Thermal energy storage apparatus

Abstract

A thermal energy storage apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a base and fluid flow plates which cooperate with the base to define a cavity; a phase change material contained within the cavity; an extendable extension spring at least partially contained within the phase change material; and end plates which cooperate with the fluid flow plates to define fluid flow channels. Inlet and outlet ports allow for the ingress and egress of a heat exchange fluid into the fluid flow channels. In operation, the extension of the extendable extension spring induces solidification of at least a portion of the phase change material from a supercooled liquid state to a solid state, releasing thermal energy, allowing for the transfer of thermal energy across the fluid flow plates from the phase change material to the heat exchange fluid.

1 . A thermal energy storage apparatus, comprising:
 a first housing that forms a first cavity;   a first amount of phase change material located in the cavity of the housing, the phase change material which is convertible between a melted state and a solid state; and   an extendable extension spring at least partially contained in the first amount of phase change material and operable to trigger a state change of the first amount of phase change material from the melted state to the solid state, and thereby release thermal energy stored in the first amount of phase change material.   
     
     
         2 . The thermal energy storage apparatus of  claim 1  wherein first housing comprises:
 a base; 
 a first fluid flow plate positioned with respect to the base to form the first cavity therebetween 
 a first end plate positioned relative the first fluid flow plate to define a first fluid flow channel; 
 a first fluid inlet port in fluid communication with the first fluid flow channel for the ingress of a heat exchange fluid into the first fluid flow channel; and 
 a first fluid outlet port in fluid communication with the first fluid flow channel for the egress of the heat exchange fluid from the first fluid flow channel; such that extension of the first extendable extension spring induces solidification of at least a portion of the phase change material from a supercooled liquid state to a solid state, releasing thermal energy allowing for the transfer of thermal energy across the first fluid flow plate from the phase change material to the heat exchange fluid in the first fluid flow channel. 
 
     
     
         3 . The thermal energy storage apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second housing that forms a second cavity, the second housing stacked with the first housing;   a second amount of phase change material located in the cavity of the housing, the phase change material which is convertible between a melted state and a solid state; and   an extendable extension spring at least partially contained in the second amount of phase change material and operable to trigger a state change of the second amount of phase change material from the melted state to the solid state, and thereby release thermal energy stored in the second amount of phase change material.   
     
     
         4 . A thermal energy storage apparatus, comprising:
 a base;   a first fluid flow plate assembly comprising at least one fluid flow channel positioned with respect to the base to define a cavity therebetween;   a first fluid inlet port in fluid communication with the first fluid flow channel for the ingress of a heat exchange fluid into the fluid flow channel;   a first fluid outlet port in fluid communication with the fluid flow channel for the egress of the heat exchange fluid from the fluid flow channel;   a first amount of phase change material located in the cavity, the phase change material which is convertible between a supercooled liquid state and a solid state; and   an extendable extension spring at least partially contained in the first amount of phase change material and operable to extend from a first configuration to a second configuration, and in the second configuration trigger a state change of the first amount of phase change material from the supercooled liquid state to the solid state, and thereby release thermal energy stored in the first amount of phase change material wherein the released thermal energy transfers across the fluid flow plate from the phase change material to the heat exchange fluid in the fluid flow channel.   
     
     
         5 . The thermal energy storage apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the first fluid flow plate assembly comprises:
 a first fluid flow plate; 
 a second fluid flow plate, the first and the second fluid flow plates positioned with respect to one another and positioned with respect to the base to define a cavity therebetween; 
 a first end plate positioned with respect to the first fluid flow plate to define a first fluid flow channel therebetween; 
 a second end plate positioned with respect to the second fluid flow plate to define a second fluid flow channel therebetween, 
 a first fluid inlet port in fluid communication with the first fluid flow channel for the ingress of a heat exchange fluid into the first fluid flow channel; 
 a first fluid outlet port in fluid communication with the fluid flow channel for the egress of the heat exchange fluid from the first fluid flow channel; 
 a second fluid inlet port in fluid communication with the second fluid flow channel for the ingress of a heat exchange fluid into the second fluid flow channel; 
 a second fluid outlet port in fluid communication with the second fluid flow channel for the egress of the heat exchange fluid from the second fluid flow channel, and 
 wherein the heat exchange fluid in the first and the second fluid flow channel are thermally coupled to receive at least a portion of the released thermal energy that transfers across the first and the second fluid flow plates from the phase change material. 
 
     
     
         6 . The thermal energy storage apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the first fluid flow plate assembly comprises:
 at least one fluid flow plate, the at least one fluid flow plate positioned with respect to the base to define at least one cavity; 
 at least one end plate, the at least one end plate positioned with respect to the at least one fluid flow plate to define an one fluid flow channel; 
 at least one fluid inlet port in fluid communication with the at least one fluid flow channel for the ingress of a heat exchange fluid into the at least one fluid flow channel; 
 a least one fluid outlet port in fluid communication with the at least one fluid flow channel for the egress of the heat exchange fluid from the at least one fluid flow channel, and 
 wherein the heat exchange fluid in the at least one fluid flow channel is thermally coupled to receive at least a portion of the released thermal energy that transfers across the at least one fluid flow plate from the phase change material. 
 
     
     
         7 . The thermal energy storage apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the molten state of the phase change material is a supercooled liquid state. 
     
     
         8 . The thermal energy storage apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 at least one baffle within the cavity, wherein the at least one baffle which obstructs the sinking of solid phase change material.   
     
     
         9 . The thermal energy storage apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the phase change material is comprised of an organic material. 
     
     
         10 . The thermal energy storage apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the phase change material is comprised of an inorganic material. 
     
     
         11 . The thermal energy storage apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the phase change material is comprised of inorganic and organic materials. 
     
     
         12 . The thermal energy storage apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the phase change material is comprised of sodium acetate trihydrate. 
     
     
         13 . The thermal energy storage apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a film disposed between the base and the first fluid flow plate, wherein the film chemically isolates the first fluid flow plate from the phase change material while maintaining thermal conductivity between the first fluid flow plate and the phase change material.   
     
     
         14 . The thermal energy storage apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the first fluid flow plate is comprised of aluminum bonded to stainless steel. 
     
     
         15 . The thermal energy storage apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a seal disposed between the first fluid flow plate and the base, sealing the cavity.   
     
     
         16 . The thermal energy storage apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 at least one port that allows for the extension of extendable extension spring.   
     
     
         17 . The thermal energy storage apparatus of  claim 4  wherein wherein the base further comprises at least one port to allow for filling the cavity with the phase change material. 
     
     
         18 . The thermal energy storage apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the first fluid inlet port traverses a portion of the base before being in fluid communication with the first fluid flow channel. 
     
     
         19 . The thermal energy storage apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the first fluid outlet port traverses a portion of the base after being in fluid communication with the first fluid flow channel. 
     
     
         20 . The thermal energy storage apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the first fluid inlet port traverses a substantial portion of the base before being in fluid communication with the first fluid flow channel. 
     
     
         21 . The thermal energy storage apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the cavity is cylindrical. 
     
     
         22 . The thermal energy storage apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the phase change material is inorganic. 
     
     
         23 . The thermal energy storage apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 at least one baffle in thermal communication with the phase change material and the first fluid flow plate.   
     
     
         24 . The thermal energy storage apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the first fluid flow plate is disposed with at least one flow director. 
     
     
         25 . The thermal energy storage apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the first end plate is disposed with at least one flow director. 
     
     
         26 . The thermal energy storage apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the phase change material is comprised of sodium acetate trihydrate with additional water. 
     
     
         27 . The thermal energy storage apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a seal disposed between the first fluid flow plate and the first end plate, sealing the first fluid flow channel.   
     
     
         28 . The thermal energy storage apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the first fluid inlet port and the second fluid inlet port are in fluid communication with each other within the base. 
     
     
         29 . The thermal energy storage apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the first fluid outlet port and the second fluid outlet port are in fluid communication with each other within the base. 
     
     
         30 . The thermal energy storage apparatus of  claim 5  wherein wherein the first fluid flow plate and first end plate are positioned relative to one another to define at least one flow director.