Commissariat a L'energie Atomique

Alain Bricard

Robert Moracchioli

Maurice De Cachard

Gerard Kurka

Pierre Goffinet

Bernard Duret

Jacques Chabanne

The present invention relates to a process of accumulation and restitution of heat, wherein heat, mainly in the form of latent heat of fusion, is stored, as required, by causing a hot heat-transfer fluid to circulate in the lower part of a bed of material in grain form with considerable latent heat of fusion, the temperature of the fluid being higher than the melting point of the material which melts under the effect of the additional calories from the fluid, and heat stored by the material in the liquid state is restituted, as required, by circulating and bringing into contact the material and the fluid, the temperature of the latter being lower than the melting point of the material, with the result that the latter yields heat to the fluid on solidifying in the form of grains before being transported into a tank for storing the material in grain form. The invention also relates to a heat accumulator for carrying out the process.

Process of accumulation and restitution of heat

A heat-transporting fluid F is passed over a material C having a high latent heat of fusion and in direct contact therewith so that the fluid and the material exchange heat at a temperature close to the melting point of the material. By contacting the hot fluid F with the material C, this material melts and accumulates heat in the form of latent heat of fusion while cooling the fluid F. When the cold fluid is contacted directly with the material C, this material solidifies and releases heat which is transmitted to the fluid F.

Method of heat accumulation and a thermal accumulator for the

Growing community of inventors

Grenoble, France

Alain Bricard