Patent ID: 7938989
Filing Date: 2011-05-10
Classification: F28D,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method of forming an apparatus for storing thermal energy, the method comprising: securing a volume of a photo-monomer; securing a mask between at least one collimated light source and the volume of the photo-monomer, the mask having a plurality of apertures; directing a collimated light beam from the at least one collimated light source to the mask for a period of exposure time so that a portion of the collimated light beam passes through the mask and is guided by the plurality of apertures into the photo-monomer to form a plurality of waveguides through a portion of the volume of the photo-monomer; removing any uncured photo-monomer to leave behind a three-dimensional ordered polymer microstructure; and placing a thermal storage material at an open space of the three-dimensional ordered polymer microstructure.