Thermal energy storage apparatus, arrangement and method

A thermal energy storage apparatus adapted to receive heat source input for the development and substantially continuous supply of thermal energy to a Stirling engine for the transfer of said thermal energy to electrical and/or mechanical energy, even during periods when heat source input is intermittent or unavailable for a period of time, said apparatus including:

• a main housing block supporting internally a series of elongated canisters made of refractory material interlaced with a thermal energy absorbing material;
• said elongated refractory canisters containing elemental form of silicon material adapted to absorb thermal energy from the interlaced and surrounding thermal energy absorbing material contained within the main housing block;
• wherein the absorbing of thermal energy from the surrounding thermal energy absorption material by the elemental form of silicon material sees a physical transformation from a solid to liquid state allowing said elemental form of silicon material to latently or effectively store the thermal energy therein, such that when the surrounding or interlaced thermal energy absorbing material is at a lower temperature gradient than the temperature associated with the elemental form of silicon material, there will be a transfer of heat energy from said elongated canister back into the thermal energy absorbing material;
• said thermal energy absorption material in communication with a wicking material to which the Stirling engine is also in communication, such that thermal energy transfer from the thermal energy absorption material into the wicking material registers as a thermal energy input to the Stirling engine to commence the transfer of said thermal energy to workable mechanical and/or electrical energy through the Stirling engine;
• said elongated canister containing the elemental form of silicon material characterised in having an internally lined casing made of refractory material which combines a cylindrical body to receive the elemental form of silicon material;
• and
• wherein the thermal energy absorbing material is made up of sintered graphite.