Thermal Cell

Abstract

An energy storage apparatus comprising: a casing; at least one crucible ( 150 ); at least one heating element adjacent the crucible ( 130 ); at least one heat conduit, having an inlet and outlet, adjacent the crucible ( 140 ); and a phase change material located within the at least one crucible, the phase change material selected from the group consisting of aluminium-silicon alloys, aluminium, magnesium chloride, sodium chloride and potassium chloride.

1 . An energy storage apparatus comprising: a casing;
 at least one crucible;   at least one heating element adjacent the crucible;   at least one heat conduit, having an inlet and outlet, adjacent the crucible; and   a phase change material located within the at least one crucible, the phase change material selected from the group consisting of aluminium-silicon alloys, aluminium, magnesium chloride, sodium chloride and potassium chloride.   
     
     
         2 . The energy storage apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the phase change material is an aluminium-silicon alloy. 
     
     
         3 . The energy storage apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the aluminium-silicon alloy comprises between about 1% and about 30% aluminium. 
     
     
         4 . The energy storage apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the crucible is selected from silicon carbide, graphite, reinforced polymer, clay, porcelain, ceramics, carbon nanotubes, aluminium nitride, aluminium oxide, boron nitride, silicon nitride, steel, copper, mullite, zirconium oxide, ductile iron, cast iron, stainless steel, brass, alloys of columbian, tantalum, molybdenum, tungsten or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The energy storage apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a thermal interface between the casing and the crucible. 
     
     
         6 . The energy storage apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal interface is selected from the group consisting of graphite and carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         7 . The energy storage apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising insulation. 
     
     
         8 . The energy storage apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the thermal interface is in the form a block comprising preformed holes for insertion of the at least one crucible, the at least one heating element and the at least one heat conduit. 
     
     
         9 . The energy storage apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising 1 to 9 crucibles. 
     
     
         10 . The energy storage apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising 9 crucibles. 
     
     
         11 . The energy storage apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the crucibles are arranged in a 3×3 array. 
     
     
         12 . The energy storage apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heating elements are arranged in between the crucibles. 
     
     
         13 . The energy storage apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heat conduits are arranged in between the crucibles. 
     
     
         14 . The energy storage apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the insulation is located adjacent the casing. 
     
     
         15 . The energy storage apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the thermal interface is between the heating elements and the crucible. 
     
     
         16 . The energy storage apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the thermal interface is between the heat conduits and the crucible. 
     
     
         17 . A method of storing and retrieving energy comprising the steps of:
 a. providing an energy storage apparatus comprising:   a casing;   at least one crucible;   at least one heating element adjacent the crucible;   at least one heat conduit, having an inlet and outlet, adjacent the crucible; and   a phase change material located within the at least one crucible, the phase change material selected from the group consisting of aluminium-silicon alloys, aluminium, magnesium chloride, sodium chloride and potassium chloride;   b. heating the at least one heating element to cause a phase change in the phase change material, to thereby store energy;   c. introducing a liquid to the at least one heat conduit; and   d. converting the liquid to a gas through absorption of thermal energy stored in the phase change material;
 to thereby retrieve stored energy.