Method and apparatus for accumulating, storing and releasing thermal energy
US4291755A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 10, 1978 |
| Grant date | Sep 29, 1981 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 10, 1998 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E70/30
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A heat storage medium includes a halide or sulfate salt of a divalent or trivalent metal which salt has hydrated and dehydrated states with high heat of hydration. The medium is dehydrated by heating it with heat derived from a natural source such as solar or geothermal energy or from industrial waste heat and the evolved water removed from the medium. The heat is recovered by rehydrating the medium by the addition of water. The medium may be a porous mass, a slurry of the salt in a water immiscible liquid or a suspension of the salt in a gas and it may be dehydrated by source heating the slurry and separating the water or by passing a source heated gas or immiscible liquid through the medium and the heat may be released from the medium by injecting water into the slurry or by passing a water carrying gas or immiscible liquid through the permeable mass. The storage and recovery procedure may be continuous or batch with the medium being recycled.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.