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US 2013/0340432 A1Published application
Liquid metal thermal storage system and method
AssigneeThermaphase Energy Inc.
InventorsArlon J. Hunt, K. Russell Carrington
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods for storing thermal energy from working fluid heated by a high-temperature heat source and retrieving the thermal energy. The heated working fluid is in thermal communication with heat exchanger elements that can efficiently store thermal energy by, for example, phase change in one or more metal alloys.
Claims12
A system for storing and retrieving thermal energy from a fluid heated by a high temperature source comprising:
- a chamber containing heat exchanger elements, wherein the heated fluid is passed through the chamber containing the heat exchanger elements, which heat exchanger elements are in thermal communication with one or more metal alloys that melt at a specific temperature between about 577° C. and 1414° C. to store thermal energy;
- and
- wherein a fluid to be heated is passed through said chamber where the one or more metal alloys give up the thermal energy stored.
A system for storing and retrieving thermal energy from a fluid heated by a high temperature source comprising:
- a first chamber containing one or more metal alloys that melt at a specific temperature between about 577° C. and 1414° C. to store thermal energy;
- a second chamber that is adapted to accept a fluid that is heated by the high temperature source, said second chamber in thermal communication with the first chamber;
- and
- a third chamber this is adapted to accept a fluid that is to be heated by the first chamber, said third chamber in thermal communication with the first chamber.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.