US4572864A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Composite materials for thermal energy storage
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
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Filing: 1985-01-04
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Granted: 1986-02-25
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Expires: 2005-01-04
Abstract
Abstract The present invention discloses composite material for thermal energy storage based upon polyhydric alcohols, such as pentaerythritol, trimethylol ethane (also known as pentaglycerine), neopentyl glycol and related compounds including trimethylol propane, monoaminopentaerythritol, diamino-pentaerythritol and tris(hydroxymethyl)acetic acid, separately or in combinations, which provide reversible heat storage through crystalline phase transformations. These phase change materials do not become liquid during use and are in contact with at least one material selected from the group consisting of metals, carbon siliceous, plastic, cellulosic, natural fiber, artificial fiber, concrete, gypsum, porous rock, and mixtures thereof. Particulate additions, such as aluminum or graphite powders, as well as metal and carbon fibers can also be incorporated therein. Particulate and/or fibrous additions can be introduced into molten phase change materials which can then be cast into various shapes. After the phase change materials have solidified, the additions will remain dispersed throughout the matrix of the cast solid. The polyol is in contact with at least one material selected from the group consisting of metals, carbon siliceous, plastic, cellulosic, natural fiber, artificial fiber, concrete, gypsum, and mixtures thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 David K. Benson
- 👤 Richard W. Burrows
- 👤 Yvonne D. Shinton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 13:00
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28D; F28D20/00; F28D20/02; F28D20/023; C; C09; C09K; C09K5/00; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/14; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/913; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24149; Y10T428/249921; Y10T428/249953; Y10T428/249954; Y10T428/249994; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2982; Y10T428/2991; Y10T428/2993
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
A composite material for thermal energy storage comprising a solid state phase change material selected from the group consisting of pentaerythritol, pentaglycerine, neopentyl glycol, tetramethylol propane, monoaminopentaerythritol, diaminopentaerythritol, tris(hydroxymethyl)acetic acid, and mixtures thereof; said solid state phase change material contacting materials selected from the group consisting of metals, carbon siliceous, plastic, cellulosic, natural fiber, artificial fiber, concrete, gypsum, porous rock, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
63 words
A composite material for thermal energy storage comprising a solid state phase change material selected from the group consisting of pentaerythritol, pentaglycerine, neopentyl glycol, tetramethylol propane, monoaminopentaerythritol, diaminopentaerythritol, tris(hydroxymethyl)acetic acid, and mixtures thereof; said solid state phase change material contacting materials selected from the group consisting of metals, carbon siliceous, plastic, cellulosic, natural fiber, artificial fiber, concrete, gypsum, porous rock, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The composite material of claim 1, wherein said solid state phase change material incorporates particulate additions of materials selected from the group consisting of metals, carbon, plastic, silica, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The composite material of claim 1, wherein said solid state phase change material incorporates fibrous materials selected from the group consisting of glass, carbon, silica, natural fabric, artificial fabric, metals, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The composite material of claim 1, wherein said solid state phase change material comprises a component of a passive solar thermal storage unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The composite material of claim 4, wherein said passive solar thermal storage unit is a Trombe wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The composite material of claim 4, comprising a component of the floor, wall, or ceiling of a structure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The composite material of claim 1, comprising a heat transfer or heat exchanging material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The composite material of claim 1, wherein the materials contacting said solid state phase change material comprise structural members.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The composite material of claim 8, wherein said structural members are selected from the group consisting of single layer, multi-channel, and multi-layer, multi-channel members containing said polyol.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The composite material of claim 1, wherein said solid state phase change material is laminated between facing sheets comprising said contact materials.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The composite material of claim 10, wherein said solid state phase change material also include additives of said contact materials.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The composite material of claim 10, wherein said laminate contains at least one interior sheet of said contact material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The composite material of claim 10, wherein the facing sheets of said laminate are textured.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The composite material of claim 10, wherein the facing sheets of said laminate are non-textured.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The composite material of claim 1, wherein said solid state phase change material is impregnated with said contact material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The composite material of claim 12, wherein said solid state phase change material is impregnated with contact materials selected from the group consisting of cellulose, natural fabric fibers, artificial fabric fibers, metal fibers, plastic fibers, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The composite material of claim 12, wherein said solid state phase change material is impregnated into porous contact materials.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The composite material of claim 17, wherein said porous contact materials are selected from the group consisting of cement, concrete, rock, cellulose, gypsum, and vermiculite.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for impregnating a solid-state phase change material into porous and/or fibrous previously solidified solid substances comprising: contacting a water solution of the phase change material with the solid-state phase change material to effect impregnating the solid material with the phase change material and removing the water in a manner to rigidly bind residue phase change material to the solid material.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for impregnating a solid-state phase change material into porous and/or fibrous previously solidified solid substances comprising: contacting a water solution of the phase change material with the solid-state phase change material to effect impregnating the solid material with the phase change material and removing the water in a manner to rigidly bind residue phase change material to the solid material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said water solution is saturated with said phase change material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said water solution is heated.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 19, wherein the porous and/or fibrous substances are heated.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 19, wherein the porous and/or fibrous substances are selected from the group consisting of wood, wood products, gypsum, cement, concrete, clay, rock, glass, natural fiber, artificial fiber, metal fiber, plastic fiber, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 19, wherein the contacting is conducted under vacuum.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for impregnating stone-like construction materials formed from a coalition of previously solidified solid precursor particles into a solid mass comprising: contacting a sufficient amount of solid-state phase change material with water to form a solution; utilizing a previously solidified porous aggregate solid material that is compatible with the particles forming the construction material; contacting the solution of the solid-state phase change material with the porous aggregate in a manner to effect impregnating the aggregate material with the solid-state phase change material and rigidly binding the residue solid-state phase change material to the aggregate material; contacting the porous aggregate material impregnated with the phase change material with the precursor particles of the construction material to form a combined mass; and coalescing the combined mass into a solid mass to form the stone-like construction material.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for impregnating stone-like construction materials formed from a coalition of previously solidified solid precursor particles into a solid mass comprising: contacting a sufficient amount of solid-state phase change material with water to form a solution; utilizing a previously solidified porous aggregate solid material that is compatible with the particles forming the construction material; contacting the solution of the solid-state phase change material with the porous aggregate in a manner to effect impregnating the aggregate material with the solid-state phase change material and rigidly binding the residue solid-state phase change material to the aggregate material; contacting the porous aggregate material impregnated with the phase change material with the precursor particles of the construction material to form a combined mass; and coalescing the combined mass into a solid mass to form the stone-like construction material.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 25, wherein said solid mass comprises cement, mortar, concrete, porous aggregate, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 25, wherein the porous aggregate material is selected from the group consisting of vermiculite, perlite, other porous aggregate, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of impregnating stone-like construction materials formed from a coalition of precursor particles into a solid mass comprising: contacting a sufficient amount of solid-state phase change material with water to form a solution, contacting the solution of phase change material with a porous aggregate material that is compatible with the particles forming the construction materials; contacting the porous aggregate-phase change material with the precursor particles of the construction material to form a combined mass; and coalescing the combined mass into a solid mass to form a stone-like construction material, and wherein said phase change material is selected from the group consisting of pentaerythritol, penthglycerine, neopentyl glycol, tetramethylol propane, monoaminopentaerythritol, diaminopentaerythritol, tris(hydroxymethyl)acetic acid, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of impregnating stone-like construction materials formed from a coalition of precursor particles into a solid mass comprising: contacting a sufficient amount of solid-state phase change material with water to form a solution, contacting the solution of phase change material with a porous aggregate material that is compatible with the particles forming the construction materials; contacting the porous aggregate-phase change material with the precursor particles of the construction material to form a combined mass; and coalescing the combined mass into a solid mass to form a stone-like construction material, and wherein said phase change material is selected from the group consisting of pentaerythritol, penthglycerine, neopentyl glycol, tetramethylol propane, monoaminopentaerythritol, diaminopentaerythritol, tris(hydroxymethyl)acetic acid, and mixtures thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4259401A
Cited
US4470917A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-02-24 | 1989-08-26 | 1990-02-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-02-24 | 1993-08-26 | 1994-02-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-02-24 | 1997-08-26 | 1998-02-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |