Patent ID: 11913728
Assignee: PHASESTOR LLC
Field: Thermal processes and apparatus (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F  Y | IPC F

Claim 0:
1. A thermal retention apparatus comprising:
a tank; and
a phase change thermal energy storage unit contained within the tank and comprising a phase change material and a heat exchanger assembly;
wherein the heat exchanger assembly comprises a phase change material (PCM) charging circuit for charging the phase change material, and a PCM discharging circuit for discharging the phase change material;
wherein the heat exchanger assembly comprises a plurality of heat exchanger modules immersed within the phase change material;
wherein the PCM charging circuit comprises an arrangement of fluid flow through the heat exchanger modules that is in parallel; and
wherein the PCM charging circuit is configured to be switched between a closed loop, in which the fluid that flows through the PCM charging circuit does not flow external to the apparatus, and an open loop, in which the fluid that flows through the PCM charging circuit flows to an external heating source located on an exterior of the apparatus.