Thermal Capacitor

Abstract

An insulated vessel containing phase change material (PCM), with an elongated conduit through the PCM, the conduit having an inlet and outlet extending outside of the insulated vessel. The PCM absorbs and stores thermal energy originating from a heat source external to the insulated vessel. Operation fluid flowing through the conduit absorbs stored thermal energy from the PCM and can be utilized on demand. A second conduit may be provided to introduce thermal energy to charge the PCM.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A thermal storage device comprising:
 a vessel surrounding an interior cavity;   phase change material within the interior cavity; and   a first elongated conduit with an entry end and an outlet end, the first elongated conduit extending through the phase change material, the first elongated conduit capable of allowing the passage of operation fluid therethrough, where the entry end and outlet end extend outside of the vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The thermal storage device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second elongated conduit with an input end and an output end, the second elongated conduit extending around the phase change material, the second elongated conduit capable of allowing the passage of charging fluid there through, where the input end and output end extend outside of the vessel, where the second elongated conduit is located adjacent to the first elongated conduit within the vessel.   
     
     
         3 . The thermal storage device of  claim 1 , where the first elongated conduit comprises an elongated tube with a first internal diameter. 
     
     
         4 . The thermal storage device of  claim 3 , where the first elongated conduit further comprises:
 an elongated cylinder with a second internal diameter, where the second internal diameter is at least twice the first internal diameter of the elongated tube.   
     
     
         5 . The thermal storage device of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a second elongated conduit with an input end and an output end, the second elongated conduit extending around the phase change material, the second elongated conduit capable of allowing the passage of charging fluid there through, where the input end and output end extend outside of the vessel, where the second elongated conduit is arranged to be coiled around the elongated cylinder.   
     
     
         6 . A thermal storage device comprising:
 a vessel surrounding an interior cavity;   phase change material within the interior cavity; and   a first elongated conduit with an entry end and an outlet end, the first elongated conduit comprised of an elongated tube with a first internal diameter and an elongated cylinder with a second internal diameter, where the elongated tube and elongated cylinder are located within the interior cavity and surrounded by the phase change material, the first elongated conduit capable of allowing the passage of operation fluid therethrough, where the entry end and outlet end extend outside of the vessel; and   a second elongated conduit with an input end and an output end, the second elongated conduit extending around the phase change material, the second elongated conduit capable of allowing the passage of charging fluid there through, where the input end and output end extend outside of the vessel, where the second elongated conduit is located adjacent to the elongated cylinder within the vessel.   
     
     
         7 . The thermal storage device of  claim 6 , the first elongated conduit further comprising:
 a plurality of elongated cylinders connected in series.   
     
     
         8 . The thermal storage device of  claim 6 , where a portion of the second elongated conduit is coiled around the elongated cylinder. 
     
     
         9 . The thermal storage device of  claim 1 , the first elongated conduit further comprising:
 a first distribution manifold near the entry end of the first elongated conduit;   a second distribution manifold near the outlet end of the first elongated conduit; and   a plurality of elongated tubes extending from the first distribution manifold through the interior cavity to the second distribution manifold.   
     
     
         10 . The thermal storage device of  claim 1 , the second elongated conduit further comprising:
 a third distribution manifold near the input end of the second elongated conduit;   a fourth distribution manifold near the output end of the second elongated conduit; and   a plurality of elongated tubes extending from the third distribution manifold through the interior cavity to the fourth distribution manifold.   
     
     
         11 . The thermal storage device of  claim 1 , where the phase change material converts from a liquid to a solid at a temperature between 100 and 150 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         12 . The thermal storage device of  claim 1 , where the phase change material converts from a liquid to a solid at a temperature between 100 and 1200 degrees Fahrenheit.