Method and apparatus for room temperature stabilization

• US 4,403,644 A
• Filed: 09/20/1982
• Issued: 09/13/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hebert, Raymond T.
• Original Assignee: Hebert, Raymond T.
• Inventors: Hebert, Raymond T.
• Primary Examiner(s): DAVIS JR, ALBERT
• Application Number:
  US06/419,728
• Time in Patent Office: 358 Days
• Field of Search: 165/104.11, 165/1, 165/10, 62/430, 62/93, 62/324.1, 62/238.6, 62/238.7, 237/2 B
• US Class Current: 165/10
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 11/0257 air heating system
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/70 Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/13 Hot air central heating systems using heat pumps

Abstract

A compact heat storage system for over heated rooms in which a high value thermal mass is mounted in a forced air flow path formed within a refrigeration heat exchanger loop including a condenser at the inlet and an evaporator at the outlet interconnected with a compressor and an expansion control. The thermal mass is preferably PCM or the equivalent. In the heat storage mode, with the compressor in operation, the air flow is heated at the condenser so that the heated incoming air passes through the thermal mass with high thermal difference resulting in better thermal transfer efficiency. After passage, the air has been cooled by thermal transfer with the thermal mass and is further cooled by the evaporator and then passed back into the room significantly cooler than when entered.

When the room space needs heat from the system, the fan is operated without the compressor to pull the cool air from the room through the thermal mass to heat the same. The limits of capability are essentially those of the thermal mass and are adequate for significant room spaces.

Claims

1. Method for the efficient storage of heat from a fluid body comprising the steps of selecting a PCM body with a fusion transition of a predetermined temperature relative to temperature of said fluid body, moving the fluid stream through the PCM body in thermal exchange relation therewith to establish a fluid stream inlet and outlet with said body, removing heat from the outlet fluid stream and adding the removed heat to the inlet fluid stream at a higher temperature so as to utilize a higher thermal transfer efficiency from the fluid stream to the PCM material as the same passes therethrough whereby heat is efficiently withdrawn from the fluid stream and stored in the PCM body as it passes therethrough and exits therefrom substantially cooler.

2. A thermal storage apparatus comprising a PCM body, fluid circulation means for passing a fluid through said PCM body, and means forming a compression refrigeration cycle having a condenser in series with the intake thereto and a evaporator in series with the exhaust therefrom, and pump means for driving the fluid through the system.

3. A thermal storage apparatus comprising a PCM body for storing heat, means for supporting the body in sub-divided form for being in heat exchange relation with a body of air and including means defining an air intake, means defining an air exhaust, means forming a fan for moving air from said intake through the PCM sub-divided body to said exhaust, means forming a regrigerant compression system in cooperation with said intake and exhaust including a evaporator mounted in said exhaust airflow path, a condenser mounted in said intake flow path, a compressor connected to condense and evaporate a refrigerant under pressure and to cause the same to be operatively connected from said condenser to said evaporator, means for electrically operating the compressor and fan in a charging mode to bring in heated air and to exhaust cool air, and means for alternatively electrically operating the fan only in a heating mode to exhaust heated air after passing through said heat charged PCM body.

4. A heat storage device for removing or adding heat from a fluid, a quantity of PCM, means for supporting said quantity in an array adapted for heat exchange relationship with said fluid and subdivided into channels to discourage stratification as the same is cycled through the fusion temperature, means forming an inlet and means forming an outlet for said fluid to be passed through said body and heat transfer contact therethrough, means for removing heat from the fluid at the outlet end, and means for receiving said heat from said last named means and for adding the same at a higher temperature to the fluid at the inlet end.

5. The heat storage device as in claim 4 in which said means for removing heat comprises and said means for adding heat comprises an evaporator disposed across the fluid outlet and a condensor disposed across the fluid inlet, and a compressor, and expansion valve, and fluid circulating means including a working fluid for interconnecting said evaporator, condensor, compressor and expansion valve into a refrigeration cycle heat transfer combination.

6. A heat storage and dispensing device as in claim 5 further including means for electrically operating the compressor and fan in a PCM charging mode when heat is desired to be removed from the fluid, and further including means for electrically operating the fan only, in a heat dispensing mode, for recovering heat stored in said PCM material.

7. The heat storage apparatus as in claim 6 further including means responsive to manual control for adjusting the operating point of said device.

8. A temperature control and stabilizing system for rooms comprising PCM means for storing heat and having a high heat capacity at a predetermined temperature, means for arranging a supporting said PCM means for passing of room air therethrough in thermal contact throughout, a room inlet and a room outlet located at opposite ends of the air flow stream through said material, a refrigeration cycle heat exchanger comprising a compressor, a condenser coil mounted across said inlet, an expansion circuit and an evaporator coil mounted across said outlet, a working fluid incorporated in said heat exchanger, fan means for moving air through said system from the room inlet to the room outlet, switching means for operating said fan means and said compressor simultaneously when room temperature exceeds a predetermined level, and switch means for turning on said fan means alone when the room temperature is below a second predetermined level.