Devices for Modulation of Temperature and Light Based on Phase Change Materials

• US 20140196868A1
• Filed: 01/14/2014
• Published: 07/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carnegie Mellon University
• Original Assignee: Carnegie Mellon University
• Inventors: Clifford, Dale Timothy, Yao, Shi-Chune
• Granted Patent: US 9,797,187 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/53
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2417 Light path control; means to control reflection
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/24 Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blindsoperating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 11/007 characterised by the means for transmitting light into the interior of a building
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/02 using latent heat
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/026 with different heat storage materials not coming into direct contact
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 13/00 Arrangements for modifying heat-transfer, e.g. increasing, decreasing F28F1/00 - F28F11/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 13/06 by affecting the pattern of flow of the heat-exchange media F28F13/003 takes precedence; static flow control means in header boxes F28F9/026
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2200/00 Prediction; Simulation; Testing measuring quantity of heat conveyed by flowing mediums G01K17/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage

Abstract

This invention describes devices that incorporate phase change materials in containment vessels that promote conduction of thermal energy between the phase change materials within the containment vessels and the surrounding air. In some embodiments, the containment vessels are transparent to enable visual awareness of the operation and functionality of the PCMs. In some embodiments, the containment vessels are design to passively promote air flow across the surfaces of the containment vessels. In some embodiments, the containment vessels include embedded structures to promote the conduction of thermal energy to and from the interior of the containment vessel. In some of these embodiments, the intent is to target the location of crystal ‘seeds’ and control crystal growth, thus gaining greater control over thermal transfer.

Claims

1. A device for modulation of temperature and illumination of an interior space comprising:

a hollow containment vessel;

phase change material disposed within the hollow containment vessel; and

conductive material dispose within the phase change material.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the hollow containment vessel is transparent to permit light emission from the phase change material to exit the hollow containment vessel.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein a material of the hollow containment vessel is selected from a group consisting of polypropylene, polycarbonates, acrylics, and glass.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the hollow containment vessel is a three-dimensional network.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the hollow containment vessel is a honeycomb configuration.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein a form of the conductive material is selected from a group consisting of a single wire strand, a mesh of a plurality of wire strands, a plurality of interwoven wire strands, and a plurality of non-interwoven wire strands.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the hollow containment vessel comprises an internal depth sized to permit light to pass through the phase change material upon the absorption of a target amount of thermal energy by the phase change material.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the hollow containment vessel comprises one or more crystal growth seed initiation sites to display controlled visual performance of phase change material shifting from liquid to solid phase.

17. The device according to claim 14, wherein the one or more crystal growth seed initiation sites is an increased surface area of an exterior wall of the hollow containment vessel.

20. The device according to claim 14, wherein the one or more crystal growth seed initiation sites are one or more thermal bridges attached to an interior wall of the hollow containment vessel.

23. The device according to claim 17, wherein the exterior wall comprises discontinuities.

26. The device according to claim 1, wherein the conductive material is attached to an interior wall of the hollow containment vessel.

31. The device according to claim 23, wherein the discontinuities is one or more microgrooves on an exterior surface of the hollow containment vessel.

34. The device according to claim 4, wherein the three-dimensional network is selected from the group consisting of architectural features, furniture, and fixtures.

7. A louver device for modulation of temperature and illumination of an interior space comprising:

a plurality of hollow louvers interconnected therewith;

phase change material disposed within each louver of the plurality of hollow louvers; and

conductive material dispose within the phase change material.

12. The device according to claim 7, wherein the each louver of the plurality of hollow louvers comprises an internal depth sized to permit light to pass through the phase change material upon the absorption of a target amount of thermal energy by the phase change material.

15. The device according to claim 7, wherein the each louver of the plurality of hollow louvers comprises one or more crystal growth seed initiation sites to display controlled visual performance of phase change material shifting from liquid to solid phase.

18. The device according to claim 15, wherein the one or more crystal growth seed initiation sites is an increased surface area of an exterior wall of the each louver of the plurality of hollow louvers.

21. The device according to claim 15, wherein the one or more crystal growth seed initiation sites are one or more thermal bridges attached to an interior wall of the each louver of the plurality of hollow louvers.

24. The device according to claim 18, wherein the exterior wall comprises discontinuities.

27. The device according to claim 7, wherein the conductive material is attached to an interior wall of the each louver of the plurality of hollow louvers.

29. The device according to claim 7, wherein a material of the each louver of the plurality of hollow louvers is selected from a group consisting of polypropylene, polycarbonates, acrylics, and glass.

32. The device according to claim 24, wherein the discontinuities is one or more microgrooves on an exterior surface of the each louver.

35. The device according to claim 7, wherein a form of the conductive material is selected from a group consisting of a single wire strand, a mesh of a plurality of wire strands, a plurality of interwoven wire strands, and a plurality of non-interwoven wire strands.

8. A device for modulation of temperature and illumination of an interior space comprising:

an outer hollow vessel having two opened ends;

one or more phase change material filled containment vessels;

a fan positioned adjacent one opened end of the two opened ends of the outer hollow vessel to flow air over the one or more phase change material filled containment vessels; and

conductive material dispose within the one or more phase change material filled containment vessels.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the outer hollow vessel is a venturi tube.

10. The device according to claim 8, wherein the one or more phase change material filled containment vessels is a honeycomb configuration.

13. The device according to claim 8, wherein each of the one or more phase change material filled containment vessels comprises an internal depth sized to permit light to pass through the phase change material upon the absorption of a target amount of thermal energy by the phase change material.

16. The device according to claim 8, wherein each of the one or more phase change material filled containment vessels comprises one or more crystal growth seed initiation sites to display controlled visual performance of phase change material shifting from liquid to solid phase.

19. The device according to claim 16, wherein the one or more crystal growth seed initiation sites is an increased surface area of an exterior wall of the each of the one or more phase change material filled containment vessels.

22. The device according to claim 16, wherein the one or more crystal growth seed initiation sites the each of the one or more phase change material filled containment vessels.

25. The device according to claim 19, wherein the exterior wall comprises discontinuities.

28. The device according to claim 8, wherein the conductive material is attached to an interior wall of each containment vessel of the one or more phase change material filled containment vessels.

30. The device according to claim 8, wherein a material of each containment vessel of the one or more phase change material filled containment vessels is selected from a group consisting of polypropylene, polycarbonates, acrylics, and glass.

33. The device according to claim 25, wherein the discontinuities is one or more microgrooves on an exterior surface of each containment vessel of the one or more phase change material filled containment vessels.

36. The device according to claim 8, wherein a form of the conductive material is selected from a group consisting of a single wire strand, a mesh of a plurality of wire strands, a plurality of interwoven wire strands, and a plurality of non-interwoven wire strands.

37. A system for determining luminance and heat storage/release for a user specified interior space comprising:

a user interface for input of parameters for user specified interior space;

a processor which executes a software module stored on memory, and a database comprising data files for phase change materials, transmissivity, and thermodynamic and heat transfer parameters,

wherein the software module contains an executable routine to pull information from the database to determine one or more of PCM containers that correlate with the input parameters.