Encapsulated phase change thermal energy _storage materials
First Claim
1. A thermal energy storage composite product capable of incorporation within rigid building construction components without causing fracture or damage to the components or product after the product undergoes repeated thermal change cycles, said product comprising:
- (a) an outer shell member having a longest dimension of from about 1/8 inch to about 1 inch and having interior surfaces defining only a single internal cavity that is adapted to permanently encase a thermal energy storage phase-change composition, said shell being comprised of at least one seamless layer of a wall-forming material that is substantially impermeable to and non-reactive with said phase-change composition or water, the total volume of the wall-forming material being from about 5% to 30% of the volume of said cavity; and
(b) a thermal energy storage phase-change composition permanently disposed within the single cavity of the shell, said phase-change composition being capable of exisiting in solid form, a melted liquid form, or a transition state that includes both the liquid and the solid forms, the composition being present in a quantity such that the total volume of composition whether in the solid form, the liquid form, or the transition state does not exceed the volume of the cavity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A thermal energy storage composite pellet-shaped product of about 1/8 inch to 1 inch in size, formed of an outer seamless shell member which defines a cavity that permanently encases a phase-change composition, the composition being present in a quantity such that the total volume of the composition, whether in its solid form, liquid form, or both forms as in its transition state, never exceeds the volume of the cavity; and a process for making the product which includes using the phase-change composition in a compacted powder form as cast about which the shell member is formed by roll-coating steps.
145 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A thermal energy storage composite product capable of incorporation within rigid building construction components without causing fracture or damage to the components or product after the product undergoes repeated thermal change cycles, said product comprising:
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(a) an outer shell member having a longest dimension of from about 1/8 inch to about 1 inch and having interior surfaces defining only a single internal cavity that is adapted to permanently encase a thermal energy storage phase-change composition, said shell being comprised of at least one seamless layer of a wall-forming material that is substantially impermeable to and non-reactive with said phase-change composition or water, the total volume of the wall-forming material being from about 5% to 30% of the volume of said cavity; and (b) a thermal energy storage phase-change composition permanently disposed within the single cavity of the shell, said phase-change composition being capable of exisiting in solid form, a melted liquid form, or a transition state that includes both the liquid and the solid forms, the composition being present in a quantity such that the total volume of composition whether in the solid form, the liquid form, or the transition state does not exceed the volume of the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification