# US 2023/0053884 A1 · Systems and methods for district heating and cooling

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- Number: US 2023/0053884 A1
- Document ID: US20230053884A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/791,989
- Filed: 2021-01-08
- Published: 2023-02-23
- Earliest claimed: 2020-01-10
- Assignees: Phase Change Energy Solutions, Inc.
- Applicants: Phase Change Energy Solutions, Inc.
- Inventors: Jeremy Mabe; Scott A. Queen; Rami M. Saeed
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230053884A1

## CPC

- F24F 5/0021: {using phase change material [PCM] for storage}
- F16L 9/19: Multi-channel pipes or pipe assemblies
- Y02E 60/14: Thermal energy storage
- F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02)
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

District energy systems, also known as district heating and cooling networks, are utilized to provide distributed heating and cooling through an infrastructure of pipes and connectors from source points to destination addresses. The application of PCM within the network of pipes and connectors and with the surrounding environment improves the thermal regulation goals of transferring thermal energy in fluid form from source to destination, often times over great distances and through varying environmental conditions.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for district energy thermal control, the system comprising:
an exterior pipe, wherein the exterior pipe is configured to transport fluid;
one or more interior pipes disposed within the exterior pipe; and
one or more phase change materials disposed within the one or more interior pipes.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein a phase transition temperature of the one or more phase change materials is within 30° C. of the fluid flowing through the exterior pipe and around the one or more interior pipes.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid is water.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid is greywater.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the phase change materials are fully enclosed or sealed within the one or more interior pipes.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more interior pipes comprises a flexible metallic hose.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more interior pipes comprises a metal.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising gaskets on the exterior pipe;
wherein the gaskets are configured to allow exchange of the one or more interior pipes.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the exterior pipe is encased in insulating material.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more interior pipes houses a sub complex of one or more additional interior pipes.

### Claim 11

A system for district energy thermal control, the system comprising:
an exterior pipe;
an interior pipe disposed within the exterior pipe;
fluid disposed within the interior pipe; and
phase change materials disposed between the exterior pipe and the interior pipe.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the fluid disposed within the interior pipe is water.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein a phase transition temperature of the phase change materials is within 30° C. of the fluid within the interior pipe.

### Claim 14

A method for district energy thermal control, the method comprising:
distributing phase change materials in one or more interior pipes disposed within an exterior pipe;
interacting the one or more interior pipes to environmental temperatures within the exterior pipe; and
transitioning the phase change materials, wherein transitioning the phase change materials transition states in relation to the environmental temperatures within the exterior pipe.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising transferring thermal energy from the environmental temperatures within the exterior pipe to the one or more interior pipes housing the phase change materials.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising transferring thermal energy to the environmental temperatures within the exterior pipe from the one or more interior pipes housing the phase change materials.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The methods of claims 14, further comprising flowing water through the exterior pipe.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising interacting the phase change materials to a heat source.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising interacting the phase change materials to a cooling source.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising integrating the one or more interior pipes into a heat exchanger.

### Claim 21 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising integrating the one or more interior pipes into a district energy exchange substation.