Additive manufacturing of phase change materials and photocurable resin
AssigneeEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Inc.
InventorsSandra Kathleen Sparr Boetcher, Thomas Benjamin Freeman, Casey Josh Troxler, Rafael M. Rodriguez, Isabel Melendez, Karl Benjamin Morgan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thermal energy storage heat exchanger comprising can include a core defining a plurality of airflow passages to receive an airstream therethrough, the core can include microencapsulated phase change material suspended in a photocurable resin. 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
A thermal energy storage heat exchanger comprising:
- a housing;
- and
- a core located at least partially within the housing, the core defining a plurality of airflow passages to receive an airstream therethrough, the core comprising a composite of microencapsulated phase change material (MEPCM) suspended in a photocurable resin, the MEPCM configured to change phases to store energy from and deliver stored energy to the airstream when airflow passes through the core.
A method for fabricating a heat exchanger or heat exchanger core, the method comprising:
- providing a polymer resin;
- providing a microencapsulated phase change material (MEPCM);
- mixing the polymer resin and the MEPCM to form a mixture of the polymer resin and the MEPCM;
- loading a mixture of the polymer resin and the MEPCM into a three-dimensional printer (3D printer);
- and
- printing a composite of the mixture of the polymer resin and the MEPCM using the 3D printer to form a 3D printed object.
A method for encapsulating a phase change material for use in thermal applications, the method comprising;
- providing a photocurable resin;
- providing an additive, the additive including a microencapsulated phase change material (MEPCM);
- suspending the additive in the photocurable resin to form a suspension;
- loading the suspension into a three-dimensional printer (3D printer);
- and
- printing, using the 3D printer, a 3D-printed object from the suspension.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.