Patent ID: 6158499
Filing Date: 2000-12-12
Classification: F24F,F25D,F28D,Y02E,Y10S

Abstract:
A thermal energy storage system comprising:a holding tank for holding a thermal energy storage medium, the holding tank having an inlet and an outlet;a heat exchanger positioned within the holding tank, the heat exchanger being arranged to indirectly transfer heat between a heat exchange fluid that passes through the heat exchanger and the thermal energy storage medium;a chiller arranged to cool the heat exchange fluid;a cooler arranged to generate chilled air using a cooling fluid;a first heat exchanger supply loop for delivering cooled heat exchange fluid from the chiller to the heat exchanger and for returning the heat exchange fluid from the heat exchanger to the chiller after passing through the heat exchanger;a holding tank supply loop for delivering cooling fluid from the cooler to the holding tank such that when the thermal energy storage medium is present, the delivered cooling fluid directly contacts the thermal energy storage medium and for returning the cooling fluid from the holding tank to the cooler after passing through the holding tank; anda second heat exchanger supply loop for delivering warmed heat exchange fluid to the heat exchanger;wherein the thermal energy storage system is arranged to cause the thermal energy storage medium to cycle between solid and liquid phases to facilitate the storage of energy, whereby when the thermal energy storage medium is in a solid phase, the heat exchange fluid delivered through the second heat exchanger supply loop may be used to form channels in the thermal energy storage medium via an internal melt process to facilitate more even melting of the thermal energy storage medium during an external melt process utilizing cooling fluid delivered through the holding tank supply loop.