THERMAL MASS FOR HEAT PRE-LOAD AND TIME-CONTROLLED DISPERSION IN BUILDING HEATING SYSTSEMS

• US 20160290737A1
• Filed: 04/03/2015
• Published: 10/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York (Columbia University)
• Original Assignee: Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York (Columbia University)
• Inventors: Cox, Marshall, Wechsler, David, Kymissis, Ioannis, Sarik, John
• Granted Patent: US 11,624,561 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 2250/00 Electrical heat generating means
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 7/0216 the transfer fluid being air
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/02 using latent heat
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0035 for domestic or space heating, e.g. heating radiators for vehicles F28D2021/0096
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/10 Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses crimped or corrugated elements F28F1/06, F28F1/08
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/005 Other auxiliary members within casings, e.g. internal filling means or sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage

Abstract

A heating and/or cooling temperature adjusting apparatus disposed proximate a point of use comprising a heat exchange structure, at least one thermal mass unit comprised of a material which changes phase at a predetermined temperature, and a housing which at least partially encloses the heat exchange structure and thermal mass unit. Additionally, a plurality of thermal mass units can be employed, each with equivalent, or differing, temperature threshold points for conversion between solid, liquid or gaseous phases. The presence of the thermal mass unit at the point of use allows for the heating/cooling system to rapidly adjust the temperature of the room while simultaneously decreasing the duty cycle of the heating/cooling generator (e.g. boiler).

Claims

1. A temperature adjusting apparatus disposed proximate a point of use comprising:

at least one heat exchange structure;

at least one thermal mass unit, the thermal mass unit comprised of a material which changes phase at a predetermined temperature;

a housing, the housing configured to at least partially enclose the at least one heat exchange structure and the at least one thermal mass unit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one heat exchange structure includes a plurality of fins or tubes.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one heat exchange structure is configured as a heating radiator for elevating the temperature external of the housing.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one heat exchange structure is configured as a cooling radiator for lowering the temperature external of the housing.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one thermal mass unit is composed of a material having thermal conductivity characteristics to maintain a temperature inside the enclosure within a predetermined range for a predetermined time, after operation of the heat exchange structure.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one thermal mass unit is composed of a wax.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one thermal mass unit is composed of a gel.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one thermal mass unit is configured to change phase between a liquid and solid state.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one thermal mass unit is configured to change phase between a liquid and gaseous state.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one thermal mass unit is sized to extend along the length of the at least one heat exchange structure.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one thermal mass unit is disposed within the housing in a configuration which inhibits convection.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a radiation shield layer disposed proximate the at least one thermal mass unit to inhibit radiation.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one thermal mass unit is disposed within at least one tube, the tube configured with sufficient rigidity to withstand thermal contraction or expansion of the thermal mass unit disposed therein.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a condensation collection reservoir disposed proximate the at least one heat exchange structure.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a fan disposed proximate the at least one heat exchange structure and the at least one thermal mass unit.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a plurality of thermal mass units are disposed within the housing.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein a first thermal mass unit has a first phase change temperature, and a second thermal mass unit has a second phase change temperature.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first thermal mass unit is disposed on a first side of the heat exchange structure, and the second thermal mass unit is disposed on an opposite side of the heat exchange structure.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein a series of thermal mass units of differing phase change temperatures are disposed adjacent each other on one side of the heat exchange structure, with adjacent thermal mass units alternating between a low phase change temperature and a high phase change temperature.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one thermal mass unit is configured to conform to at least a portion of the heat exchange structure dimensions.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the phase change transition temperature is selected to maximize heat transfer to air inside the enclosure, and passively transfer heat through the enclosure to heat the ambient air external to the enclosure based on average heating demand.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the thermal mass composition is selected from a material(s) sufficient to store the requisite amount of heat to maintain a desired temperature in a room of a predetermined size, for a predetermined amount of time.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one thermal mass unit is coupled to the at least one heat exchange structure with thermal conductivity characteristics which extract energy from the heat exchange structure into the thermal mass more rapidly than energy is dissipated from the heat exchange structure to the ambient air within the enclosure.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an energy source disposed external to the enclosure, the energy source configured to transfer energy into the enclosure and the at least one heat exchange structure and thermal mass disposed therein.