Heat accumulator with an enlarging expansion area

US5217062A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Deutsche Forschungsanstalt Fur Luft-Und Raumfahrt E.V. · DE

Inventors

• Friedrich Paul Lindner · Ried im Innkreis, AT
• Hans-Joerg Staehle · Echterdingen, DE
• Peter Tattermusch · Eßlingen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 7, 1990
• Grant date: Jun 8, 1993
• Expiry date: Dec 7, 2010

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E60/14
• WIPO field: Thermal processes and apparatus
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The invention concerns a thermal storage unit with a storage container having an internal space for holding a storage medium, the internal space including a solidification zone, in which the storage medium is located following a solidification process, and an expansion zone, in which the storage medium can expand during the melting process. In order to improve this thermal storage unit so that the mechanical loads are reduced, permitting the storage container to have a simpler, cheaper constructional design, it is proposed that the storage container wall surfaces in contact with the storage medium are made of a material which is not wetted by the storage medium.