Heating device comprising a heat accumulator

Claim 2

A heating device for supplying heat to a heat user, comprising a closed space within which one or more closed reservoirs are arranged which in operation contain a heat-accumulating material which can be heated by means of at least one primary heat source, the said heat-accumulating material being adapted to act as a secondary heat source for exchanging heat, via one or more heat-transmitting reservoir walls, with a heat transport medium which is present in the closed space and which transports heat from the reservoirs to the heat user by an evaporation/condensation cycle, characterized in that an evaporable heat transport medium is also present in each of the reservoirs for equalizing or substantially equalizing the pressure in the reservoirs and the pressure outside the reservoirs in the closed space occurring at any temperature.

Claim 3

A heating device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that in each of the reservoirs a flexible, movable partition is provided between the heat-accumulating material and the evaporable heat transport medium.

Claim 4

A hot gas reciprocating machine, comprising a working medium in a closed space whereto heat can be applied from without, characterized in that the machine comprises a heating device as claimed in claim 1.

Claim 5

In a heating system operable in a selected temperature range, including a first container which is a heat pipe formed by walls having inner surfaces which define a first closed space, and within said space a second container formed by walls having outer surfaces, and also having inner surfaces which define a second closed space containing a quantity of heat-accumulating material, and said heating system further including means for heating said heat-accumulating material, and in said first space a quantity of heat transport medium that cycles in the operating temperature range of the system, between vapor and liquid states, and continuous capillary material on and communicating between said inner and outer wall surfaces, the improvement in combination therewith comprising in said second space a quantity of pressure-equalizing vaporizable liquid which has in the operating temperature range of said heating system, vapor pressure characteristics generally similar to those of said heat-transport medium, whereby the vapor pressure in said first and second spaces is, in said operating temperature range, generally the same.

Claim 6

In a heating system operable in a selected temperature range, including a first container which is a heat pipe formed by walls having inner surfaces which define a first closed space, and within said space a second container formed by walls having outer surfaces, and also having inner surfaces which define a second closed space containing a quantity of heat-accumulating material, and said heating system further including means for heating said heat-accumulating material, and in said first space a quantity of heat transport medium that cycles in the operating temperature range of the system, between vapor and liquid states, and continuous capillary material on and communicating between said inner and outer wall surfaces, the improvement in combination therewith comprising in said second space a quantity of pressure-equalizing vaporizable liquid which has in the operating temperature range of said heating system, vapor pressure characteristics generally similar to those of said heat-transport medium, whereby the vapor pressure in said first and second spaces is, in said operating temperature range, generally the same.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said second container further comprises a flexible partition dividing said second space into two, separate third and fourth spaces, with said heat-accumulating material in said third space and said pressure-equalizing vaporizable liquid in said fourth space, for equalizing the vapor pressure in said first and third spaces.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said heat-accumulating material remains solid in said operating temperature range.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said heat-accumulating material is one selected from the group consisting of A1 2 O 3 , BeO, TiO, MgO 2 and SiO 2 .

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said heat-accumulating material is meltable.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said heat-accumulating material is one selected from the group consisting of LiF, CaF 2 , SrF 2 , MgF 2 , NaF, NaC1 and other metal salts and mixtures thereof.

Claim 12

A hot-gas reciprocating machine including a heater part for receiving heat, in combination with a heating system as defined in claim 4, wherein said heater part is situated within said first space for receiving heat from the heat-transporting medium therein.

Claim 13

In a heat pipe operable within a selected temperature range and formed by walls having inner surfaces defining a first closed space, continuous first capillary material on said surfaces, and within said first space a heat-transport medium which cycles between liquid and vapor states, and also within said first space a heat source comprising a container formed by walls which define a second closed space containing therein a quantity heat-accumulating material, said container walls having outer surfaces with continuous second capillary material on said outer surfaces and communicating with said first capillary material, the improvement in said heat source comprising a quantity of vaporizable liquid in said second space, said liquid having, in said operating temperature range, vapor pressure characteristics generally similar to those of said heat transport medium, whereby the vapor pressure in said first and second spaces is generally the same in said operating temperature range of said heat pipe.

Claim 14

In a heat pipe operable within a selected temperature range and formed by walls having inner surfaces defining a first closed space, continuous first capillary material on said surfaces, and within said first space a heat-transport medium which cycles between liquid and vapor states, and also within said first space a heat source comprising a container formed by walls which define a second closed space containing therein a quantity heat-accumulating material, said container walls having outer surfaces with continuous second capillary material on said outer surfaces and communicating with said first capillary material, the improvement in said heat source comprising a quantity of vaporizable liquid in said second space, said liquid having, in said operating temperature range, vapor pressure characteristics generally similar to those of said heat transport medium, whereby the vapor pressure in said first and second spaces is generally the same in said operating temperature range of said heat pipe.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said vaporizable liquid in said second space is substantially the same as said heat-transport medium.

Claim 16

Heat pipe apparatus according to claim 11 in combination with a hot-gas machine which includes a heater part which is in heat-conductive relationship with said heat-transport medium in said first space.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said heat transport medium is a fluid selected from the group consisting of A1 2 0 3 , Be0, TiO, Mg0 2 , SiO 2 and mixtures of said substances, and said heat-accumulating material is a substances selected from the group consisting of LiF, CaF 2 , SrF 2 , MgF 2 , NaF, NaCl and other metal salts and mixtures of said substances.