Devices for storing and discharging heat and methods thereof

• US 8,590,598 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2012
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC (Dow, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC (Dow, Inc.)
• Inventors: Soukhojak, Andrey N., Bank, David H., Sehanobish, Kalyan
• Primary Examiner(s): CIRIC, LJILJANA V
• Application Number:
  US13/475,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20120251087A1
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 165/4, 165/10
• US Class Current: 165/10
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 5/063 Materials absorbing or liberating heat during crystallisation; Heat storage materials
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 7/02 the released heat being conveyed to a transfer fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/021 the latent heat storage material and the heat-exchanging means being enclosed in one container F28D20/023 - F28D20/028 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2020/0008 the heat storage material being enclosed in plate-like or laminated elements, e.g. in plates having internal compartments
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 9/0031 the conduits for one heat-exchange medium being formed by paired plates touching each other F28D9/0012, F28D9/0025, F28D9/0081, F28D9/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2240/00 Spacing means
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/026 with static flow control means, e.g. with means for uniformly distributing heat exchange media into conduits
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/301 Method
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4935 Heat exchanger or boiler making

Abstract

The device for storing and discharging heat which includes a housing; a first blister pack and a second blister pack each having a plurality of capsules; a thermal energy storage material contained in the capsules; and an evacuated space capable of insulating the housing. The blister packs include a first ply and a second ply that are joined together. The housing includes openings for flowing a heat transfer fluid through the device. The device includes a flow path for a heat transfer fluid that includes a volume between the first and second blister packs. The separation between the first and second blister packs is less than 5 mm.

Claims

1. A device for storing and discharging heat including:

i) a housing having an internal volume;

ii) at least one first blister pack within the housing, wherein the first blister pack includes at least two opposing plies including a first ply and a second ply wherein the first ply has a first facing surface that faces the second ply and the second ply has a second facing surface that faces the first ply, wherein the two opposing plies are joined in contact with each other over a portion of respective first and second facing surfaces, wherein the first blister pack includes a first plurality of capsules and a thermal energy storage material contained in the first plurality of capsules;

iii) at least one second blister pack within the housing and adjacent to the first blister pack, wherein the second blister pack includes at least two opposing plies including a first ply and a second ply wherein the first ply has a first facing surface that faces the second ply and the second ply has a second facing surface that faces the first ply, wherein the two opposing plies of the second blister pack are joined in contact with each other over a portion of the first and second facing surfaces, wherein the second blister pack includes a second plurality of capsules and a thermal energy storage material contained in the second plurality of capsules;

iv) a flow path defined by a volume between the first blister pack and the second blister pack;

v) an evacuated space capable of insulating the housing; and

,

vi) openings in the housing for flowing a heat transfer fluid through the housing;

wherein the first blister pack and the second blister pack are separated by a gap thickness, t_gap, less than 5 mm.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second blister packs nest so that the first and second blister packs are separated by a distance of 1 mm or less.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the thermal energy storage material includes one or more salts selected from the group consisting of a potassium salt, a lithium salt, and a sodium salt.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the each blister pack includes a flat surface, the second blister pack is adjacent to and interposed between the first blister pack and a third blister pack, and wherein the blister packs are stacked so that the second and third blister packs contact each other along their flat surfaces.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the thermal energy storage material includes lithium ions.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the first ply of the first blister pack is a metal foil having a plurality of dimples, folds, wrinkles, or pleats.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first ply of the first blister pack is a metal foil having an oxide layer.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the thermal energy storage material has a liquidus temperature greater than 85°

C.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the first ply of the first blister pack is an aluminum foil.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the first ply of the first blister pack is a stainless steel foil.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein

the thermal energy storage material includes lithium ions;

the first ply of the first blister pack is a first metal foil having a plurality of dimples, folds, wrinkles, or pleats;

the first metal foil has an oxide layer; and

,

the thermal energy storage material has a liquidus temperature greater than 85°

C.

12. A method of storing heat comprising:

a. transferring heat from a heat source to a heat storage device, wherein the heat storage device includes;

a) a housing having an internal volume;

ii) at least one first blister pack within the housing, wherein the first blister pack includes at least two opposing plies including a first ply and a second ply wherein the first ply has a first facing surface that faces the second ply and the second ply has a second facing surface that faces the first ply, wherein the two opposing plies are joined in contact with each other over a portion of respective first and second facing surfaces, wherein the first blister pack includes a first plurality of capsules and a thermal energy storage material contained in the first plurality of capsules;

iii) at least one second blister pack within the housing and adjacent to the first blister pack, wherein the second blister pack includes at least two opposing plies including a first ply and a second ply wherein the first ply has a first facing surface that faces the second ply and the second ply has a second facing surface that faces the first ply, wherein the two opposing plies of the second blister pack are joined in contact with each other over a portion of the first and second facing surfaces, wherein the second blister pack includes a second plurality of capsules and a thermal energy storage material contained in the second plurality of capsules;

iv) a flow path defined by a volume between the first blister pack and the second blister pack;

v) an evacuated space capable of insulating the housing; and

vi) openings in the housing for flowing a heat transfer fluid through the housing;

wherein the first blister pack and the second blister pack are separated by a gap thickness, t_gap, less than 5 mm; and

,

b. transferring heat from the heat storage device to any one of;

an engine for cold starting the engine;

a cockpit of a vehicle for heating the cockpit;

or, air for heating a building.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the transferring heat from a heat source includes flowing a heat transfer fluid through the heat storage device;

and the transferring heat from the heat storage device includes flowing a heat transfer fluid through the heat storage device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the heat source is solar heat.