Loose fill insulation product having phase change material therein

Abstract

A thermal insulation product is provided comprising a loose fill insulation for insulating an interior of a hollow or open space in a structure and at least one phase change material dispersed in the loose fill insulation.

1 . A thermal insulation product comprising: 
 a loose fill insulation for insulating an interior of a hollow or open space in a building structure; and    at least one phase change material dispersed in said loose fill insulation.    
   
   
       2 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the loose fill insulation comprises fibers selected from the group consisting of cellulose-containing fibers, synthetic polymer fibers, rock wool fibers, glass fibers and shredded or ground recycled newspapers.  
   
   
       3 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one phase change material is dispersed uniformly in the loose fill insulation.  
   
   
       4 . The product of  claim 1 , further comprising a mineral oil and/or binder dispersed in the loose fill insulation.  
   
   
       5 . The product of  claim 1;  wherein said at least one phase change material comprises an n-paraffin.  
   
   
       6 . The product of  claim 5 , wherein said at least one phase change material comprises hexadecane, heptadecane and/or octadecane.  
   
   
       7 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the phase change material is coupled to a carrier.  
   
   
       8 . The product of  claim 7 , wherein the carrier comprises microcapsules, plastic pellets, silica powder, porous diatomaceous particles, a portion of the fibers of said loose fill insulation or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       9 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one phase change material comprises a phase change material having a melting point between about 77.0-85° F.  
   
   
       10 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one phase change material comprises a phase change material having a melting point between about 63.0-72° F.  
   
   
       11 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one phase change material comprises a first phase change material having a melting point between about 77.0-85° F. and a second phase change material having a melting point between about 63.0-72° F.  
   
   
       12 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one phase change material comprises a phase change material having a melting point between about 63-85° F.  
   
   
       13 . A method of making a thermal insulation product, comprising the step of dispersing at least one phase change material in a loose fill insulation for insulating an interior of a hollow or open space in a building structure.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising positioning the loose fill insulation in an interior of a hollow or open space in a structure.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the positioning step comprises pouring or blowing the loose fill insulation into the interior of the hollow or open space.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one phase change material is dispersed in the loose fill insulation before the loose fill insulation is positioned in the interior of the hollow or open object.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one phase change material is dispersed uniformly in the loose fill insulation.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the loose fill insulation comprises fibers selected from the group consisting of cellulose-containing fibers, synthetic polymer fibers, rock wool fibers, glass fibers and shredded or ground recycled newspapers.  
   
   
       19 . The method of clam 13, further comprising the step of dispersing a mineral oil and/or binder in the loose fill insulation.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said at least one phase change material comprises an n-paraffin.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said at least one phase change material comprises hexadecane, heptadecane and/or octadecane.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said at least one phase change material comprises a phase change material having a melting point between about 77.0-85° F.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said at least one phase change material comprises a phase change material having a melting point between about 63.0-72° F.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said at least one phase change material comprises a first phase change material having a melting point between about 77.0-85° F. and a second phase change material having a melting point between about 63.0-72° F.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said at least one phase change material comprises a phase change material having a melting point between about 63-85° F.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the phase change material is coupled to carrier.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the carrier comprises microcapsules, plastic pellets, silica powder, porous diatomaceous particles, a portion of the fibers of said loose fill insulation or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the steps of: 
 packaging the lose fill insulation prior to dispersing said phase change material;    opening said packaging; and    pouring or blowing the loose fill insulation into an interior of a hollow or open space, wherein said dispersing step occurs after said opening step.    
   
   
       29 . A thermal insulation product comprising: 
 a loose fill insulation for insulating an interior of a hollow or open space in a building structure; and    at least one phase change material dispersed uniformly in said loose fill insulation, said phase change material comprising at least one n-paraffin material having a phase change temperature between about 63-85° F.