Olivine refractory bricks for heat storage applications
AssigneeNorth Carolina State University
InventorsHayne Palmour, III, Billy M. Gay, Ronald L. Cochrane
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention relates to an olivine refractory brick having thermal and physical properties suitable for use as a thermal energy storage unit in an electric thermal storage furnace and characterized by having excellent thermal shock properties and resistance to spalling. The brick consists essentially of densely compacted grains of olivine and a plastic refractory kaolin binder which effects a sintered, liquid assisted but substantially solid state grain-to-grain bonding of the olivine grains.
Claims22
An olivine refractory brick having thermal and physical properties suitable for use as a thermal energy storage unit in an electric thermal storage furnace and having excellent thermal shock properties and resistance to spalling, said brick consisting essentially of densely compacted grains of olivine and a plastic refractory kaoline binder effecting a sintered, liquid assisted but substantially solid state grain-to-grain bonding of the olivine, and said refractory brick exhibiting microcracking extending through the olivine grains.
An olivine refractory brick having thermal and physical properties suitable for use as a thermal energy storage unit in an electric thermal storage furnace and having excellent thermal shock properties and resistance to spalling, said brick consisting essentially of grains of olivine densely compacted and sintered to provide a fired bulk density within the range of 2.58 to 2.93 grams per cubic centimeter and having a volumetric heat capacity at 100.degree. C. of at least 0.525 cal./cc. .degree.C. and a thermal conductivity at 100.degree. C. greater than 0.005 cal./cm. sec. .degree.C. and a plastic refractory kaolin binder effecting a sintered, liquid assisted but substantially solid state grain-to-grain bonding of the olivine.
An olivine refractory brick having thermal and physical properties suitable for use as a thermal energy storage unit in an electric thermal storage furnace and having excellent thermal shock properties and resistance to spalling, said brick consisting essentially of crushed and sized grains of olivine having a particle size of less than 4 mesh, and being densely compacted and sintered to provide a fired bulk density within the range of 2.58 to 2.93 grams per cubic centimeter and having, in the initially fired state, a thermal conductivity at 100.degree. C. greater than 0.005 cal./cm. sec. .degree.C. and a plastic refractory kaolin binder effecting a sintered, liquid assisted but substantially solid state grain-to-grain bonding of the olivine, and said refractory brick exhibiting microcracking extending through the olivine grains.
An unfired, green olivine brick characterized by providing thermal and physical properties in the fired state suitable for use as a thermal energy storage unit in an electric thermal storage furnace and having excellent thermal shock properties and resistance to spalling, said brick, exclusive of water and conventional processing additives, consisting essentially of densely compacted grains of olivine and from about 1.25% to about 5% by weight of a plastic refractory kaolin binder.
An unfired, green olivine brick characterized by providing thermal and physical properties in the fired state suitable for use as a thermal energy storage unit in an electric thermal storage furnace and having excellent thermal shock properties and resistance to spalling, said brick, exclusive of water and conventional processing additives, consisting essentially of crushed and sized grains of olivine having a particle size of less than 4 mesh, and being densely compacted to provide a green bulk density of at least about 2.38 grams per cubic centimeter, and from about 1.25% to about 5% by weight of a plastic refractory kaolin binder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.