Modular latent heat thermal energy storage buffer system

Abstract

The invention provides a method for reclaiming heat from a fluid, the method having the steps of contacting the fluid to a phase change material for a time sufficient to increase the temperature of the material and or liquefy some of it; and contacting the material to a second fluid for a time sufficient to increase the temperature of the second fluid and to decrease the temperature of the material or to solidify some of it. The invention also provides a system to reclaim heat from a first fluid, the system having a first void space containing phase changing material, and a second void space in thermal communication with the first void space. The system functions as an efficient thermal storage buffer when heat supplied from the first fluid is not equal to the heat received by the second fluid at any instant of time.

1 . A method for reclaiming heat from a first fluid, the method comprising:
 a) contacting the first fluid to a phase change material for a time sufficient to decrease the temperature of the first fluid and increase the temperature of the material; and   b) contacting the material to a second fluid for a time sufficient to increase the temperature of the second fluid and decrease the temperature of the material.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first fluid and second fluid increase temperatures simultaneously. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first fluid and the second fluid increase temperatures at different rates. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first fluid and second fluid are in thermal communication with the phase change material simultaneously. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first fluid and the second fluid do not contact each other. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the phase change material is homogeneously mixed with a foam of porosity of between about 80 percent and about 90 percent. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the phase change material is mixed with a foam to form a construct and the construct is about 80 percent by volume of phase change material and about 20 percent by volume of said foam. 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 7  wherein the construct exhibits a latent heat of fusion of between about 100 kJ/kg and about 300 kJ/kg. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 6  wherein the thermal conductivity of the foam is typically above about 15 W/mK. 
     
     
         10 . A system to reclaim heat from a first fluid, the system comprising:
 a) a first void space containing phase changing material; and   b) a second void space in thermal communication with the first void space.   
     
     
         11 . The system as recited in  claim 10  wherein the first void space is adapted to receive the first fluid and the second void space is adapted to receive a second fluid. 
     
     
         12 . The system as recited in  claim 11  wherein the material defines a first surface adapted to physically contact the first fluid and a channel adapted to physically contact the second fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The system as recited in  claim 12  wherein the channel has a fluid ingress means, a fluid egress means, and a longitudinally extending region disposed between the ingress and egress means, wherein the longitudinally extending region is encapsulated by the material. 
     
     
         14 . The system as recited in  claim 10  wherein the phase change material is homogeneously mixed with foam in a volume ratio range of between about 60:40 and about 90:10. 
     
     
         15 . The system as recited in  claim 10  wherein the phase change material is mixed with foam to form a construct and the construct is about 20 percent by volume of phase change material and about 80 percent by volume of foam. 
     
     
         16 . The system as recited in  claim 15  wherein the construct exhibits a thermal conductivity of between about 150 W/mK and about 210 W/mK. 
     
     
         17 . The system as recited in  claim 14  wherein the thermal conductivity of the foam is above about 15 W/mK foam.