Release Of Stored Heat Energy To Do Useful Work

Abstract

This invention concerns the release of stored heat energy to do useful work. In particular it concerns a method for the release of stored heat energy to do useful work, and in further aspects it concerns other methods, apparatus and systems. In a first aspect, the invention is a method for releasing stored heat energy to do useful work. The method comprising: Storing heat energy in a heat storage medium. Arranging a surface of the heat storage medium and a surface of a heat collecting element of a heat consuming engine or process, such that a surface of the heat collecting element is in proximity to, in contact with or embedded in a surface of the heat storage medium. Then, transferring stored heat energy from the surface of the heat storage medium to the surface of the heat collecting element.

1 . A method for releasing stored heat energy to do useful work, comprising:
 storing heat energy in a heat storage medium;   arranging a surface of the heat storage medium and a surface of a heat collecting element of a heat consuming engine or process such that a surface of the heat collecting element is in proximity to, in contact with, or embedded in a surface of the heat storage medium such that heat energy is able to be transferred directly from the surface of the heat storage medium to the surface of the heat collecting element;   then, transferring stored heat energy from the surface of the heat storage medium to the surface of the heat collecting element.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the surface of the medium through which heat passes is a flat part of the outer surface of the medium, similarly, the surface of the element through which heat passes is a flat part of the outer surface of the element, and the two flat parts, of the medium and element, are arranged in contact with each other to form a junction. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein the rate of heat flow from the surface of the heat storage medium into the heat collecting element is controlled by altering the position, size or shape of the surface of the medium or element, or both. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat storage medium is equipped with heat transfer pathways that change the thermal gradients within the medium to regulate the flow of heat out of the surface and into the element. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , where heat transfer pathways are attached to the surface, or inserted through the heat storage medium. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , where there is a control interface interposed between the heat collecting element and the heat storage medium to control the flow of heat between the surfaces of the medium and element through which heat passes. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6 , where a passive control interface dissipates excessive heat when it is above a given temperature, or recovers heat from other parts of the heat storage medium when the temperature falls, or both. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 6 , where an active control interface effects control by reconfiguring itself, or by adjusting the size, shape or location of the area it has in contact with the surface of the medium, or element, or both. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , where the distance between the surfaces of the heat collecting element and the heat storage medium through which heat passes is changed. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , where the heat consuming engine is a Stirling engine, and the hot port of a Stirling engine is brought into contact with a surface of the heat storage medium. 
     
     
         11 . Apparatus for releasing stored heat energy to do useful work, comprising:
 a heat storage medium having a heat transfer surface from which heat is transferred from the heat storage medium;   a heat consuming engine or process having a heat collecting element which also has a heat transfer surface to receive heat;   wherein, the heat transfer surface of the heat storage medium and the heat transfer surface of the heat collecting element are arranged such that the surface of the heat collecting element is in proximity to, in contact with, or embedded in the surface of the heat storage medium such that heat energy is able to be transferred directly from the surface of the heat storage medium to the surface of the heat collecting element, and to allow transfer of stored heat energy from the heat storage medium to the heat collecting element.   
     
     
         12 . Apparatus according to  claim 26 , further comprising:
 a closed loop heat transfer circuit containing a recirculating heat transfer medium, having a heat receiving element extending through the heat storage body and a heat delivery element to supply heat energy;   and a regulator for the closed loop heat transfer circuit to govern the temperature of the supplied heat independently of the temperature of the heat storage facility.   
     
     
         13 .- 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 8 , where the active control interface incorporates differential thermal expansion. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 8 , where the active control interface has shaped surfaces that allow the degree of contact between the heat collecting element and the heat storage medium to be varied by rotation of one relative to the other. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 8 , where the active control interface comprises a fluid heat transfer medium and heat transfer is regulated by controlling the pressure of the heat transfer medium. 
     
     
         20 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the surface of the medium through which heat passes is a flat part of the outer surface of the medium, similarly, the surface of the element through which heat passes is a flat part of the outer surface of the element, and the two flat parts, of the medium and element, are arranged in contact with each other to form a junction. 
     
     
         21 . Apparatus according to  claim 20  wherein the rate of heat flow from the surface of the heat storage medium into the heat collecting element is controlled by altering the position, size or shape of the surface of the medium or element, or both. 
     
     
         22 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the heat storage medium is equipped with heat transfer pathways that change the thermal gradients within the medium to regulate the flow of heat out of the surface and into the element. 
     
     
         23 . Apparatus according to  claim 22 , where heat transfer pathways are attached to the surface, or inserted through the heat storage medium. 
     
     
         24 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising a control interface interposed between the heat collecting element and the heat storage medium to control the flow of heat between the surfaces of the medium and element through which heat passes. 
     
     
         25 . Apparatus according to  claim 24 , further comprising a passive control interface that dissipates excessive heat when it is above a given temperature, or recovers heat from other parts of the heat storage medium when the temperature falls, or both. 
     
     
         26 . Apparatus according to  claim 24 , where an active control interface effects control by reconfiguring itself, or by adjusting the size, shape or location of the area it has in contact with the surface of the medium, or element, or both. 
     
     
         27 . Apparatus according to  claim 26 , where the active control interfaces changes the distance between the surfaces of the heat collecting element and the heat storage medium through which heat passes is changed. 
     
     
         28 . Apparatus according to  claim 26 , where the active control interface incorporates differential thermal expansion. 
     
     
         29 . Apparatus according to  claim 26 , where the active control interface has shaped surfaces that allow the degree of contact between the heat collecting element and the heat storage medium to be varied by rotation of one relative to the other. 
     
     
         30 . Apparatus according to  claim 26 , where the active control interface comprises a fluid heat transfer medium and heat transfer is regulated by controlling the pressure of the heat transfer medium. 
     
     
         31 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , where the heat consuming engine is a Stirling engine, and the hot port of a Stirling engine is brought into contact with a surface of the heat storage medium.