Patent US5140824A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5140824A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Gas hydrate thermal energy storage system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-05-28
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Granted: 1992-08-25
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Expires: 2011-05-28
Abstract
Abstract Gas hydrate thermal energy storage system and process useful for heating, air conditioning and process cooling, in which a liquid phase and a vapor phase of a 3-component mixture of a refrigerant, heat transfer oil and water, are maintained in an enclosed vessel, emulsified by a mixer and cooled (charged) by one of two internal heat exchangers, stored in its cooled state in the vessel, and later discharged via the other internal heat exchanger.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven C. Hunt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:51
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24F; F24F5/00; F24F5/0007; F24F5/0017; C; C09; C09K; C09K5/00; C09K5/02; C09K5/04; C09K5/041; C09K5/044; C09K5/045; F25; F25D; F25D16/00; F25B; F25B2315/00; F25B2315/003; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A device for cooling a desired space comprising an enclosed vessel, gas hydrate thermal storage means disposed in said vessel, means comprising indirect heat exchange means disposed within said vessel for extracting thermal energy from said thermal storage means to cool it, and further comprising a loop connecting said heat exchange means with a compressor, condenser, and expansion valve, for cooling and circulating a refrigerant gas through said heat exchange means and said loop, separate means comprising indirect heat exchange means also disposed in said vessel for releasing thermal energy into said thermal storage means, and further comprising (1) a loop connecting said last-named indirect heat exchange means with (2) a means for circulating coolant through said loop and (3) means located in said desired space for withdrawing thermal energy from said desired space thereby to cool it, means disposed within said vessel for agitating said gas hydrate thermal storage means in said vessel, and wherein said gas hydrate thermal storage means comprises water, a refrigerant gas, and a heat transfer oil.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
172 words
A device for cooling a desired space comprising an enclosed vessel, gas hydrate thermal storage means disposed in said vessel, means comprising indirect heat exchange means disposed within said vessel for extracting thermal energy from said thermal storage means to cool it, and further comprising a loop connecting said heat exchange means with a compressor, condenser, and expansion valve, for cooling and circulating a refrigerant gas through said heat exchange means and said loop, separate means comprising indirect heat exchange means also disposed in said vessel for releasing thermal energy into said thermal storage means, and further comprising (1) a loop connecting said last-named indirect heat exchange means with (2) a means for circulating coolant through said loop and (3) means located in said desired space for withdrawing thermal energy from said desired space thereby to cool it, means disposed within said vessel for agitating said gas hydrate thermal storage means in said vessel, and wherein said gas hydrate thermal storage means comprises water, a refrigerant gas, and a heat transfer oil.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device of claim 1 wherein said two indirect heat exchange means comprise a pair of heat exchange coils respectively, one disposed within the other, said coils being in close proximity to each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device of claim 1 wherein said means for agitating said gas hydrate thermal storage means in said vessel comprises means capable of emulsifying said gas hydrate thermal energy storage means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
A device of claim 1 wherein said refrigerant gas comprises a gas identified by a chemical formula selected from the group consisting of: CCl 3 F, CCl 2 F 2 , CHCl 2 F, CHClF 2 , CHF 3 , CH 2 Cl 2 , (CCl 2 F) 2 , (CClF 2 ) 2 , C 2 ClF 5 , CH 3 CClF 2 , C 2 H 2 F 4 , and mixtures thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device of claim 1 wherein said refrigerant gas has the chemical formula CH 3 CClF 2 .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
Gas hydrate thermal storage means comprising an enclosed vessel, and gas hydrate thermal storage means disposed within said vessel and comprising water, a refrigerant gas, and heat transfer oil.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
Gas hydrate thermal storage means comprising an enclosed vessel, and gas hydrate thermal storage means disposed within said vessel and comprising water, a refrigerant gas, and heat transfer oil.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
Gas hydrate thermal storage means of claim 6, wherein said water, refrigerant gas, and heat transfer oil, when in intimate contact, are convertible, at temperatures in the range from about 5° C. to about 13° C., to a gas hydrate slush.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
Thermal storage means of claim 7 wherein said refrigerant gas is selected from the group consisting of: CCl 3 F, CCl 2 F 2 , CHCl 2 F, CHClF 2 , CHF 3 , CH 2 Cl 2 , (CCl 2 F) 2 , (CClF 2 ) 2 , C 2 ClF 5 , CH 3 CClF 2 , C 2 H 2 F 4 , and mixtures thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
Thermal storage means of claim 7 wherein said refrigerant gas comprises CH 3 CClF 2 .
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
117 words
A process for withdrawing thermal energy from a desired space, comprising establishing within a closed vessel a mass of gas hydrate slush as a thermal energy storage means, circulating coolant so as to release thermal energy into said thermal energy storage means, and so as to extract thermal energy from said desired space and thereby cool it, circulating a refrigerant through said thermal energy storage means so as to withdraw thermal energy from said means and so as to release thermal energy externally of said vessel and of said desired space, agitating said thermal energy storage means to emulsify it, and wherein said thermal energy storage means comprises water, a refrigerant gas and a heat transfer oil.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
117 words
A process for withdrawing thermal energy from a desired space, comprising establishing within a closed vessel a mass of gas hydrate slush as a thermal energy storage means, circulating coolant so as to release thermal energy into said thermal energy storage means, and so as to extract thermal energy from said desired space and thereby cool it, circulating a refrigerant through said thermal energy storage means so as to withdraw thermal energy from said means and so as to release thermal energy externally of said vessel and of said desired space, agitating said thermal energy storage means to emulsify it, and wherein said thermal energy storage means comprises water, a refrigerant gas and a heat transfer oil.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
71 words
A process of claim 10 wherein said refrigerant gas has a chemical formula selected from the group consisting of: CCl 3 F, CCl 2 F 2 , CHCl 2 F, CHClF 2 , CHF 3 , CH 2 Cl 2 , (CCl 2 F) 2 , (CClF 2 ) 2 , C 2 ClF 5 , CH 3 CClF 2 , C 2 H 2 F 4 , and mixtures thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process of claim 10 wherein said refrigerant gas has the formula CH 3 CClF 2 .
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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) | 1995-08-25 | 1996-02-24 | 1996-08-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-08-25 | 2000-02-24 | 2000-08-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-08-25 | 2004-02-24 | 2004-08-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |