Thermal energy storage apparatus enabling use of aqueous or corrosive thermal storage media
First Claim
1. A holdover plate for thermal energy storage in refrigeration and air conditioning systems, said holdover plate comprising:
- a heat exchanger with an adjacent space in close proximity thereto;
a plurality of expandable capsules containing a thermal energy storage medium, said capsules substantially filling said adjacent space and said capsules including means to provide for expansion of the thermal energy storage medium without altering outer envelope dimensions of said capsules;
a containment means forming an exterior of said holdover plate and surrounding said heat exchanger and said adjacent space filled with said capsules, said containment means further containing a convective coupling fluid which thermally couples and is non-corrosive to said heat exchanger, said capsules, and said containment means;
and wherein said convective coupling fluid transfers heat primarily through natural convection and conduction and does not freeze at operational temperatures of said heat exchanger.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A thermal energy storage apparatus for use in refrigeration and air conditioning holdover systems is disclosed. The apparatus comprises thermal energy storage media encapsulated in a way that enables use of corrosive and/or aqueous thermal energy storage media in high efficiency refrigeration and air conditioning thermal storage systems; natural convection of a non-freezing, non-corrosive heat exchange fluid provides heat transfer between the encapsulated thermal energy storage media and the refrigeration/air conditioning circuit. Several possible embodiments of the encapsulated media and thermal coupling system that provide efficient heat transfer between the refrigeration circuit and the thermal energy storage media are described. In one preferred embodiment the apparatus comprises a refrigeration circuit, energy storage medium disposed in expandable, preferably cylindrical capsules, and a convective heat transfer fluid which remains liquid over the temperature range of operation, the fluid thermally coupling the refrigeration circuit and the energy storage medium. The preferred embodiments of the invention entail use of a multiplicity of small cylindrical capsules mounted in supporting fixtures (racks, grids, or frames, which are optionally integral to the capsules) or attached to a sheet or grid that supports many capsules. Capsules are by this method closely packed in the space surrounding the refrigeration heat exchanger circuit.
77 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A holdover plate for thermal energy storage in refrigeration and air conditioning systems, said holdover plate comprising:
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a heat exchanger with an adjacent space in close proximity thereto; a plurality of expandable capsules containing a thermal energy storage medium, said capsules substantially filling said adjacent space and said capsules including means to provide for expansion of the thermal energy storage medium without altering outer envelope dimensions of said capsules; a containment means forming an exterior of said holdover plate and surrounding said heat exchanger and said adjacent space filled with said capsules, said containment means further containing a convective coupling fluid which thermally couples and is non-corrosive to said heat exchanger, said capsules, and said containment means; and wherein said convective coupling fluid transfers heat primarily through natural convection and conduction and does not freeze at operational temperatures of said heat exchanger. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification