D 2020/0013: {the heat storage material being enclosed in elements attached to or integral with heat exchange conduits} - F28D 2020/0065: {Details, e.g. particular heat storage tanks, auxiliary members within tanks} - F28D 2020/0078: {Heat exchanger arrangements} - F28F 2215/00: Fins - Y02E 60/14: Thermal energy storage - 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) - F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A thermal energy storage and power generation system includes a thermal energy storage device including a container, a heating element in the container, a pair of fins in the container and arranged on opposite sides of the heating element, a thermal storage material in the container, and a tube in the container and extending around the thermal storage material. The system also includes a generator in communication with the thermal energy storage device for converting thermal energy into electrical energy as well as subsystems for regulating and controlling the system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system, comprising: a thermal energy storage device, including: a container; a heating element in the container; a pair of fins in the container and arranged on opposite sides of the heating element; a thermal storage material in the container and surrounding the heating element and the pair of fins; a tube in the container and extending around a perimeter of the thermal storage material, the tube having an inlet and an outlet extending through the container; a generator in communication with the outlet and the inlet of the tube of the thermal energy storage device; a cooling system in communication with the generator; and an electrical generation and distribution system in communication with the thermal energy storage device, the generator, and the cooling system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the container of the thermal energy storage device is an inner container, the thermal energy storage device further including: an outer container; and an insulation layer between the inner container and the outer container. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the insulation layer is at least one of aerated concrete, fiberglass, and a vacuum layer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the outer container and the inner container are metal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the heating element of the thermal energy storage device includes a plurality of contacts electrically connected to the heating element and extending through the container, the system further comprising: a power source in communication with the plurality of contacts. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the power source is one or more of an electrical grid and a renewable energy source. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the tube is copper that is coiled around the perimeter of the thermal storage material from a bottom to a top of the container. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the thermal storage material includes an iron oxide mineral. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the generator includes one or more of a turbine, a bladeless turbine, and a thermoelectric generator array. ### Claim 10 A system, comprising: a thermal energy storage device, including: an outer container; an inner container; and an insulation layer between the outer container and the inner container, the inner container including: a heating element having electrical contacts extending through the inner container and the outer container; at least one fin interfacing with the heating element; a thermal storage material surrounding the heating element and the at least one fin; and a tube coiled around a perimeter of the thermal storage material from a bottom to a top of the inner container, the tube having an inlet and an outlet extending through the inner container and the outer container. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, further comprising: a generator in communication with the outlet and the inlet of the tube of the thermal energy storage device; a cooling system in communication with the generator; and an electrical generation and distribution system in communication with the thermal energy storage device, the generator, and the cooling system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the thermal energy storage device and the generator are in communication in a hot loop. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12 wherein the hot loop is a closed hot loop including a condensing reservoir and a recirculation pump for returning thermal transfer media from the generator to the thermal energy storage device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12 wherein the hot loop is an open hot loop including a thermal exchange assembly, a settling tank, and a purified water tank. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the tube of the thermal energy storage device is copper. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the outer container and the inner container are the same material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the insulation layer is at least one of aerated concrete, fiberglass, and a vacuum layer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, further comprising: a thermally insulating lid on the outer container and the inner container. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the thermally insulating lid includes aerated concrete. ### Claim 20 A system, comprising: a thermal energy storage device, including: a container; a heating element in the container; a pair of fins in the container and arranged on opposite sides of the heating element; a thermal storage material in the container and surrounding the heating element and the pair of fins; a tube in the container and extending around a perimeter of the thermal storage material, the tube having an inlet and an outlet extending through the container; a generator in communication with the outlet and the inlet of the tube of the thermal energy storage device in a hot loop; and an electrical generation and distribution system in communication with the thermal energy storage device and the generator. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20 wherein the hot loop is a closed hot loop including a condensing reservoir and a recirculation pump for returning thermal transfer media from the generator to the thermal energy storage device. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20 wherein the hot loop is an open hot loop including a thermal exchange assembly, a settling tank, and a purified water tank.