Patent · US Active

Method and system for buffering thermal energy and thermal energy buffer system

US9506670B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
1References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 4, 2012
Grant dateNov 29, 2016
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 5, 2033

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E60/14
  • WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A method for buffering thermal energy comprises a thermal buffering medium contained by a thermal energy buffer. The volume of the thermal buffering medium is subdivided in one or more parts such that the different parts of the volume of the thermal buffering medium together form the total thermal buffering medium. The thermal energy buffer comprises a temperature sensor for each part. A controller has at least one signal representing at least one thermal energy value related to the thermal energy buffer. The thermal energy values comprise a predetermined minimum amount of thermal energy present in the thermal energy buffer. The controller controls a heater such that the amount of thermal energy present in the thermal energy buffer is higher than or equals the predetermined minimum amount of energy present in the thermal energy buffer.

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