Thermal energy storage system

Patent · Tue May 20 04:00:00 EDT 1980

OSTI ID:5405233

Swiadek, S F

A modular thermal energy storage system comprises a stack of individual heat storage elements, each element having a sealed metal container filled with liquid such as water and separate thermally diffusing layers of insulation on opposite outer portions of the container, with opposite central portions of the container wall being exposed. The heat storage elements are stacked so as to form spaced apart ducts bounded by the exposed portions of the elements, each duct being formed between adjacent heat storage elements in the stack. The thermally diffusing layers of the elements form outer walls of the stack, and adjacent stacks can be spaced apart to form a passage bounded by the thermally diffusing outer walls of a pair of adjacent stacks. Hot air from a solar heat collector, for example, is passed through the ducts in each stack of elements to transfer heat through the exposed container walls to rapidly heat the liquid in each container. The liquid stores the heat transferred to it, and such heat is slowly and controllably released through the thermally diffusing walls. Cooler air to be heated by the heat storage system flows through the passages between adjacent stacks and draws heat from the thermally diffusing walls of the stacks.

• Assignee: EDB-82-094178
• Patent Number(s): US 4203489
• OSTI ID: 5405233
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
142000* -- Solar Energy-- Heat Storage-- (1980-)
AIR
CONTAINERS
DIFFUSION
ENERGY STORAGE
EQUIPMENT
FLUIDS
GASES
HEAT STORAGE
HEAT TRANSFER FLUIDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MODULAR STRUCTURES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
STORAGE
THERMAL DIFFUSION
THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE EQUIPMENT
THERMAL INSULATION
WATER
WORKING FLUIDS