Heat Conveyance and Storage System

Abstract

A heat conveyance system particularly suitable for solar applications is described, based on the mechanical conveyance of heat-storage solid bodies containing a bulk that is capable of undergoing phase change. The invention covers the conveyance system itself, and means of inserting and extracting heat into and out of it.

1 . A heat conveyance system having a hot end at a hot temperature and a cold end at a cold temperature comprising multiple heat storage bodies and a conveyance means to move them between said hot end and cold end. 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , where said heat storage bodies comprise an inner bulk that changes phase between the cold and the hot temperatures, and an external shell that remains solid at the hot temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , where said conveyance means comprises an enclosed conduit that fits around said bodies. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , where said bodies are further configured to roll inside said conduit. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , where said conduit further comprises a locomotion system. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , where said phase transition occurs between 500 C and 1500 C. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , where said inner bulk is made out of an ionic salt containing the chemical element Na. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , where said inner bulk is made out of an ionic salt containing the chemical element K. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2 , where said inner bulk is made out of an ionic salt containing the chemical element Li. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 2 , where said inner bulk is made out of a material belong to the group consisting of NaCl, KCl, LiCl, NaF, KF, LiF, NaBr, KBr, LiBr, NaI, KI, LiF, Ionic Salt, Aluminum, Copper, Bronze, Steel, Lead, Zinc, Tin, Nickel, Chromium, Bismuth, Cadmium, Metal alloy, Calcium Nitrate, Potassium Nitrate, Tempering salt. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 2 , where said outer shell is made out of material belonging to the group consisting of SiC, Carbides, Alumina, Quartz, Beryllia, Ceramics, Steel, Tungsten, Cobalt, Metallic alloy. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , where said heat storage bodies consist of an inner bulk that is solid at the cold temperature and liquid at the hot temperature and an external shell that remains solid at the hot temperature. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , where said heat storage bodies consist of an inner bulk that is solid at the cold temperature and gaseous at the hot temperature and an external shell that remains solid at the hot temperature. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , where said heat storage bodies consist of an inner bulk that is liquid at the cold temperature and gaseous at the hot temperature and an external shell that remains solid at the hot temperature. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , additionally containing an absorbing layer capable of converting sunlight into heat. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , where said absorbing layer contains graphite. 
     
     
         17 . A system for extracting heat from multiple hot bodies into a fluid, said system having a cold end at a cold temperature and a hot end at a hot temperature, said bodies having an inner volume that freezes as they move from said hot end to said cold end, consisting of a conveyance means for moving said bodies from the hot end to the cold end, a conduit enclosing said conveyance means, a cold fluid port at the cold end of said conduit, a hot fluid port at the hot end of said conduit, and a means for flowing said fluid from the cold fluid port to the hot fluid port. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , where said conduit is pressurized and further contains two sealing means at the hot end and cold end allowing said bodies to enter and exit the conduit while preventing free flow of the fluid across the sealing means. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , where said fluid belongs to the group consisting of water, steam, air, gas, Helium, Hydrogen. 
     
     
         20 . A system for extracting heat from multiple hot bodies into a working fluid, said system having a cold end at a cold temperature and a hot end at a hot temperature, said bodies having an inner volume that freezes as they move from said hot end to said cold end, consisting of a conveyance means for moving said bodies from the hot end to the cold end, a volume enclosing said conveyance means and filled with a heat transfer liquid, a conduit for working fluid that passes through said volume and having a cold fluid port at the cold end of said conduit, a hot fluid port at the hot end of said conduit, and a means for flowing said fluid from the cold fluid port to the hot fluid port such that heat is transferred from the bodies to the heat transfer liquid and from the heat transfer liquid to the working fluid. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , where said working fluid belongs to the group consisting of water, steam, air, gas, Helium, Hydrogen.