Patent US4505953A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4505953A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for preparing encapsulated phase change materials
Assignee: Arkema Inc
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Filing: 1983-06-13
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Granted: 1985-03-19
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Expires: 2003-06-13
Abstract
Abstract A thermal energy storage composite pellet-shaped product of about 1/8 inch to 1 inch in size, formed of an outer seamless shell member which defines a cavity that permanently encases a phase-change composition, the composition being present in a quantity such that the total volume of the composition, whether in its solid form, liquid form, or both forms as in its transition state, never exceeds the volume of the cavity; and a process for making the product which includes using the phase-change composition in a compacted powder form as cast about which the shell member is formed by roll-coating steps.
Inventors
- 👤 Johnson C. H. Chen
- 👤 John L. Eichelberger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 03:33
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04C; E04C2/00; E04C2/44; E04C2/52; C; C09; C09K; C09K5/00; C09K5/02; C09K5/06; C09K5/063; F; F24; F24S; F24S60/00; F24S60/10; F28; F28D; F28D20/00; F28D20/02; F28D20/023; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B10/00; Y02B10/20; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
342 words
A process for manufacturing a thermal energy storage phase-change composite product, comprising: (a) selecting a thermal energy storage phase-change composition having a phase-change transition temperature within the temperature range of the contemplated environment in which the product is to be used, and maintaining the temperature of the composition below the melting point of the composition, after the composition has been first melted, to provide a solidified thermal energy phase-change composition; (b) converting the solidified thermal energy storage phase-change composition of (a) to a flowable powder to provide a flowable powder composition while maintaining the composition at a temperature below its melting point; (c) compacting and pelletizing the flowable powder composition of (b) to form discrete pellet-shaped compacted powder structures having a longest dimension of from about 1/8 inch to about 1 inch and a shortest dimension of at least about 1/8 inch while maintaining a temperature below the melting point of the composition, the degree of compacting being controlled to provide compacted powder structures of sufficient integrity to withstand coating with a wall-forming material as well as an apparent solid density that is less than or equal to the liquid density of the phase-change composition; (d) coating each of the compacted powder compositions with a curable liquid wall-forming material comprising from about 5% to 30% by weight of the product based upon the final cured weight of the wall-forming material, while maintaining a temperature below the melting point of the composition, said wall-forming material when in a cured state being nonreactive with and substantially impermeable to both the phase-change composition and water; and then (e) curing the liquid wall-forming material on each of the compacted powder compositions to form a permanent seamless shell, that is substantially impermeable to and non-reactive with both the phase-change composition and water, which encapsulates each of the compacted powder compositions to provide the product; said product being capable of dispersion throughout rigid building construction components without causing fracture or damage to the components or product upon repeated thermal change cycles of the encapsulated thermal phase-change storage composition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
342 words
A process for manufacturing a thermal energy storage phase-change composite product, comprising: (a) selecting a thermal energy storage phase-change composition having a phase-change transition temperature within the temperature range of the contemplated environment in which the product is to be used, and maintaining the temperature of the composition below the melting point of the composition, after the composition has been first melted, to provide a solidified thermal energy phase-change composition; (b) converting the solidified thermal energy storage phase-change composition of (a) to a flowable powder to provide a flowable powder composition while maintaining the composition at a temperature below its melting point; (c) compacting and pelletizing the flowable powder composition of (b) to form discrete pellet-shaped compacted powder structures having a longest dimension of from about 1/8 inch to about 1 inch and a shortest dimension of at least about 1/8 inch while maintaining a temperature below the melting point of the composition, the degree of compacting being controlled to provide compacted powder structures of sufficient integrity to withstand coating with a wall-forming material as well as an apparent solid density that is less than or equal to the liquid density of the phase-change composition; (d) coating each of the compacted powder compositions with a curable liquid wall-forming material comprising from about 5% to 30% by weight of the product based upon the final cured weight of the wall-forming material, while maintaining a temperature below the melting point of the composition, said wall-forming material when in a cured state being nonreactive with and substantially impermeable to both the phase-change composition and water; and then (e) curing the liquid wall-forming material on each of the compacted powder compositions to form a permanent seamless shell, that is substantially impermeable to and non-reactive with both the phase-change composition and water, which encapsulates each of the compacted powder compositions to provide the product; said product being capable of dispersion throughout rigid building construction components without causing fracture or damage to the components or product upon repeated thermal change cycles of the encapsulated thermal phase-change storage composition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1 wherein in (d) multiple coats of the liquid wall-forming material are applied.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process as defined in claim 1 wherein in (c) the outer surfaces of the structures are convex shaped with rounded edges.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The process as defined in claim 1 wherein in (d) the wall-forming material is selected from the group consisting of a copolymer latex of butadiene-acrylonitrile, a copolymer of vinylidene chloride-acrylic, resinous latexes, rubber latexes, epoxy polymers, polyurethane polymers, acrylic polymers, cellulose acetate and polyamides.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The processs as defined in claim 1 wherein in (d) the compacted powder structures are first coated with a water-resistant primer substance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process as defined in claim 1 wherein in (d) the compacted powder structures are first coated with a water-resistant primer substance selected from the group consisting of asphaltic material or an acrylic polymer or copolymer material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process as defined in claim 1 wherein in (d) the compacted structures are first coated with a water-resistant primer substance comprising less than about 5% by weight of the structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process as defined in claim 2 wherein mica or similar material is coated onto at least one of the coatings of the structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process as defined in claim 1 wherein in (a) the phase-change composition has a liquid density that is at least 85% but less than 100% of the solid density of the composition.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process as defined in claim 9 wherein in (a) the composition has a phase-change transition temperature within the range of about 7° C. to 90° C.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
The process as defined in claim 1 wherein in (a) the phase-change composition is selected from the group consisting of glauber salt eutectic mixture, sodium hydroxide, polyethylene, sodium sulfate decahydrate, sodium thiosulphate pentahydrate, calcium chloride hexahydrate, magnesium nitrate hexahydrate, the eutectic of magnesium nitrate hexahydrate and ammonium nitrate, potassium fluoride tetrahydrate, sodium acetate trihydrate, stearic acid, the eutectic of naphthalene and benzoic acid and paraffinic hydrocarbons.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process as defined in claim 1 wherein in (b) a binder material is added to the flowable powder composition to improve integrity in subsequent pelletizing in step (c).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
The process as defined in claim 1 wherein in (b) fillers are added to the flowable powder composition to provide an apparent solid density after pelletizing in (c) that is less than or equal to the liquid density of the phase-change composition of (a).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
291 words
A process for manufacturing a thermal energy storage phase-change composite product, comprising (a) selecting a thermal energy storage phase-change composition having a phase-change transition temperature within the temperature range of the contemplated environment in which the product is to be used; (b) melting the composition to provide a liquid composition; (c) maintaining the temperature of the liquid composition at a temperature just above the composition melting point and then forming discrete shaped structures of the composition by agglomerating the composition with agglomerator means to provide structures having a longest dimension of from about 1/8 inch to about 1 inch and a shortest dimension of at least about 1/8 inch and then maintaining the temperature of the structures at a temperature below the melting point of the composition, said agglomerating being controlled to provide structures having an apparent solid density that does not exceed the liquid density of the phase-change composition; (d) coating each of the structures with a curable liquid wall-forming material comprising from about 5% to 30% by weight of the product based upon the final cured weight of the wall-forming material, while maintaining a temperature below the melting point of the composition, said wall-forming material when in a cured state being nonreactive with and impermeable to both the phase-change composition and water; and then (e) curing the liquid wall-forming material on each of the structures to form a seamless shell, that is substantially impermeable to and non-reactive with both the phase-change composition and water, which encapsulates each of the compacted powder compositions to provide the product; said product being capable of dispersion throughout rigid building construction components without causing fracture or damage to the components or product upon repeated thermal change cycles of the encapsulated thermal phase-change storage composition.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
291 words
A process for manufacturing a thermal energy storage phase-change composite product, comprising (a) selecting a thermal energy storage phase-change composition having a phase-change transition temperature within the temperature range of the contemplated environment in which the product is to be used; (b) melting the composition to provide a liquid composition; (c) maintaining the temperature of the liquid composition at a temperature just above the composition melting point and then forming discrete shaped structures of the composition by agglomerating the composition with agglomerator means to provide structures having a longest dimension of from about 1/8 inch to about 1 inch and a shortest dimension of at least about 1/8 inch and then maintaining the temperature of the structures at a temperature below the melting point of the composition, said agglomerating being controlled to provide structures having an apparent solid density that does not exceed the liquid density of the phase-change composition; (d) coating each of the structures with a curable liquid wall-forming material comprising from about 5% to 30% by weight of the product based upon the final cured weight of the wall-forming material, while maintaining a temperature below the melting point of the composition, said wall-forming material when in a cured state being nonreactive with and impermeable to both the phase-change composition and water; and then (e) curing the liquid wall-forming material on each of the structures to form a seamless shell, that is substantially impermeable to and non-reactive with both the phase-change composition and water, which encapsulates each of the compacted powder compositions to provide the product; said product being capable of dispersion throughout rigid building construction components without causing fracture or damage to the components or product upon repeated thermal change cycles of the encapsulated thermal phase-change storage composition.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process as defined in claim 14 wherein in (d) multiple coats of a liquid wall-forming material are applied.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process as defined in claim 14 wherein in (c) the outer surfaces of the structures are convex shaped with rounded edges.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
The process as defined in claim 14 wherein in (d) the wall-forming material is selected from the group consisting of a copolymer latex of butadiene-acrylonitrile, a copolymer of vinylidene chloride-acrylic, resinous latexes, rubber latexes, epoxy polymers, polyurethane polymers, acrylic polymers, celluose acetate and polyamides.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process as defined in claim 14 wherein in (d) the structures are first coated with a water-resistant primer substance.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process as defined in claim 14 wherein in (d) the structures are first coated with a water-resistant primer substance selected from the group consisting of asphaltic material or an acrylic polymer or copolymer material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process as defined in claim 15 wherein mica is coated onto at least one of the coatings of the structure.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process as defined in claim 14 wherein in (a) the phase-change composition has a liquid density that is at least 85% of the solid density of the composition.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
66 words
The process as defined in claim 14 wherein in (a) the phase-change composition is selected from the group consisting of glauber salt eutectic mixture, sodium hydroxide, polyethylene, sodium sulfate decahydrate, sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate, calcium chloride hexahydrate, magnesium nitrate hexahydrate, the eutectic of magnesium nitrate hexahydrate and ammonium nitrate, potassium fluoride tetrahydrate, sodium acetate trihydrate, stearic acid, the eutectic of napthalene and benzoic acid and paraffinic hydrocarbons.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
The process as defined in claim 14 wherein in (c) the agglomerating means are selected from the group of agglomerating means consisting of rotating pan agglomerator, fluidized bed agglomerator, or a combination of a rotating pan and fluidized bed agglomerator.
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) | 1988-03-18 | 1988-09-17 | 1989-03-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-03-18 | 1992-09-17 | 1993-03-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-03-18 | 1996-09-17 | 1997-03-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |