Ice-based thermal energy storage device

Abstract

Disclosed is a heat exchange device including a first thermally conductive tube that is hollow over its length, a second thermally conductive tube that is hollow over its length, and including a thermally conductive fin, in which the fin extends lengthwise along the first tube, the fin extends lengthwise along the second tube and the fin extends width-wise between the first tube and the second tube.

1 . A heat exchange device, comprising a first thermally conductive tube ( 1 ) that is hollow over a length of said first thermally conductive tube, a second thermally conductive tube ( 2 ) that is hollow over a length of said second thermally conductive tube, and a thermally conductive fin ( 3 ), in which the fin ( 3 ) extends lengthwise along the first tube ( 1 ), the fin ( 3 ) extends lengthwise along the second tube ( 2 ) and the fin ( 3 ) extends width-wise between the first tube ( 1 ) and the second tube ( 2 ). 
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the fin comprises a first thermally conductive half-fin (6), which extends between the first tube ( 1 ) and a first edge and in which the fin comprises a second thermally conductive half-fin (7), which extends between the second tube ( 2 ) and a second edge. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the fin ( 3 ) is less than the width of the first tube ( 1 ) and is less than the width of the second tube ( 2 ). 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the fin ( 3 ) is flat. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first tube ( 1 ) is parallel to the second tube ( 2 ). 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first tube ( 1 ) is straight over the first tube's length and the second tube ( 2 ) is straight over the second tube's length. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first tube ( 1 ) is made from aluminum, the second tube ( 2 ) is made from aluminum and the fin ( 3 ) is made from aluminum. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the second half-fin ( 7 ) extends width-wise between the first half-fin ( 6 ) and the second tube ( 2 ). 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the first edge of the first half-fin ( 6 ) is in contact with the second edge of the second half-fin ( 7 ). 
     
     
         10 . A method using the device according to  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 evaporating a refrigerant in the first tube ( 1 ) and in the second tube ( 2 ),   solidifying a liquid material on the first tube ( 1 ), on the second tube ( 2 ) and on the fin ( 3 ).   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the liquid material is water and the refrigerant has an evaporation temperature lower than the icing temperature of water. 
     
     
         12 . A method using the device according to  claim 2 , the method comprising:
 evaporating a refrigerant in the first tube and in the second tube,   solidifying a liquid material on the first tube, on the second tube and on the fin.   
     
     
         13 . A method using the device according to  claim 3 , the method comprising:
 evaporating a refrigerant in the first tube and in the second tube,   solidifying a liquid material on the first tube, on the second tube and on the fin.   
     
     
         14 . A method using the device according to  claim 4 , the method comprising:
 evaporating a refrigerant in the first tube and in the second tube,   solidifying a liquid material on the first tube, on the second tube and on the fin.   
     
     
         15 . A method using the device according to  claim 5 , the method comprising:
 evaporating a refrigerant in the first tube and in the second tube,   solidifying a liquid material on the first tube, on the second tube and on the fin.   
     
     
         16 . A method using the device according to  claim 6 , the method comprising:
 evaporating a refrigerant in the first tube and in the second tube,   solidifying a liquid material on the first tube, on the second tube and on the fin.   
     
     
         17 . A method using the device according to  claim 7 , the method comprising:
 evaporating a refrigerant in the first tube and in the second tube,   solidifying a liquid material on the first tube, on the second tube and on the fin.   
     
     
         18 . A method using the device according to  claim 8 , the method comprising:
 evaporating a refrigerant in the first tube and in the second tube,   solidifying a liquid material on the first tube, on the second tube and on the fin.   
     
     
         19 . A method using the device according to  claim 9 , the method comprising:
 evaporating a refrigerant in the first tube and in the second tube,   solidifying a liquid material on the first tube, on the second tube and on the fin.