IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO NUCLEATION AGENT COMPOSITIONS AND NUCLEATION AGENT PIECES AND METHODS FOR NUCLEATING PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS (PCMs)
AssigneeSunamp Limited
InventorsGylen ODLING, David OLIVER, Andrew BISSELL
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a nucleation agent piece for a phase change material (PCM), specifically for nucleating a PCM. The present disclosure also relates to a method of preparing the nucleation agent piece, a composition comprising a PCM and the nucleation agent piece, a heat battery device comprising the nucleation agent piece, a method of preparing the heat battery device, and use of the nucleation agent piece in nucleating a PCM.
Claims33
A nucleation agent piece for nucleating a phase change material (PCM), wherein the nucleation agent piece comprises:
- a nucleation agent;
- and
- a hardened resin,
- wherein the nucleation agent is dispersed in the hardened resin, and wherein at least a portion of the nucleation agent is present on one or more surface(s) of the hardened resin.
A nucleation agent piece according to any preceding claim, wherein the hardened resin is a polymer selected from any of the following:
- epoxy;
- polyester;
- polyacrylic;
- polyvinylester;
- polyurethane;
- melamine;
- resorcinol-formaldehyde;
- urea-formaldehyde;
- silicone;
- and
- any combination thereof.
A nucleation agent piece according to any preceding claim, wherein the PCM comprises a salt and water, wherein the salt is any selected from the following:
- sodium acetate;
- sodium formate;
- sodium nitrate;
- sodium chloride;
- sodium sulfate;
- calcium nitrate;
- calcium chloride;
- calcium bromide;
- magnesium nitrate;
- magnesium sulfate;
- magnesium chloride;
- magnesium bromide;
- strontium bromide;
- strontium chloride;
- lithium nitrate;
- lithium chloride;
- lithium bromide;
- and
- any combination thereof.
A nucleation agent piece according to any preceding claim, wherein the nucleation agent comprises a salt, a salt hydrate, an oxide, a carbide, a silicate, or any combination thereof.
A nucleation agent piece according to any preceding claim, wherein the nucleation agent comprises a salt which is recrystallised in a hydrated form.
A nucleation agent piece according to any preceding claim, wherein the nucleation agent piece is macroscopic.
A nucleation agent piece according to any preceding claim, wherein the nucleation agent piece has a volume of at least about 0.1 cm3.
A nucleation agent piece according to any preceding claim, wherein the nucleating agent piece has a surface area of at least about 0.1 cm2.
A method of preparing a nucleation agent piece according to any preceding claim, the method comprising:
- combining a nucleation agent, a resin, and a resin hardener;
- mixing to form a mixture;
- and
- allowing the mixture to harden.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.