# US 2014/0196868 A1 · Devices for Modulation of Temperature and Light Based on Phase Change Materials > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196868 A1 - Document ID: US20140196868A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/155,034 - Filed: 2014-01-14 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-14 - Assignees: Carnegie Mellon University, Center for Technology Transfer and Enterprise Creation - Applicants: CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY, Center for Technology Transfer and Enterprise Creation - Inventors: Dale Timothy Clifford; Shi-Chune Yao - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196868A1 ## CPC - E06B 9/24: Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; {Slat blinds}(operating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00) - F21S 11/007: {characterised by the means for transmitting light into the interior of a building} - F28D 20/02: using latent heat - F28D 20/026: {with different heat storage materials not coming into direct contact} - F28F 13/00: Arrangements for modifying heat-transfer, e.g. increasing, decreasing (F28F1/00 - F28F11/00 take precedence) - F28F 13/06: by affecting the pattern of flow of the heat-exchange media {(F28F13/003 takes precedence; static flow control means in header boxes F28F9/026)} - E06B 2009/2417: {Light path control; means to control reflection} - F28F 2200/00: Prediction; Simulation; Testing - Y02E 60/14: Thermal energy storage - E06B: FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES (shades or blinds for greenhouses A01G9/22; curtains A47H; lids for car boots or bonnets B62D25/10; skylights E04B7/18; sunshades, awnings E04F10/00) - F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS - 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 This invention describes devices that incorporate phase change materials in containment vessels that promote conduction of thermal energy between the phase change materials within the containment vessels and the surrounding air. In some embodiments, the containment vessels are transparent to enable visual awareness of the operation and functionality of the PCMs. In some embodiments, the containment vessels are design to passively promote air flow across the surfaces of the containment vessels. In some embodiments, the containment vessels include embedded structures to promote the conduction of thermal energy to and from the interior of the containment vessel. In some of these embodiments, the intent is to target the location of crystal ‘seeds’ and control crystal growth, thus gaining greater control over thermal transfer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for modulation of temperature and illumination of an interior space comprising: a hollow containment vessel; phase change material disposed within the hollow containment vessel; and conductive material dispose within the phase change material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the hollow containment vessel is transparent to permit light emission from the phase change material to exit the hollow containment vessel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein a material of the hollow containment vessel is selected from a group consisting of polypropylene, polycarbonates, acrylics, and glass. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the hollow containment vessel is a three-dimensional network. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the hollow containment vessel is a honeycomb configuration. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein a form of the conductive material is selected from a group consisting of a single wire strand, a mesh of a plurality of wire strands, a plurality of interwoven wire strands, and a plurality of non-interwoven wire strands. ### Claim 7 A louver device for modulation of temperature and illumination of an interior space comprising: a plurality of hollow louvers interconnected therewith; phase change material disposed within each louver of the plurality of hollow louvers; and conductive material dispose within the phase change material. ### Claim 8 A device for modulation of temperature and illumination of an interior space comprising: an outer hollow vessel having two opened ends; one or more phase change material filled containment vessels; a fan positioned adjacent one opened end of the two opened ends of the outer hollow vessel to flow air over the one or more phase change material filled containment vessels; and conductive material dispose within the one or more phase change material filled containment vessels. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device according to claim 8, wherein the outer hollow vessel is a venturi tube. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The device according to claim 8, wherein the one or more phase change material filled containment vessels is a honeycomb configuration. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the hollow containment vessel comprises an internal depth sized to permit light to pass through the phase change material upon the absorption of a target amount of thermal energy by the phase change material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The device according to claim 7, wherein the each louver of the plurality of hollow louvers comprises an internal depth sized to permit light to pass through the phase change material upon the absorption of a target amount of thermal energy by the phase change material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The device according to claim 8, wherein each of the one or more phase change material filled containment vessels comprises an internal depth sized to permit light to pass through the phase change material upon the absorption of a target amount of thermal energy by the phase change material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the hollow containment vessel comprises one or more crystal growth seed initiation sites to display controlled visual performance of phase change material shifting from liquid to solid phase. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) The device according to claim 7, wherein the each louver of the plurality of hollow louvers comprises one or more crystal growth seed initiation sites to display controlled visual performance of phase change material shifting from liquid to solid phase. ### Claim 16 (depends on 8) The device according to claim 8, wherein each of the one or more phase change material filled containment vessels comprises one or more crystal growth seed initiation sites to display controlled visual performance of phase change material shifting from liquid to solid phase. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The device according to claim 14, wherein the one or more crystal growth seed initiation sites is an increased surface area of an exterior wall of the hollow containment vessel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The device according to claim 15, wherein the one or more crystal growth seed initiation sites is an increased surface area of an exterior wall of the each louver of the plurality of hollow louvers. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The device according to claim 16, wherein the one or more crystal growth seed initiation sites is an increased surface area of an exterior wall of the each of the one or more phase change material filled containment vessels. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The device according to claim 14, wherein the one or more crystal growth seed initiation sites are one or more thermal bridges attached to an interior wall of the hollow containment vessel. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The device according to claim 15, wherein the one or more crystal growth seed initiation sites are one or more thermal bridges attached to an interior wall of the each louver of the plurality of hollow louvers. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The device according to claim 16, wherein the one or more crystal growth seed initiation sites the each of the one or more phase change material filled containment vessels. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The device according to claim 17, wherein the exterior wall comprises discontinuities. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The device according to claim 18, wherein the exterior wall comprises discontinuities. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The device according to claim 19, wherein the exterior wall comprises discontinuities. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the conductive material is attached to an interior wall of the hollow containment vessel. ### Claim 27 (depends on 7) The device according to claim 7, wherein the conductive material is attached to an interior wall of the each louver of the plurality of hollow louvers. ### Claim 28 (depends on 8) The device according to claim 8, wherein the conductive material is attached to an interior wall of each containment vessel of the one or more phase change material filled containment vessels. ### Claim 29 (depends on 7) The device according to claim 7, wherein a material of the each louver of the plurality of hollow louvers is selected from a group consisting of polypropylene, polycarbonates, acrylics, and glass. ### Claim 30 (depends on 8) The device according to claim 8, wherein a material of each containment vessel of the one or more phase change material filled containment vessels is selected from a group consisting of polypropylene, polycarbonates, acrylics, and glass. ### Claim 31 (depends on 23) The device according to claim 23, wherein the discontinuities is one or more microgrooves on an exterior surface of the hollow containment vessel. ### Claim 32 (depends on 24) The device according to claim 24, wherein the discontinuities is one or more microgrooves on an exterior surface of the each louver. ### Claim 33 (depends on 25) The device according to claim 25, wherein the discontinuities is one or more microgrooves on an exterior surface of each containment vessel of the one or more phase change material filled containment vessels. ### Claim 34 (depends on 4) The device according to claim 4, wherein the three-dimensional network is selected from the group consisting of architectural features, furniture, and fixtures. ### Claim 35 (depends on 7) The device according to claim 7, wherein a form of the conductive material is selected from a group consisting of a single wire strand, a mesh of a plurality of wire strands, a plurality of interwoven wire strands, and a plurality of non-interwoven wire strands. ### Claim 36 (depends on 8) The device according to claim 8, wherein a form of the conductive material is selected from a group consisting of a single wire strand, a mesh of a plurality of wire strands, a plurality of interwoven wire strands, and a plurality of non-interwoven wire strands. ### Claim 37 A system for determining luminance and heat storage/release for a user specified interior space comprising: a user interface for input of parameters for user specified interior space; a processor which executes a software module stored on memory, and a database comprising data files for phase change materials, transmissivity, and thermodynamic and heat transfer parameters, wherein the software module contains an executable routine to pull information from the database to determine one or more of PCM containers that correlate with the input parameters.