Patent ID: 8851066

Claim:
A thermal energy system, comprising: at least one source of thermal energy providing heated oil at a first temperature that is substantially greater than an ambient air temperature; at least one energy-consuming unit that consumes thermal energy transported to the energy-consuming unit by heated oil; at least one thermal energy storage unit having a thermal mass that selectively receives and releases thermal energy that is transported to and from the thermal mass by oil; a fluid conduit system fluidly interconnecting the source of thermal energy, the energy-consuming unit, and the thermal energy storage unit and providing flow of oil between the source of thermal energy, the energy-consuming unit and the thermal energy storage unit; a control system configured to control flow of oil through the fluid conduit system according to predefined criteria; and wherein the one thermal energy storage unit comprises a waterproof barrier defining an interior space, and including substantially loose solid material disposed in the interior space, and at least one fluid conduit extending through the loose solid material to transfer thermal energy from oil flowing through the at least one fluid conduit to the loose solid material.