Patent ID: 11923100
Assignee: TERRESTRIAL ENERGY USA, INC.
Field: Engines, pumps, turbines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC G  F  C  Y | IPC F  G

Claim 0:
1. A method for handling thermal energy, the method comprising the steps of:
generating a molten heat supply at a first temperature from a source comprising an outlet;
flowing said molten heat supply to a thermocline unit, wherein said thermocline unit comprises:
an insulated tank with a top end and a bottom end;
an initial inlet in fluid connection with said source outlet; and
a plurality of gradient zones within said insulated tank, said gradient zones being stacked from said bottom end to said top end;

stratifying said molten heat supply within said thermocline unit so as to form a plurality of molten heat portions, each molten heat portion having a portion temperature and a corresponding gradient zone,
wherein each portion temperature of a corresponding gradient zone is higher than a respective portion temperature of the respective gradient zone stacked under said corresponding gradient zone;
flowing said molten heat portions in respective gradient zones to a respective phase change heat exchanger of a plurality of phase change heat exchangers,
wherein each phase change heat exchanger is in fluid connection with an adjacent phase change heat exchanger and said source;
generating at least one operative thermal energy supply from said plurality of phase change heat exchangers and said molten heat portions; and
delivering said at least one operative thermal energy supply to at least one process heat system in fluid connection with a corresponding phase change heat exchanger of said plurality of phase change heat exchangers.