초록 ▼

A thermal storage structure and process for making the same comprising a base material of a substantially open cell structure, with the pores interconnected and open to the surface. The open cell structure may be a volcanic rock or alternatively may be a synthetically made structure such as foamed g

A thermal storage structure and process for making the same comprising a base material of a substantially open cell structure, with the pores interconnected and open to the surface. The open cell structure may be a volcanic rock or alternatively may be a synthetically made structure such as foamed glass, foamed concrete or foamed metal. The open cell material is completely saturated with a latent heat storage component such as a salt-hydrate or eutectic salts. In the process of making the latent heat storage structure, the latent heat storage component is melted in a container and the open cell structure is placed therein, whereupon the melt is spontaneously imbibed by the structure, replacing the air in the open cell structure with the liquid latent heat storage component. The structure, after cooling, is packaged or encapsulated with a vapor impermeable material. In a preferred embodiment of foamed glass material, the structure is sealed in an aluminum foil, and in an alternative embodiment, the foamed aluminum material is sealed with an aluminum foil.

대표청구항 ▼

A thermal storage structure comprising an inorganic latent heat storage component capable of storing thermal energy by way of its heat of fusion when heated at its melting point and wherein said latent heat storage component is essentially uniformly distributed throughout an inorganic open celled hy

A thermal storage structure comprising an inorganic latent heat storage component capable of storing thermal energy by way of its heat of fusion when heated at its melting point and wherein said latent heat storage component is essentially uniformly distributed throughout an inorganic open celled hydrophillic rigid foam component characterized in that said latent heat storage component is constrained to exhibit non-deteriorating latent heat storage capacity by virtue of its distribution throughout said inorganic open celled hydrophillic rigid foam component and wherein said structure is encapsulated with a material impervious to moisture.