Patent ID: 8584734

Claim:
An energy storage and transfer system comprising: a first containment vessel holding a first solid/liquid phase change heat transfer medium; at least one second containment vessel located at least partially within said first solid/liquid phase change heat transfer medium and holding a second solid/liquid phase change heat transfer medium; means in said second containment vessel for providing energy from an external source for heating said second solid/liquid phase change heat transfer medium to a temperature sufficient to cause said second solid/liquid phase change heat transfer medium in said at least one second containment vessel to change from its solid phase to its liquid phase and store energy, whereby said second solid/liquid phase change heat transfer medium will transfer heat to said first solid/liquid phase change heat transfer medium in said first containment vessel to cause said first solid/liquid phase change heat transfer medium therein to change from its solid phase to its liquid phase; and heat transfer means in said first solid/liquid phase change heat transfer medium for removing thermal energy from said first solid/liquid phase change heat transfer medium and transferring it to an external unit for use thereby, said second solid/liquid phase change heat transfer medium having a higher melting temperature and a higher heat of fusion value than that of said first solid/liquid phase change heat transfer medium and transfers heat to said first solid/liquid phase change heat transfer medium, said first solid/liquid phase change heat transfer medium being selected for having higher thermal conductivity than that of said second solid/liquid phase change heat transfer medium for efficient transfer of thermal energy to said heat transfer means, and said first solid/liquid phase change heat transfer medium is aluminum and said second solid/liquid phase change heat transfer medium is silicon.