Product suitable for the storage and conveyance of thermal energy
AssigneeElf France
InventorsLucien Babin, Daniele Clausse
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention concerns the storage and conveyance of thermal energy at low temperature, by using the latent heat produced by a substance during changes of state. This substance consists of a salt producing considerable latent heat during change of state, such as Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4, 10 H.sub.2 O, combined closely with a nucleating agent such as borax and dispersed in an oil to which an emulsifying agent has been added. This product is particularly suitable for storage of solar energy at low temperature and for heating of enclosed areas.
Claims14
A composition for the storage and conveyance of thermal energy consisting essentially of a water in oil emulsion, said water being in the form of droplets and having dissolved therein sodium sulfate where the weight ratio of said dissolved sodium sulfate in said water is about the same as the weight ratio of sodium sulfate to water in sodium sulfate decahydrate.
A method of preparing a product suitable for storage and conveyance of thermal energy comprising the following steps:
- dissolving sodium sulfate in water to form a monophasic aqueous solution;
- mixing said aqueous solution with a paraffinic oil to form a water in oil emulsion having water droplets with said sodium sulfate dissolved therein;
- placing the emulsion in a dry atmosphere at a temperature above the point of change from liquid to solid of sodium sulfate decahydrate until sufficient water has evaporated from said droplets to increase the weight ratio of said sodium sulfate dissolved in said water to about the same ratio of sodium sulfate to water as sodium sulfate decahydrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.