Patent ID: 9658004
Date: 2017-05-23
CPC Classifications: F24S,F28D,F28F,Y02E

Claim:
1. Heat storage apparatus comprising at least one thermal store comprising a chamber having a gas inlet and a gas outlet provided at respective ends and a gas-permeable thermal storage media disposed therebetween so that a gas follows a gas flow path lengthwise through the storage media along the chamber from the gas inlet to the gas outlet, wherein the storage media is divided into separate spaced respective downstream layers along the length of the chamber capable of being selectively isolated from or exposed to the gas flow path, the apparatus being configured such that, during operation, the flow path of a gas flowing through the chamber from inlet to outlet for transfer of thermal energy to or from the storage media can be selectively altered depending upon progression of a thermal front within the storage media that is progressing along the length of the chamber, and wherein, during operation, the flow path of the gas is altered to bypass layers of the storage media within the chamber that are downstream of the thermal front.