Solid-state thermal switch panel for thermal storage

An active insulation system, comprising:

• a thermal mass;
• a solid-state thermal switch panel positioned internal to the thermal mass or adjacent and in contact with the thermal mass, wherein the solid-state thermal switch panel comprises:
• a filler formed of a first thermally resistive or insulating material and having a first open area;
• first and second layers of thermally conductive material that are spaced apart from each other, extend parallel to each other, and sandwich the filler such that the first open area extends from the first layer of thermally conductive material to the second layer of thermally conductive material;
• and
• a first thermal connector disposed in the first open area (a) so as to reside between and be spaced apart from the filler, and (b) so as to reside between and be in contact with the first and second layers of thermally conductive material, wherein the first thermal connector is switchable between a first position in which a thermal bridge is created thereby to allow heat transfer between the first and second layers of thermally conductive material, and a second position in which the thermal bridge is broken and a thermal gap is created by the first thermal connector to prevent said heat transfer between the first and second layers of thermally conductive material;
• and
• a control circuit configured to control switching of the first thermal connector between the first and second positions.

A method for operating a solid-state thermal switch panel, comprising:

• placing the solid-state thermal switch panel in an ON state in which a first thermal bridge is provided, by a first thermal connector, between a first thermally conductive material and a second thermally conductive material spaced apart from the first thermally conductive material via a filler formed of a first thermally resistive or insulating material;
• allowing heat to flow from the first thermally conductive material across the first thermal bridge to the second thermally conductive material;
• causing movement by at least a portion of the first thermal connector to transition the solid-state thermal switch panel from the ON state to an OFF state in which the first thermal bridge is no longer being provided by the first thermal connector;
• and
• using a first thermal gap created by the first thermal connector to prevent the heat from continuing to flow from the first thermally conductive material to the second thermally conductive material when the solid-state thermal switch panel is in the OFF state.