ENERGY STORAGE TANK HAVING FUNCTION OF FIXING ENERGY STORAGE UNITS

Abstract

An energy storage tank having a function of fixing energy storage units used for a working liquid includes a fixing assembly and a tank body that is for filling of the working liquid and has a bottom plate. The fixing assembly is received in the tank body and includes a fixing part to which the energy storage units are connected and an installation part that is fixed at the fixing part and disposed on the bottom plate. The installation part and the fixing part hold the energy storage units completely in the working liquid. Therefore, the energy storage units are fixed in the tank body in series or by group and distributed evenly in the working liquid such that each of the energy storage units can completely contact the working liquid to enhance energy storage efficiency of the energy storage tank.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an energy storage structure containing a cold storage liquid or a heat storage liquid and, in particular, to an energy storage tank having a function of fixing energy storage units.

2. Description of Related Art

In general, an energy storage air-conditioning system has a tank body which contains a working liquid for freezing or heating and several energy storage units. The energy storage units are scattered in the tank body. For example, ice balls are commonly used to be put in the cold storage tank.

However, the biggest problem regarding the scattered ice balls is that the density of the ice ball is smaller than that of the working liquid. Besides, a large amount of the ice balls causes accumulation and part of the ice balls will float on the working liquid. As a result, the ice balls in the upper layer of the working liquid may not be frozen and the cold storage amount is lower than expected, resulting in a low cold amount in the ice balls such that the cold amount released by the energy air-conditioning system is lower than the theoretical value.

In view of foregoing, the inventor pays special attention to the above existing technology and researches with the application of related theory to overcome the above disadvantages regarding the above related art, which becomes the goal of the inventor's improvement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One objective of the present invention is to provide an energy storage tank having a function of fixing energy storage units, which uses installation parts and fixing parts to hold the energy storage units completely in the working liquid such that the energy storage units are fixed in the tank body in series or by group and distributed evenly in the working liquid. Compared with the traditional way in which the energy storage units are scattered and float on the working liquid, the present invention can ensure each energy storage unit completely contacts the working liquid, which enhances energy storage efficiency of the energy storage tank.

To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides an energy storage tank having a function of fixing energy storage units used for a working liquid. The energy storage tank comprises a tank body used for filling of the working liquid and having a bottom plate and a fixing assembly received in the tank body. The fixing assembly comprises a fixing part and an installation part fixed at one end of the fixing part. The energy storage units are connected to the fixing part. The installation part is disposed on the bottom plate. Both of the installation part and the fixing part hold the energy storage units completely in the working liquid

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of the fixing assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the energy storage tank according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the energy storage tank according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the energy storage tank according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the energy storage tank according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the energy storage tank according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention;.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the energy storage tank according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the energy storage tank according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the energy storage tank according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The detailed description and technical details of the present invention will be explained below with reference to accompanying figures. However, the accompanying figures are only for reference and explanation, but not to limit the scope of the present invention.

Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2. The present invention provides an energy storage tank having a function of fixing energy storage units. The energy storage tank 10 comprises a tank body 1 and at least one fixing assembly 2.

The energy storage tank 10 is mainly used for a working liquid 100 and at least one energy storage units 200. The working liquid 100 is a refrigerating liquid or a heating liquid. Each of energy storage units 200 contains cold storage material or heat storage material such that when the energy storage unit 200 is submerged in the working liquid 100, the effect of pre-refrigeration or pre-heating can be achieved.

In addition, each energy storage unit 200 may be a geometric block such as a spherical shape, a circular shape, a cylindrical block, a rectangular block, a triangular block, an annulus block, a rectangular ring, and a triangular ring. However, the shape of the energy storage unit 200 is not limited to that of the current embodiment.

The tank body 1 is used for filling of the working liquid 100 and has a bottom plate 11. The bottom plate 11 has an internal side surface 13 and an external side surface 14.

There are plural fixing assemblies 2 in the current embodiment, but not limited to this. Each of the fixing assemblies 2 is received in the tank body 1 and comprises a fixing part 21 and an installation part 22 fixed at one end of the fixing part 21. Several energy storage units 200 are connected to individual fixing parts 21. Each of the installation parts 22 is disposed on the bottom plate 11. All of the installation parts 22 and the fixing parts 21 hold the energy storage units 200 completely in the working liquid 100.

The detailed description is given below. The installation part 22 is a counterweight block 221 which is a heavy component like a weight. The fixing part 21 is a bag 211. There are plural energy storage units 200 in the current embodiment and these energy storage units 200 altogether are received in the bags 211.

The combination of the energy storage tank 10 of the present invention uses the tank body 1 used for filling of the working liquid 100; the tank body 1 has the bottom plate 11. The fixing assembly 2 is received in the tank body 1. The fixing assembly 2 comprises a fixing part 21 and an installation part 22 fixed at one end of the fixing part 21; the energy storage units 200 are connected to the fixing part 21. The installation part 22 is disposed on the bottom plate 11; both of the installation part 22 and the fixing part 21 hold the energy storage units 200 completely in the working liquid 100. In this way, the energy storage units 200 are fixed in the tank body 1 in series or by group and distributed evenly in the working liquid 100. Compared with the traditional way in which the energy storage units 200 are scattered and float on the working liquid 100, the present invention can ensure each of the energy storage units 200 completely contacts the working liquid 100, which enhances energy storage efficiency of the energy storage tank 10.

Regarding the operation status of the energy storage tank 10 of the present invention, the plural energy storage units 200 are first received in the bag 211 and then the fixing assembly 2 is placed in the tank body 1. Because the density of the energy storage unit 200 is smaller than that of the working liquid 100, the energy storage unit 200 will float on the working liquid 100. The energy storage units 200 need to be configured with a counterweight block 221 which is a heavy component like a weight to let the counterweight blocks 221 sink to the bottom plate 11 such that the bag 211 and the energy storage units 200 are completely held under the surface of the working liquid 100 to make the energy storage units 200 be fixed in the tank body 1 in series or by group and distributed evenly in the working liquid 100 to store energy. Therefore, the energy storage units 200 of the present invention can be actually and completely held in the working liquid 100 such that each of the energy storage units 200 completely contacts the working liquid 100. Compared with the traditional way in which the energy storage units float on the working liquid, the energy storage tank 10 of the present invention has a better energy storage effect.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2, the fixing part 21 is a bag 211. Due to the limitation of the shape of the bag 211 and the energy storage units 200 floating towards the surface of the working liquid 100, the plural energy storage units 200 will be aligned up and down and form in series or by group in the bag 211, which makes effective use of the space in the tank body 1 and thus makes the energy storage tank 10 have excellent efficiency of energy storage.

Please refer to FIG. 3, which shows the energy storage tank 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is roughly similar to the first embodiment. The difference is that there are several magnets 111 installed on the bottom plate 11 in the second embodiment.

The detailed description is given below. The magnets 111 are install on the internal side surface 13 of the bottom plate 11. The installation part 22 is a magnetic part 222 made of a material containing iron. The magnet 111 and the magnetic part 222 attract to each other. In this way, through the magnetic attraction between the magnet 111 and the magnetic part 222, the magnetic part 222 is fixed to the bottom plate 11 such that the bag 211 and the energy storage units 200 are completely held under the surface of the working liquid 100, achieving the same function and effect as the first embodiment.

Please refer to FIG. 4, which shows the energy storage tank 10 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment is roughly similar to the second embodiment. The difference is that the magnets 111 are installed on the external side surface 14 in the third embodiment.

The detailed description is given below. The magnets 111 are installed either on the internal side surface 13 or on the external side surface 14; either of the above two cases will make the magnetic parts 222 be fixed steadily to the bottom plate 11 to achieve the same function and effect as the second embodiment.

Please refer to FIG. 5, which is the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The fourth embodiment is roughly similar to the first embodiment. The difference is that the bottom plate 11 is provided with plural magnetic parts 112 in the fourth embodiment.

A further explanation is given below. The bottom plate 11 is made of a material containing iron such that the bottom plate 11 itself is a magnetic part 112. The installation part 22 is a magnet 223. The magnet 223 and the magnetic part 112 attract to each other. In this way, through the magnetic attraction between the magnet 223 and the magnetic part 112, the magnet 223 is fixed to the bottom plate 11 such that the bag 211 and the energy storage units 200 are completely held under the surface of the working liquid 100, achieving the same function and effect as the first embodiment.

Please refer to FIG. 6, which is the fifth embodiment of the present invention. The fifth embodiment is roughly similar to the first embodiment. The difference is that the fixing part 21 is a rope 212 in the fifth embodiment.

A further explanation is given below. The fixing part 21 is a rope 212. A through hole 201 is disposed at each of the energy storage units 200. Several energy storage units 200 are disposed in series to the rope 212 through the through holes 201. Thus, the fifth embodiment achieves the same function and effect as the first embodiment. Also, the plural energy storage units 200 will be aligned up and down and form in series or by group through the rope 212, which makes effective use of the space in the tank body 1 and thus makes the energy storage tank 10 have excellent efficiency of energy storage.

Besides, the fixing part 21 can be a rod which makes the energy storage units 200 be disposed in series to the rod through the through holes 201. Thus, the fixing part 21 of the current embodiment can be a rope 212 or a rod.

Please refer to FIG. 7, which is the sixth embodiment of the present invention. The sixth embodiment is roughly similar to the first embodiment. The difference is that a first hook 113 is installed on the bottom plate 11 in the sixth embodiment.

A further description is given below. The first hook 113 is installed on the bottom plate 11; the installation part 22 is a second hook 224. The first hook 113 and the second hook 224 hook to each other. In this way, through the hooking between the first hook 113 and the second hook 224, the second hook 224 is fixed to the bottom plate 11 such that the bag 211 and the energy storage units 200 are completely held under the surface of the working liquid 100, achieving the same function and effect as the first embodiment.

Also, the first hook 113 has a roughly U-like shape and the second hook 224 has a roughly C-like shape. The U-like hook and the C-like hook hook to each other.

Please refer to FIG. 8, which is the seventh embodiment of the present invention. The seventh embodiment is roughly similar to the sixth embodiment. The difference is that the first hook 113 has a roughly C-shape in the seventh embodiment.

The detailed description is given below. As shown in FIG. 7, the first hook 113 has a roughly U-like shape and the second hook 224 has a roughly C-like shape. The U-like hook and the C-like hook hook to each other. As shown in FIG. 8, the first hook 113 has a roughly C-like shape and the second hook 224 has a roughly O-like shape. The C-like hook and the O-like hook can also hook to each other, achieving the same function and effect as the sixth embodiment. However, the fixing assembly 2 is apt to sway in the working liquid 100. The hook which has a U-like or O-like shape can prevent the two attached hooks from swaying and separating from each other to enhance the hooking stability.

Similarly, both of the first hook 113 and the second hook 224 can have a C-like shape. These two C-like hooks can hook to each other to achieve the same function and effect as the sixth embodiment.

Please refer to FIG. 9, which is the eighth embodiment of the present invention. The eighth embodiment is roughly similar to the sixth embodiment. The difference is that the fixing assembly 2 further comprise a counterweight part 23 in the eighth embodiment.

A further description is given below. The fixing assembly 2 further comprises a counterweight part 23 which is a heavy component like a weight. A third hook 231 and a fourth hook 232 are individually disposed at each of two ends of the counterweight part 23. The third hook 231 and the first hook 113 hook to each other; the fourth hook 232 and the second hook 224 hook to each other. Thus, the weight of the fixing assembly 2 is increased by adding the counterweight part 23 such that the second hook 224 is more stably fixed to the bottom plate 11, achieving the same function and effect as the sixth embodiment.

Moreover, one of the third hook 231 and the first hook 113 can have a U-like shape and the other can have a C-like shape such that the third hook 231 and the first hook 113 can hook to each other. One of the fourth hook 232 and the second hook 224 can have an O-like shape and the other can have a C-like shape such that the fourth hook 232 and the second hook 224 can hook to each other. However, the fixing assembly 2 is apt to sway in the working liquid 100. The hook which has a U-like or O-like shape can prevent the two attached hooks from swaying and separating from each other to enhance the hooking stability.

Similarly, both of the third hook 231 and the first hook 113 can have a C-like shape to achieve the effect of hooking between the third hook 231 and the first hook 113. Both of the fourth hook 232 and the second hook 224 can have a C-like shape to achieve the effect of hooking between the fourth hook 232 and the second hook 224.

In summary, the energy storage tank 10 having a function of fixing energy storage units of the present invention which is not anticipated by similar products and not used in public is indeed novel, useful, and non-obvious to be patentable. Please examine the application carefully and grant it as a formal patent for protecting the rights of the inventor.

Claims

1. An energy storage tank (10) having a function of fixing energy storage units (200) used for a working liquid (100), the energy storage tank (10) comprising:

a tank body (1) used for filling of the working liquid (100) and having a bottom plate (11); and

a fixing assembly (2) received in the tank body (1), wherein the fixing assembly (2) comprises a fixing part (21) and an installation part (22) fixed at one end of the fixing part (21), wherein the energy storage units (200) are connected to the fixing part (21), wherein the installation part (22) is disposed on the bottom plate (11), wherein both of the installation part (22) and the fixing part (21) hold the energy storage units (200) completely in the working liquid (100).

2. The energy storage tank (10) according to claim 1, wherein the installation part (22) is a counterweight block (221).

3. The energy storage tank (10) according to claim 1, wherein the bottom plate (11) is provided with a magnetic part (112), wherein the installation part (22) is a magnet (223), wherein the magnet (223) and the magnetic part (112) attract to each other.

4. The energy storage tank (10) according to claim 1, wherein the bottom plate (11) is provided with a magnet (111), wherein the installation part (22) is a magnetic part (222), wherein the magnet (111) and the magnetic part (222) attract to each other.

5. The energy storage tank (10) according to claim 4, wherein the bottom plate (11) has an internal side surface (13) and an external side surface (14), wherein the magnet (111) is installed on the internal side surface (13) or on the external side surface (14).

6. The energy storage tank (10) according to claim 1, wherein a first hook (113) is installed on the bottom plate (11), wherein the installation part (22) is a second hook (224), wherein the first hook (113) and the second hook (224) hook to each other.

7. The energy storage tank (10) according to claim 6, wherein the fixing assembly (2) further comprises a counterweight part (23), wherein a third hook (231) and a fourth hook (232) are disposed at two ends of the counterweight part (23), wherein the third hook (231) and the first hook (113) hook to each other, wherein the fourth hook (232) and the second hook (224) hook to each other.

8. The energy storage tank (10) according to claim 1, wherein the fixing part (21) is a bag (211) in which the energy storage units (200) are received.

9. The energy storage tank (10) according to claim 1, wherein the fixing part (21) is a rope (212), wherein a through hole (201) is disposed at each of the energy storage units (200), wherein the energy storage units (200) are disposed in series to the rope (212) through the through holes (201).

10. The energy storage tank (10) according to claim 1, wherein the fixing part (21) is a rod, wherein a through hole (201) is disposed at each of the energy storage units (200), wherein the energy storage units (200) are disposed in series to the rod through the through holes (201).