Heat exchanger battery

A heat exchanger battery comprising:

• an insulated container comprising one or more inlets and one or more outlets for circulating a first heat transfer medium therethrough;
• and
• a plurality of cells disposed within the insulated container, each cell comprising a conductive casing surrounding a compressible core and storing a volume of a second heat transfer medium;
• wherein the first heat transfer medium is circulated through the insulated container thereby transferring thermal energy between the first heat transfer medium and the second heat transfer medium;
• and
• wherein the compressible core prevents damage to the conductive casing by deforming in response to expansion of the volume of the second heat transfer medium.

A heat exchanger battery comprising:

• an insulated container containing a first heat transfer medium having a first temperature;
• and
• a plurality of cells in the insulated container for contact with the first heat transfer medium, each cell comprising a conductive casing storing a volume of a second heat transfer medium having a second temperature;
• wherein circulation of the first heat transfer medium through the insulated container effects a transfer of thermal energy between the first heat transfer medium and the second heat transfer medium in a direction according to a difference of the first temperature and the second temperature;
• and
• wherein the second heat transfer medium is configured to prevent damage to the conductive casing by having minimal to no expansion of the second heat transfer medium.

A method of storing thermal energy in a heat exchanger battery comprising:

• providing an insulated container comprising one or more inlets and one or more outlets;
• providing a plurality of cells disposed within the insulated container, each cell comprising a conductive casing surrounding a compressible core and storing a volume of a second heat transfer medium;
• circulating a first heat transfer medium through the insulated container;
• and
• transferring thermal energy between the first heat transfer medium and the second heat transfer medium.

A method of manufacturing a heat exchanger battery comprising:

• providing an insulated container for storing a first heat transfer medium and having one or more inlets and one or more outlets;
• locating a plurality of cells within the insulated container, each cell comprising a conductive outer casing surrounding a compressible core;
• configuring each cell to store a volume of a second heat transfer medium;
• and
• storing the volume of the second heat transfer medium within each cell.

A method for cooling a building comprising:

• in a first mode of operation:
• operating a refrigeration assembly to cool a first heat transfer medium;
• circulating the first heat transfer medium from the refrigeration assembly through a heat exchanger battery comprising:
• an insulated container;
• and
• a plurality of cells disposed within the insulated container, each cell containing a conductive casing surrounding a compressible core storing a volume of a second heat transfer medium to thereby transfer heat from the second heat transfer medium to the first heat transfer medium and cool the second heat transfer medium;
• and
• in a second mode of operation during which the refrigeration assembly is inoperative:
• allowing heat to transfer from the first heat transfer medium to the second heat transfer medium to thereby cool the first heat transfer medium;
• and
• providing the cooled first heat transfer medium to an air conditioning system arranged to cool the building, wherein the air conditioning system transfers heat from the building to the cooled first heat transfer medium.

A method for heating a building comprising:

• in a first mode of operation:
• operating a heating assembly to heat a first heat transfer medium;
• and
• circulating the first heat transfer medium from the heating assembly through a heat exchanger battery comprising:
• an insulated container;
• and
• a plurality of cells disposed within the insulated container, each cell containing a conductive casing storing a volume of a second heat transfer medium to thereby transfer heat from the first heat transfer medium to the second heat transfer medium and heat the second heat transfer medium;
• and
• in a second mode of operation during which the heating assembly is inoperative:
• allowing heat to transfer from the second heat transfer medium to the first heat transfer medium to thereby heat the first heat transfer medium;
• and
• providing the heated first heat transfer medium to a heating system arranged to heat the building, wherein the heating system transfers heat from the heated first heat transfer medium to the building.