Thermal Energy Storage, Inc.

Thermal Energy Stroage, Inc.

James Hitchin

Gustaf O Arrhenius

Albert G Tsai

Eric A Jensen

Heat storage and transfer system and method in which a liquid-solid phase change material and a liquid-vapor phase change material selected for coaction with each other are disposed in a container with a body of the liquid phase of the liquid-vapor material in continuous contact with a body of the liquid phase of the liquid-solid material for superior heat transfer between the materials for giving up and transferring sensible heat and liquid to solid phase change latent heat to vaporize liquid-vapor phase change material and vapor to liquid phase change latent heat to a condenser/heat exchanger and also for superior heat transfer from a heat source such as a solar or electric heater by giving up the heat of condensation of a vapor phase to a solid-liquid material which accepts the heat as sensible heat and as heat of melting.

Latent heat storage and transfer system and method

A container holds a heat storage medium such as aqueous sodium thiosulfate having properties of melting into a liquid and crystallizing into a solid and saturated solution in a particular temperature range and of storing energy when converted to the molten state and of releasing such stored energy when crystallized. The sodium thiosulfate liquid may be chemically basic by the addition to the liquid of a suitable soluble additive material such as disodium hydrogen phosphate or trisodium phosphate or both. First and second tubes made from a suitable heat conducting material such as aluminum are disposed in the container in spaced and nested relationship to one another. The tubes may be joined by connecting members also made from aluminum. The first tubes are connected to provide for the circulation of a first fluid through the tubes to transfer energy to the heat storge medium for melting the material and further heating it above the melting interval. The second tubes are connected to provide for the circulation of a second fluid through the tubes to transfer heat from the storage medium. The heat storage medium may be stirred while in the liquid state but the stirring may be discontinued when the medium solidifies at crystallization.

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Del Mar, CA, United States of America

James Hitchin