Thermal capacitor for increasing energy efficiency

Abstract

An apparatus that increases energy efficiency by insulating a refrigerator or freezer wall is disclosed. The apparatus includes an inner wall made of stainless steel or aluminum and an exterior wall. A backing sheet with a series of cells is attached to the inner wall. The cells are filled with a gel that is formed by combining a super-absorbent cross-linked sodium polymer with water. The gel is has a ratio of 3 ounces of polymer to every 4 gallons of water. Finally, a layer of insulating foam interposed between the cells and the outer wall.

1 . An apparatus thermal storage device, comprising:
 a hollow tube comprising 20 gauge 304 stainless steel, where the tube is about 4 feet in length and has a diameter of about 3 inches; and   a gel that is formed by combining a super-absorbent cross-linked sodium polymer with water in a ratio of 3 ounces of polymer to every 4 gallons of water, where the gel fills the hollow tube to 75% of its volume when the gel is in a thermally discharged state.   
   
   
       2 . An apparatus for insulating a wall comprising:
 an inner wall made of stainless steel or aluminum;   an outer wall;   a backing sheet attached to the inner wall;   a series of cells attached to the backing sheet;   a gel that is formed by combining a super-absorbent cross-linked sodium polymer with water in a ratio of 3 ounces of polymer to every 4 gallons of water, where the gel is located within each cell; and   a layer of insulating foam interposed between the series of cells and the outer wall.   
   
   
       3 . An insulating wall comprising:
 an inner wall made of a thermally conducting material;   an outer wall;   a thermal capacitor in contact with the inner wall; and   a layer of thermally insulating gel material interposed between the thermal capacitor and the outer wall.   
   
   
       4 . The insulating wall of  claim 3 , where the thermal capacitor comprises:
 a backing sheet;   a series of thermal storage cells attached to the backing sheet; and   a thermally absorbent gel material within each thermal storage cell.   
   
   
       5 . The insulating wall of  claim 4 , where the thermally absorbent gel material comprises a gel formed by combining water with a super-absorbent polymer. 
   
   
       6 . The insulating wall of  claim 5 , where the gel is formed by combining super-absorbent cross-linked sodium polymer with water in a ratio of 3 ounces of polymer to 4 gallons of water. 
   
   
       7 . An apparatus for a insulating a thermal storage device comprising:
 a closed container made of a thermally conducting metal material; and   a thermally absorbent gel material enclosed within the container.   
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , where the metal material is stainless steel. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , where the metal material is aluminum. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , where the absorbent material is a gel made by absorbing water into a super absorbent polymer. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , in which the super absorbent polymer comprises a cross-linked sodium polymer. 
   
   
       12 . A thermal storage device comprising:
 a hollow metal tube; and   a gel that is formed by combining a super-absorbent cross-linked sodium polymer with water in a ratio of 3 ounces of polymer to every 4 gallons of water, where the gel fills the hollow metal tube to 75% of its volume when the gel is in a thermally discharged state.   
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 12 , where the metal tube comprises 20 gauge 304 stainless steel. 
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 12 , where the metal tube has a diameter of about 3 inches. 
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 12 , where the metal tube has a length between 4-20 feet.