Heat storage apparatus

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a heat storage apparatus includes a heat storage tank, a heat storage material, an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and a voltage applying unit. The heat storage material has supercooling and is received in the heat storage tank. The anode electrode includes a nucleation start point portion. The cathode electrode is spaced apart from the anode electrode and is disposed in contact with the heat storage material. The voltage applying unit applies a voltage between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. The heat storage material, which is supercooled and is in a liquid-phase state, is nucleated due to an application of a voltage by the voltage applying unit.

1 . A heat storage apparatus comprising:
 a heat storage tank;   a heat storage material received in the heat storage tank and capable of being supercooled;   an anode electrode including a nucleation start point portion provided with a tapered protrusion, the nucleation start point portion being disposed in contact with the heat storage material;   a cathode electrode spaced apart from the anode electrode and disposed in contact with the heat storage material; and   a voltage applying unit configured to apply a voltage between the two electrodes.   
     
     
         2 . The heat storage apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the nucleation start point portion forms a substantially triangle, and an angle between two oblique sides of the triangle is in a range from 0° or more to 90° or less. 
     
     
         3 . The heat storage apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein a height of the nucleation start point portion is in a range from 5 μm or more to 100 μm or less. 
     
     
         4 . The heat storage apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein when a height of the nucleation start point portion is in a range from 5 μm or more to 100 μm or less, a volume of the nucleation start point portion is in a range of 0<S≦(nh3)/3, where h is the height of the nucleation start point portion and S is the volume of the nucleation start point portion. 
     
     
         5 . The heat storage apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the nucleation start point portion has a spiral shape. 
     
     
         6 . The heat storage apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the cathode electrode has a cylindrical shape and is disposed to surround the anode electrode. 
     
     
         7 . The heat storage apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the nucleation start point portion is formed by any one of shaving, shearing, and polishing.