초록 ▼

A thermal energy storage apparatus and method in which containers holding a salt hydrate heat storage material are rotated by convection currents created in a bath liquid surrounding the containers, thereby increasing the life of the heat storage material without having to supply energy for an exter

A thermal energy storage apparatus and method in which containers holding a salt hydrate heat storage material are rotated by convection currents created in a bath liquid surrounding the containers, thereby increasing the life of the heat storage material without having to supply energy for an externally located rotating means. More specifically, an enclosure for a bath liquid is provided, the enclosure containing two vertically-extending baffles which together define a column of bath liquid in which the heat storage containers are rotatably mounted. A heat transfer means is provided at the bottom of the column between the two baffles and a heat removal means is provided at the top. As heat is transferred to the bath liquid, a convection current is created which in turn rotates the containers while heat energy is being transferred from the bath liquid to the salt hydrate material. The cooler bath liquid at the top of the enclosure flows downwardly to the bottom of the enclosure along a route defined by the baffles which is partially isolated from an upwardly flowing portion of the convection current.

대표청구항 ▼

A method of storing thermal energy comprising the steps of: heating a lower portion of a bath liquid thereby creating a convection current in said bath liquid; rotatably mounting one or more containers holding a heat storage material in a portion of said convection current; rotating said containers

A method of storing thermal energy comprising the steps of: heating a lower portion of a bath liquid thereby creating a convection current in said bath liquid; rotatably mounting one or more containers holding a heat storage material in a portion of said convection current; rotating said containers by said convection current; and isolating said rotatably mounted containers from a downwardly moving portion of said convection current.