US4182398A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Crosslinked crystalline polymer and methods for cooling and heating
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
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Filing: 1977-04-04
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Granted: 1980-01-08
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Expires: 1997-04-04
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to crystalline polyethylene pieces having optimum crosslinking for use in storage and recovery of heat, and it further relates to methods for storage and recovery of heat using crystalline polymer pieces having optimum crosslinking for these uses. Crystalline polymer pieces are described which retain at least 70% of the heat of fusion of the uncrosslinked crystalline polymer and yet are sufficiently crosslinked for the pieces not to stick together upon being cycled above and below the melting point of said polymer, preferably at least 80% of the heat of fusion with no substantial sticking together.
Inventors
- 👤 Ival O. Salyer
- 👤 Ruth A. Botham
- 👤 George L. Ball, III
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 09:33
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28D; F28D20/00; F28D20/02; F28D20/023; C; C09; C09K; C09K5/00; C09K5/02; C09K5/06; C09K5/063; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/14; Y02P; Y02P20/00; Y02P20/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A method for removing heat from a fluid comprising circulating a fluid through crystalline polyethylene silane-grafted-crosslinked polymer pieces crosslinked to retain at least 70% of the heat of fusion of the uncrosslinked crystalline polymer and sufficiently crosslinked for the pieces not to stick together upon being cycled above and below the melting point of said polymer, said fluid having a temperature above the melting point of said polymer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
68 words
A method for removing heat from a fluid comprising circulating a fluid through crystalline polyethylene silane-grafted-crosslinked polymer pieces crosslinked to retain at least 70% of the heat of fusion of the uncrosslinked crystalline polymer and sufficiently crosslinked for the pieces not to stick together upon being cycled above and below the melting point of said polymer, said fluid having a temperature above the melting point of said polymer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
A method of claim 1 wherein said fluid is a gas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
A method of claim 1 wherein said fluid is a liquid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method of claim 1 wherein said pieces are in the form of a bed of pieces.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for heating a fluid comprising circulating a fluid through crystalline polyethylene silane-grafted-crosslinked polymer pieces crosslinked to retain at least 70% of the heat of fusion of the uncrosslinked crystalline polymer and sufficiently crosslinked for the pieces not to stick together upon being cycled above and below the melting point of said polymer, said polymer pieces having been heated above their melting point prior to fluid circulation through said pieces and said fluid having a temperature below the melting point of said polymer.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for heating a fluid comprising circulating a fluid through crystalline polyethylene silane-grafted-crosslinked polymer pieces crosslinked to retain at least 70% of the heat of fusion of the uncrosslinked crystalline polymer and sufficiently crosslinked for the pieces not to stick together upon being cycled above and below the melting point of said polymer, said polymer pieces having been heated above their melting point prior to fluid circulation through said pieces and said fluid having a temperature below the melting point of said polymer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
A method of claim 5 wherein said fluid is a gas.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
A method of claim 5 wherein said fluid is a liquid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method of claim 5 wherein said pieces are in the form of a bed of pieces.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of heat transfer comprising (a) circulating a fluid through crystalline polyethylene silane-grafted-crosslinked polymer pieces crosslinked to retain at least 70% of the heat of fusion of the uncrosslinked crystalline polymer and sufficiently crosslinked for the pieces not to stick together upon being cycled above and below the melting point of said polymer, said fluid having a temperature above the melting point of said polymer to store heat in said pieces, then (b) circulating a fluid through said heated pieces, said fluid having a temperature below the melting point of said polymer to recover heat from said pieces.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of heat transfer comprising (a) circulating a fluid through crystalline polyethylene silane-grafted-crosslinked polymer pieces crosslinked to retain at least 70% of the heat of fusion of the uncrosslinked crystalline polymer and sufficiently crosslinked for the pieces not to stick together upon being cycled above and below the melting point of said polymer, said fluid having a temperature above the melting point of said polymer to store heat in said pieces, then (b) circulating a fluid through said heated pieces, said fluid having a temperature below the melting point of said polymer to recover heat from said pieces.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
A method of claim 9 wherein said fluid is a gas.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
A method of claim 9 wherein said fluid is a liquid.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method of claim 9 wherein said pieces are in the form of a bed of pieces.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
Crystalline polyethylene pieces crosslinked with a grafted silane to retain at least 70% of the heat of fusion of uncrosslinked crystalline polyethylene and sufficiently crosslinked for the pieces not to stick together upon being cycled above and below the melting point of said polymer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
Crystalline polyethylene pieces crosslinked with a grafted silane to retain at least 70% of the heat of fusion of uncrosslinked crystalline polyethylene and sufficiently crosslinked for the pieces not to stick together upon being cycled above and below the melting point of said polymer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
A heat exchange vessel containing as a heat storage medium crystalline polyethylene pieces crosslinked with a grafted silane to retain at least 70% of the heat of fusion of uncrosslinked crytalline polyethylene and sufficiently crosslinked for the pieces not to stick together upon being cycled above and below the melting point of said polymer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
54 words
A heat exchange vessel containing as a heat storage medium crystalline polyethylene pieces crosslinked with a grafted silane to retain at least 70% of the heat of fusion of uncrosslinked crytalline polyethylene and sufficiently crosslinked for the pieces not to stick together upon being cycled above and below the melting point of said polymer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-01-07 | 1983-07-09 | 1984-01-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-01-07 | 1987-07-09 | 1988-01-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-01-07 | 1991-07-09 | 1992-01-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |