US 6,158,499 AGranted

Method and apparatus for thermal energy storage

AssigneeFAFCO, Inc.

InventorsRichard O. Rhodes, Hollend F. Bishop

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Abstract

Methods and apparatus for extracting stored thermal energy using a combined internal and external melt cycle are disclosed. The present invention relates, in one aspect, to a heat exchange system which uses both an internal melt cycle and an external melt cycle to extract stored thermal energy. The heat exchange system includes a thermal energy storage medium and a heat exchanger which is in communication with the thermal energy storage medium. The heat exchanger is arranged to hold a heat exchange liquid and to facilitate the indirect transfer of heat between the heat exchange liquid and the thermal energy storage medium. The heat exchange system further includes a fluid supply which provides a fluid which directly contacts the thermal energy storage medium to transfer heat between the fluid and the thermal energy storage medium.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A thermal energy storage system comprising:

a holding tank for holding a thermal energy storage medium, the holding tank having an inlet and an outlet;
a heat exchanger positioned within the holding tank, the heat exchanger being arranged to indirectly transfer heat between a heat exchange fluid that passes through the heat exchanger and the thermal energy storage medium;
a chiller arranged to cool the heat exchange fluid;
a cooler arranged to generate chilled air using a cooling fluid;
a first heat exchanger supply loop for delivering cooled heat exchange fluid from the chiller to the heat exchanger and for returning the heat exchange fluid from the heat exchanger to the chiller after passing through the heat exchanger;
a holding tank supply loop for delivering cooling fluid from the cooler to the holding tank such that when the thermal energy storage medium is present, the delivered cooling fluid directly contacts the thermal energy storage medium and for returning the cooling fluid from the holding tank to the cooler after passing through the holding tank;
and
a second heat exchanger supply loop for delivering warmed heat exchange fluid to the heat exchanger;
wherein the thermal energy storage system is arranged to cause the thermal energy storage medium to cycle between solid and liquid phases to facilitate the storage of energy, whereby when the thermal energy storage medium is in a solid phase, the heat exchange fluid delivered through the second heat exchanger supply loop may be used to form channels in the thermal energy storage medium via an internal melt process to facilitate more even melting of the thermal energy storage medium during an external melt process utilizing cooling fluid delivered through the holding tank supply loop.

6 more elements

A heat exchange system comprising:

a thermal energy storage medium;
a heat exchanger arranged to at least partially hold a heat exchange liquid, the heat exchanger further being arranged to indirectly transfer heat between the heat exchange liquid and the thermal energy storage medium, the heat exchanger being in communication with the thermal energy storage medium;
and
a fluid supply arranged to provide a fluid such that the fluid directly contacts the thermal energy storage medium to directly transfer heat between the fluid and the thermal energy storage medium, the fluid supply further being arranged to cooperate with the heat exchanger to efficiently transfer heat to the thermal energy storage medium, wherein the heat exchange system is arranged to cause the thermal energy storage medium to cycle between solid and liquid phases to facilitate the storage of energy, whereby when the thermal energy storage medium is in a solid phase, the heat exchange liquid may be used to shape the thermal energy storage medium via an internal melt process to facilitate more even melting of the thermal energy storage medium during an external melt process utilizing the fluid.

1 more element

A thermal energy storage system comprising:

a holding tank for holding a thermal energy storage medium, the holding tank having an inlet and an outlet;
a heat exchanger positioned within the holding tank, the heat exchanger being arranged to indirectly transfer heat between a heat exchange fluid that passes through the heat exchanger and the thermal energy storage medium;
a first heat exchanger supply loop for circulating cooled heat exchange fluid through the heat exchanger;
and
a second heat exchanger supply loop for delivering warmed heat exchange fluid to the heat exchanger, wherein the thermal energy storage system is arranged to cause the thermal energy storage medium to cycle between solid and liquid phases to facilitate the storage of energy, whereby when the thermal energy storage medium is in a solid phase, the warmed heat exchange fluid delivered through the second heat exchanger supply loop may be used to form channels in the thermal energy storage medium via an internal melt process to facilitate more even melting of the thermal energy storage medium during an external melt process.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/221,265Filed 23 Dec 1998
Granted: 12 Dec 2000
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

F24F 5/0017
Cooling apparatus specially adapted for use in air-conditioning: using cold storage bodies, e.g. ice
F28D 20/021
Using latent heat: the latent heat storage material and the heat-exchanging means being enclosed in one container
F25D 16/00
Devices using a combination of a cooling mode associated with refrigerating machinery
Y02E 60/14
Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation: thermal energy storage