# US 4,393,918 A · Melting latent-heat heat or cold exchanger-storage device

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- Number: US 4,393,918 A
- Document ID: US4393918A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/312,845
- Filed: 1981-10-19
- Granted: 1983-07-19
- Earliest claimed: 1981-10-19
- Inventors: Jean Patry
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4393918A

## CPC

- F25D 3/00: Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies
- F28D 20/02: using latent heat
- F25D 2303/0822: Details of the element
- F25D 2303/08222: Shape of the element
- Y02E 60/14: Thermal energy storage
- F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B)
- F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A heat or cold exchanger and storage device comprises a main container of elongated configuration, divided into two chambers by a longitudinal partition and provided at either end with a perforated plate. The two chambers communicate with each other at an end opposite an inlet and outlet end, so that an cold or heat carrier medium circulates in countercurrent relationship in the two chambers. A relatively great number of elementary containers are stacked in the two chambers. These elementary containers are so shaped as to provide a free gap therebetween, when stacked, to permit the circulation of the carrier medium, and each elementary container has an air pocket therein to permit the expansion of the complete assembly. Preferably each elementary container consists of a pair of substantially semi-spherical halves providing, in their assembled condition, a gap between the self-stacking elementary containers enclosed in the main container.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A heat or cold exchanger and storage device operable according to the melting latent heat effect, said device comprising:
an elongated main container divided into two halves by a longitudinal partition to create two chambers connected at one end of said main container;
a plurality of elementary containers stacked in said two chambers in a manner such that a heat carrier medium circulated through said chambers will pass around said elementary containers and will meet a homogeneous resistance;
each said elementary container comprising a pair of semi-spherical elements so shaped such that when assembled there will be a gap therebetween permitting circulation therethrough of the heat carrier medium;
each said element being filled with a heat and/or cold storage medium capable of generating a substantial quantity of heat when melting;
each said element being formed of a deformable material capable of absorbing volumetric variations resulting from crystallization; and
each said element containing therein an air pocket to produce an expansion inherent to the device.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ratio of the external surface area to the volume of each said elementary container is approximately one square meter of surface area for ten liters of volume.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising, within said main container and located at each end thereof, a perforated plate having apertures sufficient to convert static pressure of the heat carrier medium into dynamic pressure as it penetrates into said chambers, thus affording a homogeneous distribution of said heat carrier medium throughout the device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said deformable material comprises polyethylene.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said deformable material comprises polypropylene.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said deformable material comprises a metal.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main container has a cylindrical configuration.