Patent · US Expired

Fatty-acid thermal storage devices, cycle, and chemicals

US6574971B2 · kind B2 · utility

26Cited by
2References
14Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 5, 2001
Grant dateJun 10, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 5, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC09K5/063
  • WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

This invention is a method for producing phase change material (PCM) chemicals containing fatty acids or fatty-acid derivatives. These derivatives (1) are renewable, being produced by biomass or livestock such as cattle, (2) can be manufactured at low to moderate prices, and (3) can be manufactured in a variety of ways to produce PCM chemicals effective at several temperatures of interest in climate control and food maintenance.Unlike paraffin PCM chemicals that are largely limited to fractions available in either crude oil or irreversible chemical synthesis processes, the ester bond chemistry of triglycerides (fats and oils) is reversible allowing repeated reaction until the desired PCM chemicals combinations are synthesized and isolated. This method in a process based on contacting of reactants, reversible ester bond chemistry, separation of fractions with the desired latent heat properties, and recycle of those fractions that do not have the desired latent heat properties.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.