Phase change material and applications
AssigneesEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Inc., UT-Battelle, LLC
InventorsSandra Kathleen Sparr Boetcher, Kashif Nawas, Melissa Ann Messenger, Casey Josh Troxler, Thomas Benjamin Freeman, Rafael M. Rodriguez
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thermal energy storage heat exchanger can include a core defining a plurality of airflow passages to receive an airstream therethrough. The core can be made of a composite of a phase change material shape-stabilized by a polymer. The phase change material can be structurally supported by the polymer and the phase change material can be configured to change phases to store energy from and deliver stored energy to the airstream when the airflow passes through the core.
Claims20
An air conditioning system for conditioning an airstream, the system comprising:
- a refrigeration system including a condenser, a compressor, and an evaporator, the evaporator located at least partially in the airstream and configured to cool the airstream during operation of a cooling mode of the air conditioning system;
- a supply fan operable to produce the airstream;
- and
- a thermal energy storage heat exchanger located at least partially within in the airstream, the thermal energy storage heat exchanger comprising:
- a core made of a composite of a phase change material and a polymer such that the phase change material is configured to interact with the airstream to store energy from, and deliver energy to, the airstream.
A thermal energy storage heat exchanger comprising:
- a core defining a plurality of airflow passages to receive an airstream therethrough, the core made of a composite of a phase change material shape-stabilized by a polymer, the phase change material structurally supported by the polymer, and the phase change material configured to change phases to store energy from and deliver stored energy to the airstream when the airflow passes through the core.
A method of manufacturing a heat exchanger, the method comprising:
- melting and mixing a phase change material and a polymer;
- forming sheets of the mixed phase change material and the polymer;
- shredding the sheets of the phase change material and the polymer to form shredded portions;
- extruding the shredded portions of the phase change material and the polymer to form a composite filament;
- and
- printing the heat exchanger using a fused filament fabrication printer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.