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US 4,290,416 AGranted
Phase change energy storage panel for environmentally driven heating and cooling system
AssigneeOne Design, Inc.
InventorTimothy Maloney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A container of phase change energy storage material such as Glauber's salt is deployed behind the glazing of the south wall of a building structure for absorbing heat to heat the structure and/or for radiating heat to cool the structure. Several construction modules and mounting arrangements are shown, including ones where panels are backed with thermal insulation and pivotally mounted for reversibility.
Claims22
A phase change energy storage panel, comprising:
- at least one quantum of phase change energy storage medium capable of gaining and losing heat of fusion in a temperature within a temperature range to which the panel is to be subjected during use;
- said quantum being of sufficiently thin transverse cross section as to avoid permanent stratification of said quantum throughout substantially the full thickness thereof during such use;
- a cell having wall means including an outer face and an inner face and enveloping each such quantum, said cell wall means including portions constructed and arranged to be engaged for supporting the panel for the panel to be impinged upon by sunlight;
- said cell wall means portions extending perimetrically of said at least one quantum;
- said cell wall means being constituted by two confronting sheets of liquid-tight material;
- said sheets being perimetrically seamed together in a liquid-tight manner to provide at least one enclosed space;
- said sheets also being intermedially seamed together in a liquid-tight manner according to a pattern which is bordered by their aforesaid perimetrical seaming;
- said seaming also including portions constructed and arranged to be engaged for supporting the panel for the panel to be impinged upon by sunlight;
- said cell wall means portions are free of direct communication with each said quantum, so that fasteners may be secured therethrough for supporting the panel without permitting leakage of molten phase change energy storage medium from said panel;
- framing means for supporting the panel;
- and
- fasteners securing the panel at said portions to said framing means;
- the framing means are constituted by housing structure framing including studs;
- and
- said cell extending widthwise from one said stud to an adjacent next one of said studs.
12 more elements
A phase change energy storage panel, comprising:
- at least one quantum of phase change energy storage medium capable of gaining and losing heat of fusion in a temperature within a temperature range to which the panel is to be subjected during use;
- said quantum being of sufficiently thin transverse cross section as to avoid permanent stratification of said quantum throughout substantially the full thickness thereof during such use;
- a cell having wall means including an outer face and an inner face and enveloping each said quantum, said cell wall means including portions constructed and arranged to be engaged for supporting the panel for the panel to be impinged upon by sunlight;
- said cell wall means portions extending perimetrically of said at least one quantum;
- said cell wall means being constituted by two confronting sheets of liquid-tight material;
- said sheets being perimetrically seamed together in a liquid-tight manner to provide at least one enclosed space;
- said sheets also being intermedially seamed together in a liquid-tight manner according to a pattern which is bordered by their aforesaid perimetrical seaming;
- said quantum and cell wall means being shaped and associated comparably, respectively, to the gypsum filing and covering sheet material of conventional gypsum board dry wall paneling, including tape joint trough means extending along two opposed edges thereof on one face thereof, so that said phase change energy storage panel may be hung, taped and spackled much like conventional dry wall paneling.
5 more elements
A phase change energy storage panel, comprising:
- at least one quantum of phase change energy storage medium capable of gaining and losing heat of fusion in a temperature within a temperature range to which the panel is to be subjected during use;
- said quantum being of sufficiently thin transverse cross section as to avoid permanent stratification of said quantum throughout substantially the full thickness thereof during such use;
- a cell having wall means including an outer face and an inner face and enveloping such said quantum, said cell wall means including portions constructed and arranged to be engaged for supporting the panel for the panel to be impinged upon by sunlight;
- said cell wall means portions extending perimetrically of said at least one quantum;
- said cell wall means being constituted by two confronting sheets of liquid-tight material;
- said sheets being perimetrically seamed together in a liquid-tight manner to provide at least one enclosed space;
- said sheets also being intermedially seamed together in a liquid-tight manner according to a pattern which extends to and is bordered by their aforesaid perimetrical seaming, whereby said enclosed at least one space is divided into a plurality of individual cells in a two-dimensional array;
- there being a said quantum in each such cell;
- framing means for supporting the panel;
- and
- fasteners securing the panel at said portions to said framing means;
- a panel of glazing ranked relatively outside said cell wall means, in a confronting manner, with a space therebetween;
- and
- wall means perimetrically substantially enclosing the last-mentioned space, to provide an air chamber between the at least one cell-enveloped quantum of phase change energy storage medium and the panel of glazing;
- and
- pivot means mounting the framing means for movement of each cell through about 180 degrees between a first position wherein said outer face is presented outwardly and a second position wherein said outer face is presented inwardly.
13 more elements
A phase change energy storage panel, comprising:
- at least one quantum of phase change energy storage medium capable of gaining and losing heat of fusion in a temperature within a temperature range to which the panel is to be subjected during use;
- said quantum being of sufficiently thin transverse cross section as to avoid permanent stratification of said quantum throughout substantially the full thickness thereof during such use;
- a cell having wall means including an outer face and an inner face and enveloping each such quantum, said cell wall means including portions constructed and arranged to be engaged for supporting the panel for the panel to be impinged upon by sunlight;
- said cell wall means portions extending perimetrically of said at least one quantum;
- said cell wall means being constituted by two confronting sheets of liquid-tight material;
- said sheets being perimetrically seamed together in a liquid-tight manner to provide at least one enclosed space;
- said sheets also being intermedially seamed together in a liquid-tight manner according to a pattern which is bordered by their aforesaid perimetrical seaming;
- framing means for supporting the panel;
- and
- fasteners securing the panel at said portions to said framing means;
- a panel of glazing ranked relatively outside said cell wall means, in a confronting manner, with a space therebetween;
- and
- wall means perimetrically substantially enclosing the last-mentioned space, to provide an air chamber between the at least one cell-enveloped quantum of phase change energy storage medium and the panel of glazing;
- and
- pivot means mounting the framing means for movement of each cell through about 180 degrees between a first position wherein said outer face is presented outwardly and a second position wherein said outer face is presented inwardly.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.