Staggered Ceramic Heat Storage Blocks for Thermal Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat accumulators experience undesirable temperature equalization when not in use, leading to reduced efficiency and lower discharge temperatures, as heat conduction between stacked blocks causes temperatures to equilibrate to an average, rather than maintaining the high temperature achieved during charging.
Innovation Solution
The heat accumulator design features staggered, laterally offset ceramic blocks with cross-flow spaces and reduced contact areas via feet, which minimize heat conduction and turbulence, maintaining a desired temperature distribution by preventing rapid temperature equalization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If shaped blocks are stacked with aligned flow channels for continuous medium flow, then medium flow continuity is improved, but temperature equalization occurs during breaks reducing discharge temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The heat accumulator is divided into multiple storage elements arranged in series, where each element has its own inlet and outlet flow channels. This segmentation prevents temperature equalization between elements while maintaining continuous flow through each element, resolving the contradiction between flow continuity and temperature maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension to the flow path by arranging storage elements in series along the flow direction rather than stacking them with vertically aligned channels. This dimensional change allows medium to flow through multiple elements sequentially, maintaining temperature gradients across the system while ensuring continuous flow.
2Temperature
If shaped blocks are arranged in staggered, laterally offset positions, then temperature equalization is reduced, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat accumulator is divided into multiple independent storage elements with defined inlet and outlet channels. This segmentation allows each element to maintain its own temperature profile while simplifying the overall arrangement, as each element is a standardized component that can be systematically arranged without complex custom positioning.
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 design maintains a high temperature gradient within the heat accumulator during extended breaks, ensuring efficient charging and discharging processes, with the medium being brought close to the initial charging temperature, enhancing overall process control and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
This temperature equalization takes place mainly due to heat conduction within the heat accumulator
Implementation Method 2
Heat storage of the type mentioned are known. They are used, for example, to temporarily store excess process heat
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a heat store (1) having at least one storage element (3) comprising molded stones (4) made of ceramic layered on top of each other, substantially disposed in a wall composite (13), wherein each molded stone (4) comprises a substantially rectangular and/or triangular cross section, at least some of the molded stones (4) particularly comprise feet (17) reducing heat transfer from one molded stone (4) to another molded stone (4), said feet being provided in the corners of the molded stone (4) and formed by machining away the molded stone (4) at the lower end thereof, wherein a transverse flow chamber (14) having a circular cross-section and having lateral overflow openings (27) is simultaneously formed by machining, and the overflow openings (27) interact with overflow openings (27) of further molded stones (4) for increasing the transverse flow chamber (14) across a plurality of adjacently disposed molded stones (4).