Back to results
US 12,498,148 B2Granted
Systems and methods for heat energy management
AssigneeThermo Verse, LLC
InventorShantonio Winston Saint Birch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Described herein are devices, systems, and methods for the capturing, transferring, and managing of heat energy. Phase change materials are used for their high thermal inertia property and large energy per volume property when operated near their solid-liquid transition point. Additionally, the systems, devices, and methods utilize one or more thermoelectric modules thermally coupled to a first side of the phase change material and one or more thermoelectric modules thermally coupled to a second side of the phase change material, opposite the first side. The use of the thermoelectric modules allows heat energy to be stored in, transferred within, or harvested from, the phase change material the thermoelectric modules couple to.
Claims20
A method of managing heat energy, the method comprising:
- coupling a front-end array on a first surface of a thermal energy storage medium configured to act as a reservoir or a battery for thermal energy, wherein the front-end array comprises one or more first thermoelectric modules configured to generate heat energy from the thermal energy storage medium and transfer the heat energy to the thermal energy storage medium, wherein the first surface defines an interior surface;
- coupling a back-end array on a second surface, opposite the first surface, of the thermal energy storage medium, wherein the back-end array comprises one or more second thermoelectric modules configured to generate heat energy from the thermal energy storage medium and transfer heat energy to the thermal energy storage medium, wherein the second surface defines an exterior surface;
- causing heat energy generated from one portion of the thermal energy storage medium to be transferred to another portion of the thermal energy storage medium or surrounding environment, when a setpoint temperature of the thermal energy storage medium is near or at a phase transition temperature, and the phase transition temperature of the thermal energy storage medium is within a predefined temperature range of the setpoint temperature;
- and
- modulating a temperature of at least a portion of the thermal energy storage medium using the front-end array, or the back-end array, or both.
2 more elements
A method of managing heat energy, the method comprising:
- coupling a front-end array on a first surface of a thermal energy storage medium configured to act as a reservoir or a battery for thermal energy, wherein the front-end array comprises one or more first thermoelectric modules configured to generate heat energy from the thermal energy storage medium and transfer the heat energy to the thermal energy storage medium, wherein the first surface defines an interior surface;
- coupling a back-end array on a second surface, opposite the first surface, of the thermal energy storage medium, wherein the back-end array comprises one or more second thermoelectric modules configured to generate heat energy from the thermal energy storage medium and transfer heat energy to the thermal energy storage medium, wherein the second surface defines an exterior surface;
- causing heat energy generated from one portion of the thermal energy storage medium to be transferred to another portion of the thermal energy storage medium or surrounding environment, wherein the thermal energy storage medium includes a phase change material, and the transfer is actuated when a setpoint temperature of the thermal energy storage medium is near or at a phase transition temperature, and the phase transition temperature of the phase change material is within a predefined temperature range of the setpoint temperature;
- and
- modulating a temperature of at least a portion of the thermal energy storage medium using the front-end array, or the back-end array, or both.
2 more elements
A method of managing heat energy, the method comprising:
- coupling a front-end array on a first surface of a thermal energy storage medium configured to act as a reservoir or a battery for thermal energy, wherein the front-end array comprises one or more first thermoelectric modules configured to generate heat energy from the thermal energy storage medium and transfer the heat energy to the thermal energy storage medium, wherein the first surface defines an interior surface of at least one wall;
- coupling a back-end array on a second surface, opposite the first surface, of the thermal energy storage medium, wherein the back-end array comprises one or more second thermoelectric modules configured to generate heat energy from the thermal energy storage medium and transfer heat energy to the thermal energy storage medium, wherein the second surface defines an exterior surface of the at least one wall;
- causing heat energy generated from one portion of the thermal energy storage medium to be transferred to another portion of the thermal energy storage medium, wherein the thermal energy storage medium includes a phase change material;
- and
- modulating a temperature of at least a portion of the thermal energy storage medium to thermally regulate both sides of the at least one wall of an enclosure using the front-end array, or the back-end array, or both.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.