With Solid Phase Change Patents (Class 126/644)
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Patent number: 10350961Abstract: A heating system for an automotive passenger cabin includes a blower fan generating an air flow; a first heater core downstream of the blower fan; a second heater core downstream of the first heater core; a coolant loop with a first branch and a second branch, wherein the first heater core is disposed in the first branch and the second heater core is disposed in the second branch; a change-over valve arrangement having a first setting establishing fluid communication between the first and second heater cores by connecting the first and second branches in two locations on opposite sides of the first and second heater cores. The change-over valve arrangement has a second setting separating the fluid communication between the first and second heater cores by disconnecting the first and second branches. The second branch or both the first and the second branch are connectable to a PCM heater.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2017Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: MAHLE International GmbHInventors: Mingyu Wang, Edward Wolfe, IV, Timothy Craig, Prasad Kadle
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Publication number: 20150040888Abstract: An objective of the invention is to design and develop an effective method to collect and store heat in a solar collector for delayed release. An embodiment of the invention is directed to an evacuated tube collector, where PCM is placed directly inside the void space of the collector tube, next to the heat pipe. The heat pipe is located with phase change material (PCM) in such a way that its thermal connection with the heat pipe can be switched “ON” to start heat transfer from PCM or “OFF” to keep latent heat stored in PCM for delayed usage. In additional, flow of heat exchange fluid through the manifold can enable release of stored heat of PCM to storage tank. Delayed release of accumulated heat in PCM enables added functionality of on-demand operation of SWH.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2014Publication date: February 12, 2015Inventors: Anvar A. Zakhidov, Vladimir A. Pozdin, Fatemeh Hassanipour, Sergey Darmanyan, Alexios Papadimitratos
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Patent number: 8763601Abstract: A solar tracking device that uses thermal actuation to rotate a solar energy device to track movement of the sun for improved solar energy output of the solar energy device. Thermal actuation is generated by concentrating solar radiation using a solar collector and solar receiver. A medium that expands when heated is in thermal communication with the solar receiver and drives an actuator for rotating the solar tracking device to follow the movement of the sun. The medium may be a phase change material such as Paraffin wax. Rotational actuation may be performed using helical slots in a main housing and cam followers coupled to a shaft extended out of the main housing. At the end of the day, a combination of gravity and/or mechanical return forces may assist in returning the system to an initial position such that it is ready to receive solar radiation the next day.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Sulas Industries, Inc.Inventor: Fintan J. Doyle
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Patent number: 8701653Abstract: A novel thermal storage device includes a container of metallic phase change material (MPCM). The MPCM has a high latent heat of fusion and a high thermal conductivity in its solid state. A thermal energy receiver is adapted to receive thermal energy from a thermal energy source and transfer the thermal energy directly to the MPCM, without the need for an intermediate thermal transfer fluid. A thermal energy discharge mechanism transfers thermal energy directly from the MPCM to a device that uses the thermal energy. In a solar energy embodiment, the thermal energy receiver is formed from a material (e.g., polished copper) that has a relatively low absorptivity value and a relatively low emissivity coefficient, which unexpectedly results in the attainment of a highly efficient solar receiver.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2011Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Inventors: Alan J. Spero, Frank Stephen Wyle
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Publication number: 20110271953Abstract: The invention relates to a device for storing heat, comprising a heat storage medium which absorbs heat in order to store heat and releases heat in order to use the stored heat, and a container for holding the heat storage medium, the container being closed by a gastight cover, and the device comprising volume compensation means in order to compensate for a volume increase of the heat storage medium (3) due to a temperature rise and a volume decrease due to a temperature reduction.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2011Publication date: November 10, 2011Applicant: BASF SEInventors: Jürgen Wortmann, Claus Schäfer, Michael Lutz, Fabian Seeler, Martin Gärtner, Felix Major, Kerstin Schierle-Arndt, Otto Machhammer, Günther Huber, Stephan Maurer
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Publication number: 20110253126Abstract: Net zero energy building systems are disclosed. In some embodiments, the systems include the following: roofing panels positioned on a roof of a building, the roofing panels being made of an array of horizontal elliptic glass vacuum tube solar collectors attached upon a reinforced light weight concrete panel; electricity generators; an insulated fluid storage tank; and a fluid circulation sub-system joined with the panels, generators, and tank.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2011Publication date: October 20, 2011Inventors: Huiming Yin, C. Julian Chen
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Patent number: 5931157Abstract: A combined thermal-insulation/thermal-collector assembly for the outside walls or roofs of buildings has a heat-insulating layer which is transparent to solar radiation and is designed with a transparent structure. The heat-insulating material including a multiplicity of adjacent channels is disposed in essentially the same direction as the flow of heat. The heat-insulating layer is made up of elements which are thin relative to the thickness of the layer. The channels running across the heat-insulating layer are open, have an essentially uniform diameter, and thus form a transparent structure.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 1996Date of Patent: August 3, 1999Inventor: Johann Aschauer
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Patent number: 5564411Abstract: The present invention relates to a roof module having an integral solar energy concentrator. The present modules can be combined to form a weathertight roof with an integral solar concentrator. Radiant solar energy can be collected from this modular roof using reflected solar energy collectors, among other solar energy concentrating or energy transferring elements. The present invention results in a lower weight and easier to install system for placing solar energy concentrators atop a structure, and thus, lower the cost collecting radiant solar energy from atop a building or roofed structure.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 1995Date of Patent: October 15, 1996Inventors: John F. Myles, III, Michael H. Nicklas, Louis J. Gerics