Thermal energy storage device and method for making the same
The thermal energy storage device is in the form of a sealed tube -like container such as a tube-like cylinder or other geometrical configuration partially filled with a phase change material such as calcium chloride hexahydrate. The cylinder is made of tubular high density polyethylene and more particularly an ultra high molecular weight high density polyethylene having a molecular weight of about 500,000 to 700,000 which is tough, chemically resistant, withstands low and high temperatures, acts as a moisture vapor barrier and can be fused and sealed. The calcium hexahydrate is filled in an open top cylinder, closed at the bottom by dissolving two parts of calcium chloride dihydrate with one part of water to provide calcium chloride hexahydrate in liquid form. The cylinder is filled to about 90% by volume and a cap of the same material is then preheated to about fusion temperature. The open top of the cylinder is then brought up to fusion temperature and the cap is fused to it under pressure. The thermal energy storage device with the encapsulated calcium chloride hexahydrate can then be subjected to repeated freezethaw cycles. The latent heat of fusion is utilized with sensible heat in various types of usages such as solar heating, heat pump applications and the like. In another embodiment the cylinder may be pinch sealed at the bottom and top by fusion to provide a flat pinch. Modifications of pinch sealing to reduce distortion near the seal include x-shaped, y-shaped and wave-shaped pinch seal configurations. The tube-like container instead of being cylindrical may for ease in stacking and to present greater surface area take other geometrical configurations such as a generally oblong configuration with rounded sides.
- Assignee:
- Psi Energy Systems Inc.
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4388963
- OSTI ID:
- 5583338
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: Filed date 14 Apr 1980; Other Information: PAT-APPL-139847
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE EQUIPMENT
DESIGN
FABRICATION
PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS
CALCIUM CHLORIDES
CYLINDERS
HYDRATES
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM HALIDES
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
EQUIPMENT
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
250600* - Energy Storage- Thermal