Heat exchanger and storage device for cold vehicle startup with regenerative capability

A product with:

• a container that contains a heat storage medium;
• a fluid entrained in a conduit that is routed through the container and routed through a heat generating system;
• a fluid moving device in the conduit;
• a first heat exchange surface on the outside of the first conduit within the container that is in contact with the heat storage medium;
• a second heat exchange surface on the inside of the first conduit inside the container that is in contact with the fluid;
• an initiator operably connected to the container, the heat storage medium being responsive to the generation of a signal being introduced into the container from the initiator;
• wherein when the heat generating system is in operation, the fluid moving device operates to move the fluid through the conduit so that when the heat generating system is operating, heat generated as a by-product is entrained in the fluid, passed through the container via the conduit and transferred to the heat storage medium through the first and second heat exchange surfaces, wherein when desirable to provide heat to the heat generating system, the initiator is operated to expose the heat storage medium to a signal triggering the release of heat from the heat storage medium that is transferred through the fluid to the heat generation system.

A product for a vehicle with:

• a container that contains a heat storage medium with a nucleation characteristic;
• a fluid entrained in a conduit that is routed through the container and routed through a vehicle system;
• a pump for moving the fluid through the conduit;
• a first heat exchange surface on the outside of the conduit within the container that is in contact with the heat storage medium;
• a second heat exchange surface on the inside of the conduit inside the container that is in contact with the fluid;
• a generator, the heat storage medium being responsive to the generation of pressure being introduced into the container from the pressure generator;
• wherein when the vehicle is in operation the pump operates to move the fluid through the first conduit so that when the vehicle is operating, heat generated as a by-product is entrained in the fluid, passed through the container and transferred to the heat storage medium, causing the heat storage medium to be in a first phase wherein when desirable to provide heat to the vehicle system the generator is operated to expose the heat storage medium to a signal triggering the nucleation characteristic and a transition of the heat storage medium to a second phase resulting in the release of heat from the heat storage medium that is transferred through the fluid to the vehicle system.

A product for a vehicle with:

• a container that contains a heat storage medium with a nucleation characteristic;
• a first fluid entrained in a first conduit that is routed through the container and routed through a first vehicle system;
• a first pump in the first conduit;
• a first heat exchange surface on the outside of the first conduit within the container that is in contact with the heat storage medium that is selected to change phases, the first heat exchange surface having ribs to promote heat transfer;
• a second heat exchange surface on the inside of the first conduit inside the chamber that is in contact with the first fluid;
• a second fluid entrained in a second conduit that is routed through the container and routed through a second vehicle system;
• a second pump in the second conduit;
• a third heat exchange surface on the outside of the second conduit within the container that is in contact with the heat storage medium;
• a fourth heat exchange surface on the inside of the second conduit within the container that is in contact with the second fluid, the fourth heat exchange surface having ribs to promote heat transfer;
• a passage from the container leading to a chamber containing an acoustic pressure wave generator, the heat storage medium being responsive to the generation of acoustic pressure waves being introduced into the container from the acoustic pressure wave generator through the passage into the container;
• wherein when the vehicle is in operation the first pump operates to move the first fluid through the first conduit so that when the vehicle is operating, heat generated as a by-product is entrained in the first fluid, passed through the container and transferred to the heat storage medium, causing the heat storage medium to be in a first phase;
• wherein when the vehicle operation is stopped, the first pump is selectively operated to capture heat from an increased temperature in the first vehicle system;
• wherein when desirable to provide heat to the second vehicle system the acoustic pressure wave generator is operated to expose the heat storage medium to an acoustic pressure wave initiating the nucleation characteristic and a transition of the heat storage medium to a second phase resulting in the release of heat from the heat storage medium that is transferred through the second fluid to the second vehicle system.

A method of starting a vehicle having a heat utilizing system, a heat storage medium that when heated undergoes a phase change at a phase change temperature, and an initiator, comprising the steps of:

• starting the vehicle and the heat utilizing system;
• triggering the initiator at a temperature that is below the phase change temperature, which initiates a phase change of the heat storage medium;
• extracting heat from the heat storage medium;
• and
• using the extracted heat in the heat utilizing system.