Thermal energy storage

Abstract

The invention is directed at articles and devices for thermal energy storage, and for process of storing energy using these articles and devices. The articles comprise a capsular structure 10 having one or more sealed spaces 14, wherein the sealed spaces encapsulate one or more thermal energy storage materials 26: wherein the capsular structure has one or more fluid passages 16 which are sufficiently large to allow a heat transfer fluid to flow through the one or more fluid passages; and when a heat transfer fluid contacts the capsular structure 10 the thermal energy storage material 26 is Isolated from the heal transfer fluid. The devices include two or more articles arranged so that a fluid, such as a heat transfer fluid, may flow through the fluid passage 16 of an article before or after flowing through a space between two of the articles.

Description

CLAIM OF BENEFIT OF FILING DATE[0001]The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 299,565, filed Jan. 29, 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference for al purposes.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to thermal energy storage using a thermal energy storage material and to the packaging of the thermal energy storage material to allow for both efficient heat storage and efficient heat transfer.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Industry in general has been actively seeking a novel approach to capture and store waste heat efficiently such that it can be utilized at a more opportune time. Further, the desire to achieve energy storage in a compact space demands the development of novel materials that are capable of storing high energy content per unit weight and unit volume. Areas of potential application of breakthrough technology include transportation, solar energy, industrial manufacturing processe...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]The articles, devices, systems and processes of the present invention advantageously are capable of containing a high concentration of thermal energy storage material so that a large amount of thermal energy can be stored (e.g., having a high energy density), are capable of having a high surface area between the heat transfer fluid and the article containing the thermal energy storage material so that heat can be quickly transferred into and / or out of the thermal energy storage material (e.g., having a high power density, preferably greater than about 8 kW / L), are capable of having multiple flow paths that have similar or equal hydraulic resistance so that heat is uniformly transferred to and / or transferred from different regions; have a rotational symmetry so that they may be arranged easily; have a structure that is strong and durable; have a high heat storage density so that they can be used in applications requiring compact designs, light weight components, or both; have lower hydraulic resistance for a heat transfer fluid flow (for example, a pressure drop of less than about 1.5 kPa at a heat transfer fluid pumping rate of about 10 liters / min) so that the pumping requirements for the heat transfer fluid are reduced, or an combination thereof.

Problems solved by technology

Regarding the transportation industry, it is well known that internal combustion engines operate inefficiently.

Sources of this inefficiency include heat lost via exhaust, cooling, radiant heat and mechanical losses from the system.

It is estimated that more than 30% of the fuel energy supplied to an internal combustion engine (internal combustion engine) is lost to the environment via engine exhaust.

It is well known that during a “cold start” internal combustion engines operate at substantially lower efficiency, generate more emissions, or both, because combustion is occurring at a non-optimum temperature and the internal combustion engine needs to perform extra work against friction due to high viscosity of cold lubricant.

This problem is even more important for hybrid electric vehicles in which the internal combustion engine operates intermittently thereby prolonging the cold start conditions, and / or causing a plurality of occurrences of cold start conditions during a single period of operating the vehicle.

However, in order to provide a long term (e.g., greater than about 6 hour) heat storage capability, they generally occupy a large volume, require pumping of a large volume of heat transfer fluid, require a relatively large pump to overcome the hydraulic resistance, and the like.

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