Exo Terra-TESS

Abstract

A heat storage system comprising a first heat storage pod, a second heat storage pod, and thermal connections to thermally connect the first heat storage pod and the second heat storage pod either together in series or in parallel to a heat sink, wherein the first heat storage pod is designed to have a different heat transfer rate as compared to the second heat storage pod. At least some of the thermal connections comprise heat pipes.

1 . A heat storage system comprising:
 a first heat storage pod,   a second heat storage pod, and   thermal connections to thermally connect the first heat storage pod and the second heat storage pod either together in series or in parallel to a heat sink,   wherein the first heat storage pod is configured to have a different heat transfer rate as compared to the second heat storage pod.   
     
     
         2 . The heat storage system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the thermal connections comprises a heat pipe. 
     
     
         3 . The heat storage system of  claim 2  wherein the heat pipe comprises an envelope, a wick structure and working fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The heat storage system of  claim 3  wherein the heat pipe comprises an evaporator that causes the working fluid to change state from liquid state to vapor which moves to a colder, condenser of the heat pipe where it releases its latent heat and condenses back to the liquid state. 
     
     
         5 . The heat storage system of  claim 4  wherein the wick structure causes the working fluid in the liquid state to flow back to the evaporator. 
     
     
         6 . The heat storage system of  claim 5  wherein flow of the working fluid is continuous across the heat pipe with little temperature difference across the heat pipe. 
     
     
         7 . The heat storage system of  claim 1  wherein at least some of the thermal connections comprise convection paths. 
     
     
         8 . A heat storage method comprising:
 storing heat in a first heat storage pod,   storing heat in a second heat storage pod, and   moving heat from the first heat storage pod and/or the second heat storage pod via a thermal connection that thermally connects the first heat storage pod and the second heat storage pod either together in series or in parallel to a heat sink,   wherein moving heat to/from the first heat storage pod is at a different heat transfer rate as compared to moving heat to/from the second heat storage pod.   
     
     
         9 . The heat storage method of  claim 8  wherein at least one of the thermal connections comprises a heat pipe. 
     
     
         10 . The heat storage method of  claim 9  wherein the heat pipe comprises an envelope, a wick structure and working fluid. 
     
     
         11 . The heat storage method of  claim 10  including an evaporator to cause the working fluid to change state from liquid state to vapor and moving the vapor to a colder, condenser of the heat pipe where it releases latent heat and condenses back to the liquid state. 
     
     
         12 . The heat storage method of  claim 11  further including using the wick structure to cause the working fluid in the liquid state to flow back to the evaporator. 
     
     
         13 . The heat storage method of  claim 12  further including providing continuous flow of the working fluid across the heat pipe with little temperature difference across the heat pipe. 
     
     
         14 . The heat storage method of  claim 8  wherein at least some of the thermal connections comprise convection paths.