DEVICE FOR POSITIONING IN A VOLUME

• US 20190310028A1
• Filed: 06/09/2017
• Published: 10/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hutchinson (Welltower, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hutchinson (Welltower, Inc.)
• Inventors: CHOPARD, Fabrice, CHAUVET, Boris, LEBORGNE, Mathieu
• Application Number:
  US16/308,055
• Publication Number:
  US 20190310028A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/023 the latent heat storage material being enclosed in granular particles or dispersed in a porous, fibrous or cellular structure
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2020/0013 the heat storage material being enclosed in elements attached to or integral with heat exchange conduits
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2020/0021 the heat storage material being enclosed in loose or stacked elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for heat exchange and positioning in a volume, the device comprising: a central body containing a material for storing thermal energy by latent heat accumulation, to be placed in thermal exchange with a circulating surrounding fluid, and a structure for positioning the central body in the volume, the positioning structure being connected to the central body around which it extends and reserving passages enabling contact between the central body and the surrounding fluid and the circulation of said fluid.

Claims

1. A thermal management system including:

a housing having a hollow interior, an inlet and an outlet for a fluid, and, disposed in said hollow interior;

a plurality of heat exchange and positioning devices (1), each comprising;

a central body containing a material for storing thermal energy by latent heat accumulation, to be placed in thermal exchange with the fluid, and

a structure for positioning the central body in said hollow interior, the positioning structure being connected to the central body around which it extends and reserving passages enabling contact between the central body and the surrounding fluid and a circulation of said fluid,

wherein;

the positioning structure comprises an external structure defining a cylinder and connected by transverse arms to the central body, or

the positioning structure comprises an external structure defining a ring and connected by transverse arms to the central body, or

the positioning structure includes a peripheral structure extending circumferentially around the central body, in several planes, to separate it from a surrounding support in several directions, or

the positioning structure includes an external structure;

defining a discontinuous sphere,

and connected to the central body by transverse arms around the central body, or

the positioning structure is in the form of a cellular structure surrounding the central body, in contact with it, or

the positioning structure includes one or more linear beads surrounding the central body, in contact with it, or recesses formed in said body.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the thermal energy storage material of the central body comprises at least one PCM.

3. A system according to claim 1, which is a one-piece casting between the positioning structure and the central body which contains the thermal energy storage material.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein several of said devices are connected together in a string by a flexible link.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein two said adjacent devices in said hollow interior are in contact with each other.

6-11. -11. (canceled)