Thermal energy storage apparatus

A thermal energy storage apparatus adapted to transfer heat to or from a moving air stream, and comprising

• an air duct,
• a plurality of individual sealed containers mounted within said air duct such that air flowing through said duct is adapted to pass across each of said containers in a heat exchange relationship,
• an energy storage medium disposed in each of said containers, said medium including water and a gas capable of forming a gas hydrate with the water at a transition temperature which is above 32.degree. F., and
• moveable means positioned within each of said containers for providing mechanical movement within the medium and mechanical contact between structural elements of the apparatus within the medium.

An air conditioning apparatus adapted to provide local area cooling and comprising

• a plurality of individual sealed containers mounted in an adjacent but spaced apart arrangement, and with an energy storage medium disposed in each of said containers, said medium including water and a gas capable of forming a gas hydrate with the water at a transition temperature which is above 32.degree. F.,
• air conditioning means comprising a compressor, condenser, expansion valve and cooling coil, with said cooling coil being positioned so as to be in heat exchange relation with said containers,
• a fan positioned to direct an air stream across said containers and said cooling coil, and
• moveable means positioned within each of said containers for providing mechanical movement within the medium and mechanical contact between structural elements of the apparatus within the medium.

An air conditioning apparatus adapted for use in a motor vehicle and comprising

• an air duct including a fan for advancing air therethrough,
• air conditioning means including a cooling coil in said duct for selectively cooling the air as it advances through said duct,
• a plurality of individual sealed containers mounted within said air duct such that air flowing through said duct is adapted to pass across each of said containers in a heat exchange relationship and such that the cooling coil in said duct is adapted to cool said containers,
• an energy storage medium disposed in each of said containers, said medium including water and a gas capable of forming a gas hydrate with the water at a transition temperature which is above 32.degree. F., and
• moveable means positioned within each of said containers for providing mechanical movement within the medium and mechanical contact between structural elements of the apparatus within the medium.

An air conditioning apparatus adapted for supplying cooled air to a building or the like, and which is characterized by the ability to shift power consumption from peak demand periods to off peak periods, and comprising

• an air duct,
• a fan for advancing air along the air duct,
• an air conditioning means including a cooling coil which is positioned in said duct downstream of said fan,
• a plurality of individual sealed containers mounted within said air duct such that air flowing through said duct is adapted to pass across each of said containers in a heat exchange relationship, and such that the cooling coil in said duct is adapted to cool said containers,
• and energy storage medium disposed in each of said containers, said medium including water and a gas capable of forming a gas hydrate with the water at a transition temperature which is above 32.degree. F, and
• moveable means positioned within each of said containers for providing mechanical movement within the medium and mechanical contact between structural elements of the apparatus within the medium.

An air conditioning apparatus adapted for supplying cooled air to a building or the like, and which is characterized by the ability to shift power consumption from peak demand periods to off peak periods, and comprising

• an air duct,
• a fan for advancing air along the air duct,
• an air conditioning means including a cooling coil which is positioned in said duct downstream of said fan,
• a plurality of groups of individual sealed containers mounted within said air duct downstream of said cooling coil, and with the groups being disposed in a series arrangement along said duct, and such that air flowing through said duct is adapted to pass across each of said containers of each of said groups in a heat exchange relationship, and
• an energy storage medium disposed in each of said containers, said medium including water and a gas capable of forming a gas hydrate with the water at a transition temperature which is above 32.degree. F., and with the containers of each group having a hydrate forming gas which is different from the hydrate forming gas in at least one of the other groups of said containers, and such that the hydrate forming transition temperature is not uniform among the groups, and
• moveable means positioned within each of said containers for providing mechanical movement within the medium and mechanical contact between structural elements of the apparatus within the medium.