US4031952A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat energy accumulator
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1975-01-13
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Granted: 1977-06-28
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Expires: 1995-01-13
Abstract
Abstract An energy accumulator for storing large quantities of heat in the form of superheated water includes an excavation which is divided into upper and lower compartments by a horizontal diaphragm. The lower compartment is filled with superheated water from a heat source such as a nuclear or other steam generating facility. The water in the lower compartment is maintained in its superheated condition by a heavy mass of water in the upper compartment which applies its weight and pressure through the diaphragm to the superheated water in the lower compartment. Means are provided for drawing the superheated water from the lower compartment to a heat exchanger in which the heat is transmitted to a fluid heat carrying medium which can be pumped to a location where the heat is to be used, such as for urban heating. The circulatory system associated with the superheated water is closed and the mass of water employed in the system is constant. Means are provided for maintaining the diaphragm in a flat, horizontal position. Means also are provided of the diaphragm.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernard Contour
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 01:59
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21D; G21D1/00; G21D1/02; F; F01; F01K; F01K3/00; F01K3/08; F24; F24D; F24D11/00; F24D3/00; F24D3/04; F24D3/06; F24V; F24V99/00; F24D10/00; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B30/00; Y02B30/17; Y02E; Y02E20/00; Y02E20/14; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A system for accumulating and storing heat energy comprising: means defining a container having bottom and side walls; a horizontally extending diaphragm disposed above the bottom wall of the container and separating the container into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, said lower compartment being filled with heated water; the upper compartment being filled with a heavy mass sufficient to apply a uniform pressure to the diaphragm and to the heated water in the lower compartment, said pressure being of a magnitude which is no less than that exerted on the diaphragm by the water in the lower compartment; first fluid circuit means for communicating the water in the lower compartment with a heat source to circulate water between the lower compartment and the heat source; second fluid circuit means for communicating the water in the lower compartment with a heat sink to circulate hot water from the lower compartment between it and the heat sink; said lower compartment, first fluid circuit and second fluid circuit comprising a closed fluid circuit in which the mass of water is constant.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
180 words
A system for accumulating and storing heat energy comprising: means defining a container having bottom and side walls; a horizontally extending diaphragm disposed above the bottom wall of the container and separating the container into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, said lower compartment being filled with heated water; the upper compartment being filled with a heavy mass sufficient to apply a uniform pressure to the diaphragm and to the heated water in the lower compartment, said pressure being of a magnitude which is no less than that exerted on the diaphragm by the water in the lower compartment; first fluid circuit means for communicating the water in the lower compartment with a heat source to circulate water between the lower compartment and the heat source; second fluid circuit means for communicating the water in the lower compartment with a heat sink to circulate hot water from the lower compartment between it and the heat sink; said lower compartment, first fluid circuit and second fluid circuit comprising a closed fluid circuit in which the mass of water is constant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system as defined in claim 1 further comprising: said water in the lower compartment being superheated; and said heavy mass in the upper compartment comprising a fluid having a mass sufficient to prevent the superheated water in the lower compartment from boiling.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein the diaphragm is heat insulative.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system as defined in claim 1 further comprising: the periphery of the diaphragm being spaced from the side wall of the container; and a flexible web connecting the periphery of the diaphragm and the side wall of the container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as defined in claim 1 further comprising: means responsive to displacement of a portion of the diaphragm from the plane of the diaphragm for resisting said displacement and maintaining said portion in said plane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
111 words
A system as defined in claim 5 wherein said heavy mass is fluid and wherein said means for resisting said displacement of said diaphragm comprises: a plurality of floats partly submerged in the fluid in the upper compartment; each float having a cable attached thereto and extending downwardly therefrom toward the diaphragm; a weighted ballast attached to the lower end of each of said cables, said ballast being disposed at the level of the diaphragm; the float, cable and ballast being constructed so that the bouyancy of the float equals the apparent weight of the cable and ballast when the portion of the diaphragm is in the plane of the diaphragm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system as defined in claim 6 wherein each of the weighted ballasts is attached to the diaphragm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said diaphragm further comprises: said diaphragm being of hollow metallic construction and having a plurality of heat insulative panels; said diaphragm being deflated to a pressure substantially equal to that exerted by the mass in the upper compartment.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-06-27 | 1980-12-27 | 1981-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-06-27 | 1984-12-27 | 1985-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-06-27 | 1988-12-27 | 1989-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |