Method and apparatus for automobile warming-up

Abstract

This invention provides a method and an apparatus for automobile warming-up. The apparatus includes a sealed container that is filled with phase changed materials that can form supercooled liquid; a status sensor that monitors the status of the phase change material; a trigger system that induces the supercooled liquid to crystallization; a temperature sensor that monitors the temperature of the phase change materials; and a finned heat exchanger or coiled tube that is connected with the coolant recirculation system of an automobile. After an automobile is ignited, its engine heats the liquid coolant in coolant recirculation system. The heated coolant carries heat energy to the apparatus, which stores the heat energy. When the automobile is started later, the apparatus releases the stored heat energy to heat the coolant, which then warms up the automobile by coolant recirculation system.

1 . A method and an apparatus for automobile warming-up comprising: 
 a. A sealed container filled with phase change materials that can form supercooled liquid.    b. A triggering system in the closed container to induce the phase change materials from supercooled status to solid status.    c. A status sensor that monitors the status of phase change materials that can form supercooled liquid.    d. A temperature sensor that monitors the temperature of phase change materials that can form supercooled liquid.    e. A finned heat exchanger or coiled tube that connects to recirculation system of an automobile.    
   
   
       2 . The phase change material in the sealed container as in  claim 1  is any phase change material that can form supercooled liquid.  
   
   
       3 . After the sealed container is filled with phase change material that can form supercooled liquid, it is vacuumed and sealed, then filled with inert gases. The inert gases are sealed within the sealed container.  
   
   
       4 . The sealed container as in  claim 3  is made of plastics, polymers, metals, alloy, enamel or their combinations.  
   
   
       5 . The triggering system as in  claim 1  is any available systems that can induce the supercooled liquid to crystallization.  
   
   
       6 . The triggering system as in  claim 5  can be installed inside or outside of the sealed container.  
   
   
       7 . The status sensor as in  claim 1  is any available sensor that can monitor the liquid status and solid status of the phase change materials that can form supercooled liquid.  
   
   
       8 . The status sensor as in  claim 7  can be installed inside or outside of the closed container.  
   
   
       9 . The temperature sensor as in  claim 1  is any available sensor that can monitor the temperature of the phase change materials that can form supercooled liquid.  
   
   
       10 . The method and apparatus as in  claim 1  can be used for any internal combustion engine with liquid cooling system.