Pcm container approximating a container

Abstract

A phase change material container assembly for use in a thermal energy storage system. The container assembly includes a plurality of containers (plates, wedges . . . etc.) where the containers are generally flat and each approximating a segment of a ball or it may be a single device including features of a plurality of component containers as previously described. The components may be spherical segments, spherical wedges (ungula), hemispheres, spherical sectors, spherical caps or any combination. The plurality of containers are assembled to approximate a sphere's external perimeter. The plurality of containers are spaced apart to allow water, or other fluids, to flow between the plurality of containers.

1 . A container assembly for use in a thermal energy storage (TES) system, the container assembly comprising:
 at least one container, the containers each approximating a segment of a ball, the containers assembled to approximate a ball's external surface, the containers spaced apart to allow a fluid to flow between the containers; and   the containers each filled with a thermal energy material thereby permitting absorption and release of thermal energy.   
     
     
         2 . The container assembly of  claim 1  wherein a connecting portion is provided connecting the plurality of containers. 
     
     
         3 . The container assembly of  claim 1  wherein the container assembly includes a ballast or anti-ballast to assist in making the container have a different buoyancy. 
     
     
         4 . The container assembly of  claim 1  wherein at least some of the containers have one or more protrusions defined thereon to space apart the containers creating a space between each container and to control space between the containers. 
     
     
         5 . The container assembly of  claim 1  wherein the thermal energy material within the container assembly is spaced from an outer wall of the container within 0.1-20 millimeters. 
     
     
         6 . The container assembly of  claim 1  wherein the gaps between the containers are between 0.1-20 millimeters. 
     
     
         7 . A container assembly for use in a thermal energy storage (TES) system, the container assembly comprising:
 at least one containers, the containers each approximating a portion of a shape, the containers assembled to approximate the shape's external surface, the containers spaced apart to allow a fluid to flow between the containers; and   the containers each filled with a thermal energy material thereby permitting absorption, storage and release of thermal energy.   
     
     
         8 . The container assembly of  claim 7  wherein the shape is one of a sphere, an ovoid, an ellipsoidal, a cube, a box or a tetrahedron. 
     
     
         9 . The container assembly of  claim 7  wherein a connecting portion is provided connecting the containers. 
     
     
         10 . The container assembly of  claim 7  wherein the container assembly includes a ballast to assist in making the container assembly have a neutral buoyancy or different buoyancy. 
     
     
         11 . The container assembly of  claim 7  wherein at least some of the containers have one or more surface features to control space between the adjacent containers. 
     
     
         12 . The container assembly of  claim 7  wherein the thermal energy material within the container is spaced from an outer wall of the container within 0.1-20 millimeters. 
     
     
         13 . The container assembly of  claim 7  wherein the gaps between the containers are between 0.1-20 millimeters. 
     
     
         14 . The container assembly of  claim 7  wherein a connector for attaching another of the various portions of a ball employs a snap ring. 
     
     
         15 . The container assembly of  claim 7  wherein the containers are individually removable to affect the thermal energy material mass of the device and therefore modifying its performance characteristics. 
     
     
         16 . The container assembly of  claim 7  wherein the containers are alternately filled with two or more different thermal energy materials. 
     
     
         17 . The container assembly of  claim 7  wherein the containers are each spherical wedges (ungula). 
     
     
         18 . The container assembly of  claim 7  wherein each of the containers includes at least one fill port. 
     
     
         19 . The container assembly of  claim 18  wherein two fill ports are provided. 
     
     
         20 . The container assembly of  claim 7  wherein a portion of sand is contained within the containers, the sand adapted to act as a ballast.