Process for manufacturing hydrate salts-base granule-shaped thermal energy accumulators with an adherent hermetic coating, and accumulators obtained by said process

Abstract

The process of the invention relates to the manufacture of hydrate salts-base thermal energy accumulators, designed to act as heat accumulators in plants for utilizing low temperature heat sources such as solar heat, domestic and industrial excess heat, and other heat sources currently not susceptible to economical utilization. The anhydrous salts are fed to an inclined rotary drum in which they are simultaneously hydrated and granulated to different diameters from 1.5 mm to about 2.5 cm and beyond. The granules are then cooled classified into classes of uniform size, and finally treated with a powdered inert filler and/or a resin so as to obtain a coating perfectly adhering to their surface and hermetic towards both gas and liquid. The accumulators obtained in this manner are used in plasters or concretes for the formation of masonry linings, in particular floor foundations, to act as heat absorption or emission elements in environmental conditioning systems; in the conditioning of articles of clothing and footwear; in heat storage reservoirs; in devices for waste heat recovery in industrial processes or certain domestic operations; and in refrigeration plants including those operating at a temperature of less than 0.degree. C.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.