Microwave-activated mixed-powder thermal storage material; and method
AssigneeThermaStor Technologies, Ltd.
InventorGideon Salee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thermal storage composition activated by exposure to microwave energy is provided. The thermal storage composition preferably comprises a mixture of at least two impregnated powders where a first powder is calcium silicate impregnated with a microwave-sensitive material, and a second powder is calcium silicate impregnated with a phase-change material to provide a free-flowing powder; the thermal storage mixture may be utilized in a container, to provide a thermal storage construction (heating construction) comprising a seat cushion having a thermal storage unit therein; further, a process of storing thermal energy for release over an extended period of time is described.
Claims20
A thermal storage composition activatable by exposure to microwave energy, said composition comprising:
- a mixture of,
- (a) a first powder comprising calcium silicate impregnated with a microwave-sensitive material;
- and,
- (b) a second powder comprising calcium silicate impregnated with a phase-change material.
A process for producing a thermal storage composition comprising:
- (a) mixing a microwave-sensitive material or a phase-change material with a first calcium silicate powder, at a temperature and in an amount adapted to impregnate said powder with said microwave-sensitive material or said phase-change material, wherein a free-flowing powder is obtained;
- (b) mixing microwave-sensitive or said phase-change material not selected in step (a) with a second calcium silicate powder, at a temperature and in an amount adapted to impregnate said microwave-sensitive or said phase-change material, wherein a free-flowing powder is obtained;
- and
- (c) mixing the powders obtained from steps (a) and (b) to obtain a free-flowing mixed powder.
A thermal storage unit which is activated by exposure to microwave energy, said thermal storage unit comprising:
- (a) a microwave-transparent container;
- and,
- (b) a thermal storage composition enclosed within said container;
- said thermal storage composition comprising:
- a mixture of
- (1) a first powder comprising calcium silicate impregnated with a microwave-sensitive material;
- and,
- (2) a second powder comprising calcium silicate impregnated with a phase-change material.
A heating construction comprising:
- (a) a microwave-transparent outer cover;
- and,
- (b) a thermal storage unit activatable by exposure to microwave energy;
- said thermal storage unit being positioned within said outer cover;
- said thermal storage unit comprising:
- (i) a microwave-transparent container;
- and,
- (ii) a thermal storage composition within said container;
- said thermal storage composition comprising:
- a mixture of
- (1) a first powder comprising calcium silicate impregnated with a microwave-sensitive material;
- and,
- (2) a second powder comprising calcium silicate impregnated with a phase-change material.
A process of storing thermal energy for release over a extended period of time, said process including a step of:
- (a) exposing a thermal storage composition to microwave energy;
- said thermal storage composition comprising:
- a mixture of
- (1) a first powder comprising calcium silicate impregnated with a microwave-sensitive material;
- and,
- (2) a second powder comprising calcium silicate impregnated with a phase-change material;
- (b) said step of exposing said thermal storage composition to microwave energy comprising exposing said thermal storage composition to microwave energy of approximate power and for a sufficient period of time to heat said thermal storage composition to a temperature above the melting point of said phase-change material and to melt said phase change material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.