Elastomer Composite Thermal Storage Resolving Salt Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current thermal energy storage systems face challenges with high investment costs, limited capacity, and inefficiencies due to the use of materials with low thermal conductivity and high volume expansion, particularly in phase-change materials like salts, which hinder their widespread adoption in industrial and renewable energy applications.
Innovation Solution
Development of composite thermal energy storage materials based on elastomeric matrices incorporating thermoplastic vulcanizates and microparticulate phase change materials, which enhance heat transfer and stability by using encapsulated inorganic salts or organic compounds within a conductive rubber matrix, allowing for efficient heat storage and release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If phase-change materials like salts are used for thermal energy storage, then heat storage capacity is improved, but volume expansion and hysteresis increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent encapsulates phase-change materials (salts) within elastomeric matrices, creating a nested structure where the PCM is contained inside the elastomer. This resolves the volume expansion issue by providing a flexible container that accommodates expansion while maintaining structural integrity, and reduces hysteresis through the elastomer's damping properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite materials combining elastomers with phase-change materials (salts). This composite structure leverages the high heat storage capacity of salts while the elastomer matrix provides flexibility to handle volume changes and reduces hysteresis, resolving the contradiction between storage capacity and stability.
2Quantity of substance
If phase-change materials like salts are used for thermal energy storage, then heat storage capacity is improved, but hysteresis increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomer-PCM composite structure reduces hysteresis losses while maintaining high heat storage capacity. The elastomeric matrix provides a flexible, damping environment that minimizes energy losses during phase transitions, allowing the system to retain most of the stored thermal energy.
3Quantity of substance
If existing thermal energy storage technologies are used, then heat storage is achieved, but investment costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters by using elastomeric matrices instead of rigid containers, enabling flexible manufacturing processes and reducing construction costs. This parameter change allows for simpler, more scalable production methods while maintaining effective heat storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomer-PCM composite provides a cost-effective alternative to existing thermal storage technologies. The combination of inexpensive elastomeric materials with phase-change materials creates an economically viable solution that reduces investment costs while maintaining heat storage functionality.
4Quantity of substance
If materials with low thermal conductivity are used, then heat storage capacity is maintained, but heat transfer efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by incorporating heat transfer enhancing additives (such as metal particles or conductive fillers) into specific regions of the elastomeric matrix. This creates zones of improved thermal conductivity within the otherwise low-conductivity elastomer, enabling efficient heat transfer while maintaining the overall heat storage capacity of the composite material.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composite materials demonstrate improved heat capacity, reduced swelling, and minimal hysteresis, enabling efficient thermal energy storage and release with reduced system size and construction costs, addressing the limitations of existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
at least one type of encapsulated microparticulate phase change material (PCM) dispersed within said elastomeric material
Implementation Method 2
Heat storage based on phase-change materials (latent heat technology) shows a high potential for the development of efficient, economical storage systems
Implementation Method 3
a material incorporated into said rubber, said material comprising a thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV)
Data Source
Figure 1~2B
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AI summary
A composite material for storing thermal energy at various temperatures (30°C to 450°C) formed by an elastomer matrix into which a phase change material such as an inorganic salt is encapsulated. The material is characterized by a high volumetric thermal conductivity, a low density, a highly interconnected porosity and a relatively high modulus of elasticity. The significant properties of the matrices are: a large amount of energy involved in full melting/crystallization, a fairly low relative volume expansion upon melting and fairly low sub- cooling. The main advantages of the resulting composites are a very high energy density, a relatively low volume expansion, highly enhanced heat transfer, thermo adaptability, stability and insignificant hysteresis.