Patent ID: 9618277
Date: 2017-04-11
CPC Classifications: F15B,F16L,F24S,F28D,Y02E,Y10T

Claim:
1. A spider diffuser system for use in a thermal energy storage tank, said tank comprising an outer wall having an inner surface surrounding a hollow internal space in the tank, said spider diffuser system comprising: a centrally disposed manifold structure, said spider diffuser system being arranged for mounting in the space with said manifold structure in vertically spaced relationship relative to a thermocline formed in a temperature stratifiable liquid in the space during operation of the tank, said manifold structure having: an internal chamber, an opening for introduction of the liquid into said internal chamber or discharge of the liquid from said internal chamber, an internal baffle arrangement in said internal chamber, wherein said internal baffle arrangement comprises a plurality of partitions that divide said internal chamber into a plurality of chamber sections, causing the liquid moving through said opening to be distributed into said chamber sections and reduced in velocity as the liquid enters said chamber sections during operation of the tank; and a diffuser pipe assembly comprising a plurality of elongated diffuser legs said diffuser legs being attached to said manifold structure so as to extend generally outwardly from said manifold structure, wherein each diffuser leg has an internal channel in fluid communication with said manifold structure, and a plurality of apertures distributed along the length of said diffuser leg, said apertures intercommunicating said internal channel with the space.