Thermal Storage Containers With Radiant Heating for PCM Melting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Phase change materials (PCMs) used for thermal energy storage face challenges in efficient heating due to low thermal conductivity, making it difficult to melt the material at the center of a container, as they do not conduct heat well from the container walls.
Innovation Solution
The use of thermal energy storage containers with high emissivity inner surfaces for radiant heating, combined with radiation-absorbing materials, facilitates efficient heating of PCMs by radiating heat energy towards the center, overcoming the low thermal conductivity issue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If PCMs are stored within a container for thermal energy storage, then thermal energy can be stored for later use, but it becomes difficult to efficiently heat and melt the PCM material in the center of the container due to low thermal conductivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a radiant barrier material as an intermediary substance mixed within the PCM. This radiant barrier material absorbs radiant heat energy and converts it to thermal energy, acting as a mediator to distribute heat throughout the PCM volume, particularly reaching the center regions that are difficult to heat through conduction alone from the container walls.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces reliance on thermal conduction (mechanical heat transfer through material contact) with radiant heat transfer. By using radiant heating that penetrates the PCM and is absorbed by the radiant barrier material, the system bypasses the limitation of low thermal conductivity and directly heats the PCM throughout its volume, including the center regions.
2Quantity of substance
If conventional sensible heat storage media like oil or sand are used, then heating is straightforward through conduction from container walls, but the energy storage capacity is limited compared to PCMs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermal properties of the storage medium by incorporating radiant barrier material into the PCM. This modification alters how heat is absorbed and distributed within the material, enabling the system to achieve both high energy storage capacity (inherent to PCMs) and improved heating efficiency (through radiant heat absorption and conversion).
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
This approach allows for more effective melting of PCMs throughout the container, increasing the efficiency of thermal energy storage and reducing the need for large storage tanks, making high-temperature concentrated solar power and nuclear power more cost-effective and dispatchable.
Implementation Method 1
the inner walls of a thermal energy storage container that contains thermal energy storage media have high emissivity surfaces so as to radiate heat energy toward the center of the storage media
Implementation Method 2
a radiation absorbing material that absorbs the radiation and heats the PCM
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, a thermal energy storage system includes multiple thermal energy storage containers adapted to store thermal energy storage media, the containers having high emissivity inner surfaces that are adapted to radiate heat into the stored thermal energy storage media.