US2012037337A1PendingUtilityA1

Heat transfer system, apparatus, and method therefor

48
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Aug 16, 2010Filed: Aug 16, 2010Published: Feb 16, 2012
Est. expiryAug 16, 2030(~4.1 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Andrew J. Zillmer
F28D 20/0056Y02E60/14F28D 20/02F28D 20/021F28F 2013/006
48
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Claims

Abstract

A heat transfer system includes a heat source, a heat sink, and a thermotransfer structure that is operable to transfer heat between the heat source and the heat sink. The thermotransfer structure includes a thermally conductive element and a thermal storage element adjacent the thermally conductive element.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An energy transfer apparatus comprising:
 a vessel containing a fluid;   a hot shoe at least partially disposed in the fluid; and   a thermal capacitor integral with the hot shoe.   
     
     
         2 . A heat transfer apparatus comprising:
 a hot shoe; and   a thermal capacitor integral with the hot shoe.   
     
     
         3 . An energy transfer apparatus comprising:
 a vessel containing a fluid;   a hot shoe at least partially disposed in the fluid; and   a thermal capacitor attached to the hot shoe.   
     
     
         4 . An energy transfer apparatus comprising:
 a vessel containing a fluid;   a hot shoe at least partially disposed in the fluid; and   a thermal capacitor abutting the hot shoe.   
     
     
         5 . A heat transfer system comprising:
 a heat source;   a heat sink; and   a thermotransfer structure operable to transfer heat between the heat source and the heat sink, the thermotransfer structure including a thermally conductive element and a thermal storage element adjacent the thermally conductive element.   
     
     
         6 . The heat transfer system as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the thermally conductive element is a metallic material selected from a group consisting of copper material, iron material, aluminum material, and combinations thereof, and the thermal storage element is selected from a group consisting of a molten salt, a molten metal, and a ceramic material. 
     
     
         7 . The heat transfer system as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the thermally conductive element is a metallic material and the thermal storage element is selected from a group consisting of a phase change material and a ceramic material. 
     
     
         8 . The heat transfer system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the thermal storage element is the phase change material, and the phase change material selected from a group consisting of a molten salt and a molten metal. 
     
     
         9 . The heat transfer system as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the thermally conductive element is selected from a group consisting of copper material, iron material, aluminum material, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The heat transfer system as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the thermal storage element includes a core comprising a first material and a protective cladding comprising a second, different material that encases the core. 
     
     
         11 . The heat transfer system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein one of the first material or the second material is a ceramic material and the other of the first material or the second material is a metallic material. 
     
     
         12 . The heat transfer system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the first material is a first metallic material and the second material is a second metallic material having a different composition than the first metallic material. 
     
     
         13 . The heat transfer system as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the heat source is a vessel having a molten heat transfer fluid therein, and the heat sink is a power conversion device. 
     
     
         14 . The heat transfer system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the power conversion device is selected from a group consisting of a Stirling power conversion device and a thermoelectric power conversion device. 
     
     
         15 . The heat transfer system as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the thermally conductive element has a first heat capacity and the thermal storage element has a second heat capacity that is greater than the first heat capacity. 
     
     
         16 . A heat transfer apparatus comprising:
 a thermotransfer structure including a first surface for receiving heat and a second surface for emitting heat, the thermotransfer structure including a thermally conductive element extending from the first surface to the second surface and a thermal storage element adjacent the thermally conductive element.   
     
     
         17 . The heat transfer apparatus as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the first surface of the thermotransfer structure has a first cross-sectional area and the second surface of the thermotransfer structure has a second cross-sectional area that is smaller than a first cross-sectional area. 
     
     
         18 . The heat transfer apparatus as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the thermal storage element extends partially between the first surface and the second surface. 
     
     
         19 . The heat transfer apparatus as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the thermally conductive element includes a recessed cavity and the thermal storage element is located at least partially within the recessed cavity. 
     
     
         20 . The heat transfer apparatus as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the thermal transfer structure includes an open gap between walls that form the recessed cavity and the thermal storage element. 
     
     
         21 . The heat transfer apparatus as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the thermal storage element is frustoconical, and the recessed cavity is frustoconical. 
     
     
         22 . The heat transfer apparatus as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the thermal storage element is free of any attachments to the thermally conductive element. 
     
     
         23 . The heat transfer apparatus as recited in  claim 19 , further including at least one cover over the recessed cavity to contain the thermal storage element therein. 
     
     
         24 . A method for a heat transfer system including a heat source, a heat sink, and a thermotransfer structure operable to transfer heat between the heat source and the heat sink, the thermotransfer structure including a thermally conductive element and a thermal storage element adjacent the thermally conductive portion, the method comprising:
 in a first state of the heat transfer system, storing thermal energy from the heat source in the thermal storage element of the thermotransfer structure; and   in a second state of the heat transfer system, upon cooling of the heat source, releasing the stored thermal energy from the thermal storage element to the heat source.   
     
     
         25 . The method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the heat source is a molten working fluid, and the releasing of the stored thermal energy limits freezing of the molten working fluid.

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