Climate control system

Abstract

A climate control system includes a closed vessel containing a phase change material for absorbing heat from or emitting heat to an environment in which the system is intended to be arranged. The closed vessel also contains a solid heat conducting medium for facilitating heat transfer within the vessel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A climate control system comprising:
 a closed vessel, the closed vessel including:   a phase change material for absorbing heat from or emitting heat to an environment in which the system is intended to be arranged; and   a solid heat conducting medium for facilitating heat transfer within the vessel, wherein the solid heat conducting medium is in the form of a random packing.   
     
     
         2 . The climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the solid heat conducting medium is discrete from the phase change material. 
     
     
         3 . The climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the solid heat conducting medium is in particulate form. 
     
     
         4 . The climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the vessel is in the form of a cylindrical tube. 
     
     
         5 . The climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the vessel is in the form of a tube with a triangular or square cross-section. 
     
     
         6 . The climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the vessel has fins around its outer surface. 
     
     
         7 . The climate control system of  claim 6 , wherein the fins are arranged on a sleeve that is configured to fit around the outer surface of the vessel. 
     
     
         8 . The climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the vessel is made of metal. 
     
     
         9 . The climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the vessel is made of aluminum. 
     
     
         10 . The climate control system of  claim 8 , wherein at least an outer surface of the vessel is anodized. 
     
     
         11 . The climate control system of  claim 9 , wherein at least an outer surface of the vessel is anodized. 
     
     
         12 . The climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the vessel is colored. 
     
     
         13 . The climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the vessel is configured to be located directly within the space to be cooled. 
     
     
         14 . The climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the random packing comprises Lessing rings. 
     
     
         15 . The climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the random packing comprises Raschig rings. 
     
     
         16 . The climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat conducting medium is made of metal. 
     
     
         17 . The climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein a characteristic of the phase change material is that it changes state at a peak melt temperature within the range of 18° C. to 26° C. 
     
     
         18 . The climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the phase change material is a mixture of paraffin and hydrated salt. 
     
     
         19 . The climate control system of  claim 18 , wherein the paraffin is heptadecane. 
     
     
         20 . The climate control system of  claim 18 , wherein the hydrated salt is Na 2 CrO 4 •10H 2 O.11 
     
     
         21 . The climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the phase change material is a hydrated salt. 
     
     
         22 . The climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the phase change material is paraffin. 
     
     
         23 . The climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein at least an internal surface of the vessel is coated with a resin for preventing corrosion. 
     
     
         24 . The climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein at least an external surface of the heat conducting medium is coated with a resin for preventing corrosion. 
     
     
         25 . The climate control system of  claim 1 , further comprising an active cooling and/or heating apparatus. 
     
     
         26 . The climate control system of  claim 25 , wherein the active cooling and/or heating apparatus comprises a pipe that is configured to carry a heat transfer fluid through the vessel. 
     
     
         27 . The climate control system of  claim 26 , wherein the heat transfer fluid is water. 
     
     
         28 . The climate control system of  claim 26 , wherein the active cooling and/or heating apparatus additionally includes a pump to pump the heat transfer fluid through the pipe. 
     
     
         29 . The climate control system of  claim 27 , wherein the active cooling and/or heating apparatus additionally includes a pump to pump the heat transfer fluid through the pipe. 
     
     
         30 . The climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of vessels is included in the system. 
     
     
         31 . A building comprising a climate control system, wherein the climate control system comprises:
 a closed vessel, wherein the closed vessel comprises:   a phase change material for absorbing heat from or emitting heat to an environment in which the system is intended to be arranged; and   a solid heat conducting medium for facilitating heat transfer within the vessel, wherein the solid heat conducting medium is in the form of a random packing.   
     
     
         32 . The building of  claim 31 , wherein the climate control system is located directly within a space in which climate is to be controlled. 
     
     
         33 . The building of  claim 32 , wherein the climate control system is located partially in a wall, floor or ceiling of the building. 
     
     
         34 . A method of controlling climate within an environment comprising:
 arranging a closed vessel comprising a phase change material and a solid heat conducting medium in the environment; and   permitting the vessel to passively control the climate within the environment, wherein the solid heat conducting medium is in the form of a random packing.