Thermal energy storage for a fireplace

Abstract

A fireplace system includes a fireplace, a thermal energy storage system (TESS) implemented with the fireplace and including one or more heat storing materials in which thermal energy is stored, and a control system comprising one or more controllers operatively coupled with the fireplace and the TESS. The control system is operable to control operation of the fireplace and the TESS to release the stored thermal energy from the one or more heat storing materials into a surrounding environment based on one or more inputs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fireplace system comprising:
 a fireplace;   a thermal energy storage system (TESS) implemented with the fireplace and including one or more heat storing materials in which thermal energy is stored; and   a control system comprising one or more controllers operatively coupled with the fireplace and the TESS, wherein the control system is operable to control operation of the fireplace and the TESS to release the stored thermal energy from the one or more heat storing materials into a surrounding environment based on one or more inputs.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the fireplace or the TESS are fluidly coupled with one or more vents for intake or outflow of air, and the TESS is configured to release the stored thermal energy through the one or more vents. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more inputs include user inputs, instructions from a programmable or smart thermostat operatively coupled with the fireplace, sensor data associated with the fireplace or the TESS, or data from an external input device. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the external input device includes one or more of: an electric utility grid from which the fireplace and the TESS receive electrical power, or a weather monitoring system. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the control system selects an operating mode from a plurality of operating modes based on the one or more inputs, and wherein the plurality of operating modes includes different heat outputs and durations. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more heat storing materials include one or more air cavities through which the air passes during the operation of the fireplace and the TESS. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising one or more fans or one or more blowers configured to generate convection to facilitate intake or outflow of air or the passing of air through the one or more air cavities. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more heat storing materials include a plurality of heat storing materials arranged in an assembly having a repeating pattern, and the assembly defines the one or more air cavities. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more heat storing materials include a monolithic structure of heat storing material, and the one or more air cavities extend through the monolithic structure. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more air cavities extend parallel to each other through the monolithic structure. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more heat storing materials include a monolithic structure of heat storing material having a plurality of continuous pores that are interconnected to form a network of airflow pathways, and the one or more air cavities extend through the continuous pores of the monolithic structure. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more heat storing materials include a plurality of the monolithic structures in a stacked configuration to add or reduce a heating capacity of the TESS. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more heat storing materials include a plurality of the monolithic structures arranged in a repeating pattern or matrix. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more heat storing materials includes a first sensible or latent heat material portion having a first cavity and a second sensible or latent heat material portion having a second cavity, the second sensible or latent heat material portion is disposed within the first cavity, and the second cavity is one of the one or more air cavities. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the first sensible or latent heat material portion and the second sensible or latent heat material portion are made of different materials. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the TESS comprises one or more separators at least partially defining the one or more air cavities. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the TESS comprises a pipe at least partially defining the one or more air cavities. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the TESS comprises a housing storing therein the one or more heat storing materials. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the housing comprises at least a first housing component and a second housing component configured to be disposed within the first housing component. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the first housing component and the second housing component at least partially defines the one or more air cavities. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the TESS comprises one or more heating elements disposed within the housing and configured to increase temperature of the one or more heat storing materials. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more vents of the fireplace are disposed on a front portion of the fireplace. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the TESS is coupled with the fireplace at a rear portion of the fireplace. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the fireplace comprises a display, and the one or more vents of the fireplace are disposed adjacent to the display. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein a side portion of the TESS includes an intake vent facilitating intake of air. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is operable to:
 select between a first mode in which a first heater associated with the TESS is activated and a second mode in which a second heater associated with the fireplace is activated; and   manage power use to direct power to the first heater or the second heater.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the control system is operable to:
 select one of at least three operation states comprising:
 a) a first operation state in which the first heater is powered; 
 b) a second operation state in which the second heater is powered; and 
 c) a third operation state in which both the first heater and the second heater are powered. 
   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the one of the at least three operation states is selected based on one or more of: an increased power source or an additional power source. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the control system is operable to:
 manage the power use for the first heater based on predicted weather data.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the control system is operable to:
 manage the power use by enabling or disabling heat delivery from the TESS based on an indication from a smart hub control device.   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the control system is operable to:
 manage the power use by enabling heat delivery from the TESS based on a detected loss of electricity from one or more power sources.   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the control system is operable to:
 manage the power use by activating the first heater and enabling charging of the TESS during an off-peak time; and   manage the power use by activating the first heater and enabling charging of the TESS during a non-off-peak time in response to user approval.   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the control system is operable to:
 manage the power use during a first period of time by activating the first heater and enabling charging of the TESS; and   manage the power use during a second period of time subsequent to the first period of time by activating the second heater and releasing the stored thermal energy from the one or more heat storing materials of the charged TESS into the surrounding environment, wherein a heat output from a combination of the second heater and the charged TESS is greater than a heat output from the second heater alone.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is operable to:
 perform a system fault check procedure in response to the system being powered on;   perform a heat delivery evaluating procedure in response to the system fault check procedure confirming there is no system fault;   perform a charge evaluating procedure in response to the heat delivery evaluating procedure confirming there is no heat delivery from the TESS; and   perform charging of the TESS in response to the charge evaluating procedure confirming that the TESS is to be charged.   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control system includes a first controller operable to control operation of the TESS and a second controller operable to control operation of the fireplace and one or more fans associated with the TESS to control outlet temperature. 
     
     
         36 . A method of controlling a fireplace system, the method comprising:
 selecting between a first mode in which a first heater associated with a thermal energy storage system (TESS) is activated and a second mode in which a second heater associated with a fireplace is activated, the TESS comprising one or more heat storing materials in which thermal energy is stored and releasable into a surrounding environment; and   managing power use to direct power to the first heater or the second heater.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 selecting one of at least three operation states comprising:
 a) a first operation state in which the first heater is powered; 
 b) a second operation state in which the second heater is powered; and 
 c) a third operation state in which both the first heater and the second heater are powered. 
   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising:
 managing the power use during a first period of time by activating the first heater and enabling charging of the TESS; and   managing the power use during a second period of time subsequent to the first period of time by activating the second heater and releasing the stored thermal energy from the one or more heat storing materials of the charged TESS into the surrounding environment, wherein a heat output from a combination of the second heater and the charged TESS is greater than a heat output from the second heater alone.