초록 ▼

A storage heater for storing heat and for heating a fluid, such as water, has an enclosure defining a chamber therein. The chamber has a lower portion and an upper portion with a heating element being disposed within the enclosure. A tube through which the fluid flows has an inlet and an outlet, bot

A storage heater for storing heat and for heating a fluid, such as water, has an enclosure defining a chamber therein. The chamber has a lower portion and an upper portion with a heating element being disposed within the enclosure. A tube through which the fluid flows has an inlet and an outlet, both being disposed outside of the enclosure, and has a portion interconnecting the inlet and the outlet that passes through the enclosure. A densely packed bed of phase change material pellets is disposed within the enclosure and is surrounded by a viscous liquid, such as propylene glycol. The viscous liquid is in thermal communication with the heating element, the phase change material pellets, and the tube and transfers heat from the heating element to the pellets and from the pellets to the tube. The viscous fluid has a viscosity so that the frictional pressure drop of the fluid in contact with the phase change material pellets substantially reduces vertical thermal convection in the fluid. As the fluid flows through the tube heat is transferred from the viscous liquid to the fluid flowing through the tube, thereby heating the fluid.

대표청구항 ▼

A storage heater for storing heat and for heating a fluid, comprising: a. an enclosure defining a chamber therein having a lower portion and an upper portion; b. a heating element disposed within the enclosure; c. a tube through which the fluid flows, having an inlet and an outlet, both being dispos

A storage heater for storing heat and for heating a fluid, comprising: a. an enclosure defining a chamber therein having a lower portion and an upper portion; b. a heating element disposed within the enclosure; c. a tube through which the fluid flows, having an inlet and an outlet, both being disposed outside of the enclosure, and having an intermediate portion interconnecting the inlet and the outlet that passes through the enclosure; d. a densely packed bed of phase change material pellets disposed within the enclosure; and e. a viscous liquid disposed within the enclosure, in thermal communication with the heating element, the phase change material pellets, and the intermediate portion of the tube, for transferring heat from the heating element to the pellets and for transferring heat from the pellets to the intermediate portion of the tube, the viscous fluid having a viscosity whereby the frictional pressure drop of the fluid in contact with the phase change material pellets substantially reduces vertical thermal convection in the fluid and so that as the fluid flows through the tube, heat is transferred from the viscous liquid to the fluid flowing through the intermediate portion of the tube, wherein the heating element is vertically disposed within the chamber and adapted to transfer heat to the lower portion of the chamber at a greater rate than to the upper portion of the chamber.